{For Raywood to get to when he has the time!}
{Raywoods’ Post}Although he was doing better with stomaching the grief after his apology to Lemonstar, the remnants of it continued to cling and gnaw at him, and he convinced himself that was the reason he was on this patrol. Anything to keep it within his control, rather than admitting he couldn't exactly say no to the deputy without risking punishment. Until he could grasp Grouseflurry's temperament, it wasn't a bright idea to push his buttons and attempt to refuse an order--which Rabbitfluff was likely to do, if he could determine he'd get away with it.

As they walked, it was difficult to focus on the task at hand and their general surroundings while Grouseflurry seemed to be bursting with happiness. It wasn't that Rabbitfluff wanted to dampen it or believed it to be invalid, but for StarClan's sake, this feline was over thirty moons old! And the extreme energy radiating off the tom was putting Rabbitfluff in a bit of a sour mood considering he didn't possess copious amounts of enthusiasm.

That aside, he did what he could to remain alert and attentive to the environment. It was a gorgeous evening with oranges, pinks, and blues bleeding together across the vast SkyClan territory and dipping under the horizon. Soon, it would be giving way to a blanket of stars glittering over the land, which would be poetic--borderline romantic--if it wasn't for his company. Rabbitfluff peered blankly at the newly-named deputy for a couple seconds, before huffing, "Don't you 'how are you faring, Rabbitfluff' me, big guy." It wasn't that Grouseflurry was particularly large in stature, but then again, everyone was large in stature in comparison to the small-boned Rabbitfluff.

To answer his question, he contemplated several replies; he could tell Grouseflurry about Hawkstar's disappearance and the subsequent heartbreak, he could mention the outburst at Lemonstar (though he was certain he was already aware or had witnessed it himself), they could chat about the fact SkyClan seemingly had no designated medicine cat nor any sign from StarClan, or he could go back and discuss the details of his family's breaking apart. None of those topics sounded terribly interesting, so he settled on an exhausted, "I'm positively marvelous, thank you," he finally responded, meow drawn out and dripping with sarcasm. "Why, I can't seem to conjure a single activity I'd prefer to do than be spending such a lovely evening with you on patrol." As if to amplify the point he was trying to make, Rabbitfluff's tone was a sickeningly sweet one, filled with far too much affection to be real.

With a sigh, his thin frame shuddered and shook as he exhaled, appearing to deflate as he dropped the act. "How are you doing, anyway? I imagine it's only proper to congratulate you, given you're the deputy now. Congratulations, Grouseflurry."

{My Post}Despite being the cheery, optimistic cat he was, Grouseflurry was most certainly not an idiot nor was he oblivious to things, he could sense some form of negative emotion radiating off of Rabbitfluff, but then again, the few times he's conversed with the other tom he seemed to radiate that negative almost sort of.. Sour emotion. And he's come to accept that, he's accepted the fact that not every cat can be as cheery and optimistic as him, not that he ever expected that anyways. But Grouseflurry had a reason behind picking Rabbitfluff for this patrol. He wanted to get to know this sour tom better.

Though no matter how negative the other, smaller tom was, his happiness was still there, radiating like sunshine off of him. It was a nearly constant feeling that Grouseflurry had, some cats found it annoying, others found it almost sort of contagious, it almost seemed to put other cats in a good mood, at least, if they allowed themselves to do that, some cats didn't want to be in a happy mood and that was alright with him. A quiet yet steady purr rumbled in the new deputies chest as he carried on walking next to Rabbitfluff, the tip of his tail flicking casually back and forth in the air.

A bout of amusement rippled through the brown tabby as he heard the other toms' response to his simple inquiry about how he was doing, Grouseflurry smiling and looking over at him as he huffed out the words. I'm honestly not that big.. Perhaps average sized? A well, I suppose I'm big to him, then again most cats are.. Maybe that's why he's always in such a sour mood. The deputy thought quietly to himself before turning his head back forward, one of his ears swiveled to face Rabbitfluff, expecting that the tom would have more to say.

There seemed to be a pause as the smaller tom tried to pick out a good response to tell Grouseflurry, who was rather patient and kept his mouth quiet as the warrior picked through all of the possible responses he could give the deputy, all the while the brown tabby tom purred and continued to walk with a pep in his step. Glancing over as he finally heard Rabbitfluff meow out a response, Grouseflurry's smile seemed to widen into the beginnings of a grin, just barely holding back a chuckle that was trying to escape. For some reason he had always found sarcasm funny! It just tickled him for some reason. "Well I'm glad to hear that Rabbitfluff, I'd truly hate to hear if you were feeling anything else but marvelous!" Meowed the tabby tom innocently enough, and he was speaking the truth too, there was no sarcasm here, Grouseflurry wasn't the kind of cat to say really anything mean. "Oh it really is lovely isn't it? I'd take being out here, seeing the sky like this any night over lounging around camp." And that was true too; his reply making it appear that he didn't hear the dripping amount of sarcasm in the smaller toms voice.

The deputy saw the shuddering exhale Rabbitfluff managed and his almost grin turned into a small, pleasant, polite smile, tail flicking slightly in thought. "I'm doing pretty good. Though you don't need to congratulate me if you're truly not happy that I was chosen, I'd understand Rabbitfluff." His tone was even, borderline soft as he looked back ahead. "And.. I'm sorry that you're not happy with Lemonstar. I hope you can warm up to him, he really is a nice cat to get to know."

Paledusk stepped out onto the territory, often looking over her shoulder to see if Crowflight had followed, her plan was going just like it needed to go, her claws were unsheated, but she had no intend on using them, she'd use something entirely different, not minding whatever he would think, she knew the tom had a good side, after all, he did offer it to Crowpaw, she blushed at the thought of what she was fonna do.

Originally Posted by Raven & Co (Post 662) [@Ivy] Paledusk stepped out onto the territory, often looking over her shoulder to see if Crowflight had followed, her plan was going just like it needed to go, her claws were unsheated, but she had no intend on using them, she'd use something entirely different, not minding whatever he would think, she knew the tom had a good side, after all, he did offer it to Crowpaw, she blushed at the thought of what she was fonna do.

Crowflight snarled inwardly. "Paledusk, I swear to StarClan that if you are wasting my time, LArkpool will see your body brought back to camp." He snapped at the mischevious molly. Dry leaves and stray twigs cracked and crumbled as he walked on them following her. "Sweetheart, you're gonna lose this fight if thats what youre gonna do. "I already have plans for today and you've made me cut off soem of my valuable time!"

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 722) Crowflight snarled inwardly. "Paledusk, I swear to StarClan that if you are wasting my time, LArkpool will see your body brought back to camp." He snapped at the mischevious molly. Dry leaves and stray twigs cracked and crumbled as he walked on them following her. "Sweetheart, you're gonna lose this fight if thats what youre gonna do. "I already have plans for today and you've made me cut off soem of my valuable time!"

Paledusk spun around to face the tom, gently walking over to him and suddently sheating her claws, every trace of anger dissapearing. "I'm good at what I do... Heh." She said before gently nuzzling his chest. "I've never been that close to you... I never knew you were that muscular of a tom..." She purred, leaning up and licking his chin kindly. "Well, now that were out, maybe we could spend some time together." The pale gray she-cat added.

Originally Posted by Raven & Co (Post 759) Paledusk spun around to face the tom, gently walking over to him and suddently sheating her claws, every trace of anger dissapearing. "I'm good at what I do... Heh." She said before gently nuzzling his chest. "I've never been that close to you... I never knew you were that muscular of a tom..." She purred, leaning up and licking his chin kindly. "Well, now that were out, maybe we could spend some time together." The pale gray she-cat added.

He snarled. "Get off of me!" He shoved her to the ground and pinned her there. "Dont play games with me, she cat!" He spat in her face as he leaned down so their noses were milimeters away.

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 890) He snarled. "Get off of me!" He shoved her to the ground and pinned her there. "Dont play games with me, she cat!" He spat in her face as he leaned down so their noses were milimeters away.

Paledusk squeaked at first and gazed at him, smiling as their muzzles neared each others. "Which game, tom?" She asked before wrapping her paws around his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss, purring loudly. "The thing is... We aren't playing a game." She murmured sweetly.

Paledusk squeaked at first and gazed at him, smiling as their muzzles neared each others. "Which game, tom?" She asked before wrapping her paws around his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss, purring loudly. "The thing is... We aren't playing a game." She murmured sweetly.

He pulled away, disgusted at Paledusk's actions. Hissing, Crowflight swiped at her muzzle. "I'm done here! You're wasting my time! Go find someone else to moon over!" He ordered as he got off of her before, scrambling a few feet away. Crowflight's eyes narrowed. "I dont want a mate. Especially one like you!" He growled, baring his teeth. "Dont ever do that to me again!" And with that, the tom fled.

He pulled away, disgusted at Paledusk's actions. Hissing, Crowflight swiped at her muzzle. "I'm done here! You're wasting my time! Go find someone else to moon over!" He ordered as he got off of her before, scrambling a few feet away. Crowflight's eyes narrowed. "I dont want a mate. Especially one like you!" He growled, baring his teeth. "Dont ever do that to me again!" And with that, the tom fled.

Paledusk was surprised as he swiped at her muzzle, she laughed at forst, coldly. "Well, it's not if you had some time in the first place." She giggled and sat up, surprised as he left, she gazed at herself. "I-Is it because I'm ugly..?" She asked to herself and gazed at her now bleeding muzzle, maybe Larkpool had been watching, with how stubborn her sister was, it wouldn't surprise her if she came along without being noticed, she shrunk back onto herself and walked over to a tree, where she sat down and gazed at the ground miserably.

Larkpool came out behind a tree. "Paledusk, he isnt worth your time. FINd someone else..." SHe suggestes

Larkpool came out behind a tree. "Paledusk, he isnt worth your time. FINd someone else..." SHe suggestes

"B-But I can't sis'!" Paledusk sniffled. "W-When we were apprentices, he always took me out of camp to go stargazing..." She mewed sadly and buried her face in her sister's chest, keeping herself from crying out loud.

Larkpool licked her sister's ears comfortingly. "His mate died about a few seasons ago...today marks rhe anniversery of her death. Thats why hes meaner than usual..."

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1857) Larkpool licked her sister's ears comfortingly. "His mate died about a few seasons ago...today marks rhe anniversery of her death. Thats why hes meaner than usual..."

"B-But I want to help him, I want to make him happy again, I want him to feel loved..." Paledusk sniffled, ears twitching as she felt her sister licking her ears. "Y-You can't feel what I feel for him..." She sigjed and closed her eyes, face buried in her sister's chest as she began to cry.

Larkpool shook her head. "PALEdusk what if he rejects you?"

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1866) Larkpool shook her head. "PALEdusk what if he rejects you?"

"He won't!" Paledusk mewed sadly, pressing her whole body against her big sister's. "He can't, he would've taken me as a mate if I had told him sooner..." She sobbed, wrapping her small paws around Larkpool's.

Larkpool bit her tongue to stop from telling Paledusk that she was going insane. "Paledusk, put yourself in his position." She sighed

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1873) Larkpool bit her tongue to stop from telling Paledusk that she was going insane. "Paledusk, put yourself in his position." She sighed

"I did, and if he acted like me, I would've taken the opportunity to be happy again!" Paledusk cried out, her body shaking uncontrolably, she was like that since she was a kit, and she would never change.

"You should probably at least try to befriend him first, Pale!" She argued, irritably. "Lets let him cool off, okay?"

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1882) "You should probably at least try to befriend him first, Pale!" She argued, irritably. "Lets let him cool off, okay?"

"We already are friends!" Paledusk mewed, she was literally breaking down, her whole world seeming to melt, she walked away from her sister and curled up on the grass, sobbing. "Go away." She finally said in a cold tone.

Larkpool rolled her eyes. "Fine.." SHe said walking away

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1897) Larkpool rolled her eyes. "Fine.." SHe said walking away

The pale gray she-cat then buried her face in-between her small paws, sobbing, she hadn't cried like that in moons, it wasn't nice, but it felt like she had a weight off of her shoulders at the same time...

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1905) Crowflighr had come out returning from his silent tantrum. However, not looking where he was going, he tripped and fell on top of Paledusk.

Paledusk squeaked as she felt a weight fall onto her back, she thought it was her sister and looked up only to see Crowflight's fur, she blushed slightly, small tears still running down her cheeks. "W-What are you doing?" She asked.

"Coming back to eat. Why?" He grumbled picking himself up before grabbing her scrufd with his jaws and hauling her up. "Sorry.."

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1925) "Coming back to eat. Why?" He grumbled picking himself up before grabbing her scrufd with his jaws and hauling her up. "Sorry.."

Paledusk just backed away from him as he hauled to her paws, she was a lot smaller than him, and with what had happened sooner, she was scared to get her muzzle clawed again. "I-It's fine..." She said shakily.

He hesitantly sniffd her. "You hurt?" he asked

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1939) He hesitantly sniffd her. "You hurt?" he asked

The pale gray she-cat nodded, the blood had matted all the fur on the right side of her muzzle, which she hid, but it wasn't only that, her heart was also injured... It had been broken.

"Im sorryl." HE said after a few moments

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1946) "Im sorryl." HE said after a few moments

"Sorry for what..? Clawing me or breaking my heart?" Paledusk asked quietly, not even daring to gaze in the tom's eyes.

"BOTh..." he murmured kissing her h

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1963) "BOTh..." he murmured kissing her h

Paledusk was about to speak unil she felt their muzzles press and kissed him back, placing her paw on top of his, her face felt hot, and she loved it...

(i meant to say head xD sorry)

(Why don't we just let it happen?)

(Fine)
Crowflighrpulled away, feeling quite warm. "Smallwing wouldnt like seeing us like this.."he said half to himself

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1982) (Fine) Crowflighrpulled away, feeling quite warm. "Smallwing wouldnt like seeing us like this.."he said half to himself

"On the contrary... She would be happy to see that you moved on and that you could finally be happy again... It's not by staying alone that she's gonna be happy, she must even want you to find a mate, to move forward..." Paledusk mewed, gazing up in his eyes and finally giving a smile, a shy one.

"Still...I wont betray her so soon." He said as he turned his head way.

Originally Posted by Ivy (Post 1988) "Still...I wont betray her so soon." He said as he turned his head way.

"You aren't betraying her, it's what she wants!" Paledusk mewed firmly before rubbing her cheek against his chest. "She wants you to be happy, not depressed, arrogant and everything that you are right now..." The pale-gray she-cat sighed.