(Stormeh)<< Looking At You Through the Glass

['a v i <3]

It was a stormy greenleaf morning on the moors. Ravenglide pushed his way of his nest into the camp clearing. Rain pelted his face, plastering his fur to his sides. Shaking his head in annoyance, he glanced around the camp. No one seemed to be out and about, not that he could blame them in this whether.

His belly rumbled, and he automatically turned to the freshkill pile to see it empty. He knew the elders would be complaining soon that they didn't have anything to eat. Dramatically, he growled and padded back to the warriors den and poked his head inside, to see who was there.

The den was empty, all except for Pinefur. Taking a deep breath, he called to the she-cat, "Pinefur? Care to hunt with me?" Ravenglide had been on plenty of patrols with the pretty she-cat before, but hadn't been on any one on one hunts with her. He half-heartedly hoped she wouldn't think him rude and refuse, seeing as he probably did wake her up.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur had been dreaming in a deep slumber, an imaginary, plump rabbit running just out of her claw's reach. She hasn't had this much fun in ages. Just as her claws barely brushed the rabbit's haunches, the luxorious, warm scent of prey drfiting into her open jaws, the vision faded into a mist and the brown warrior opened her ivy-green eyes to find the den wall before her. Though, something else had woken her. The voice of another cat. Ravenglide wants to hunt? With me? The thought made her heart skip a beat, and she flushed shyly. She looked down to see if she had scrambled her nest from her dream, and in dismay, she saw that bits of moss clung to her short fur. How can she appear before such a handsome tom looking like that?

Frantically, Pinefur stumbled out of her nest, surprised to notice that no one else was in the den. Oh, no! Have I slept late? she thought in misery. Now in a haste to shove the sleep from her eyes instead of grooming her fur, she started for the entrance of the warriors' den, until she tripped on a patch of grass and almost fell to the ground, recovering her foot after a moment. That was close! she thought as she emerged from the den and stood beside Ravenglide, her expression nervous and flushed.

She lowered her gaze to the ground, and when she saw her own fur, she remembered her ghastly appearance. Eyes widening in embarrassment, she shook her pelt, fortunately shaking the moss from it. But unfortunately, some of it scatted onto Ravenglide. Her face was red now, and words flew out of her mouth as fast as a mouse's heartbeat. "R-Ravenglide! I'm s-so sorry, please, forgive m-me! I-I didn't mean to," she stammered, her ears pinned to her skull.

Pinefur realized how fast she was speaking, and she cut off adrubtly, dreading the crackling of the tension rising in the air around her. Oh, why am I such a mouse-brain? she thought to herself, thinking that Ravenglide would simply ditch her without another word, disgusted by her skittishness. Why had such a confident tom like him even invite her to hunt with him? Probably because everyone else was out of camp. she guessed sadly. Still, it was such an honor to even be asked to hunt with one of her Clan mates. She never really spoke to anyone that often.

['a v i <3]

Ravenglide watched Pinefur with warm eyes as she scrambled out of her nest and padded out into the rain. As she shook the moss off her pelt, he leaned forward with his muzzle and picked off a remaining scrap off of her shoulder.

Pulling his head back he felt flushed, normally he would help any clanmate out like that, but for him Pinefur was special. The poor she-cat didn't realize how beautiful she was, and how attracted to her he was. He felt pleased that she was coming hunting with her, and he just hoped that she would relax a little.

With a soft purr her said, "It's fine Pinefur. It happens to me all the time! So, shall we hunt? " His blue eyes glimmered warmly at the she-cat as he looked down at her. He could see himself racing across the moors, his pelt brushing hers as they streaked from border to border. Pinefur didn't realize just how special she was.....

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur felt her skin grow hot underneath her pelt when Ravenglide's muzzle brushed the remaining scrap of moss off her shoulder. Why was he doing this? Embarrassed and confused, the small-framed she-cat almost took a few steps back due to her timid state of mind, but Ravenglide's confidence made her relax a bit - which was a first. She knew that she'd have to cooperate with him if she wanted to hunt with him. Ever so slowly, she lifted her anxious gaze fro the ground and looked up at the tabby warrior, feeling so vulnurable as she looked over his tall, muscular body, up to his bright blue eyes that fit so well against the tawny mask around them.

Suddenly, Pinefur realized how pathetic she must've looked, staring at him like that, and she returned to staring at the ground again, too shy to look up at the handsome tom again, which would've been a big risk for her. "I-I, er, you can lead," she meowed softly, her voice resembling the sound of a bird's sweet, peaceful songs. She had always thought her voice was high-pitched and annoying, which is why she was so quiet all the time, but really, it was a very beautiful tone to most cats. If she ever talked to any, then she might've known that she wasn't as bad as how she thought she was in her mind.

The brown she-cat dreaded the hunt already. She'd probably catch nothing, and would only be seen as a failure in Ravenglide's eyes. He was so good at everything, and she envied how confident and cool he could be in any situation - even while talking to such a mouse-brain like herself. Pinefur remembered the warm gaze the tabby tom had given her, and it made her mind reel. Why was he being so kind to her? Most would usually have given up on her by now, but surprisingly, it was as if Ravenglide was giving her a chance. A chance that Pinefur wouldn't allow to slip through her claws, especially when faced with such a kind tom as Ravenglide.

['a v i <3]

The tabby tom felt kinda awkward that Pinefur was so nervous around. He found himself slightly disappointed when she surrendered him to decide where to hunt. From being disappointed to inspired when she looked into his blue eyes, he decided quickly where he wanted to go.

On the far part of the moor's towards the Moonstone, there was a small stretch of woodland that offered some forest prey such as mice and voles. He would take her, there where the trees offered some shade and they most likely wouldn't run into any of their clanmates.

Aloud he meowed, " How about the far north easterner corner of our territory, where the stretch of woodland is? There is bound to be some prey there." He said this all very cheerfully and kindly as he tried to make her feel a little more at ease around him .

Walking away from her slowly towards the camp entrance he cast a glance over his shoulder to see that she was coming and hadn't slunk back to her nest. He wasn't going to give this pretty she-cat a chance to miss out on spending the day with him!

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur considered Ravenglide's suggestion in her mind, and figured that since WindClan cats usually liked the open moore, there wouldn't be any cats in the woodland part of their territory. Maybe her hunt with Ravenglide wouldn't be too bad, she reflected, feeling a bit more comfortable with the idea. Still, she was too timid to make her own suggestions, so all she could do was nod. Pinefur liked the woodland, or any place in general where she can be secluded and hidden. She figured that was how ThunderClan cats felt.

Pinefur took a brief breath in, and let it out slowly as she followed closely behind Ravenglide, catching up to him at the camp entrance. She wasn't really watching where she was going, and since her thoughts were wandering off again (as they usually did), her pace was quick and somewhat nervous and she was now padding beside the taller, more musculine tom. As she began to push through the entrance, she realized that her pelt was brushing against Ravenglide's, and she blushed. Her smaller body made ti easier for her to squeeze past the tom and into the moore, her fur being buffeted by the wind almost at once.

Turning to face Ravenglide, Pinefur had thought about how kindly he was treating her, and how she wasn't treating him the same way. I need to stop being so rude and show him some respect for once, she told herself, standing up taller and pricking her ears so she'd look somewhat modern. Though as she opened her mouth to speak, she lost the small sliver of confidence and she couldn't help but scuffle her paws iin the grass for a moment, trying to regain her words.

Finally, she looked up at Ravenglide and meowed, "Er, the rain will help us tell which way the wind is going more accurately." Mouse-brain! He already knows that; it's apprentice knowledge! a voice scolded her in her head. "I m-mean, we should go now," she added more quietly, embarrassed. Pinefur was saying all the wrong things! But she couldn't help it; she was just nervous. She hasn't hunted with one on one with another cat for a very long time. In fact, she couldn't even remember the last time that happened.

['a v i <3]

Ravenglide felt his pelt warm as Pinefur's soft fur brushed against it as the pushed out of the camp. He flushed inwardly and looked over at the pretty she-cat. She seemed a little more confident now that they were on their way or possibly she was just hiding it well.

As the she-cat stammered over her words, Ravenglide instinctively brushed his tail gently across her muzzle, "Pinefur, breathe. I'm not out here to judge you.. so relax and let's hunt."

He spoke so softly and quietly, with a strange intensity in his eyes as he pulled his tail away and dipped his head to the she-cat. He then began padding across the moor, his paws falling into areas where his ancestors had walked for years.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur's eyes widened in shock as Ravenglide's tail brushed against her muzzle, and she looked up at him in surprise. Why was he telling her that? She wasn't making any reference to critisism, so why did he suddenly just announce that? Even if it made no sense, his soft words were so reassuring that she almost smiled, but she couldn't as she stared at the tabby tom, mystified by the strange, emotional gleam in his blue eyes.

Now he was even dipping his head to her? That type of respective gesture was only used toward someone who was high-ranked, like a deputy or a leader. Pinefur was definetely no deputy or leader. She was a nobody. Yet, Ravenglide was treating her like a somebody. He was the first cat to do so in a long time, and she couldn't believe her luck. Try not to ruin this, she told herself in her mind as she trailed after Ravenglide.

As the cool breeze passed along her sides and her face, she felt a freedom that made her feel as if she was flying - or something like it. Pinefur was strangely energetic, and was beginning to enjoy the feeling of hunting with Ravenglide, even if they were at a moderate pace and they hadn't even reached the woodlands yet. This feeling even made her brave enough to pull up beside Ravenglide, yet she didn't dare to look in his direction. Instead, she watched the grass sway in the wind, and looked up at the clouds for a few moments, amusement faintly shining in her eyes as she imagined one of the clouds as a rabbit.

What are you doing? Focus! Her thoughts brought her back to reality, and she tried to look serious, straining to keep all her senses extra-alert, even if they weren't officially hunting yet. After a long time of looking to her left, Pinefur couldn't resist finally looking toward Ravenglide, grateful that he was taller than her, so it would be less likely for him to notice her watching him. Her eyes rested on his shoulders, and she admired how broad they were, how strongly-built his chest looked, how his lean muscles rippled underneath his luxorious brown tabby pelt. Everything about him seemed so calm and confident, and especially handsome.

Why couldn't Pinefur be such a great warrior like Ravenglide was? It wasn't jealousy, though, but instead, admiration. The level-headed tom was somewhat her rolemodel, and definetely one to other apprentices and kits, Pinefur reflected. Maybe someday I can be like that, she thought to herself. The thought made her feel more comfortable around Ravenglide, and now she wasn't as timid as she was before.

['a v i <3]

The tabby tom walked proudly beside the small she-cat, with his head held high. Out of the corner of his blue eyes he kept glancing down at her, as if reassuring himself that she was really out to hunt with him. Ravenglide felt as if he could run all the way to moonstone and back, and he knew that being out with Pinefur was the reason for that feeling.

As they padded along, he glanced back over his shoulder to see a small patrol of their clanmates heading back to the camp. A returning hunting patrol, he thought with a twitch of his tail. Shaking his head gently, to dislodge some of the rain from his whiskers, he looked over to Pinefur.

"I hope that the forest offers a little bit of shelter from this rain, maybe we will even find some dry prey. " He said this is a bit of a smile on his face, it's not that he minded the rain.. it was just that he didn't want to be wet.


Walking through the muddy moorland and feeling the mud squish between his toes wasn't helping his discomfort. It'll take moons to wash out this mud... he complained inwardly, but there was no way he was going to let Pinefur see his discomfort.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur almost thought that Ravenglide caught her eye, and she quickly returned to looking out towards the horizen, watching as the sun climbed higher into the sky. It wouldn't be long before it reached sunhigh. At the sound of his voice, the brown she-cat barely smiled in faint amusement, yet she kept her gaze lowered to the ground. It was obvious that Ravenglide didn't take much interest in the rain. "I don't mind the rain. It helps me think," she admit softly. After a moment of embarrassment, she changed the subject by adding,"You may be right; but they might be hiding in their nests to keep themselves dry." Pinefur felt her chest swell in pride and satisfaction for the first time since she had been woken up by Ravenglide. She had actually said something right! Or, so she thought. It wasn't as if she was showing off her exeperience toward the younger warrior, and actually, she probably had less experience than him. He'll get an apprentice soon, she thought, somewhat sadened by the fact that she hadn't recieved her own apprentice yet.

Pinefur looked at the taller tabby, and thought she recognized a look of discomfort flit across his face. She figured that it might've been due to the muddy ground, covered with a light layer of damp grass. Only then did she notice the mud between her own toes, and dreaded when she'd have to wash it out. Maybe it'd be easier in a pool of water. Pushing her thoughts of mud away, Pinefur squinted her eyes and noticed the small strip of woodland that Ravenglide mentioned earlier. She shook the raindrops off her whiskers, and pushed onwards, flicking her ear as a signal for him to follow.

A bird cried an alarm and fluttered through the foliage as Pinefur bounded into the undergrowth, for once, relieved that they would no longer need to tread on soft, muddy ground. Surely ShadowClan cats would've grown webbed feet by now, she reflected. Turning, she almost bumped into Ravenglide's chest when she remembered that he must've been following close behind. Giving herself some space by taking a few steps back, the brown she-cat parted her jaws and attempted to breathe in any traces of prey-scent, which unfortunately, was much more difficult due to the rain.

All she could detect was Ravenglide's warm, familiar scent. Pinefur became unfocused as she breathed it in, ignoring the damp tang to it. Even still, it made her feel so secure and safe. The way he was acting even made her feel cared about. It's probably nothing. she told herself, trying to focus on hunting once more. But was it? He was making her feel so different... not like she usually did, even when talking to another tom - which of course, barely ever occurs. Ravenglide was the only one whom she'd actually taken an interest too. Pinefur herself didn't exactly know what "interest" meant; either she was interested in how Ravenglide treated others, or how he treated her.

['a v i <3]

Ravenglide felt a suprised look overcome his face, at Pinefur's seemingly relaxed comments, and felt even more surprised as she bounded off ahead of him. With a warm purr, he followed her. His long legs easily caught up to her short, ones as they ran he could feel his pelt slightly brush hers. He kept glancing at her, to check that that was okay.

I have never seen this side of her... he thought to himself. He liked it, more like loved it. Pushing ahead of the she-cat he skidded to a stop as they reached the forest area. Pausing to shake the rain off of his face one more time he duckes under the cover of a neighbooring oak tree.

Looking at the beautiful she-cat that he was spending the day with him, a warming sensation overcame him. He stared at her, his jaw dropping and unknowningly looking like an idiot. Softly he said, "I think you are beautiful, Pinefur."[/b] He wasn't sure what pushed him to say it... but he had, and he prayed she wouldn't freak out.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur was just about to pad over to the roots of a tree, where she scented mouse, when she heard Ravenglide's soft voice. What did he say? Even when she had no clue if she heard him correctly, her face grew red and her skin felt hot underneath her thin pelt. Her ivy-green eyes widened with surprise and she turned toward the taller tom, trying to form words, but she could only stare at the ground in embarrassment. She had never been complimented before. Especially not by a cat like Ravenglide. His words overwhelmed her, and she wished she could control her feelings, but she couldn't, and she ended up running off into a random direction, aiming for more undergrowth as she pushed through some bushes and out of sight.

Her breathing was hard when she came to a halt at a holly bush, and she sat down to rest for a few moments. Mouse-brain! Why did you run off like that? You were so rude to him after he complimented you! Have you lost your mind? a voice hissed at her in her mind. She only shook her head, and tried to make her heartpace slow. Pinefur wasn't purposely being rude to Ravenglide, it was just that she wasn't used to being treated so gently. Ravenglide was overwhelming her; but not in a bad way, but instead, in a way that makes her feel strange and warm, and most of all, cared for. But why? Why had he called her beautiful? She'd always thought she was the opposite. She'd always thought that her fur was the color of fox dung and her size made her weak.

Pinefur sighed, and expected Ravenglide to just leave her in the woods and hunt by himself. After being so fox-hearted, surely he would? But part of her appreciated his compliment. Not even part of her, actually, all of her. His words made her feel like she wasn't just another cat. Oh, why does he have to make me feel like this? she thought miserably. She got butterflies in her stomache whenever she repeated his quiet words in her mind. No, it's not Ravenglide's fault. It's mine. It's my fault for running away and leaving him standing there. I'm not good enouogh to hunt with him, she told herself, trying to hold back tears as she went on thinking about everything that made her a bad Clanmate; which was everything, to her.

['a v i <3]

Ravenglide stepped backwards, surprised- as the she-cat pelted away from him. His eyes widened in shock he mewed, "Pinefur! Wait! I'm sorry if I upset you! Come back!"

Silence greeted his plea, and he hissed in frustration. Why did he always ruin everything? Well, this was one she-cat he was not prepared to loose. Turning sharply he pelted after her. As he bounded across the forest he felt brambles tug at his fur, "Mousedung!"he cursed aloud.

Finally, he pelted into the clearing where she had stopped. Gasping for air, he padded towards her and dipped his head, " Pinefur... I won't apologize for complimenting you, however I will apologize for upsetting you. I'm sorry that I said it so suddenly, but it's true... Can't you see that?"

Whoa, smooth; he thought. Way to play it cool, all the clans are going to know you as the tom that can whoo the ladies. Sighing he sat down, extending a paw to the she-cat. He didn't know if she would take it, but it was worth a shot.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Pinefur jumped in alarm; she hadn't expected Ravenglide to crash through the undergrowth and into the clearing so suddenly. Her clouded eyes widened and she turned her head away, too embarrassed to look at him. Why had he came back? She was even surprised that he was apoligizing. For upsetting her? She felt so humiliated that she would've died at that moment, if she could. But she couldn't, and she had to face him sooner or later. "I-I, er, R-Ravenglide, you d-didn't upset me," she meowed quietly, whiskers twitching nervously.

How can he possibly think I'm beautiful? she thought to herself, wondering if Ravenglide was playing a joke on her. But how could he, when his voice sounded so sincere? And the fact that he came back made less sense. When would she stop asking so many questions? Rising to her paws, Pinefur attempted to hide her face, so Ravenglide wouldn't see the anxious expression on it. "Er, we should hunt now," she added quickly. Turning, the brown she-cat made her way out of the clearing, feeling relieved that she didn't have to face the tom. Maybe hunting will take my mind off him, she decided.

The scent of prey made her return to her senses, and she pinpointed a mouse scuffling at the roots of a heather bush. Crouching, Pinefur began to stalk it, her paws silent and her movements swift. With a leap, she landed squarely on it's back and killed it with a bite to its neck, sending a quick prayer to StarClan as she buried it. But before moving on, Pinefur stood there for a moment, Ravenglide returning to her thoughts. Maybe he was only joking around with her, and this was all just a trick. She wanted to believe it, but a part of her wasn't even sure what was going on. Maybe things would become clearer when they return to camp.

['a v i <3]

Ravenglide watched Pinefur, as she stammered to deny that he had upset her. With a deep sigh, the tabby tom nodded his head as she said that they shoud hunt. As she located, stalked, and killed the mouse, Ravenglide watched her. She didn't realize, and probably never would realize how beautiful that Ravenglide thought she was.

Inhaling a deep breath the tabby tom scented vole. A rare prey to be found in WindClan territory as if mostly preferred RiverClan and ThunderClan's territories. Using his senses, he located the plump creature, eating an acron under a close Oak tree. Dropping fluidly into a crouch, he skimmed over the leaves and twigs. When he was less than a fox-length away he stepped on a twing, causing a loud snapping noise to echo through the forest. The vole froze, and began to scurry over the roots of the tree, but Ravenglide as to quick for it. Taking a gigantic leap, and landing just behind it with a grunt. He flashed out a paw, claws unsheathed and dragged the vole to him, killing it with a quick blow to the spine.


Giving a quick thanks to StarClan, he turned back to Pinefur, a deep purr rumbling in his chest. Trotting back to the pretty brown she-cat he dropped his prey at his paws and mewed, "Do you want to eat while we are out, or wait till we get back to camp?"
His tail twitching her awaited a response from the pretty she-cat.

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