Defined [stormeh]

['a v i <3]

The early morning light streamed through the canopy of the tree that Fang and Muse had nested under. As the grey tabby blinked her pale green eyes open, she found herself acutely aware of Fang's pelt pressed up against hers. Slowly she shifted away, and stood. Stepping softly she inched out of the nest, and padded to the edge of the pond. Bending down she lapped some of the cool pond water, then sat back to scent the air.

She could smell a strong scent of vole and mice, and padded slowly towards the smell. She assumed Fang's paw would be sore enough, that he wouldn't need to be traveling.... let alone hunting. Though she also knew that the tom was going to keep traveling even if his paws wore down to little nubs. Stifling a purr of amusement, at an image of the tom tottering around with no paws.

The scent of water vole grew stronger as she neared a clump of reeds and soon she spotted two of the plump creatures. Creeping slowly around them, she slipped into a crouch and padded towards them. At the last heartbeat she lept landing on one vole and killing it then quickly perusing the other. The second was a messy kill but she caught it barely.

Turning to pick up the other vole she trotted back towards the pond. She sat her prey near the nest, and began chewing on the burdock root to make a pulp and await Fang's awaking.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

The faint scent of prey roused Fang from his slumber, and his eyelids cracked open. The sunlight made him squint his eyes and blink a few times. Letting out a grunt, the black and white tom pushed himself off of his side and into a sitting position, a yawn escaping his throat. His muscles were extremely sore, but at least his paws felt somewhat better.

Slowly, he let his gaze wander around his surroundings until he noticed Muse. His eyes rested on her, then on the roots she was chewing. More medicine? He sighed. "You didn't have to. My paws are better and I could've hunted for both of us," he meowed dryly, whiskers twitching. Fang didn't mean to be so grumpy in the morning - it was just how he woke up everyday.

Having someone with him made it slightly easier, but when his entire body was sore, it wasn't very pleasant. Without thinking, Fang stretched his paw out and was just about to grab the vole, but he realized at the last heartbeat that he was acting fox-hearted. "Er, go ahead," he muttered, pulling back and, instead, taking a few moments to stretch his aching limbs.

['a v i <3]

Blinking her pale green eyes, Muse nosed the plumper vole towards Fang silently. Taking the other one she walked a few paces away and settled down to eat it. Biting into the vole, she let her mind wander. Why had Fang been so snappy? Shaking off the thought she decided that if Fang wanted to be sour, he could.. but she was going to be friendly.

Finishing her vole she looked up and said with an edge to her voice, "I am treating your paws whether you want them treated or not. What use will you be with no paws?" Standing she padded back to her pile of burdock root and chewed it up slowly, letting the bitter juices seep into her mouth.

Halfway she wondered how Fang would take being ordered around by her, but she halfway figured she could take him. He sure was grouchy this morning, and she assumed that his paws were really bothering him. Waiting for the tom for finish eating, she sat there and looked around at the pond, marveling in it's beauty.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Fang said nothing at Muse's reminder and stared down at his paws. She was right; they were still badly scratched and sore, and without treatment, they could get worse. Letting out an inaudible sigh, he just nodded and grabbed the other vole that Muse had caught. Reflecting on how he had greeted Muse this morning, he realized that he might've been a bit too snappy. Should he apoligize? No, Muse probably already knew he didn't mean it.

Slowly swallowing small chunks of the vole, Fang glanced around, letting his surroundings sink into his mind. If they ever needed to turn back, returning to the pond would be the best choice. But why would they need to turn back? They'd find shelter soon enough, and then... then he and Muse would part, depending on what she did. She could stay in the shelter they find, or even stay with him... no, there was no reason for her to stay with him. Why would she?

After all, he had proven after his dillemna with Jake and almost losing Muse in the Twolegplace that he was dangerous enough. Knowing that Jake was somewhere near them alone sent a shiver down his own spine. He couldn't imagine what Jake would do to Muse if he found her. No, I won't let him hurt her. Fang didn't want to see another cat die because of him, especially someone he was beginning to get close to.

['a v i <3]

With a sigh the grey tabby she-cat finished her vole, and stood. She padded back to the pile of burdock root and nosed it. She decided that it was ready and looked at Fang. "Alright, stretch out your paws and let me work on them. You may need to consider resting today, and yes I know you're not going to want to, but think about it."

Waiting on his paws, she felt her mind wandering about whether they should continue traveling today. Honestly they shouldn't Fang really needed to rest his paws, but Muse knew just how stubborn tom's could be. He wouldn't want to admit that he was hurt, and she understood that but lying about the fact wasn't helping either of them.

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Fang did what he was told and even considered Muse's suggestion, which half-served as his apology for acting so rude that morning. After all, she was the one who was taking care of him. Come to think of it, why was Muse even looking after him at all? He'd already proven how dangerous he was, yet here she was; applying a strange, but soothing type of medicine on his sore paws, and even went out of her way to hunt for the both of them. If Muse had been anyone else, Fang would've marked this kind of behavior as suspicious, but he felt like she had a kind heart.

"No, Muse. We have to keep moving. My paws are better, really," he reassured her, flexing his toes to show her that he was telling the truth. Well, some truth. They still ached, but only slightly. Whatever Muse put on his paws seemed to have done the trick. "Thanks to you," he added. This time, he wasn't thanking the herbs she used, but herself. Fang had zero knowledge about herbs, and if it wasn't for Muse, he wouldn't have any paws by then.

Looking up at the sky, the sun told him that it wouldn't be long until it would reach its highest point. Fang would rest, like Muse adviced him to, but not for long. In fact, the only reason he planned to rest at all was because he truly didn't want to put so much burden on Muse's shoulders, since he owed her for everything she'd done so far. Looking back on the day they first met up in that alley, he found it somewhat amusing that he had thought that she would only get in his way. But now, maybe he was the one getting in her way.

['a v i <3]

Muse

Smearing the burdock root on Fang's paws gently, the tabby she-cat could tell that the herb had done a decent work of healing the night before. She could tell he was at least considering not traveling today, but even she knew eventually he'd say they were.

'No, Muse. We have to keep moving. My paws are better, really' he had said, then thanked her for helping them. Blinking her pale green eyes at Fang, she dipped her head slightly and replied, "All-right. But, if they start hurting you again, we'll need to stop and either way I will have to find some burdock root and treat them tonight."

Once she was done, she turned away and mewed, "I know your itching to be off, so let me wash this off my paws and I'll be ready." Padding off to a puddle near the pond she slipped her paws in the icy water and rubbed them vigorously against each other. Once they were clean to her satisfaction, she turned back to the tom and shook her pelt gently. She was ready.

186

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Burdock root. So, that's what it was called. The stuff that was making his paws feel better. He mentally noted himself about remembering that name, just in case he'd need it and Muse wasn't with him. But either way, Fang figured that he'd just forget it later on. Maybe, he'd remember just for Muse's sake. When she went down to the pond's shore, he felt a bit confused. He would've rested for a bit, like Muse had wanted him to, but she wanted to go now?

How... thoughtful of her. She wasn't even considering what she wanted, only what Fang wanted. Fang realized, that for all this time, Muse had been following his orders, but he wasn't following hers. Lying to her about Jake only made it worse. Suddenly, he felt sick to his stomach. But he knew that no herb could cure the shame he felt. Rising to his paws, he didn't mind the slight pain as he manuevered his way down the small, but steep slope and onto the pond's shore.

He almost bumped into Muse, but he stopped himself just in time. However, Fang was standing a bit closer to her than he expected. His muzzle was less than a mouse-length away from hers, and he could feel the warmth radiating off her body. But, he didn't move away, like he usually would've. His strange, yellow gaze locked with hers. "It'a alright, Muse. If you want me to rest, then I will," he told her softly, his voice sincere. It's just that he felt guilty for acting so blind. Muse was wonderful... and he kept ignoring everything that she did for him. He really did appreciate her, and maybe even... care about her.

['a v i <3]

The grey tabby she-cat blinked her eyes in astonishment. He was saying he would rest? Her heart thumped at the closeness of him as he looked down at her, and she took a deep breath to make herself calm down. "Um-Um... I think you should rest.. b-but if you want to go, we can..." she stammered nervously.

He was really close to her, so close that she just wanted to close the last bit of distance between them. Shaking those dangerous thoughts out of her head, she took a half step back, and looked at the pond. "This place wouldn't hurt if we stayed another night. "

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Fang noticed the moment when Muse took a step back that he had been too close for her liking. His whiskers twitched in slight embarrassment and he aknowledged it by putting some distance between him and the pretty tabby - just in case. He followed her eyes as they rested on the pond, and he nodded briefly. It had't occured to him that he had been acting unlike himself during those few moments. It was the first time he actually felt close to someone. Not in a physical way, but in an emotional one. It was the first time where Fang didn't care about his reputation.

The soft coating on his face vanished and was replaced by his usual serious self, the only different being when his eyes betrayed the confusion in them. But now was not the time to be thinking about something as worthless as his feelings. "Er, I'll go back to... to our nest. If you need anything, you know where to find me." It wasn't surprising that Fang had to pause in between his words a few times, considering how he was trying to think about what just happened and speak at the same time.

The black pelted tom turned to climb up the slope, but he paused for a couple of heatrbeats, staring at the ground. He turned back, opening his jaws to say something else, but there was nothing more to say. In retrospect, he had done enough. He blinked at Muse one last time before scrambling up the slope - without turning back, this time. The tom wasn't as exhausted as he was the day before, but it was as if his paws were doing the work for him. They led him to the nest he shared with Muse and he curled up in it, her scent still somewhat fresh and making it all the more difficult to push her out of his thoughts. But he didn't resist when sleep came to overpower his mind.

['a v i <3]

Muse

The pretty grey tabby watched her companion pad up the slope and back to their nest. Her pale green eyes never left, him as she watched his tail tip until she could see it no longer. Once he was out of her sight, she turned her green gaze to the pond and reflected at how close he had stood to her. She could still feel the heat, from his body even away from him. Flushing with embarrassment, she stood and padded around the pond carefully watching where she stepped.

As she padded around the pond, she watched the minnows swim away from the bank, and felt her tail twitch. It had been a long time since the she-cat had fished in two-leg gardens. However she wasn't very hungry currently, her mind was still on Fang.

Why had he stood so close to me? I know he had to feel the heat between us. There is no way that he ment that to be anything more than conversation... but then why do I feel like it ment more?

[♦ stormeh ♦]

ooc;; Dogs?


Fang suddenly woke, his eyes flickering from side to side, claws unsheathed and his heart pounding against his chest. There was no way in which he could descibe the nightmare he had just experienced. It was him, with Muse, like from the dream before, and in the same golden meadow of wheat. They were walking alongside each other, again, and the feeling of warmth and security sprouted in his heart. But then everything turned into chaos. Snarling dogs ran from every direction, first pummeling into Muse, then into Fang.

But instead of eating him, the dog placed a strong paw on his stomache and throat, restraining him from escaping. From then, he was forced to watch as they tore Muse apart, flinging pieces of her body aside and digging into her once more, until Fang woke up. He could still distinguish the reek of dog and blood. So much blood...

When the tom didn't find Muse in their nest, his throat dried. Did the dogs drag her away? Have they already mauled her? Frantically, Fang scrambled out of the nest, instictively heading down by the pond's shore. But as soon as he half-fell, half-scrambled down the slope, the black and white pelted tom noticed a lump of gray tabby fur. There was no blood. Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Fang padded toward Muse and nosed her side.

"Wake up. We're going now." As his glance wandered about, he couldn't help but think about what happened earlier that day. He could still feel the warmth of her body - or maybe that was just him. Looking up at the sky, Fang confirmed that it was already past sunhigh, watching as the orange sun slowly made its way down to the horizen. The sky filled with beautiful purple-maroon colors, making it hard to tear his gaze away so he could see if Muse heard him.

['a v i <3]

--muse

The grey tabby had settled beside the pond and must of fallen asleep because before she knew it she was dreaming. In her dream she was back in her nest under the two-leg den, but she wasn't alone. Fang was lying beside her. Even in her dreams, the warmth of his pelt made her face flush with heat and his scent made her heart flutter.

Feeling a prod in the side, Muse jerked her head up and started when she realized that it was Fang who had poked her. Blinking rapidly she looked around wondering what was happening. 'Wake up. We're going now.'

Looking a bit ditzy, the she-cat stared at Fang until she fully understood him. Shaking away the sleepiness, she blinked her pale green eyes a few times before replying, "Alright. I'm ready. " Slowly clambering to her paws, the she-cat shook her pelt, and began licking at her chest before stopping remembering Fang's words only a day before. 'Stop licking yourself, you look fine' he had said, or something along those lines.

Stopping mid-lick almost self-consciously she attempted to fix and astute expression on her face as she faced her traveling companion. "How are your paws feeling?" she asked kindly, in a general attempt to start a conversation.

214

[♦ stormeh ♦]

Fang felt a hint of amusement when Muse started to groom herself. He figured that she was remembering the day he had told her to stop trying to look presentable, since she had stopped mid-lick. He felt a bit guilty for saying that, since it seemed like she was determined to never groom herself again, which, to be honest, was something he'd rather her not do. But it was his fault, anyway.

Her voice was genuinely interested and soft when she asked him how his paws were doing. While he slept, they must've healed completely, because he couldn't feel even a prickle of soreness. "They're as good as new," he meowed, even managing a small smile of gratitude. He didn't know why he did it. Maybe he was just in a good mood. Then again, he was always in a good mood when he was with Muse... It's probably just nothing, he thought to himself.

Fang glanced around and was disappointed that they had to leave the pond. It would be a perfect place to stay for a few days, but they had to keep moving - especially with Jake on the loose. The mere thought of the muscular tabby tom, and those amber eyes full of hatred, sent a shiver down his spine. He made a mental note to remember where the pond is located. It wouldn't be hard though, since it's just a large body of water. Who wouldn't be able to recognize it?

['a v i <3]

--muse

The grey tabby, blinked her green eyes at Fang, and kneaded her paws impatiently, before stepping away from the pond and heading up the slope. Once up the slope he could take the lead, but if they were moving she wanted to be moving. She glanced back over her shoulder one last time, and felt a twinge of regret that they were leaving the pond. This place had prey, and shelter- but it wasn't for them.

Sunhigh had passed, and the sun was slowly waning into the sky, creeping into the mid afternoon hours when it was the warmest. Letting the sun warm her grey tabby pelt, Muse felt content as they began leaving the pond, and starting off again. Fang said his paws were better, and she hoped they were. A half of day of rest was much needed for their recovery. "How'd you sleep?" she asked causally, to start a conversation.