Burning the Midnight Oil

[froststream]

Maplepaw sat near the enterance of the den, grooming out all the sticky leaves and brambles from her short fur. Good thing it was short because, otherwise, she'd have a lot of trouble grooming. She had watched Mousepaw be questioned about tonight, and Maplepaw felt a tinglein her throat. She could see guilt behind Mousepaw's beautiful eyes. But, then again, she had always been good at deciphering characters.

As Mousepaw came to the den, Maplepaw felt like asking a million questions to her friend, but did not. Instead, she asked the only one question that would really define the situation. THe scents of fox dung reached Maplepaw's nose, and she covered her wince. Mousepaw had been awfully nice when she was sprayed by a skunk moons ago. The least she could do was not embarass her. But, how could Mousepaw had tumbled right into fox dung? I mean, you could smell fox dung across camp, and even more in the moors. How could swift Mousepaw have fallen like that? The heavy scent blocked mostly everything else. She smelled a strange, sharp scent... Hay? Wheat? She wasn't sure. Only little Maplepaw's sharp nose could tell that.

"Where were you?" she asked finally. She asked it gently but firmly. Then she added, "And don't give me the exploring excuse, Mousepaw. I know you better than that. And, the fox dung? Really?" She sighed. She thought they were close enough friends for Mousepaw to tell her the truth. They had grown up together, for StarClan's sake! From kittenhood to apprenticeship, they had been together.

Finally, she thought she had gathered enough information. The midnight sneaking out... That was probably true. Mousepaw loved exploring. But, the hay? Foxdung? It was more than a coincidence. SHe had snuck out, gone somewhere then covered the scent. But she wouldn't get in trouble for wheat or hay! The moors were full of the golden herbs. Only fox dung was heavy enough to completely conceal the scent of... What? Another cat.

Meekly, Maplepaw whispered, "Who is he?"

[spike]

Mousepaw had darted to the apprentice den as soon as Smallnose allowed her to go. Maplepaw's silence had sounded much harsher than any words. She just turned to the nest across from her friend to hastily work on cleaning her pelt. It wasn't very thrilling to hear Maplepaw suddenly ask her of her whereabouts. Smallnose's voice radiated in her head.

Her body stiffened when the last quesyion was voiced. Mousepaw swallowed the awful taste in her throat. Her eyes nervously gazed outside to see the camp empty. "Don't tell," she begged. "I heard rumors about a bunch of loners suddenly showing up suddenly. I wanted to check it out. Well, I found what I was looking for." Her eyes grew dreamy with memories.

"You should've seen this tom I met, Maplepaw. He was handsome and kind. He treated me like a warrior rather tuan just an apprentice. He was a loner but he was so adorable. He was called Alfa."

[froststream]

Maplepaw felt a thrill rising in her throat. Mousepaw had a crush! She purred, but then said, trying to sound serious, "Oh, Mousepaw. What're you thinking?" But then her purr rumbled louder, and she looked away. There was nothing wrong with a playful crush! Even if it was on a loner... But if Mousepaw said he was a gentleman, he was a gentleman. "Alfa, hmm? He sounds sweet."

Then she paused, sat in her nest and twitched her tail to call Mousepaw over. In a hushed, excited whisper, she giggled, "Tell me all the details! Everything. What he looked like, what he did...." she smiled, then said in a serious voice, "I won't tell. Swear to StarClan."

[spike]

"He was this amazing golden... orange mix," she concluded. "He was young and strong. I don't know what to say to make him better!" Mousepaw gave a sigh of pure adortion. "But the thing is, he's hardly what a loner should be. I've only heard that loners are cruel and terrifying. The only reason they aren't rogues is because they don't have a specific hatres on the clans, merely life itself. Anyways, he was interested in the Clan. I didn't really get a chance to explain much to him when i knew I had togo. You should've seen his face. Those eyes -they were this deep yellow, almost gold, I tell you- they just seemed to beg on their own."

Mousepaw was satisfied that her pelt hardly smelled of the rotten dung or tangy hay, and especially not of Alfa. Her clab would kill her for having a crush on a cat outside of WindClan. "I felt terrible but I had to go," Mousepaw mewed. Her voice was dropping from excited to confused and hushed. "You see... he... he asked me to play a game. He said there weren't enough fun cats willing to play anymore. We wandered to the edge of the meadows where... he said he loved me."

Mousepaw's ears began to glow pink with embarrassment. "I believe him," she admitted. She left out the game though. No reason to tell Maplepaw that. "I promised Smallnose I wouldn't leave camp but I have to see him, Maplepaw. I don't know what to do."

[froststream]

Maplepaw squealed and rolled onto her back. She let out a breath that turned into a giggle. Not a mocking giggle, but an honest to StarClan happiness giggle. She did think this was sort of... Unusual. Bright Mousepaw with a crush on a loner? It was strange. But, then again, they were young, foolish, and well, no harm done.

"He sounds cute," she admitted. "But Mousepaw, what are you thinking. If anyone found out... Well... I don't need to tell you that. But still, Mousepaw, this Alfa tom sure sounds sweet."

Then, as Mouseepaw finished she sat up, her pale blue eyes clouded with worry. "You did promise..." Maplepaw murmured. "I've heard saying that promises were meant to be broken. But... Maybe you could..." Her plan started to form, and she blurted, "You promised you wouldn't sneak out, and so you won't sneak out. You'll go hunting. And, honestly, you will. And, the rabbits are slower and fatter by the barn, what's the harm if you just go that way... Then, if Alfa's there, you never promised you wouldn't talk to a loner. NO harm done. You can talk, but just make sure you come back with prey."

She took a breath, and said quietly, "Do you love him?"

[spike]

Mousepaw was shocked to hear Maplepaw ask that last question. She lowered her head to stare at her paw which seemed to mess with the vegetation of her nest. "Well," she drawled out. "I don't really know. I shouldn't say I do. We only just met, Maplepaw. But nobody has ever treated me so kindly. No warrior, and especially not Bristlepaw. Urf, I hate that cat. But the point is, no tom has ever really called me cute or- or even acted like he cared. I just want that much is all."

Ears burning intensely, she finally muttered, "yes, yes, I love him."

[froststream]

Maplepaw nodded sagely. "Then I think you've found your answer."

Then, she shifted in her nest and laid her head on her paws. She thought of all this. It was... strange. But, still, sweet.

"I've got an idea," she mewled suddenly. "Tomorrow we can use that plan, and I can come with you! I won't invade you guys, I just want to meet him and I'll go. And maybe," her she giggled. "Maybe he has some friends."

SHe laughed, she didn't mean that last part, but she did want to meet him. She wanted to make sure Mousepaw wasn't getting in over her head with nothing.

[spike]

"No!" Mousepaw yelped. "We can't go any time soon. I need to at least regain some trust in Smallnose that I won't run off. We'll go in seven moonrises, okay? He's not going anywhere, Maplepaw. Loners live at that barn. Anyways, I will ask Smallnose if we can go hunting together. Six moonrises of me not sneaking out is a record. She'll agree then we'll go meet Alfa. Okay?" Deciding not to talk aboug their new exploration, Mousepaw hastily changed the subject.

"I'm guessing you haven't found any toms?" she joked. "Not that Bristlepaw even gets a glance. That tom is better off on his own."

[froststream]

Maplepaw lowered her gaze. She didn't exactly feel comfortable now. Mousepaw had just confided in her a secret, deep crush. But yet, now Maplepaw didn't even feel comfortable telling her her crush. What would Mousepaw think or say if she told her about... About Smokepaw? They both knew he was sweet, but she wasn't sure Mousepaw would think it was funny that Maplepaw felt attracted to the serious, mature apprentice who was often seen as a boring, dull cat.

She hadn't even admitted to herself she really liked Smokepaw, yet, either. He was handsome, without a doubt, he was beautiful, but shye didn't know if that's what made her like him in that way. All she knew was, that she felt a light, fluttery feeling in her stomach when she saw him. And, of course, how whenever he spoke to her, she felt like she was on top of the world. He had that way of looking at her... He looked at all the cats the same way, but when he looked at her those round eyes of his seemed to tell her everything. Maybe it was a clue that she liked him that whenever he was around she tried to climb trees better, laugh and smiled a lot. Oh, so what, she was showing off for him. It didn't mean she liked him, did it?

So, to Mousepaw she said. "Um.... No... Not really..." she paused. "But.. yeah. Not really," she finished lamely, in what she knew wasn't even semi convincing.

[Ki]

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Smokepaw slipped into the apprentice den as silently as a shadow. The two she-cats didn't need to fear anything. The serious apprentice didn't seem to have heard a thing. In fact, his eyes were clouded with thought. Smokepaw went to his nest, turned a few circles, then curled up. He was determined not to sleep until the rest of the Clan returned from the Gathering. Not until he heard the news from the other Clans. It took him a few moments to realize that he wasn't the only one in the den. Smokepaw's gaze flickered first to Maplepaw, then to Mousepaw, then back to Maplepaw.

Secretly, he admired Maplepaw. She was so full of joy and life. It seemed the she-cat always knew what to say. She was friendly, skilled, and not sore on the eyes either. But looks didn't really matter in the whole scheme of things, did it? Yet Smokepaw wasn't one to act on his feelings. Everytime one of his own Clanmates spoke to him he had a tiny interal panic attack. What should he say? What should he do? Smokepaw preferred to show himself through his actions instead of through his words. Yet he couldn't even bring himself to give Maplepaw a piece of fresh-kill. He was simply too shy.

Then the smell hit him. Not even the most oblivious cat could stay lost in their thoughts long enough to not notice that stench. "Ugh...Mousepaw...fox dung? How clumsy can you possibly be?" Smokepaw knew that Mousepaw probably didn't fall in it. No...she was skilled on her feet. She'd most likely run off somewhere she shouldn't have gone and tried to cover up the scent. Either way, it wasn't the most pleasant thing to sleep near.

[froststream]

Maplepaw's breath nearly stopped altogether as Smokepaw came in. He looked so mature, so grownup... Like he was a warrior already. Like he knew everything about anyone and it all bored him. He seemed to be concentrating on something else, thank StarClan. As he glanced at her, she was too dazed to even offer a small grin back. Her heat beat inside her, like it was going to burst out and fly.

She needed to say something to him. He looked so handsome... But so independant. She wished she could be his friend, maybe even his.... Ugh. She mentally slapped herself. She was being such a loser, basically crawling after a tom. She didn't want to be annoying, like she was keeping him from sleep, but she did want to talk with him. She had just turned ten moons, and he was nine moons. Like Mousepaw, she had also lived with Smokepaw nearly her entire life. Then why did she feel so nervous? When they were kits they had been friendly with each other. Maybe not best friends, but they spoke once in a while. Then, when they became apprentices, suddenly if she spoke witha tom it was "Maplepaw likes so-and-so." That was what she was afraid of. But she did like him...

"So," she said, lightly, "You... um..." she should've thought nof what she was going to say. Ugh, she sounded like an idiot. If she spoke to him, it would seem as though she was in love with him, even if she only chattered with him just like other cats. And if she ignored him, it would look like she hated him. "You... have a good day?"

Ack! She hated herself. She sounded like she was an elder! Oh, Smokepaw, did you have a nice day? Anything you want to share? She was upset now. But looking at him that melted away.

"I love you," she said. She sat and told him how she felt, everything.

But no. She didn't do that. No. What she did was, she stared at her feet like a kit.

[Ki]

Smokepaw couldn't help but feel that Maplepaw didn't like him for some reason unknown to him. Whenever he came near her she'd always begin to act very strange. As if he were a badger in stead of a cat she'd known most of her life. To keep from getting nervous, he occupied himself by stretching out his foreleg and beginning to groom himself. The smell of fox dung seemed to be clinging to his fur somehow. "Eh...the usual. I did some battle training with Rowanclaw earlier today." Smokepaw glanced up at Mousepaw and Maplepaw. Looking at Maplepaw made him more nervous so he turned his attention towards Mousepaw.

"Let me have a guess." he said in between licks. "You aren't scratched up or dead, so you didn't go gallivanting after a fox or badger. Nor are you stupid enough to do something like that. Hm...did you wander into another Clan's territory? Twoleg Place? Or did you go to see one of those fabled loner Gatherings?" Smokepaw, having decided that his short gray fur was clean of the little dirt that was on it to begin with, straightened up and looked at Mousepaw. His expression was the same as always, but there was an amused glimmer in his green eyes. If he had done something to upset Maplepaw, it was probably due to his sharp tongue. Smokepaw spoke his mind. Always. Whether it was good or bad.

[spike]

"Oh, haha," Mousepaw sarcastically grumbled. "At least I have some fun, Smokepaw. There's no reason to grow up too early, now is there? I would tell you but I don't feel up for it." Smokepaw wasn't a bad cat. But Mousepaw wasn't a fan of cats that were such the opposite of her. Mousepaw loved to explore, maybe get into a little trouble here and there. Smokepaw preferred to train in his free time and concentrate on working. It just didn't blend well.

However, Mousepaw had a sense in her that sparked with confusion. It was for Maplepaw. The she-cat was rarely bad with words. In fact, Maplepaw always had the right words in her paws before she dared utter them. The stammering and uncertain voice made her question what was in that she-cat's mind.

[froststream]

Maplepaw took a relieved breath. Although she didn't exactly like seeing two of the apprentices argue, it was better than having her mumbling and stuttering like a complete idiot. So, taking this chance to say something safe and confident and sure, she mewed pleasantly, "Oh, quit it, you two." She nosed Mousepaw good-naturedly. Then, she sort of hesitated. She didn't want to leave out Smokepaw, so she nosed him too, casually and lightly. She did that with all the other cats, she cat or tom, so why was it such a big deal?

She couldn't deny she felt a weird little dizzying feeling when she touched her nose to his soft pelt, but she decided to try to shake away these feelings. If she acted so odd, he wouldn't like her. She wanted him to like her for who she was, not for what she was pretending to be. So, she put on her regular voice, quickly before anyone could comment, and said, "You two arue like a bunch of badgers."

Oh, no, she hoped that didn't offense him. He didn't seem to be usually offensed, and she didn't want to be that cat.

[Ki]

"There's also no need to stay kits forever, now is there?" Smokepaw mewed in return. He held no resentment towards Mousepaw. They were just two different cats that didn't mix. It was as simple as that. Neither had done anything to make the other very angry...their personalities just didn't mix very well. Besides, what was the sense in hating a Clanmate? At one point your life may rest in their paws. And theirs in yours. And a Clan divided was no Clan at all, was it? Smokepaw said nothing else after that, as Maplepaw didn't really enjoy their bickering. Who did?

Smokepaw's heart skipped a beat when she pressed her nose into his fur. His only visible response, however, was a flick of the tail. It was no big deal. Maplepaw nudged everyone like that. Other apprentices, kits, warriors, her mentor. Smokepaw didn't react to being compared to a badger. He wasn't offended, to be honest. Surely she didn't mean it as an insult. Even if it was, Smokepaw still wouldn't react. Why fly into a rage and tear off someone's pelt because of a few harsh words? If a cat, however, tried to sink their claws into him...that was a different story.

Actions spoke louder than words, after all.