Ramblin' Bramblin' {Brambling and Raven}

[Blossom]

The meadow stretched out before them, long grass swaying gently in the wind as the two she-cats made their way to Bramblingflower's favorite hunting ground. The black and white cat's paw-steps were louder than they should have been, given that they were hunting. Not that she was paying any attention. Her medium-length fur was bristling slightly and her expression was cross as she stared ahead at the grass ahead. There would be a break in the expanse soon, to give way to a small body of water that the warrior had found one day.

"Honestly! Can you even believe him?!" That was the beginning. Now she wouldn't stop until she felt better. "Prancing around every she-cat in the forest as if he were StarClan's gift to us all! Fox-dung!"

Bramblingflower looked over at Ravenpelt sharply. "Did you see him? Did you?" Knowing Juniperclaw, he'd tried to play the newest warrior of MeadowClan, as well. A deep sigh escaped the tall she-cat as she shook her head, settling on trying to think rationally rather than raging without any direction.

Juniperclaw hadn't wanted to go hunting with her because he was too busy talking to Nightstorm, the vile she-cat. What was she thinking? There was nothing wrong with Nightstorm, save her ever-changing mood and temper. It was the tom she was upset at.

"Maybe he likes her better," she mumbled finally, head hanging lower than before as her paw-steps softened. "It doesn't matter anyway, I suppose."

Only it did. She really liked Juniperclaw. Always had. And of course, he knew. That was the worst part about it all. He knew and he played with those feelings, constantly. She wished he would just come to her and be straight with her. Did he like her or not? Did he want her or not? It was all very simple.

Poor Ravenpelt, having to listen to it all. Ears folded back, Bramblingflower looked over at the younger she-cat once more, an apologetic flicker of a smile showing. "Have you ever like a tom so much, Ravenpelt, that you'll let him just walk all over you, no matter how miserable it makes you, and not do anything about it? You know, those toms that your mother warned you about?"

[looney]

Ravenpelt didn't mind listening to her friend, Bramblingflower, rant on about her troubles. If anything, it soothed the black she-cat, to know that others still had things going on in their lives, and trusted her enough to complain about them. Of course, everybody knew they could trust Ravenpelt; she was a trustworthy cat, and most knew that if they told her a secret, she wouldn't tell a soul about it. Looking forward, Ravenpelt knew where her and Bramblingflower were going, and her tail went up a little higher, this was one of her favorite hunting places, and she knew that they would be going back with plenty of prey. She also knew, since she was such a new Warrior, and her friend was a more expieranced Warrior, that she could show off her skills for the older she-cat. Maybe Bramblingflower could even put in a good word to their clan leader, Cedarstar. But of course Ravenpelt couldn't think about that now, her friend was going through some trouble, and she had to be attentive, listen to her problems, process them, and try to help her as best she could. That's what she always did in a time of need.

'Honestly! Can you even believe him?! Prancing around every she-cat in the forest as if he were StarClan's gift to us all! Fox-dung! Did you see him? Did you? Maybe he likes her better. It doesn't matter anyway, I suppose. Have you ever like a tom so much, Ravenpelt, that you'll let him just walk all over you, no matter how miserable it makes you, and not do anything about it? You know, those toms that your mother warned you about?'

During the whole thing, Ravenpelt couldn't even get a word in if she tried, and she knew that Bramblingflower was scaring off all the prey, she was just too nice to say anything about it. Flicking her tail, she touched her friend's shoulder in an affectionate way, but also in a way to tell her to settle down and lower her voice. Even though Ravenpelt was only fifteen moons old, she acted as if she was a Senior Warrior. Sighing, Ravenpelt started to say slowly, "I understand that you feel so bad right now, I do, but I'm not as experienced in that department as most. So as for that question, no, I have never felt that way about a tom before, and hopefully never do, because of hurt I see in your eyes. Honestly, I think you should be straightforward with him. Get him alone and ask him, 'Hey, do you like me or not?', because, well... If you don't, you might be hurt a lot longer than if you just asked him. If you'd like, I could even come with and be there for moral support. That's really the only thing I know to say on that subject though. I'm sorry Bramblingflower."

Ravenpelt shrugged her shoulders and looked kind of awkward. She had never been in love, and she didn't know if she ever would be. She just didn't see herself ever with a tom, or in the nursery with kits toppling over her, and watching them grow older.