The sun had barely started to rise when Minknose found herself awake, much earlier than the rest of her clan-mates - save for those who typically like waking up at dawn. The warrior fought the urge to shut her eyes, knowing she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, and pushed herself up and out of her nest. A soft hum escaped her lips when she looked up at the sky, the tiredness washing away when she saw the beautiful array of colours. Maybe I should wake up earlier more often. Tail curled in joy, Minknose looked around before deciding to go out of camp for a walk, determined to continue the peace of the morning.
Soon enough, Minknose found herself at the fishing stones, subconsciously drawn by the comforting sound of the stream. Purring softly, she peered over the rushing water to see if she could catch any fish for her clan. I might as well make myself useful. Much to her disappointment, there seemed to be no signs of life. The dappled feline sat for a moment, trying to think of what else to do before a rather... silly idea popped into her mind. Minknose stared at the water longingly, realizing how long it had been since she splashed around and simply played like when she was an apprentice with her sister and father. Sheepishly looking around to confirm she was alone, the riverclanner hopped into the stream and kicked her paws, watching the beautiful sprays of water reflected in the early sunlight. A laugh escaped her throat, mixed with the sound of a heart purr as she continued to splash around, enjoying the time by herself.
Squidshade |The Unpredictable of Riverclan|
“Indeed…I suppose you do” he lightly agrees as he listens to her babble once more, it certainly seemed like an anxious coping mechanism. She tries to fill the awkward silence with her words. Rising one of his front paws up instinctively when feeling stray water droplets hit his paw and chest. Quirking a brow up at Minknose but does not comment on the matter. Remaining seated as he keeps his posture inviting as to settle the easily anxious molly before him. Squidshade was not a hundred percent sure as to why he was still here, she obviously was not an apprentice so no curfew was being broken. It was just something about her that made him want to reassure her that he meant no harm.
Blinking slowly in surprise as her shy nervous demeanor suddenly changes. Her eyes brighten up as she stands taller before him as she boldly questions his choice of words in describing her. Lips twitching in a faint grin, his golden eyes reflecting his amusement. “I stand by what I said, maybe even a little quirky” Squid muses. The dark black tom observes and notes that when Minknose was curious about something, she tends to lean forward as if she could find the answers.
“I honestly just assumed it was an apprentice as it usually is, though I had realized I was wrong when I saw you, Minknose” he clarified with a small charming smile. Though his carefree demeanor changes into a more skeptical one as he eyes the dappled molly. Watching her as she moves closer to the stream, he already assumed her next actions due to the mischievous gleam in her blue eyes. “I would not even think about it if I were you” Squidshade sighs out, his ears twitching as he watches her intently. “I haven’t splashed around since I was an apprentice. Like to keep it that way” Squid lightly warns. Wondering if the small molly would head his words or simply follow through.
minknose
At the tom's snort, Minknose felt her cheeks grow even warmer, thankful for her thick fur to block the reddening shade of her skin. Looking at the expression on his face, she could tell he enjoyed her embarrassment - which, unfortunately, only embarrassed her more. At his question, she shook her fur to snap herself out it, and to get the water out from her pelt, trying to avoid splashing the tom but ultimately getting a few drops on his chest and front legs.
"Sorry, I-uh. Yes, I guess so. I've been told that I'm very forward many times. A blessing and a curse really, can't seem to stop the words from coming out of my mouth." Minknose explained sheepishly, ears flattening as she lowered her posture. At his reassurance, she couldn't help but spring back up into her happy-go-lucky self, though it was immediately dimmed by his word choice. Trying not to make her curiosity too obvious, Minknose leaned forward, "Strange? I've heard that before, but not often. Strange and refreshing, though? That's a first. I don't think I quite understand."
"You're not interrupting..." She started shyly, gently digging at the earth with her front paw. "Although I'm not quite proud to be mistaken for an apprentice, I am grateful for the company." Minknose smiled, glancing at Squidshade once more with a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes. "When was the last time you splashed around for fun?" The riverclanner slowly began shifting towards the stream once more, preparing to jump in or splash him, depending on his response.
Squidshade |The Unpredictable of Riverclan|
Humming in thought as his molten gold eyes flicker over towards the stream, taking note that there certainly was no fish lurking in the cool water. His attention drifting back towards Minknose as she hurriedly exits the stream. Squidshade could easily detect that he had embarrassed the molly for catching her playing around in the water. He had never been the best at socializing with others, his aloof demeanor tended to put others on edge, not knowing how to approach the dark tom. Flicking his tail side to side slowly as he debates if he should leave her to collect herself, knowing he had caught her off guard.
Yet, he spent too much time within his mind, trying to figure out what he should do. That the tall tom had almost not noticed that Minknose had moved closer towards him. Arching a quizzical brow, was there something on his face? Refraining the urge to wipe his face with his paw as his observant gaze remains on the smaller molly. It would seem that she had not been fully aware of her actions, watching her jump back in surprise, how odd. Tilting his cranium towards the side, his ears twitching as he listens to Minknose ramble and stumble over her words. It was kinda cute to watch her become flustered.
A soft snort of amusement escapes the back of his throat as she absentmindedly called him handsome. Now this was certainly a first for Squidshade, as he was not use to such compliments. At least not in such a forward manner. The tiredness that clung to his form moments prior had instantly vanished from interacting with the easily embarrassed she-cat. His golden eyes lighting up in silent laughter as he watches her face morph into pure horror when she realizes what she had just said. Squid had expected her to backtrack but was even more pleasantly surprised when she dug her grave even more.
“Hmm…are you this forward with everyone?” Squid teases with a small grin on his handsome features. He hoped to ease her anxiety with his little tease. “Thank you for the compliment, it wasn’t what I was expecting but I shall take it nonetheless” Squid softly says, settling down on his hunches, hoping his lax posture will bring her some comfort that he was not put off with her rambling. “I don’t think you are a fool. Strange…in an refreshing way” he teases Minknose once more. “I apologize for interrupting your personal time…I had thought you were an apprentice sneaking off” he suddenly adds while he watches Mink with keen interest.
Squidshade |The Unpredictable of Riverclan|
A tired yawn escapes the tall dark tom-cat, his dark molten gold eyes flicker around tiredly. He could not believe he had allowed Pebblebelly to convince him once again to stay up most of the night at the docks just so Pebblebelly could continuously jump off the two-leg made wooden dock into the dark waters. Typical behavior of his idiotic brother, someone had to watch him to make sure the fish brain did not drown! Though, he would admit that the solitude of laying on the dock, starring at the moon’s and star’s reflection in the lake was soothing to his soul. That is, until Squidshade sadly remembered he had Dawn patrol duties.
Oh how he wanted to strangle his brother, who merely laughed a farewell before retreating to bed. Tsk. Which leaves the dark black brooding tom in the present. The exhaustion coating his golden eyes as he pads away from the patrol, thrilled to be done with his morning duties. His warm nest singing to him as he longed to curl up and sleep the day away. Yet, his goal is halted when he nears the fishing stones. He expected to hear the soothing sounds of the water rushing through the stones. Instead he is greeted by a joyful laughter, eyes narrowing as he stares off in the direction of the noise.
‘That better not be apprentices sneaky off early in the morning!’ Squid grunts in annoyance as his bed would have to wait. Trudging grumpily through the foliage, his large black frame stopping at the edge of the small river. Confusion painting onto his face as his eyes land on Minknose, a warrior light-heartedly splashing in the shallows like an apprentice. ‘Another Pebblebelly’ Squidshade sighs at the thought. “Isn’t it a little early to be messing around? You are probably scaring away the fish” He decides to speak out. His voice soft yet gravelly as he takes a small step forward as he eyes the dappled molly curiously.