Walk in the Moonlight {OPEN} - Page 6

**Polaris** · #51 May 6th, 2020, 11:27 AM

Mouse smiled as she said that she could protect herself. "Oh, of course! I wouldn't dream of protecting you." He laughed, nudging her playfully. He knew that Aspenpool was a strong cat. She could take care of herself. But that didn't stop him from worrying about her.

Mouse shook his pelt, knowing that they were getting close to the barn. He inhaled deeply, letting the scents of the forest wash over him. He turned his head to Aspenpool as she asked the question. "Oh, well, like I said, I used to move around a lot. So, I have only just settled down. So maybe...a moon?" He closed his eyes for a moment, in thought. "Yeah, about a moon." He twitched his whiskers, hesitant to say what he wanted to. He shook his head, determined to say what he wanted to.

"I lived around here as a kit...My dad was a warrior of Thunderclan...Once he found at that she was going to have kits, he left her." He growled, still mad. "He left her there, when she was going to have kits!" He shook his head, as if he was still in disbelief that a cat would do that. "I left when I was old enough. I didn't want to see him again. I wandered around before deciding to come back. And I'm glad that I did." His amber eyes looked her over, love shining bright in them. He pushed her a little, playfully, before running ahead, so close to the barn he could smell the hay.

@Camillia

**Camilla** · #52 May 6th, 2020, 11:28 PM

Aspenpool felt instantly silly. Of course, he didn't mean it like that. He just cares. She continued on, her pale green eyes shining as they looked out into the night. They had been confined to meeting in the darkness due to the secrecy of it all. Aspenpool thought maybe she had been trying to remind herself that she didn't need protecting. She really tried not to let her thoughts roam though. Focus in on this moment.

Her eyes turned to look at him for a moment when he mentioned he had just been here for a moon. She felt lucky to have met him. It was hard to wonder what would have been if she had taken her walk just a bit later that first night. They might have missed each other all together. And then what would have come of this? She couldn't imagine now that night going any other way.

She listened intently as Mouse spoke. His words having so much anger. She could tell he was still so hurt by all of this. She felt upset for him. It must feel awful to be forgotten. Left behind. By a parent. Her own parents didn't choose to leave. "Mouse, I'm so sorry. You are better off without him in your life if that is the type of cat he was. I know that doesn't make it hurt any less." She wanted to make him smile, or make him forget all his problems, and while she could offer him companionship and love, she couldn't make everything better. She was glad that he had felt comfortable enough to share that with her.

Aspenpool tried to bat him with her paw but missed as he ran away. She couldn't help but laugh. Her thoughts were quickly broken by a strong strange smell. It was odd and different, yet smelled a little like Mouse. "What do I smell?" she asked smiling at him. She had never really smelled hay before other than what was left on Mouse's pelt.
@wolfnight

**Polaris** · #53 May 7th, 2020, 07:14 AM

Mouse smiled as she asked the question. The anger he had was slipping away as she talked. "Oh. That's the hay in the barn! We're almost there!" He purred loudly, nuzzling her and licking her pelt before racing forward again. I can't wait to show her the barn!

Mouse walked out of the woods, and a field stretched in front of them. He smiled as the barn loomed over them. He breathed in deeply, letting the smell of the barn overpower his nose. He flicked his tail as they walked in, excited to be back home.

The barn wasn't very big. It had a few hay piles and a loft. The moon light shone through the cracks in the boards, making a pattern of light on the floor of the barn. Even from here, he could hear the mice running around in the barn. Mouse smiled and sat down as he took it all in.

@Camilla

**Camilla** · #54 May 7th, 2020, 11:10 AM

Aspenpool nodded quietly towards Mouse when he said it was hay. She padded along for a moment thinking about how much hay there must be for it to have such a strong smell, and how that was probably better nesting then the bramble they used in nests back at camp.

As the forest had reached it's limit, Aspenpool could see a vast field with the moonlight shining directly over it. She felt as if in this moment the moon's only calling was to beam down over this field. It felt peaceful. As she padded through next to mouse, she breathed in deeply, trying to take it all in. The grass felt different on the pads of her paws then the underbrush she was use to walking in. It felt so soft, and she was elated with this notion. Of course she had walked on grass when going to gatherings, and of course they had some grass in the clearing, but it just didn't compare.

She entered the barn next to Mouse and couldn't help but let "Wow" escape her mouth. It felt large to her inside. So much more room than her cramped den back at home. She looked up to see the cracks in the roof of the barn, clearly aged from many moons of watching over it's field. "Mouse, there is so much room here. It's beautiful." She was at a loss for words and was still processing her thoughts about the barn. She loved it!
@wolfnight

**Polaris** · #55 May 7th, 2020, 11:23 AM

Mouse smiled, purring loudly. I'm so glad she loves it! He turned to her, and was going to say something, but his breath was taken away. Aspenpool's sandy pelt was shining in the moon's light. Her green eyes sparkled as she took in the barn. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Mouse swallowed and continued to look at her. He scooted close to her, looking at her face as if he was trying to memorize it. He finally burrowed his head into her fur, breathing in her scent.

"Aspenpool...I know I say this a lot...But I'm so in love with you..." He purred deeply, hoping she knew how much he loved her. He could have stayed there forever in that moment, just him and her, no one else. He sighed and then pulled away from her. "Aspenpool...I know that the clan sometimes get in fights...If there is a fight, and you are hurt bad, someone needs to tell me...I-I don't think I could stop worrying if you didn't meet me one night, and I didn't know why...And if you ever need a place to stay, the barn is always open." He wished he could go with her, back to her clan. He wished he could make sure that nothing happened to her, but he pushed the thought away. She can take care of herself. She's survived so far without you...

Mouse started to groom Aspenpool, wanting to make the most of the small amount of time they had together before the sun rose. Thoughts were racing through his mind a mile a second. I know I would join her clan if I could be with her...But would I be accepted? What if I end up being horrible at clan life...What if Aspenpool won't love me anymore when she sees that! He tried to push the thoughts away, but he knew that they would always be there, tugging at the back of his brain. He shook his head, wishing they would go away.

@Camilla

**Polaris** · #56 May 9th, 2020, 06:44 PM

Bump @Camilla

**Polaris** · #57 May 11th, 2020, 12:25 PM

Bump @Camilla

**Polaris** · #58 May 14th, 2020, 08:50 AM

Just a friendly bump @Camilla

**Space Cat** · #59 May 14th, 2020, 12:53 PM

(hey is it okay if i plop a loner in here?) @wolfnight