Rock's & Blessed's Place

[Hexict]

@Clover


The tom noticed Blessed's fur beginning to fluff up, but he decided he was too exhausted to think about too much about it. Rock wasn't the best at reading others anyway. Due to living on his own for most of his life, he basically only knew hostile expressions - or pretty much anything that was straight forward and obvious. So he wasn't sure what Blessed could be thinking at that moment. Probably something I said, he shrugged it off.

As they both gathered what they could in order to make a nest, he began to wonder what would happen in the morning. They had agreed upon resting for the night in order to stay warm and gather their energy, but they never said what they would do when they woke up. He was sure that he wouldn't gain too much energy from just one night - especially since he would spending it with a stranger in a strange cave in a strange clearing with little supply for a nest. His grey fur prickled a bit at the thought. Rock doubted that they would just go their separate ways. This was a nice clearing, he certainly didn't wish to leave it and wasn't sure if Blessed would either.

When they both met up again to see what they had gathered, he was still cautious towards her. Despite being unaware and oblivious towards emotions he still felt that something suddenly seemed... off about the silver molly. When their gaze met, she didn't seem to look away at first and he was unsure as to why that was. Rock felt a bit self-conscious due to this. The tom did notice her ears blush and at first he believed it to be because of the temperature. But when she began speaking she seemed flustered and awkward now, where before she had spoken clearly. "Yeah, we should probably take them to the cave now. Maybe we should sleep soon... I mean, the more we sleep the better right?" He mewed, his tone a bit gruff still.

The dull tabby stiffened as he began to suspect something. Does she... like me? He felt his out pelt heat up at the thought of Blessed possibly forming a crush towards him. No, we hardly know each other. We're practically strangers... but just the thought of her feeling that way towards him made Rock start thinking himself. Sure Blessed was actually quite beautiful, with her silver pelt and sparkling blue orbs, not to mention that she seemed strong... Rock shook his head. He wanted to block the thoughts away. Blessed was beautiful and strong and that scared him.
His whole life he was trying to prove that he was strong enough to live on his own, and that caused him to become distrustful towards other and he feared that becoming close to someone would just weaken him. And if he fell for Blessed, then he would trust her and that trust would bring down his walls and leave him vulnerable and weak.

And even though he didn't want that to happen, the though and possibility was now already in his head.

[Clover]

Originally Posted by Hexict

@Clover


The tom noticed Blessed's fur beginning to fluff up, but he decided he was too exhausted to think about too much about it. Rock wasn't the best at reading others anyway. Due to living on his own for most of his life, he basically only knew hostile expressions - or pretty much anything that was straight forward and obvious. So he wasn't sure what Blessed could be thinking at that moment. Probably something I said, he shrugged it off.

As they both gathered what they could in order to make a nest, he began to wonder what would happen in the morning. They had agreed upon resting for the night in order to stay warm and gather their energy, but they never said what they would do when they woke up. He was sure that he wouldn't gain too much energy from just one night - especially since he would spending it with a stranger in a strange cave in a strange clearing with little supply for a nest. His grey fur prickled a bit at the thought. Rock doubted that they would just go their separate ways. This was a nice clearing, he certainly didn't wish to leave it and wasn't sure if Blessed would either.

When they both met up again to see what they had gathered, he was still cautious towards her. Despite being unaware and oblivious towards emotions he still felt that something suddenly seemed... off about the silver molly. When their gaze met, she didn't seem to look away at first and he was unsure as to why that was. Rock felt a bit self-conscious due to this. The tom did notice her ears blush and at first he believed it to be because of the temperature. But when she began speaking she seemed flustered and awkward now, where before she had spoken clearly. "Yeah, we should probably take them to the cave now. Maybe we should sleep soon... I mean, the more we sleep the better right?" He mewed, his tone a bit gruff still.

The dull tabby stiffened as he began to suspect something. Does she... like me? He felt his out pelt heat up at the thought of Blessed possibly forming a crush towards him. No, we hardly know each other. We're practically strangers... but just the thought of her feeling that way towards him made Rock start thinking himself. Sure Blessed was actually quite beautiful, with her silver pelt and sparkling blue orbs, not to mention that she seemed strong... Rock shook his head. He wanted to block the thoughts away. Blessed was beautiful and strong and that scared him.
His whole life he was trying to prove that he was strong enough to live on his own, and that caused him to become distrustful towards other and he feared that becoming close to someone would just weaken him. And if he fell for Blessed, then he would trust her and that trust would bring down his walls and leave him vulnerable and weak.

And even though he didn't want that to happen, the though and possibility was now already in his head.

"Yes. It's... Umm.. Not terribly late... But the.. the cold is.. biting," she whispered in response, ears flattening tighter against her skull, the sensitive insides tickled by the soft fur of her head. She flicked her tail anxiously, feeling naked and exposed as this strange emotion filled her. The last time this had happened, she had been betrayed and left for dead in the brisk weather of leaf-bare. She gulped down her emotions of anxiety and discomfiture. In a burst of breathless delight, she had fallen for a stranger, and it was not comfortable.

Blessed forced her hackles down, and leaned down towards the pile, picking up her small contribution in her mouth. She straightened up, her head held high on a stiff neck, trying to appear cold and passive, but knowing she was failing, her eyes crinkling and her whiskers held taught. She padded past him with a deliberate quickness, her feet sinking into the freezing snow. She beelined towards the small cave, lifting up her legs to help her trot faster. She glanced back at him for a moment, then focused her eyes forward.

The cave was a hollow in a relatively small ridge, a relatively deep recessed dip. Her ears slowly perked up, and she looked around the cave tentatively, glad for the distraction. It was definitely solid, with thin covering of vines over the entrance. The plants brushed over her back and she shuddered; they felt like snakes, slithering over her sides and dropping down in the back.

Filtered light fell in strips across the floor and walls; it was dimly lit and the wan light made it hard to see, but she was mildly surprised at the conditions of the hollow. The ground was smooth, expected for a shallow depression, which could make a good place for a nest. The only issue was that they would have to curl up together, and she wasn't sure that would fly with Rock. She huffed around the moss and then dropped it by the low dip, ears flicking boredly as she waited for the muscular tom.

[Hexict]

@Clover

(sooo sorry for the late reply! also, since we're roleplaying with it still winter and we are now in summer maybe we should roleplay about one or two more days with them and then time skip a bit to where they have grown a bit more comfortable around each other?)

The cold wind hit the tired tom hard, making him shiver. The weather was cold, but it definitely got worse during the night. Relieved to be able to get some rest now after his travels, he let himself calm down some more. It had been sometime that he could actually allow himself to sleep despite having another cat around - not even when he was with Larch not too long ago. But Blessed was different from Larch. He wasn't sure why though... she just felt different to be around. Almost like he could understand her despite not knowing her all that well. His pelt began to heat u as he realized that he might want to know even more about her. Why am I acting like this? I'd rather just leave in the morning than stick around and get to know some stranger! The Darker tabby told himself.

Though it didn't make it any less true.

The tom noticed the crinkling in the other's eyes though he didn't take much more notice in it. He flicked his tail as she tried to appeared cold. He wasn't sure what to think about her just yet. She seemed to be strong, and Rock wondered how long she had been living on her own like this. The molly did seem exhausted... was she having a tough time like he was? He felt like a weak mess with his wounds that weren't healing properly and the fact that he refused to rest when he could. Was she going through something similar? ... Where's her family?

The moment that thought came to mind he shook it away. It didn't matter where her family was or even if she had none. I don't know her a-and I don't want to know her. Besides, just because she isn't with anyone doesn't mean anything - she might have just left them behind... like I did. His thoughts seemed to temporarily wonder towards his siblings. It had been moons since he had last seen them, he was only about two moons old since he last saw Stream and Aspenmask, though he had been about three moons old when he ran into Mistfall again. He didn't even know about his half-siblings, though he would want nothing to do with them. Rock was over his family. His litter-mates and mother were kind - unlike their father - but they along with the clan were weak since they needed to so desperately rely on others. But he could be strong.

Right?

Rock follows Blessed into the cave, though he was uncertain about the unexplored area. He wrinkled his nose as his set foot into the darkness. Rock didn't enjoy blindly going into a place like this. He was more careful than that. He didn't know what was could be in there and he didn't like the dim light of the place. "Don't tell me," he grumbled as he padded closer towards Blessed. "We don't have to share a nest, right?" He flicked his tail in annoyance, though his ears turned slightly red at the thought of sleeping so close to the tall molly.

[Clover]

Originally Posted by Hexict

@Clover

(sooo sorry for the late reply! also, since we're roleplaying with it still winter and we are now in summer maybe we should roleplay about one or two more days with them and then time skip a bit to where they have grown a bit more comfortable around each other?)

The cold wind hit the tired tom hard, making him shiver. The weather was cold, but it definitely got worse during the night. Relieved to be able to get some rest now after his travels, he let himself calm down some more. It had been sometime that he could actually allow himself to sleep despite having another cat around - not even when he was with Larch not too long ago. But Blessed was different from Larch. He wasn't sure why though... she just felt different to be around. Almost like he could understand her despite not knowing her all that well. His pelt began to heat u as he realized that he might want to know even more about her. Why am I acting like this? I'd rather just leave in the morning than stick around and get to know some stranger! The Darker tabby told himself.

Though it didn't make it any less true.

The tom noticed the crinkling in the other's eyes though he didn't take much more notice in it. He flicked his tail as she tried to appeared cold. He wasn't sure what to think about her just yet. She seemed to be strong, and Rock wondered how long she had been living on her own like this. The molly did seem exhausted... was she having a tough time like he was? He felt like a weak mess with his wounds that weren't healing properly and the fact that he refused to rest when he could. Was she going through something similar? ... Where's her family?

The moment that thought came to mind he shook it away. It didn't matter where her family was or even if she had none. I don't know her a-and I don't want to know her. Besides, just because she isn't with anyone doesn't mean anything - she might have just left them behind... like I did. His thoughts seemed to temporarily wonder towards his siblings. It had been moons since he had last seen them, he was only about two moons old since he last saw Stream and Aspenmask, though he had been about three moons old when he ran into Mistfall again. He didn't even know about his half-siblings, though he would want nothing to do with them. Rock was over his family. His litter-mates and mother were kind - unlike their father - but they along with the clan were weak since they needed to so desperately rely on others. But he could be strong.

Right?

Rock follows Blessed into the cave, though he was uncertain about the unexplored area. He wrinkled his nose as his set foot into the darkness. Rock didn't enjoy blindly going into a place like this. He was more careful than that. He didn't know what was could be in there and he didn't like the dim light of the place. "Don't tell me," he grumbled as he padded closer towards Blessed. "We don't have to share a nest, right?" He flicked his tail in annoyance, though his ears turned slightly red at the thought of sleeping so close to the tall molly.

(maybe you post one more, and then we time skip to spring // summer? we can just have them fall asleep, and do a magical sparkle time skippy!)

Her eyes adjusted, slowly. The cave was deeper than she had thought; it seemed to stretch on into more tunnels, smaller, obviously meant for a rabbit or something else. They could use them- no, they'd never use them. This was only temporary, of course. Right? Yes, of course.

Blessed shook away the thought, head swaying slightly as she tried to physically eliminate the idea. It was inappropriate and stupid; they had just met, and nothing could ever come of it, despite her irrational hopes for the future. She swallowed hard, and straightened up, glancing back at him, her lean runner's body swaying slightly from exhaustion.

She watched him for a moment, her eyes attentive and focused. He seemed so... so... finished; ready to just relax, just sleep and not worry. What had he been through? She could see the scars, the scratches; how many fights and skirmishes had he been forced through? Her eyes scrunched in slight concern, but not pity; it was his choice to be out here, in the wilderness, the cold and the hunger wasting him away to nothing. But that didn't mean she couldn't worry. Does he have someone who cares for with him? she thought gently, worry softening her ice-shard blue gaze. Her tail twitched, and she turned away, not wanting him to see her weak, or soft.

His question was not inherently surprisingly, but she still jumped slightly, a shiver raising the fur along her spines, fingers of cold dragging chills down her legs and neck. How could she answer that? She swallowed hard, eyes closing for a second. "Not unless you want to freeze to death,"she replied snarkily, grimacing slightly, shifting slightly on her feet. "You'll get hypothermia; and honestly, not to be rude or touchy, you don't seem to be in the best condition. Maybe your not weak, but you certainly injured,"Blessed growled softly in response, trying to be imposing and confident. "Your inuries have taken a lot out of you, Rock,"she muttered, quieter this time, less grating.

[Hexict]

@Clover - soooo sorry for taking forever to respond to this :c - and that sounds good~)

As they ventured into the cave, Rock's only intention was to find a suitable place for them to make a nest. He didn't notice any of the smaller tunnels or even how big the cave was. Sleep. That's what was on his mind. His steps were dragging and his eye lids were already closing at he looked around, though he barely even noticed. The tom was too exhausted, he was even beginning to not care if they actually ended up sharing a nest with Blessed... sure he wasn't trusting of her just yet, even if she was pretty and seemed strong... he was distrusting towards many cats to really rest anywhere in fears of one coming upon him in his sleep.

Due to his paranoia towards others, the tom hadn't had good rest for quite some time. He had always just kept moving, trying to get away from the clans and staying clear of other's territories'. That was also one of the reasons why he didn't get any of his wounds check even though the flood had happened awhile back. Of course, he didn't know anything about herbs - no even the basics - and anyone who might know he just wouldn't trust enough to help him. Luckily there was no infection, but his small cuts turned to small scars under his pelt some showing but even more hidden and his joints ached for rest as well as the rest of him.

He sniffed as she retorted that unless he wanted to get sick then it was best for them to share a nest. The tom stopped for a moment, hardly being about to remember a time that he had shared a nest with anyone. That would be back when he lived in the nursery with his litter-mates and mother. The tom felt a slight heart-ache at the thought for Mistfall, Streak, Aspenmask and Petaldown - whom he didn't even know was dead - though he felt nothing at the memory of Boulderglare. He could almost picture their warm pelts pressing against his....

The tom shook his head. I can't be so weak as to think back on that!

He couldn't miss that, or else he will just go crawling back to the clans. It made him sick to think that he had actually tries to return once, back when he was still a kit. But at that time, Otterstar was leader and she was not accepting outsiders into the clans, so the grey kit had to leave with his head down and tail dragging behind. Rock had been forced out of the clan that he had previously ran away from, how pathetic was that? It was so humiliating. He had ran away to escape his father, not even looking back or thinking about his family at the time; and when he returned, the tom was forced out... it made him feel so dumb! Rock didn't wish to return ever again, not to that clan and most likely not to any other.

Fur bristling as she went on to state that he didn't seem to be in good condition. Is she saying that I look weak?! The tom silently snapped, narrowing his tired yellow orbs at her. As he opened his maw to snap out loud, he was stopped as she continued and stated that she wasn't saying he looked weak. Rock suddenly blushed as he realized that he had taken her words the wrong way and had almost snapped at her without thinking it through. He honestly felt a bit flattered when he realized that she was first cat to say that he wasn't weak - it wasn't like others said that he was weak, or not everyone anyway, but no one ever said that he wasn't weak.

Now he was blushing for a totally different reason.

She;s right... I am injured, and even though I'm not weak I'm way to tired to even start a fight if I felt like one anyway, he thought as padded towards Blessed through the dark. As he reached her, the tom dropped his stuff beside and began to form a nest. He forced an irritated tone, though his exhaustion was making his emotions - even anger - dulled. "I may look injured, but I can still protect myself," he pointed out. Rock sighed as he finished creating his portion of the nest, glad that they were almost ready to sleep. "Come on, give me some of your supply, I'll finish making the nest and then we can sleep," Rock didn't even look up at her, he felt too awkward that he was going to have to sleep beside her.

And he was still blushing a bit from earlier.

[Clover]

Originally Posted by Hexict

@Clover - soooo sorry for taking forever to respond to this :c - and that sounds good~)

As they ventured into the cave, Rock's only intention was to find a suitable place for them to make a nest. He didn't notice any of the smaller tunnels or even how big the cave was. Sleep. That's what was on his mind. His steps were dragging and his eye lids were already closing at he looked around, though he barely even noticed. The tom was too exhausted, he was even beginning to not care if they actually ended up sharing a nest with Blessed... sure he wasn't trusting of her just yet, even if she was pretty and seemed strong... he was distrusting towards many cats to really rest anywhere in fears of one coming upon him in his sleep.

Due to his paranoia towards others, the tom hadn't had good rest for quite some time. He had always just kept moving, trying to get away from the clans and staying clear of other's territories'. That was also one of the reasons why he didn't get any of his wounds check even though the flood had happened awhile back. Of course, he didn't know anything about herbs - no even the basics - and anyone who might know he just wouldn't trust enough to help him. Luckily there was no infection, but his small cuts turned to small scars under his pelt some showing but even more hidden and his joints ached for rest as well as the rest of him.

He sniffed as she retorted that unless he wanted to get sick then it was best for them to share a nest. The tom stopped for a moment, hardly being about to remember a time that he had shared a nest with anyone. That would be back when he lived in the nursery with his litter-mates and mother. The tom felt a slight heart-ache at the thought for Mistfall, Streak, Aspenmask and Petaldown - whom he didn't even know was dead - though he felt nothing at the memory of Boulderglare. He could almost picture their warm pelts pressing against his....

The tom shook his head. I can't be so weak as to think back on that!

He couldn't miss that, or else he will just go crawling back to the clans. It made him sick to think that he had actually tries to return once, back when he was still a kit. But at that time, Otterstar was leader and she was not accepting outsiders into the clans, so the grey kit had to leave with his head down and tail dragging behind. Rock had been forced out of the clan that he had previously ran away from, how pathetic was that? It was so humiliating. He had ran away to escape his father, not even looking back or thinking about his family at the time; and when he returned, the tom was forced out... it made him feel so dumb! Rock didn't wish to return ever again, not to that clan and most likely not to any other.

Fur bristling as she went on to state that he didn't seem to be in good condition. Is she saying that I look weak?! The tom silently snapped, narrowing his tired yellow orbs at her. As he opened his maw to snap out loud, he was stopped as she continued and stated that she wasn't saying he looked weak. Rock suddenly blushed as he realized that he had taken her words the wrong way and had almost snapped at her without thinking it through. He honestly felt a bit flattered when he realized that she was first cat to say that he wasn't weak - it wasn't like others said that he was weak, or not everyone anyway, but no one ever said that he wasn't weak.

Now he was blushing for a totally different reason.

She;s right... I am injured, and even though I'm not weak I'm way to tired to even start a fight if I felt like one anyway, he thought as padded towards Blessed through the dark. As he reached her, the tom dropped his stuff beside and began to form a nest. He forced an irritated tone, though his exhaustion was making his emotions - even anger - dulled. "I may look injured, but I can still protect myself," he pointed out. Rock sighed as he finished creating his portion of the nest, glad that they were almost ready to sleep. "Come on, give me some of your supply, I'll finish making the nest and then we can sleep," Rock didn't even look up at her, he felt too awkward that he was going to have to sleep beside her.

And he was still blushing a bit from earlier.

She didn't respond, simply pushed some of her pile towards him, tail twitching slightly. She had seen the way he reacted to her words; stiff, and then almost appreciative. Like he was afraid of being seen as weak, or being weak. She knew how that felt; in WindClan, she had always felt it was a competition, always a race, to see who was faster or stronger or better. If you were seen as weak or incompetent, there would be some sort of shunning. So, Blessed had always been better than them; she would run at night, train against herself, made her reputation well known, as the daughter of the leader and apprentice of Twigstreak, a respected senior warrior. And it was terrifying; weakness was unacceptable.

Slowly the silver molly worked, working grass together into a simple weave, the fibers tough but soft. This would make a fine nest; enough to withstand the cold, but not anything necessarily permanent. She lined the depression with it, her mind wandering far from her task; mostly, why was she so flustered about Rock? He was so rude, so gruff, a stranger who didn't outwardly appear to give a rat's tail about her. He was stubborn and tough, but still, something about him intrigued her; could he really be all that bad? There must have been an event in his past that made him like this. But deep down, she wondered if he could truly be kind, caring even, or at least more sensitive than the boorish tomcat she saw in front of her.

The nest was finished quickly, with him helping take the workload. She added a final layer of spongey moss so that the rough vine-like weeds wouldn't scrape their sides, making sure to pack the green material tightly, so that there was no chance of the stone freezing them through the loose lattice of grass they had created.

Without another word, she swept the debris of the nest material aside and plunked down into the dip, leaving plently of room for the tall, muscular tom, tucking her legs in beside her. She watched him for a second; she spied a hint of a blush coloring his ears pink, the veins pulsing slightly. For a wild, untempered moment, she wondered how soft the fur on the backs would be. Would it be soft, like kitten fluff, or short and ticklish, like the fur of another cat's muzzle? Appalled, she shook the thought away, physically bobbing her head a bit, feeling stupid, even though he had no clue.

But soon, she felt the urge to sleep; it had been a long time since she'd had shelter as nice as this, during the middle of winter. Nowhere had suited her; everyplace was either occupied or freezing. But here, with a companion, she felt strangely safe and warm. Her mouth inadvertently opened in a huge yawn, lips peeling back slightly to reveal white teeth, some chipped from battle, all stained slightly yellow from seasons of hard living.

Trying to fight her weariness, her head bobbed drowsily, chin dipping towards the nest until it finally rested there. She couldn't care anymore if Rock would kill her as she slept; she was just too tired. Ears flattening, she fell asleep, eyes closing, a peaceful look crossing her face.

Blessed felt safe, at least for now.