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Description

Dark blue eyes flickered open as Conan shifted from asleep to awake. A soft groan fell from the tomcat’s lips as he rolled over in his nest, lying on the flat of his back as he stared up into the morning sky with its beautiful range of pastel pinks and blues. A few determined stars flickered faintly against the backdrop of the sky as a few scattered clouds floated lazily. Spring had just begun to revive the snow-covered landscape though the temperature was still rather frigid. With the arrival of spring came both good and bad. Earth-Tribe had been dealt a severe blow with the death of their leader as well as a couple other Earth-Tribe cats. Not only that but apparently Ross, the Air-Triber Conan had met back in the old land had passed away as well. The Tribes as a whole seemed to be shell-shocked by these deaths and the Earth-Tribe camp had been unsettlingly quiet; with cats speaking in hushed tones and laughter decidedly absent.

The Green-Earth rose from nest, shaking bits of debris free from his pelt as he did so. Another soft groan fell from Conan’s jaw as he stretched, rolling his shoulders slightly before glancing around the camp for a familiar face.

A small cream coloured paw stretched out to nudge a clump of sticky, damp snow. Green eyes flickered briefly to the early sky, before they were dropped once more to the task of uncovering a patch of earth. Shasta was not entirely certain of why she had decided that she wanted – or needed - to see the ground without a covering of snow. She just needed to know that the land was still alive, and that the frigid layer of ice had not done more damage. The desire may have spurred from the recent disasters that had befallen the Tribes in their new homes. Many cats had been killed, some that the Pink-Orange-Earth had never had, and never would get the chance to become acquainted with. The disturbance of Earth-Tribe was evident in even the newest of cats, for it seemed as if fate was most definitely not on their side.

The eerily silent morning air caused Shasta to once again raise her head, ears pricked to catch the weak strains of conversation between her Tribemates. A weak groan caught the she-cat’s attention, and her gaze fell upon a familiar dark pelt. Somewhat cheered by the appearance of the Green-Earth, the she-cat abandoned her self-assigned job and bounded across the clearing. “Conan, good morning!” Shasta greeted brightly as she came to a stop in front of the tom – or at least, attempted to come to a stop. Instead, she slipped upon the icy ground and was sent sprawling to land at his paws in a giggling heap.

Conan had only taken a single step when suddenly a familiar brown and cream pelt scrambled into a heap infront of him. An affectionate smile formed across the dark tom's lips, "Good morning yourself, Shasta." His voice was rich with amusement as he padded over to his companion and helped her stand. He offered he yet another smile, dark blue eyes looking deeply into her green as he studied Shasta for a moment.

As he had when they first met Conan felt a peculiar feeling flutter about in his chest. Something about this young Pink-Orange-Earth felt so very right to the guard. Something about the way she laughed, how she talked and heck, even the way she walked felt familiar and no matter how hard he tried Conan couldn't shake the feeling.

Shaking the thoughts away Conan finally broke eye-contact, taking a step backwards and flushing slightly. "So ... Shasta. How've you been as of late? It's been far too long since we last talked."The affection was back in the Green-Earth's voice as his dark eyes flitted back to his companion. "Run into anymore snakes?"He teased, a grin spreading across his maw as he lightly bumped shoulders with the cream-and-brown she-cat.

Conan's face brightened suddenly, as he remembered a gift he had made for Shasta not long after they'd talked. "I have something for you. Wait here." With that the stocky tom turned and bounded to the covered part of the Earth-Tribe camp, pushing away a small boulder with ease. After a moment of searching Conan found what he was looking for and returned to Shasta with a small package, bundled up in leaves.

The Green-Earth gingerly placed the object at Shasta's paws and dared a glace into her green eyes, feeling his heart beat just a bit faster. For a moment Conan was reminded of how he felt when he and Aza first met but quickly shook the thought away. He loved Aza and always would. She held his heart in her paws and he would die for her but .... there was something about Shasta that tugged at the tom. There were feelings he couldn't describe and when he looked at her he felt as if the world was right.

All of the emotion and feelings Conan felt towards Shasta became evident as he brushed away the last autumn leaf, revealing two intricately made bracelets. They weren't very thick, but they weren't thin either and were spun out of bronze and silver - the color intertwining as branches would. A few emerald green gems, almost the exact same color of Shasta's eyes, adorned the intertwined 'branches'. When Conan took a step back sunlight reflected upon the bracelet; a hint of blue glittering amongst the fiery bronze, liquid silver and lively green. It was an intricate gift - one that obviously had much thought and time put into it. Conan actually had to talk to a Fire-Tribe smith about getting the metal melted down and formed, not that he would tell Shasta that.

"It's not much, I know but I just .... I saw those gems in the stream and I couldn't help but think of you." Conan's voice faltered a bit as nervousness gripped his heart. What is Shasta didn't like his gift? Or worse, what if she thought he was weird for giving her one? Surely she felt the connection too. She had to. It felt as if Conan's soul had been split in two and it had finally found the other half. He cared deeply about Shasta thought in what manner he did not know and that left him troubled and confused. He loved Aza. He cared about her more than words could express but he couldn't deny his feelings towards Shasta either. He was utterly conflicted and desperately wished he had a mentor to talk to. Someone who would understand what the tomcat was going through.

In the back of Shasta’s mind, an irritated voice reprimanded her for behaving in the manner of a young kit. It was not difficult to imagine her mother shaking her head and padding forward to nudge her daughter away from the other cat. But then, her mother wasn’t there to do such a thing. The brown and cream she-cat was a member of Earth-Tribe, and no longer a young kitten who needed constant supervision. Thoughts brushed aside as a leaf in the breeze, Shasta met Conan’s dark gaze with her own lighter one, and she bounced slightly in place.

Even if they were Tribemates, and it was customary to be friendly with one another, things just felt so much different when it came to the Green-Earth. Tearing her gaze away as a familiar tingling erupted within her stomach, Shasta surveyed the camp thoughtfully. Her depressing morning suddenly seemed much brighter, as though the dismal curtain had been momentarily ripped aside and some sunlight was allowed through.

The mention of snakes instantly drew Shasta’s attention back to her companion, and she pulled and expression of mock ferocity. “Don’t be ridiculous, Conan. Snakes are no match for me! They turn tail and flee the moment they hear me coming!” Puffing out her chest boldly, the she-cat parted her jaws to continue her boasting, only to snap them shut abruptly as a clump of sopping, melting snow dropped from one of the nearby trees. It hit the ground with a gentle whump, and Shasta’s pelt bristled to the point that she resembled a bramble bush. After a moment, the sepia-toned she-cat calmed herself and cleared her throat in an awkward chuckle.

“A-anyway, I’ve been well enough, what about yo-“ The Pink-Orange-Earth cut herself off as Conan bounded away briefly, only to return a heartbeat later with . . . a bundle of leaves? An incredulous look trickled into Shasta’s eyes, and she eyed the tom with curiosity. It seemed a bit odd to be receiving a gift from him, though she wasn’t about to complain. Several times over, she reminded herself that they were friends, nothing more. They couldn’t be anything more; Conan had a mate, and kits! Repeatedly, the she-cat told herself that she needed to stop being so ridiculous, and yet the pounding of her heart argued otherwise.

Shasta’s green hues followed Conan’s movements with interest, and she struggled to disregard the feeling that always seemed to settle within her when she was near the Green-Earth; a feeling of completeness, an impression of utter perfection. No matter how many cats she encountered, none made her feel the way her companion did. None seemed to yank so painfully at her heartstrings and none could draw her in with just a glance. None save for the Earth-tribe tom. A meek noise of shock and pleasure emanated from the back of Shasta’s throat when Conan finally stepped back to reveal the gift. Already bright eyes seemed to light up with even more joy than the young she-cat knew was possible, and she choked upon a reply. What words could she use to express her gratitude?

Delicate paws kneading at the ground, Shasta executed an odd, hop-skip in place, and then lifted her gaze to the Green-Earth. “Why would you . . . how . . . I . . . Thank you! Ah, they’re so pretty! I’ve never seen anything like it! Where did they come from? Who made them? Are they really for me, Conan? Really, I can have them?” With each syllable, the pitch of Shasta’s voice seemed to grow higher until she was nearly whispering. Another bounce of excitement followed the words, and the Pink-Orange-Earth stepped forward to don her new accessories.

Such beautiful gifts, and she had nothing to give in return! The drumming of her heart within her chest had become so strong that the young she-cat could scarcely breathe. She admired her bracelets in silence for a moment before prancing around in a wide circle, enjoying the feel, and the way light dazzled off of the intertwining branches of gold and silver. “Thank you, Conan, thank you so much!” A joyous laugh escaped Shasta, and after completing another flashy circle, she pounced upon the larger cat.

Conan watched with bated breath as Shasta looked at her gift, apprehension and fear clutched at his heart with needle sharp claws. The tom let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding as Shasta reacted positively to the gifts. Pride glittered in the tomcat's dark eyes as he watched the way she looked over the gifts.

A soft, loving grin spread across his maw at her series of questions; each one rapidly following after the next. "I'm very glad you like them." He meowed with a rich purr, his gaze softening as he looked into the she-cat's beautiful green eyes. "The metal came from Fire Tribe. I had to ask a smith to craft them for me. A few of the gems are from Water Tribe but most I found on my own. Yes, they really are for you my -" Conan stopped short, just barely catching himself from saying 'my love'. A cold chill raced up and down the tomcat's spine as he realized something he couldn't afford to feel. He quickly pushed the thought and feelings away before he could put a name to them and therefore make them permanent and all the more damaging.

Clearing his throat the guard finished his previous statement, "Yes, they really are for you. They're all yours." His voice was soft, gaze searching as it drifted across her face. He noted everything about her as if he would never see her again and the feeling left him wanting and aching in a way he'd never felt before. He didn't want to be without this sepia-hued, shy yet bold she-cat. He would lay down his life for her without a second thought.

Conan's dark eyes twinkled with mirth as he watched Shasta prance around with her new bracelets. They looked beautiful on her and Conan felt another flicker of pride. He had just opened his maw to say something when he suddenly found himself on his back with a small, warm weight splayed across his upper chest. "Well hello there." His voice was low but rich with amusement. With her so close to him now Conan couldn't help but purr softly, her scent invading his senses and holding them captive. He was drawn to her eyes and found himself starting intensely into them, his gaze searching though was he sought was unknown.

The tom realized that he should probably ask for the she-cat to move off of him. He realized that this probably painted far to intimate of a picture for them to be in the middle of camp, but he also realized that he absolutely did not give a damn. He enjoyed the way the she-cat fit, her body pressed against his. He enjoyed the rise and fall of her breathing, her soft scent surrounding him and her fur brushing against his. He wanted to stay like this and not move, ever, but that aggravating little voice in the back of his mind reminded him, rather rudely, that he was a mated tom with a family to look after. He couldn't have these feelings towards Shasta.

With each passing heartbeat, each moment spent in the presence of the older cat, Shasta found herself falling deeper into a pit that she knew instinctively she would never be able to crawl out of. While many grew tired of each other as time passed, the young she-cat found herself growing only more attached to the friendly Green-Earth. Every breath spent talking with Conan was not wasted, every heartbeat only succeeded in increasing the burning feelings that Shasta found developing within herself. The thought alone was enough to scare the adolescent, and she wondered if perhaps she should try to escape before she was in too deep.

Even as the idea occurred to the sepia feline, she knew that it was far too late for that. A moth to the flame, she would continue to be drawn closer until her wings were singed and she went crashing to the ground – if contact with such intense heat hadn’t already finished her off. Eyes slipping closed for a moment as she struggled to banish such thoughts, Shasta focused more intently upon the words Conan spoke. “You really went to all the trouble for me? To have these made for me?” With every ounce of strength in her body, the Pink-Orange-Earth forced herself to keep a level tone. Within her chest, her heart was mere beats away from going into cardiac arrest, and an odd, light feeling filled her.

As was growing normal when in the presence of Conan, an intense swirling, tingle laced through Shasta’s stomach. The sensation was peculiar, though not at all off-putting. In many ways, the feeling left her with the desire to push her boundaries. She wanted to hear the Green-Earth speak, wanted him to look at her with the same loving look that she had seen in his eyes previously, when he had spoken of his mate. The desire sent a thrill of panic shooting through her body, and Shasta wondered exactly what she felt toward Conan. In the depths of her mind, the secret corners of her heart, she had a fairly strong idea, though all reason urged her to pretend otherwise. Such a thing could not happen, such a desire needed to be smothered.

The phrase ignorance is bliss had never sounded more appealing to the young she-cat, and Shasta pushed her thoughts aside. From her position atop the dark-furred Green-Earth, the she-cat found herself filled with an odd sense of pride. In many ways, she was like a kit who had not been scolded . . . was she glad that Conan hadn’t kicked her away? Such an open display of affection surely didn’t look good. Embarrassed, the sepia-hued adolescent angled her ears backward. “Ah, I’m sorry! I got carried away, I was just so happy!”

Awkwardly clearing her throat, the smaller feline tumbled off of her companion, and gave her pelt a quick shake. For several breaths, she fixed her gaze on nothing in particular. Finally, Shasta’s green eyes roved back to Conan’s blue. “I don’t know if you’re busy, but do you want to go explore with me? I-I mean, you’ve probably seen most of the territory, but I really like seeing the land!” An excited wriggle followed the words, and the Pink-Orange-Earth pranced in an eager circle. Besides, I’m a big coward and I’d rather not go out alone all the time.

Conan couldn't have stopped the soft, loving smile that pulled its way across his maw if he tried. His gaze softened as Shasta grew flustered and embarrassed; though by what he wasn't sure. "Don't worry about it, Shasta. It's fine." He assured her, lightly bumping his head against hers before she rolled off of him.

The tom was oddly sad at the lack of her weight and warmth; though he quickly shook the feeling away as he too got to his paws once more. While Shasta gazed at nothing in particular the muscular guard shook himself, small bits of debris falling from his thick fur. Conan then quickly smoothed his chest fur with a few swipes of his tongue, suddenly consumed with the need to look as presentable as possible. Why? The darkly hued tomcat had a suspicion though he forced the notion away. It was a ridiculous idea, anyway.

Conan's near frantic thoughts stilled abruptly when Shasta looked back up at him; vibrant green eyes meeting dark blue. Silence stretched out between pair for the span of a few heartbeats before Shasta spoke, the side of Conan's lips quirked up for a moment at the nervousness that nearly radiated off of the sepia-toned Pink-Orange-Earth. He just barely repressed smiling yet again and instead settled for lightly bumping shoulders with his companion. "I'd be delighted to go explore with you, Shasta." His voice held a note of something, some emotion that lingered but could not yet be identified. Conan's gaze swept over Shasta's face for half a heartbeat before he offered her a small smile, nudging her once more as he turned and padded towards the exit of the camp.

Was it wrong of Shasta to wish that she had met Conan sooner? Was it unfair for her to wish that Aza had never encountered the Green-Earth, and that they hadn’t had kits together? Such thoughts were surely frowned upon by the Spirits, and yet no matter how hard she tried, the adolescent could not seem to force her mutinous heart to forget. She could not ignore what she felt toward her Tribemate, and that fact alone was enough to drive the sepia-hued she-cat completely crazy.

Briefly, she wondered if any other members of Earth-Tribe had noticed the way she behaved around Conan. Did their affectionate interactions go unnoticed, sliding beneath the radar of those around them? Somehow Shasta doubted she could be so lucky. Her feelings toward the older Guard were wrong, morally so, but they felt completely right. She had never felt so welcome, so important, as she did when in the presence of the darkly furred tom.

“Ah, really, you’ll actually come and explore with me? I haven’t seen as much of the territory as I’d like to! It’ll be more fun to have company, maybe we’ll discover somewhere the rest of the Tribes haven’t noticed yet . . . wouldn’t that be exciting?” Not wanting to be left behind, Shasta bounced quickly after the older feline as her padded toward the camp exit. Cream coloured paws padded along in sync with the motions of Conan’s larger ones before the Pink-Orange broke into a lope and tore off ahead of her companion.

“Come on, hurry up! You can’t be too old to run, can you?” Shooting a teasing glance over her shoulder, Shasta quickened her pace until she was sprinting across the landscape that lead away from Earth-Tribe and intro the Neutral lands.

Conan couldn't help but smile slightly at the vague surprise in Shasta's voice. Was it really that surprising that he would go exploring with her? Apparently. He mused with a small smile.

The tom blinked himself back into focus when Shasta finished talking. "It certainty would be exciting." He mewed back with a soft purr. Then again, watching ants would be exciting so long as I was with you. A frown flickered across the tom's lips, just briefly enough that unless you had been watching the tom you likely would've missed it. It seemed that he was his happiest when around the Pink-Orange-Earth yet she caused so much inner turmoil that it seemed emotionally impossible.

The tom was thankful for the next, challenging words that exited Shasta's maw. Conan's dark eyes lit up and a wide grin spread across his jaws. "How about I show you how old I'm not." Laughter fell rich and free from the tom's throat as he lunged after the sepia-hued Earth-Triber.

Conan wasn't nearly as fast as other cats but he was an exceptional jumper. Something that most found surprising given his stocky build. So he paced himself, waiting for just the right moment to pounce, literally. They ran for a fair amount of time; the territory passing by as a blur and Conan finally saw his chance. His 'prey' was slowing and Conan put on a mad dash, ears flattening against his head as he mentally calculated the distance between them and then -

He jumped, covering the distance between he and Shasta in a few seconds before he went crashing into her. The pair tumbled for some time before coming to a stop in a pile of fur and limbs. Conan's dark eyes were alight with life and mirth as he glanced to Shasta, a goofy grin spreading across his maw. "How's that for old, hm?"

Small pads pounded across the damp earth in a steady rhythm, clumps of dirt and tiny stones kicked up with the movement. Strong muscles bunched and flexed beneath sleek sepia and cream fur as wind whistled through the fur of Shasta’s ears. She rarely felt so alive, so free and able to do whatever she pleased. Mud and slush scattered in all directions after a particularly heavy landing, and the Pink-Orange-Earth seemed only to run faster.

Her momentum carried her across the landscape with ease, and it felt as though her paw pads scarcely touched the ground. Somewhere far behind she could hear the steady pace of her companion, near pitiful in comparison to her own breakneck dash. Faintly Shasta considered slowing to allow the tom a chance to catch up, yet her more competitive side disagreed. There was no point in winning if one didn’t give it all they had.

With a shake of her head the young she-cat banished such an idea. She would keep running until she found a nice place to stop and rest, perhaps by then Conan would manage to catch up. How can he tell me he isn’t old when he isn’t even keeping pace with m- Without warning the thought was cut off as a large weight barrelled into Shasta’s smaller form.

Nose over tail she rolled, the size of the Green-Earth propelling them both forward until the landed in a tangled heap together. Brown ears flicked backward grumpily, and Shasta kicked at the male beside her. “All smug now, are you? I certainly hope you didn’t break any of you fragile old bones.”

Eyes alight with silent merriment the she-cat struggled to untangle herself from the limbs of the other feline. She still found it astounding just how close she felt to the tom, and how much Conan had managed to wriggle himself into her emotions. He meant a lot to her . . . perhaps too much. “Get up, you big old lump. You’re ruffling my fur.” Shasta announced good-naturedly.

Description

Dark blue eyes flickered open as Conan shifted from asleep to awake. A soft groan fell from the tomcat’s lips as he rolled over in his nest, lying on the flat of his back as he stared up into the morning sky with its beautiful range of pastel pinks and blues. A few determined stars flickered faintly against the backdrop of the sky as a few scattered clouds floated lazily. Spring had just begun to revive the snow-covered landscape though the temperature was still rather frigid. With the arrival of spring came both good and bad. Earth-Tribe had been dealt a severe blow with the death of their leader as well as a couple other Earth-Tribe cats. Not only that but apparently Ross, the Air-Triber Conan had met back in the old land had passed away as well. The Tribes as a whole seemed to be shell-shocked by these deaths and the Earth-Tribe camp had been unsettlingly quiet; with cats speaking in hushed tones and laughter decidedly absent.

The Green-Earth rose from nest, shaking bits of debris free from his pelt as he did so. Another soft groan fell from Conan’s jaw as he stretched, rolling his shoulders slightly before glancing around the camp for a familiar face.

A small cream coloured paw stretched out to nudge a clump of sticky, damp snow. Green eyes flickered briefly to the early sky, before they were dropped once more to the task of uncovering a patch of earth. Shasta was not entirely certain of why she had decided that she wanted – or needed - to see the ground without a covering of snow. She just needed to know that the land was still alive, and that the frigid layer of ice had not done more damage. The desire may have spurred from the recent disasters that had befallen the Tribes in their new homes. Many cats had been killed, some that the Pink-Orange-Earth had never had, and never would get the chance to become acquainted with. The disturbance of Earth-Tribe was evident in even the newest of cats, for it seemed as if fate was most definitely not on their side.

The eerily silent morning air caused Shasta to once again raise her head, ears pricked to catch the weak strains of conversation between her Tribemates. A weak groan caught the she-cat’s attention, and her gaze fell upon a familiar dark pelt. Somewhat cheered by the appearance of the Green-Earth, the she-cat abandoned her self-assigned job and bounded across the clearing. “Conan, good morning!” Shasta greeted brightly as she came to a stop in front of the tom – or at least, attempted to come to a stop. Instead, she slipped upon the icy ground and was sent sprawling to land at his paws in a giggling heap.

Conan had only taken a single step when suddenly a familiar brown and cream pelt scrambled into a heap infront of him. An affectionate smile formed across the dark tom's lips, "Good morning yourself, Shasta." His voice was rich with amusement as he padded over to his companion and helped her stand. He offered he yet another smile, dark blue eyes looking deeply into her green as he studied Shasta for a moment.

As he had when they first met Conan felt a peculiar feeling flutter about in his chest. Something about this young Pink-Orange-Earth felt so very right to the guard. Something about the way she laughed, how she talked and heck, even the way she walked felt familiar and no matter how hard he tried Conan couldn't shake the feeling.

Shaking the thoughts away Conan finally broke eye-contact, taking a step backwards and flushing slightly. "So ... Shasta. How've you been as of late? It's been far too long since we last talked."The affection was back in the Green-Earth's voice as his dark eyes flitted back to his companion. "Run into anymore snakes?"He teased, a grin spreading across his maw as he lightly bumped shoulders with the cream-and-brown she-cat.

Conan's face brightened suddenly, as he remembered a gift he had made for Shasta not long after they'd talked. "I have something for you. Wait here." With that the stocky tom turned and bounded to the covered part of the Earth-Tribe camp, pushing away a small boulder with ease. After a moment of searching Conan found what he was looking for and returned to Shasta with a small package, bundled up in leaves.

The Green-Earth gingerly placed the object at Shasta's paws and dared a glace into her green eyes, feeling his heart beat just a bit faster. For a moment Conan was reminded of how he felt when he and Aza first met but quickly shook the thought away. He loved Aza and always would. She held his heart in her paws and he would die for her but .... there was something about Shasta that tugged at the tom. There were feelings he couldn't describe and when he looked at her he felt as if the world was right.

All of the emotion and feelings Conan felt towards Shasta became evident as he brushed away the last autumn leaf, revealing two intricately made bracelets. They weren't very thick, but they weren't thin either and were spun out of bronze and silver - the color intertwining as branches would. A few emerald green gems, almost the exact same color of Shasta's eyes, adorned the intertwined 'branches'. When Conan took a step back sunlight reflected upon the bracelet; a hint of blue glittering amongst the fiery bronze, liquid silver and lively green. It was an intricate gift - one that obviously had much thought and time put into it. Conan actually had to talk to a Fire-Tribe smith about getting the metal melted down and formed, not that he would tell Shasta that.

"It's not much, I know but I just .... I saw those gems in the stream and I couldn't help but think of you." Conan's voice faltered a bit as nervousness gripped his heart. What is Shasta didn't like his gift? Or worse, what if she thought he was weird for giving her one? Surely she felt the connection too. She had to. It felt as if Conan's soul had been split in two and it had finally found the other half. He cared deeply about Shasta thought in what manner he did not know and that left him troubled and confused. He loved Aza. He cared about her more than words could express but he couldn't deny his feelings towards Shasta either. He was utterly conflicted and desperately wished he had a mentor to talk to. Someone who would understand what the tomcat was going through.

In the back of Shasta’s mind, an irritated voice reprimanded her for behaving in the manner of a young kit. It was not difficult to imagine her mother shaking her head and padding forward to nudge her daughter away from the other cat. But then, her mother wasn’t there to do such a thing. The brown and cream she-cat was a member of Earth-Tribe, and no longer a young kitten who needed constant supervision. Thoughts brushed aside as a leaf in the breeze, Shasta met Conan’s dark gaze with her own lighter one, and she bounced slightly in place.

Even if they were Tribemates, and it was customary to be friendly with one another, things just felt so much different when it came to the Green-Earth. Tearing her gaze away as a familiar tingling erupted within her stomach, Shasta surveyed the camp thoughtfully. Her depressing morning suddenly seemed much brighter, as though the dismal curtain had been momentarily ripped aside and some sunlight was allowed through.

The mention of snakes instantly drew Shasta’s attention back to her companion, and she pulled and expression of mock ferocity. “Don’t be ridiculous, Conan. Snakes are no match for me! They turn tail and flee the moment they hear me coming!” Puffing out her chest boldly, the she-cat parted her jaws to continue her boasting, only to snap them shut abruptly as a clump of sopping, melting snow dropped from one of the nearby trees. It hit the ground with a gentle whump, and Shasta’s pelt bristled to the point that she resembled a bramble bush. After a moment, the sepia-toned she-cat calmed herself and cleared her throat in an awkward chuckle.

“A-anyway, I’ve been well enough, what about yo-“ The Pink-Orange-Earth cut herself off as Conan bounded away briefly, only to return a heartbeat later with . . . a bundle of leaves? An incredulous look trickled into Shasta’s eyes, and she eyed the tom with curiosity. It seemed a bit odd to be receiving a gift from him, though she wasn’t about to complain. Several times over, she reminded herself that they were friends, nothing more. They couldn’t be anything more; Conan had a mate, and kits! Repeatedly, the she-cat told herself that she needed to stop being so ridiculous, and yet the pounding of her heart argued otherwise.

Shasta’s green hues followed Conan’s movements with interest, and she struggled to disregard the feeling that always seemed to settle within her when she was near the Green-Earth; a feeling of completeness, an impression of utter perfection. No matter how many cats she encountered, none made her feel the way her companion did. None seemed to yank so painfully at her heartstrings and none could draw her in with just a glance. None save for the Earth-tribe tom. A meek noise of shock and pleasure emanated from the back of Shasta’s throat when Conan finally stepped back to reveal the gift. Already bright eyes seemed to light up with even more joy than the young she-cat knew was possible, and she choked upon a reply. What words could she use to express her gratitude?

Delicate paws kneading at the ground, Shasta executed an odd, hop-skip in place, and then lifted her gaze to the Green-Earth. “Why would you . . . how . . . I . . . Thank you! Ah, they’re so pretty! I’ve never seen anything like it! Where did they come from? Who made them? Are they really for me, Conan? Really, I can have them?” With each syllable, the pitch of Shasta’s voice seemed to grow higher until she was nearly whispering. Another bounce of excitement followed the words, and the Pink-Orange-Earth stepped forward to don her new accessories.

Such beautiful gifts, and she had nothing to give in return! The drumming of her heart within her chest had become so strong that the young she-cat could scarcely breathe. She admired her bracelets in silence for a moment before prancing around in a wide circle, enjoying the feel, and the way light dazzled off of the intertwining branches of gold and silver. “Thank you, Conan, thank you so much!” A joyous laugh escaped Shasta, and after completing another flashy circle, she pounced upon the larger cat.

Conan watched with bated breath as Shasta looked at her gift, apprehension and fear clutched at his heart with needle sharp claws. The tom let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding as Shasta reacted positively to the gifts. Pride glittered in the tomcat's dark eyes as he watched the way she looked over the gifts.

A soft, loving grin spread across his maw at her series of questions; each one rapidly following after the next. "I'm very glad you like them." He meowed with a rich purr, his gaze softening as he looked into the she-cat's beautiful green eyes. "The metal came from Fire Tribe. I had to ask a smith to craft them for me. A few of the gems are from Water Tribe but most I found on my own. Yes, they really are for you my -" Conan stopped short, just barely catching himself from saying 'my love'. A cold chill raced up and down the tomcat's spine as he realized something he couldn't afford to feel. He quickly pushed the thought and feelings away before he could put a name to them and therefore make them permanent and all the more damaging.

Clearing his throat the guard finished his previous statement, "Yes, they really are for you. They're all yours." His voice was soft, gaze searching as it drifted across her face. He noted everything about her as if he would never see her again and the feeling left him wanting and aching in a way he'd never felt before. He didn't want to be without this sepia-hued, shy yet bold she-cat. He would lay down his life for her without a second thought.

Conan's dark eyes twinkled with mirth as he watched Shasta prance around with her new bracelets. They looked beautiful on her and Conan felt another flicker of pride. He had just opened his maw to say something when he suddenly found himself on his back with a small, warm weight splayed across his upper chest. "Well hello there." His voice was low but rich with amusement. With her so close to him now Conan couldn't help but purr softly, her scent invading his senses and holding them captive. He was drawn to her eyes and found himself starting intensely into them, his gaze searching though was he sought was unknown.

The tom realized that he should probably ask for the she-cat to move off of him. He realized that this probably painted far to intimate of a picture for them to be in the middle of camp, but he also realized that he absolutely did not give a damn. He enjoyed the way the she-cat fit, her body pressed against his. He enjoyed the rise and fall of her breathing, her soft scent surrounding him and her fur brushing against his. He wanted to stay like this and not move, ever, but that aggravating little voice in the back of his mind reminded him, rather rudely, that he was a mated tom with a family to look after. He couldn't have these feelings towards Shasta.

With each passing heartbeat, each moment spent in the presence of the older cat, Shasta found herself falling deeper into a pit that she knew instinctively she would never be able to crawl out of. While many grew tired of each other as time passed, the young she-cat found herself growing only more attached to the friendly Green-Earth. Every breath spent talking with Conan was not wasted, every heartbeat only succeeded in increasing the burning feelings that Shasta found developing within herself. The thought alone was enough to scare the adolescent, and she wondered if perhaps she should try to escape before she was in too deep.

Even as the idea occurred to the sepia feline, she knew that it was far too late for that. A moth to the flame, she would continue to be drawn closer until her wings were singed and she went crashing to the ground – if contact with such intense heat hadn’t already finished her off. Eyes slipping closed for a moment as she struggled to banish such thoughts, Shasta focused more intently upon the words Conan spoke. “You really went to all the trouble for me? To have these made for me?” With every ounce of strength in her body, the Pink-Orange-Earth forced herself to keep a level tone. Within her chest, her heart was mere beats away from going into cardiac arrest, and an odd, light feeling filled her.

As was growing normal when in the presence of Conan, an intense swirling, tingle laced through Shasta’s stomach. The sensation was peculiar, though not at all off-putting. In many ways, the feeling left her with the desire to push her boundaries. She wanted to hear the Green-Earth speak, wanted him to look at her with the same loving look that she had seen in his eyes previously, when he had spoken of his mate. The desire sent a thrill of panic shooting through her body, and Shasta wondered exactly what she felt toward Conan. In the depths of her mind, the secret corners of her heart, she had a fairly strong idea, though all reason urged her to pretend otherwise. Such a thing could not happen, such a desire needed to be smothered.

The phrase ignorance is bliss had never sounded more appealing to the young she-cat, and Shasta pushed her thoughts aside. From her position atop the dark-furred Green-Earth, the she-cat found herself filled with an odd sense of pride. In many ways, she was like a kit who had not been scolded . . . was she glad that Conan hadn’t kicked her away? Such an open display of affection surely didn’t look good. Embarrassed, the sepia-hued adolescent angled her ears backward. “Ah, I’m sorry! I got carried away, I was just so happy!”

Awkwardly clearing her throat, the smaller feline tumbled off of her companion, and gave her pelt a quick shake. For several breaths, she fixed her gaze on nothing in particular. Finally, Shasta’s green eyes roved back to Conan’s blue. “I don’t know if you’re busy, but do you want to go explore with me? I-I mean, you’ve probably seen most of the territory, but I really like seeing the land!” An excited wriggle followed the words, and the Pink-Orange-Earth pranced in an eager circle. Besides, I’m a big coward and I’d rather not go out alone all the time.

Conan couldn't have stopped the soft, loving smile that pulled its way across his maw if he tried. His gaze softened as Shasta grew flustered and embarrassed; though by what he wasn't sure. "Don't worry about it, Shasta. It's fine." He assured her, lightly bumping his head against hers before she rolled off of him.

The tom was oddly sad at the lack of her weight and warmth; though he quickly shook the feeling away as he too got to his paws once more. While Shasta gazed at nothing in particular the muscular guard shook himself, small bits of debris falling from his thick fur. Conan then quickly smoothed his chest fur with a few swipes of his tongue, suddenly consumed with the need to look as presentable as possible. Why? The darkly hued tomcat had a suspicion though he forced the notion away. It was a ridiculous idea, anyway.

Conan's near frantic thoughts stilled abruptly when Shasta looked back up at him; vibrant green eyes meeting dark blue. Silence stretched out between pair for the span of a few heartbeats before Shasta spoke, the side of Conan's lips quirked up for a moment at the nervousness that nearly radiated off of the sepia-toned Pink-Orange-Earth. He just barely repressed smiling yet again and instead settled for lightly bumping shoulders with his companion. "I'd be delighted to go explore with you, Shasta." His voice held a note of something, some emotion that lingered but could not yet be identified. Conan's gaze swept over Shasta's face for half a heartbeat before he offered her a small smile, nudging her once more as he turned and padded towards the exit of the camp.

Was it wrong of Shasta to wish that she had met Conan sooner? Was it unfair for her to wish that Aza had never encountered the Green-Earth, and that they hadn’t had kits together? Such thoughts were surely frowned upon by the Spirits, and yet no matter how hard she tried, the adolescent could not seem to force her mutinous heart to forget. She could not ignore what she felt toward her Tribemate, and that fact alone was enough to drive the sepia-hued she-cat completely crazy.

Briefly, she wondered if any other members of Earth-Tribe had noticed the way she behaved around Conan. Did their affectionate interactions go unnoticed, sliding beneath the radar of those around them? Somehow Shasta doubted she could be so lucky. Her feelings toward the older Guard were wrong, morally so, but they felt completely right. She had never felt so welcome, so important, as she did when in the presence of the darkly furred tom.

“Ah, really, you’ll actually come and explore with me? I haven’t seen as much of the territory as I’d like to! It’ll be more fun to have company, maybe we’ll discover somewhere the rest of the Tribes haven’t noticed yet . . . wouldn’t that be exciting?” Not wanting to be left behind, Shasta bounced quickly after the older feline as her padded toward the camp exit. Cream coloured paws padded along in sync with the motions of Conan’s larger ones before the Pink-Orange broke into a lope and tore off ahead of her companion.

“Come on, hurry up! You can’t be too old to run, can you?” Shooting a teasing glance over her shoulder, Shasta quickened her pace until she was sprinting across the landscape that lead away from Earth-Tribe and intro the Neutral lands.

Conan couldn't help but smile slightly at the vague surprise in Shasta's voice. Was it really that surprising that he would go exploring with her? Apparently. He mused with a small smile.

The tom blinked himself back into focus when Shasta finished talking. "It certainty would be exciting." He mewed back with a soft purr. Then again, watching ants would be exciting so long as I was with you. A frown flickered across the tom's lips, just briefly enough that unless you had been watching the tom you likely would've missed it. It seemed that he was his happiest when around the Pink-Orange-Earth yet she caused so much inner turmoil that it seemed emotionally impossible.

The tom was thankful for the next, challenging words that exited Shasta's maw. Conan's dark eyes lit up and a wide grin spread across his jaws. "How about I show you how old I'm not." Laughter fell rich and free from the tom's throat as he lunged after the sepia-hued Earth-Triber.

Conan wasn't nearly as fast as other cats but he was an exceptional jumper. Something that most found surprising given his stocky build. So he paced himself, waiting for just the right moment to pounce, literally. They ran for a fair amount of time; the territory passing by as a blur and Conan finally saw his chance. His 'prey' was slowing and Conan put on a mad dash, ears flattening against his head as he mentally calculated the distance between them and then -

He jumped, covering the distance between he and Shasta in a few seconds before he went crashing into her. The pair tumbled for some time before coming to a stop in a pile of fur and limbs. Conan's dark eyes were alight with life and mirth as he glanced to Shasta, a goofy grin spreading across his maw. "How's that for old, hm?"

Small pads pounded across the damp earth in a steady rhythm, clumps of dirt and tiny stones kicked up with the movement. Strong muscles bunched and flexed beneath sleek sepia and cream fur as wind whistled through the fur of Shasta’s ears. She rarely felt so alive, so free and able to do whatever she pleased. Mud and slush scattered in all directions after a particularly heavy landing, and the Pink-Orange-Earth seemed only to run faster.

Her momentum carried her across the landscape with ease, and it felt as though her paw pads scarcely touched the ground. Somewhere far behind she could hear the steady pace of her companion, near pitiful in comparison to her own breakneck dash. Faintly Shasta considered slowing to allow the tom a chance to catch up, yet her more competitive side disagreed. There was no point in winning if one didn’t give it all they had.

With a shake of her head the young she-cat banished such an idea. She would keep running until she found a nice place to stop and rest, perhaps by then Conan would manage to catch up. How can he tell me he isn’t old when he isn’t even keeping pace with m- Without warning the thought was cut off as a large weight barrelled into Shasta’s smaller form.

Nose over tail she rolled, the size of the Green-Earth propelling them both forward until the landed in a tangled heap together. Brown ears flicked backward grumpily, and Shasta kicked at the male beside her. “All smug now, are you? I certainly hope you didn’t break any of you fragile old bones.”

Eyes alight with silent merriment the she-cat struggled to untangle herself from the limbs of the other feline. She still found it astounding just how close she felt to the tom, and how much Conan had managed to wriggle himself into her emotions. He meant a lot to her . . . perhaps too much. “Get up, you big old lump. You’re ruffling my fur.” Shasta announced good-naturedly.