Even the confident trip up. (Closed)

Newleaf was coming. Featherheart could smell it in the air, he could see it on the ground in areas of snow that had melted away to reveal patches of green. Soft sprouts were springing to life on the branches, but best of all. He crept forward slowly. A worm wriggled in the ground as a bird pecked at the hole to get it out. Best of all, was the prey. Featherheart launched himself from his bush, the bird didn't have a chance to make a sound as he snapped it's neck swiftly.

The Chaffinch hadn't stood a chance. He held his prize up proudly. It was a prime catch, the bird was fatter than most of the other lean scraps of leafbare. As he crouched down to bury it, he noticed a strange sight. A small, single flower in a small patch. It had bloomed a little bit earlier, and the soft red petals reminded him of a she-cat back at camp.

Curiously, he leaned forward and bit the stem to break it off cleanly before he gathered his prey and began to walk back to camp. He didn't even make it there. He spotted Robinsong as she came up the path that lead down to camp and his ears flicked uneasily. She was a very pretty she-cat. Even leafbare couldn't take that away. Once StarClan had told him to focus outside of his siblings, he had begun to pay more attention to the other clan members. She was one of them.

"R-Robinsong!" He called, his voice muffled by the finch in his mouth which he laid down carefully in the snow before he tried again. "Robinsong, would you like to go hunting with me?" He asked, his green eyes widened as he realised he was still holding the flower in his mouth. He flushed with embarrasement as he padded forward to set the flower down in front of her. For once, he felt incredibly awkward as he shifted his paws and looked away bashfully. "Uh... I-I know it's ... uh... well." A flower. Stupid Featherheart, give her the Bird. The thought hit him suddenly, and he picked up the bird to set next to the flower. "Uh... that too. You can have that too."

Robinsong trotted over towards the camp, her head held high, sniffing the air. Newleaf was on the way, and it was high time, too. She needed some warmth before she froze to death. A cat calling her name startled her slightly. She turned around and saw Featherheart, and she was immediately self-conscious. Was her pelt a mess? She couldn't bear it if it was. Did she do something wrong? No, the tom was asking to go hunting. Hunting. It took a little while for the word to make any sense to the warrior. "Sure I will!" She tried to keep her voice steady as she walked closer to the - now that she came to think of it, handsome - tom, a little smile on her face. She eyed the flower in his mouth with one eyebrow arched. She felt very puzzled by it all. Was the flower meant for her? Well, obviously it was. Mousebrain. She dipped her head in thanks and gently picked up the flower by the stem, bowing her head to hide her embarrassment. She felt so awkward! "T-thank you, Featherheart. Wanna share the bird?" Her words came out all in a tumble, and she could almost wince at how eager she sounded. Why couldn't she ever just act normal?

Featherheart smiled, proud that his gifts had been accepted. His tail flicked and betrayed his own nervousness as he nodded at her kind offer. Since they weren't on an official patrol, it wouldn't break the clan rules, and if they had more energy, the prey wouldn't stand a chance. His pelt prickled with warmth as he actually paid attention to Robinsong as he nestled down on the ground across from her. He felt a strangeness in his chest, tight, almost alarming, but his heart kept beating strongly. Even as his green eyes caught her blue ones.

Words caught in his throat. A million phrases came to mind at once, each one shut down as quick as the last. With all the trauma of recent events, he felt guilty for letting his mind wander. Yet wasn't he supposed to? He mulled thoughtfully over Grasswhisker's words to him as he took a small bite after Robinsong. Her coat was a soft rich colour compared to the snow and charred trees around them.

"You're beautiful." The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes widened at the sound of his voice saying those words, a sudden shyness sinking deeper into his pelt. It was too late to stop them, the words had already been said. He breathed a deep breath as he attempted to slow his racing heart and speak more clearly. "I-I uh... just thought you should know." Oh smooooth move Featherheart. Featherbrain's more like it. He thought to himself as he looked away abashedly. His paws shifted uneasily in the dirt as he debated the idea of hiding in the nearest abandoned hole for the next moon.