A Quick Compliment [Post-April Gathering]

As the gathering came to a close and the clans dispersed, heading out of the clearing Cherrypaw paused to look over at Mosspaw curiously. He was about the same size as her, but then again she had always been a bit small for a Thunderclan cat. The tom beside her, who had toppled her over before saying she had beautiful eyes, was so confusing to her. Riverclan was supposed to be strictly against Thunderclan, the cats within each clan extremely hostile towards one another. Even during the gathering most of the cats in the two clans tried to avoid each other, often occupying opposite sides of the clearing. 'And yet... he chose to come sit with me...'

Ever since her first encounter with the tom his words had lingered in the back of her mind and her dreams had been filled with sparkling moss-colored eyes. As the same thoughts came into her mind, Cherrypaw met Mosspaw's eyes for a brief moment before looking away quickly and fidgeting away from the tom as her pelt heated up with a blush. 'It's just a seat Cherry, get yourself together...' As she moved she finally realized that the two of them were some of the few cats left in the clearing, the rest saying their final goodbyes. Quickly standing Cherrypaw paused before moving away, looking back at Mosspaw hesitantly. Building her courage up, the usually easily-social she-cat looked down at her paws as she spoke."You have really beautiful eyes as well..."

Cherrypaw's fur was warm against his own, as Mosspaw sat there, distracted by the sounds and chaos of the Gathering... even the glaring and hissing. The little black tom didn't really get it -- just felt the tension in the air as the leaders conversed, sliding a little closer to the she-cat beside him.

She smelled sweet.

It wasn't just the musk of the forest -- the wood of the trees, and something like rodent; so different from the strong scent of river and fish. No, Mosspaw realized, nose twitching -- the ginger she-cat didn't just smell like trees.

The Gathering was coming to a close just as Mosspaw realized it was her scent. Cherrypaw's.

And then the she-cat was looking at him -- straight into the black tom's eyes.

"My eyes? Really?" Mosspaw mewed, and he'd talked to so many cats before -- even had them mention his eyes -- but he found himself flushing deeply. Her orbs were shimmering. Prettier than Sunningrocks.

He had a sudden desire to run to the nearest stream to see his own eyes.

Before he could do that, though, he was distracted -- a bristling Thunderclan cat casting a glare in his direction, as they strode from the clearing. His own clan were stirring from their places to gather as well -- each of them leaving one at a time, slipping away. None of them cast glances at each other.

"Wow..." the little black tom mewed, tail flicking. It was really weird to him. "Your clan really doesn't like us, do they?"