Sad Downpours

Lightningpaw laughed and settled down in his nest. just as he was about to fall asleep, something dawned on him..Opening his eyes, he gazed at Showerpaw out of the corner of his eye. A new feeling coursed through him, making his heart rate accelerate. "S-showerpaw? I-i have s-something to t-tell you.." he stuttered quietly, sinking his head down into the soft nest.

Showerpaw nodded. "What do you need to tell me?" She was getting drowsy herself, trying to keep her eyes from blinking shut.

The tom felt his pelt heat up and he looked down. "I..I think I..l-love you..I know that we just met, but..would you..exceptmeasamate?" he mewed softly but quickly. Lightningpaw was afraid to look up and see rejection etched over the beautiful silver she-cat's face. He peeped up out of the corner of his eye, but didn't look at her face. Not until she replied.

Showerpaw's eyes started to close. All she heard was 'I...I think...' And then she went unconscious with sleep, laying her head on Lightningpaw's shoulder.

"I..I-" he started to say something, but then the she-cat beside him went limp, and he looked down at her. The look on her face is priceless! Beautiful.. He purred and started to drift off slowly, staying a little conscious, just in case she heard him or woke up.

The she-cat's eyes shot open and she jumped up, causing her head to bang on the top of the cave. "Ouch!" She fell back down to the ground. Showerpaw was only asleep for twenty minuets, waking up to Lightningpaw's purring. "I'm sorry, did I fall asleep?" she asked as she rubbed her head with her paw. "And...I think you were saying something?" The rain was still falling heavily outside, some of it dripped into the cave, but the two cats stayed dry enough.

Lightningpaw gasped as the she-cat's head hit the top of the cave, then smiled a little. "Are you okay, yes, and yes," he purred. Suddenly, his eyes popped out and he shrunk down into the nest. "I said.." he took a deep breath. "I..I think I..l-love you..I know that we just met, but..would you......accept me..asamate?" he mewed quietly, hoping she didn't hear, yet at the same time, hoping she did.

A confused look came onto Showerpaw's face. "You Dove me? And you want me to hate?" She hadn't heard Lightningpaw clearly. "I'm not sure what that means, but I'll do anything for you...now, if only I had a dove and someone to hate..."

Lightningpaw nearly hyperventilating. After a few deep breaths, he smiled. If he concentrated hard enough, he wouldn't be shy. "I said I think I love you. I know that we just met, but would you..accept me as your mate? Not rushing you or anything.." he added quickly.

Showerpaw stopped moving as she heard what Lightningpaw had really said. "Y...you want to be mates? E...even though we're in different clans...isn't that against the code?" She unfroze as a raindrop hit her pelt, and she shook her whole body. "I mean, Yes, I will be your mate...and...I...I think I love you to."

Lightningpaw snapped his had up and ran to his new mate. The tom was purring too hard to thank her. Instead, he gently touched his nose to hers. The touch sent electric shock waves through his pelt, and he purred harder.

Showerpaw blushed and after a few moments, drew away from the nose touch. "If we are going to be mates, we need to set some rules. First, don't tell anyone. Second, we can only meet up here on rainy days, so that the rain masks are scent. And third, if we see each other at gatherings, we need to pretend we don't know each other, but we can still sit with near-by." She curled her tail around Lightipningpaws. The rain outside was slowing down a little, but it was still going. A big smile grew on Showerpaw's face. "Hey, want me to teach you how to fish? You are half Riverclan, after all, it's in your blood! And rainy days are good for fishing!"

Lightningpaw smiled. "Okay. The rules are set, so we're good there. Sure, I'd like to go fishing!" He purred.

Showerpaw smiled, then nodded. "Okay, let's go!" She got up and padded out into the rain and over to the river. She sat down once she got there, then looked to make sure there were no other cats. Then, the apprentice signaled with her tail that it was safe to come out.

Lightningpaw nodded and stepped into the rain. Okay, so swimming wasn't bad, but it was rain he hated. "What type of fish do you like best?" He asked through clenched teeth.