You & I (Closed. For Coalpaw only please)

With the recent death of his beloved brother, Soaringpaw sat in the shade of a tree, depression washed all over his face. The tom had been with Redpaw since they were kits...they had been brothers, of course. The brown long-furred tabby's light green eyes slowly looked up from the ground. He was in camp, not finding the motivation to do anything productive. He knew this would put back his warrior ceremony, but honestly, Soaringpaw couldn't care less about that. As long as Coalpaw was an apprentice, he wanted to be one too. His eyes drifted over to the medicine cat's den, making him smile. That was his first smile on his face since his brother's death. The tom got up and padded over. It was time to tell this she-cat that he loved her. Soaringpaw knew that the time was right.

The tom padded into the den. The stench of herbs flooded Soaringpaw's nose, but he didn't mind. He had gotten used to it from all his trips to see Coalpaw. The apprentice glanced around the den. "Coalpaw?" he called out. "Are you there? I need to talk with you." in his head, Soaringpaw tried to think of a way to tell Coalpaw his love for her. Deciding he would just wing it, he waited for a response.

A dark furred apprentice was just img finishing sorting the herbs. She smiled just a little as she heard Soaringpaw ' s voice. She had been crushing on him at the time but she never said anything but it was obvious sometimes how she felt. Though she knew good and well medicine cats can't have mates. She put the few herbs up and padded to Soaringpaw smiling " Hey Soaringpaw "she mewed smiling some."sure what is it you want to talk about?"She mewed.

Soaringpaw nodded a greeting to the she-cat. "Um..." he looked around, making sure that nobody else was there. He took a deep breath and suddenly felt nervous. He couldn't do this! He had to...he had to do this. "Coalpaw...I figured it out. We may be different, but that doesn't change my feelings for you. You are a medicine cat, and I'm just a plain and normal tom who's brother died mysteriously. I figured out that nothing can separate us, Coalpaw. You and I...we were meant to be together, and I know it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love you...I love you, Coalpaw. I love you 'till the ends of the earth and the stars in the night sky. I love you deeper then the gorge and brighter then the sun. Do you love me too?"

Soaringpaw met Coalpaw's gaze as he said his words to her, hoping she felt the same way about him. After saying all that, Coalpaw hopefully couldn't say no.

Coalpaw listened as he spoke she smiled s little her heart pounding in her chest. She looked at him with her icy blue eyes. When she heard his question she had to think because it could affect her and possible him if she choice the answer she wanted to say. She pushed her thought away and purred a little " of course I love you Soaringpaw "She purred padding closer to him before nuzzling him quietly then mewed " but I'm just worried about what would happen if they found out.... i...I mean it's against the code for me to take a mate " Coalpaw mewed quietly.

Soringpaw sighed. "I realize that, Coalpaw. I don't know what to do. My love for you is strong, but the warrior code..." he trailed off. "What if we kept it a secret? Would it work?" He wanted to be mates with Coalpaw, and being caught would be a risk he had to take if it meant being her mate.

"K..kept it secret " Coalpaw was quiet for a moment unsure but nodded sure it would work " yeah it should work " She mewed quietly. She purred a little and nuzzled him again purring some.

Soaringpaw smiled, returning Coalpaw's purrs and muzzles. "I'm so glad you said yes. I've been feeling depressed lately, with my brother gone." He sadly looked down at the ground. "Your the only one I like to talk to."

"I know I've noticed it worried me " Coalpaw mewed.

"I'm fine, It'll be gone in a few days. I'll start talking to cats again...you don't have any herbs to help me feel happier, do you?" Soaringpaw asked. He honestly hated the terrifying, sinking feeling inside of him. He felt like he was falling into a black hole with no way out. He needed to get over this before he became a warrior.

"Not that I know of hold on I'll check and see " Coalpaw mewed gently and padded to the herb storage quietly.

Soaringpaw waited for his mate to return. He sat down and curled his fluffy tail over his paws.

Coalpaw padded back quietly " the only think that you might be able to use is Thyme it helps soothe the mind" Coalpaw mewed.

Soaringpaw nodded. "Okay...I guess I'll try some and see how it works." The apprentice wondered what the plant tasted like. Hopefully not like mouse-dung.

Coalpaw nodded and padded to the herb storage and a few seconds later she returned with some thyme. She set the right amount down in front of him quietly before she mewed "just chew those up " she mewed gesuring to the leaves.

Soaringpaw nodded and took some into his mouth. As the tom held back from barfing because of the taste, he slowly chewed up the leaves and swallowed. It took a few minuets for him to feel a bit of calmness take over him. He felt a bit more happier and put on a small smile. "Thanks, Coalpaw. That helped a bit. You are so smart."