Coincidence, or love? (Closed for Middy)

Emberpaw had an exciting day, her apprentice ceremony had just taken place and she was worn out from all the days activities and thought it would be nice to go to the lone stump, it would be very peaceful.She thought. Only to find someone was already there. "Oh, hi Swiftpaw!" She said, startled.

Swiftpaw had gone to the lone stump to relax in peace after his and Emberpaw's apprentice ceremony when he heard a familiar she-cat's voice. He turned to look at his friend. "Hello Emberpaw!" he greeted. What are you doing here?" he asked her.

"I was just tired after our apprentice ceremony. I thought it would be peaceful up here." She said gazing out over the rolling hills of the Windclan territory, the gentle breeze ruffling her fur.

He layed down and sighed. It was very calming and he almost fell asleep when he remembered Emberpaw was still here. He shook his head trying to waken himself. "How are you Emberpaw?" He asked to break the suprisingly comfortable silence.

"I'm fine, better than fine actually, I just had my apprentice ceremony and my mentor is going to take me out for battle training!" She said excitedly. "How are you?"

"I'm rather tired but still feeling excited that i'm now an apprentice!" He replied happily. "Do you remember the time when we got out of camp as kits?" He asked the she-cat. He remembered it well and he still remembers what he wanted to say but didn't have the courage to. He STILL didn't have the courage to. He dosen't want to make the wrong move and lose his only trusted friend.

"Oh yeah! We had so much fun!"But then she remembered when they had to spend a cold night out of camp. She shivered and inched a little closer to Swiftpaw. "I couldn't imagine life without you." It was out before she knew it and she shuffled her paws nervously.

He felt his heart leap out of his chest. The entire world for him stopped. He looked at Emberpaw with a gentleness so profound. He had never shown emotions so deep. His throat was dry and words that he wanted to say were stuck. After trying to calm his beating heart, he sighed. He did something he wouldn't have ever. He nuzzled her softly and licked her ears in a loving gesture. He looked at her and purred. "E-Emberpaw...d-did you mean what you said?" He asked nervously.

"I-I mean I, I think so??" Swiftpaw's stammering was contagious and she found herself rambling. "I mean", She said starting over," that I meant what I said, every word of it." She found new confidence in her own words and believed them with all her heart."And I hope nothing separates us."

He stared at her lovingly. His heart filled with joy. "Today was the best day of my life! I became an apprentice and I found someone I'd love to spend my whole life with!" He said with confidence. He nuzzled her once again and softly said, "I promise you I'll stay by your side for as long as we live!" "I hope you know that this is what I've always wanted to say since that day we explored as kits."

Emberpaw suddenly remembered that moment, Oh, he was too shy to tell me! That's why he never finished!She purred at the thought."I remember you were too shy to tell me!" She said teasingly. She returned the nuzzle and she purred, "Glad you finally got that out! I thought you were going to explode!" She stared out over the horizon and felt as if nothing in the world was more important than this moment.

He looked away for a bit. "Yeah I was too shy to say." He softly said. "Emberpaw...thank you." He purred, his voice laced with love. "Thank you for being my most trusted friend and now for being someone I care about and will do anything to protect!" He rubbed his face against hers as a gesture of affection.

Emberpaw returned the gesture and then had an exceptional idea."I have an idea, you just stay here and I will get it for you."She said with mischief. She pranced away before he could say anything and hoped he wouldn't spy on her. She wandered a safe distance away before searching. There! A perfect rabbit, hiding in a bush. She crept up on it and in one mighty leap, came crashing down on its hind legs, laming it. She gave a sharp nip to the neck to kill it and crept back to Swiftpaw.

He purred. "Alright but be careful!" He said as he watched her prance off. He lied down and began grooming himself all the while thinking about the day.

She came back a short while after and dropped the plump rabbit at his paws. Beaming, but also worried inside, what if he doesn't like it?? She thought inwardly, then that's the end of us.

"For you." She said with a little less enthusiasm than usual,"Whats your favorite prey? Mine's a good, plump frog, still warm and fresh."