cupid's chokehold [C]

Dayquill

 
A heavy breath filled Dayquill's lungs, forcing consciousness and stability into him. He had been more than a little shaken the last few days. When the earth moved beneath his paws, he'd been out on his own private hunt, and had had to race to catch up with his family, his Clan. Not only that, but when he'd caught up, he was greeted by his dear sister being reunited with the group. Unlike him, though, who was only stricken by panic, she had been horribly injured. He worried about her horribly, but there was little he could do that Fawnshine wasn't already. He left them to their space.

And then– Blazefang. WindClan had arrived to Fourtrees largely unharmed, or seemingly the least panicked out of the five Clans. Still, he worried about her. He had quietly grown used to admitting to himself that he loved her. Witheringly, Dayquill turned his head upwards, blinking into the star-spattered sky. What sin could StarClan see in something as pure and honest as that? He only shook his head.

A force beyond him compelled him to rise to his paws. Without thinking, the golden tom was slithering between makeshift nests, stepping nervously over the bodies of cats he only recognized from crowded Gatherings. How many times had he spoken to Blazefang in Fourtrees? What, other than the additional ears, made this night seem so oppressive? And what thin voice in the back of his brain decided now, now?

It didn't matter. As he picked his way gingerly through WindClan's sleeping cats, he spotted a familiar bolt of russet fur between other hardly-recognized pelts. Drawing nearer, he nudged her gently with his nose, hoping to rouse her from whatever sleep she'd managed to catch, if any at all. "Blazefang?" His voice was featherlight, like he'd become a whisper himself. "Come with me to the edge of the clearing? I– I want to talk. It's been a while, yeah?"

Dayquill

Blazefang woke up and joined his side with ease, though she still looked groggy, and a quiet purr rumbled through Dayquill's chest when she leaned against him. She made a good point– in his thrill, he'd forgotten about ShadowClan's nocturnal routine. He passed a cautious look towards where the marsh-dwelling Clan had settled, though it didn't look like any of them had sat upright to stare directly at the pair. Put at ease by that, and grateful for her smarter suggestion than just sitting at the edge of the clearing, Dayquill nodded slowly and nudged them both forward, leaning close against her as he guided them up the rise out of Fourtrees and a little ways into the darkened wood.

Once they had reached the top of the slope and were shielded by trees, hopefully guarded from any curious eyes or ears, Dayquill stepped nervously away from Blazefang, shuffling awkwardly on his paws. Oh, stars– some streak of senselessness had pushed him into this, and now he was entirely at a loss for what to say. He hoped he didn't look too feather-brained, and that he didn't sound entirely senseless when he finally found his voice to start speaking.

"We've been meeting for a while, you know, and uh, we've gotten... well, I think we've gotten really close, don'tcha think?" A tittering, breathless laugh pushed its way past Dayquill's teeth. Oh, he was fumbling this hard. He had already started, though, and he'd been fumbling since Blazefang met him. If she was as endeared to him as he was to her (he prayed that she was), then she wouldn't mind the awkwardness too much. "It's... I know this is a lot to just sort of, you know, spring on you, especially in the middle of the night and when neither of our Clans are even home and... everything. And– I know the whole being in different Clans thing is pretty, uhm, important, so feel free to just make me go, but, uhm..." Oh, stars. He really was saying it.

"I think– no, wait, I don't think, I know I- I– I love you, Blazefang. I'm really, really glad I met you and– and that we've become such good friends, and I wish you were in ThunderClan or I was in WindClan so I could ask you properly how you felt about me or to be my mate or– or... something like that. But I... I don't care about that. I'm asking you anyway." Dayquill hadn't realized he'd been doggedly looking away while he talked, but as he stammered out those last words, his gaze settled firmly on Blazefang. His blue eyes glittered with a well of emotion, and he found himself leaning closer to cover the space where he had backed away, wanting desperately to reconnect to her side; wanting desperately to hear her answer, and quickly, before his nerves would get the better of him and he would chase himself into the woods out of fear and shame.

Dayquill

No sooner than he'd finished speaking, Blazefang shot forward, barreling into him and sending him to the ground. Though he was shocked, and briefly had the wind knocked out of him, Dayquill couldn't help but laugh about it, a full and loud sound– maybe too loud for the quiet of the night, but in that moment, he didn't care. All he cared about was that she'd said yes, with all the force and excitement of his namesake. His cheeks were starting to hurt from the strain of his smile. But the moment of glee was shorter-lived than he wanted; Blazefang stepped off, looking suddenly nervous and pensive, and Dayquill scrambled to sit up properly as she moved away.

I'd have to join ThunderClan, right? Dayquill shrugged mildly. Ideally, yes, he couldn't stand to think of her all the way in Highstones while he was stuck here in the woods, asking her to make the long trek to Fourtrees by herself, or hiding away for the rest of their lives... but he would have, if she didn't want to leave her home. But it wasn't just that– the words kept tumbling from Blazefang, and after pregnant, they all seemed like a blur. The tom blinked, a little dumbly, and was quiet for an uncomfortable beat after she'd started talking. No commitment beyond carrying the kits. Just... carrying them. Carrying them... in ThunderClan? Dayquill shook his head. She wasn't even sure if she was pregnant yet– whether she was or wasn't, it would be alright. Leaning forward to touch his nose to the bridge of her muzzle, he murmured, "That's... that's okay. I'll talk to Mottlestar, and- and we'll figure it out, yeah?" He laughed again, a shakier sound, and added quietly, "Feels bad for Mudfern, but we'll be okay. If you are, and they're– they're raised in ThunderClan, then... then ThunderClan will love them."