Lean back and breathe [c]

Rainfrost felt like he was exploring the territory for the first time all over again, like he was seeing it through fresh eyes. Which was utterly ridiculous, of course. Nothing had changed about him except his name. But the feeling persisted, and he found his pawsteps light as he walked beside Creamsky on their patrol. He found himself wanting to ask if Creamsky had a similar experience when he was first made a warrior, but was too embarrassed by the possibility that he hadn’t to do so.

Instead, he commented, “I believe this is the first time we have gone out with just the two of us.” He enjoyed Creamsky’s company, but he hadn’t spent much time with just the other warrior. Lightningpaw was almost always there. Perhaps Rainfrost should feel nervous about that, but he didn’t. He and Creamsky were friends, this had already been confirmed, and he felt comfortable with him. “It is nice,” He added, in case his earlier statement sounded negative in nature. He was glad Creamsky had agreed to go out with him. He was eager to use his newfound freedom as a warrior and experience the territory anew, but at the same time, he was unused to being in the territory on his own, and wanted company.

“I bet.” Rainfrost said with a soft huff of a laugh. He wondered then if Creamsky had been lonely in the warrior’s den. It can’t have been an easy adjustment, especially with Blackbear gone. Maybe he should’ve checked in more. He resolved then not to repeat the mistake of letting one of his friends get lonely.

He leapt up onto and then over a fallen log, pausing to look back at Creamsky. “It is good.” He agreed. He didn’t mention that he had held himself back on purpose, and had practically begged Birdstar not to give him his name until Crookedlight had returned. It was in the past now, and Crookedlight was back. If only Blackbear could return too, and everything would be as it should be.

With a hum of consideration, Rainfrost added, “It is a strange adjustment. I am not used to being able to leave on my own and the name is taking adjustment, but it is a good adjustment. I like it. I like being in the warrior’s den with you and Crookedlight. I look forward to Lightning and Juniperpaw joining us as well.” He tilted his head and looked at Creamsky curiously. “How did you handle it at first? Being a warrior?”

Rainfrost paused as well, listening to Creamsky. He nodded slowly, and spoke softly. “You take good care of her,” He said softly, smiling faintly. “Juniperpaw, I mean. She speaks highly of you. I was reassured when she was assigned to you… I admit I am a little protective over her. I knew you would take care of her. You may have sped through your apprenticeship, but I do not think it shows. You are a good warrior. I would bet you already do. Make them proud, I mean.” Rainfrost said with certainty, and he gave Creamsky a faint, soft smile before leaping down and beginning to walk again.

“I am glad you are happy as a warrior as well,” He added as they walked. He felt a little spark of guilt. He had encouraged Blackbear to leave, after all, desperate to see Crookedlight return, had even tried to come with her. He prayed that him asking her to promise to find him was not part of what held her back from returning, and silently promised to keep his eyes peeled for Creamsky’s mother.

“Finding your place can be a difficult thing,” Rainfrost said softly after a moment of contemplation. “Finding that certainty, it is… it is a good feeling.” He nodded a little, his struggles with descriptions of emotions showing itself. “I am still… struggling to reach it for most things. But I feel more confident that I will reach it. Warriorhood… it is something I feel I am meant for as well.”

Rainfrost was silent as he absorbed Creamsky’s words, and he was silent for a good few moments after that, wearing a thoughtful expression. It surprised him, Creamsky’s admittance that having to strike out on his own was better for him in the end. It is not what he would’ve expected, though it did make sense. If you spent all your time hiding, you would never experience the world. Perhaps a removal of hiding spaces was a necessity, in that case.

But that led Rainfrost to wonder then if he had spent too much time hiding as well, if that contributed to his sense of displacement. Was it really about how he found his way to the clan, or was it that he only felt steady when he had the people closest to him, namely Birdstar and Crookedlight? He had worked hard, thrown himself into his training, but he had never really left Birdstar’s side. In that way, he wondered if he was still just a little kit, sticking to Birdstar like glue, afraid of the big, new world around him.

And then Rainfrost realized the silence must be getting awkward, and he shook his head to clear it. “I appreciate your faith in my ability to be a mentor.” Rainfrost said. He wasn’t so sure himself, but he wanted to believe Creamsky’s assessment. "That makes sense, how you feel about Blackbear leaving. Sometimes we must take a leap in order to grow, voluntarily or not. There’d be no climbing without the risk of fall.”

“I do feel more secure when I am with one or all of you,” Rainfrost added with a small, soft smile. He tilted his head up as the sun filtered through the leaves. “It brings me a lot of comfort to know that I am a part of our group.” Creamsky said he was one of them with such confidence. Rainfrost knew that was true, but still, it made him smile. Maybe Creamsky was right, and his earlier concerns were nothing more than doubt. He was better when he was with other cats. “It does feel more right these days. Everything does.”

Rainfrost tilted his head to look at Creamsky, and he responded to that content grin with a soft, small smile of his own, his shoulders relaxed and his head held high. “I must agree.” He said softly, looking forward once more, his eyes half open and the smile remaining on his face. “It is a good day, this has been a good walk. And you are a good friend.”

Rainfrost found himself wishing moments like this could last forever, moments where he wasn’t concerned about much, where he felt content and comfortable and happy. He knew they wouldn’t, and wishing wouldn’t make it so… but Creamsky was right. With the day-to-day stress of being a warrior, something was bound to come up sooner or later. But for now, they had this moment, and the could always find moments like it again. And that was enough.

Rainfrost turned his head and tilted it in consideration as Creamsky made the offer of a spar. Creamsky made an excellent point, and Rainfrost could use any opportunity to improve and practice his own skills with fighting. He looked around, noting that they were in enough of a clearing that they could roll around on the frosty grass without running into too many obstacles, and the light of a challenge entered blue and yellow eyes.

Turning on his paws to face Creamsky head-on, Rainpaw backed up a few pawsteps as his content smile from before shifted into a slightly challenging grin. “Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea.” He shook out his fur, and, after giving Creamsky a heartbeat to prepare himself, dropped into a crouch before running into a leap onto his friend's side to knock him off his feet.

Jumping off Creamsky, Rainpaw tossed that grin over his shoulder, tail twitching as he felt a spark of adrenaline and excitement over the prospect of the friendly spar. “Your move,” He says with a twinkle in his eyes, one that was almost playful.

Rainfrost used Jumping Strike, dealing 10 (7+3) damage and costing -7 SP!

Rainfrost
30/30 HP
73/80 SP (-7)

Creamsky
30/40 (-10)
100/100 SP

Rainfrost fell for the feint, muscles bunching in preparation to duck out of the way at the last second as Creamsky charged for him. And then Creamsky leaps over his head, and though Rainfrost tries to turn around to face him, he’s not quite fast enough and he’s being tugged to the ground. He hit the ground with a soft, emphatic, “Oof.”

“Alright then,” Rainfrost shook his head hard to clear it, throwing himself forward and onto his paws, using the adrenaline in his veins to force himself to shake off the disorientation brought on by being suddenly yanked downwards. Moving as fast as he could manage, he turned around quickly to bat a harmless paw at Creamsky. He huffed out a breath, caught air in his lungs, and returned Creamsky’s grin. “Can’t get me down that easily,” He challenged.

Rainfrost used Random Recall to overcome the stun, costing -5 SP, and then used Front Paw Blow, dealing -5 damage and costing another -5 SP.

Rainfrost
22/30 HP
63/80 SP (-10)

Creamsky
25/40 HP (-5)
85/100 SP

Surprising even himself, Rainfrost stuck his tongue right back out at Creamsky with a breathy little laugh. He made a playfully offended little noise as he danced away after Creamsky’s paw batted over his ear, before that noise too devolved into a barely audible laugh. Sparring really was fun when it felt less like a test and more like a playfight.

Narrowing his eyes in challenge at his friend’s words, Rainfrost let out a little hum. “Is that so?” His eyes darted around, and then for just a moment, he grinned. Suddenly he moved forward, but instead of going straight for Creamsky, he scrambled up a nearby tree and into one of the lower branches. Now with the advantage of height he sorely needed, he bunched his muscles underneath him and leapt forward again, and this time, he was aiming straight for Creamsky. He'd seen Wolfblossom pull off the maneuver once, and adrenaline surged through him at the successful recreation.

He tackles him, using the strength gained from coming from above to get Creamsky off his feet. He lifts his head once his paws have been firmly planted on Creamsky’s shoulders, and that grin returns, however briefly. “Could say the same about you.” He teased. Involuntarily, the words are laced with a barely audible purr.

Rainfrost used Leaping Bound, dealing -5 damage and costing -10 SP. Creamsky is pinned for one turn.

Creamsky (PINNED)
20/40 HP (-5)
80/100 SP

Rainfrost
16/30 HP
53/80 SP (-10)