living in the moment [c]

Foxtrot tried his best to show his surprise when Mistflower approached him and asked to take a walk. Though usually it had always been him to inquire, there was no hesitation when he responded with a, 'Let's do it!' and promptly following. He let her lead this excursion, keeping his thoughts to himself. There were few people that Foxtrot found comfortable enough to let the silence lay - usually he filled the lulls in conversation with mindless chatter; about the weather, recent promotions, rumors - the like. With Mistflower he felt no such obligation. The dark furred tom was content to enjoy the walk, feel the light breeze ruffle his fur. It was nice and the time to relax was much needed.

As her voice broke the silence he turned his head slightly, "Somethin' on your mind?" he prompted curiously. Her uncertainty was blatant but didn't want to push her to speak, they had time, and he had patience.  

Foxtrot eyed her, as she trailed off, stumbling over her sentences like a baby deer learning to walk. He gave her an encouraging smile hoping she understood that he was content with listening, with waiting. The tom watched as her gaze moved to the butterfly, his eyes following it.

"Hmm." he hummed in agreement. However, these moments that Mistflower spoke of were far and in between. Words were not something that he had historically struggled with - but finding the right words, the correct words for a given situation, was something he had most certainly struggled with. As she spoke her words settled into his mind and he unpacked them.

"I just wanted to say..."

Hold up.

Foxtrot stopped in his tracks.

She took me all the way out here..and she's trying to tell me something? Surely she's not..she wouldn't be trying to say that. Nononono. Certainly not.

The warrior chuckled shaking his head and wiggled a paw in the air as if he were waggling a finger in disbelief. Well, Foxtrot definitely thought of himself as an attractive tom, he didn't blame Mistflower if she had a crush on him. He shrugged his shoulders pushing his delusional theory out of his mind.

"That I'm glad we're here right now."

Foxtrot's eyes widened, his fur threatening to rise on his neck. Oh no. His theory was correct! She had to be confessing her love for him. The warrior's internal monologue was running as wild as a Tigerclan cat. He hoped his emotions were hidden - he couldn't show her his fear. Instead, he laughed, shaking out his pelt with a loud and over-exaggerated guffaw.

"Well, if you wanted to confess your love to me, you didn't have to bring me all the way out here!" he babbled, anxiously licking down the fur on his chest as he looked away from her. You would think after all of the regular flirtings he had engaged in, he would be fine in the face of a love confession. But it was simply not the case, he didn't think any of the flirting he did as real love. Short bursts of laughter exited his maw to fill the inevitable silence that would fall between them.

Foxtrot waved his paw and looked anywhere but at Mistflower. Had he.. misunderstood? Dear Starclan. If anyone found out he had thought Mistflower was in love with him and it would never be the end! Foxtrot shifted his weight from paw to paw as she explained that she was thankful for him, for being her friend. He breathed a sigh of relief and a sudden weight felt as if it were lifted off his shoulders. So she wasn't in love with him? Yippee!

But why did he feel unsatisfied with her response? There was a feeling in his heart he couldn't quite place but passed it off as just his nerves. That was for future Foxtrot to figure out.

"I'll always be your friend. Don't you worry 'bout that." he promised giving her his most dazzling smile as he nudged her in return. He thought about what she had said, that friends should love each other and he found himself nodding in agreement. Yeah, we should love our friends, "Hmm, I 'spose I love you too then." Foxtrot decided, finding his words coming out with ease and without an ounce of anxiety accompanying them.