flowers for lovers

It was a beautiful day, the field in full bloom, and the flowers swaying in a gentle breeze. Rosepaw skipped beside her friend Sootstorm, the tension that had weighed her down briefly lifting, after dashing joyfully across the moor side by side.

Sootstorm was here to pick flowers for Ferntwist. It was an expression of love Rosepaw appreciated and she gladly agreed to help. "Does she have a favourite flower?" Rosepaw inquired. "Or perhaps a favourite colour?"

Maybe Ferntwist had a favourite time of day, or a favourite place on the moor, to be evoked by the loving arrangement of flowers. Of course, the scents were also important...

As they padded through the many flowers, every one lovely, Rosepaw asked, "How are you both? Is there a reason for the flowers?" She was curious... Celebration? Apology? Habit? Spontaneity?

Sootstorm finally decided to come clean about his feelings regarding his... childhood friend. He wasn't sure how exactly to tell a cat he loved her, so he just went with the easiest: flowers. Which was a topic he had no experience in. So he asked the only other cat he knew that would be able to help him pick out the best possible flowers. Alive ones, that was.

Favourite colour? Favourite flower? Sootstorm was stumped. How was it such simple things he never knew about the cat he was about to dedicate his life to? And the occasion... "Is there, you know, a flower cats give... to other cats... when they want to maybe... potentially... be mates?" Sootstorm asked nervously, his tail twitching with embarrassment. How was he supposed to explain this?

Her friend's embarrassment was adorable~! And, "That's so sweet!" Rosepaw exclaimed before she could help herself. Flowers were perfect for love. Rosepaw beamed like sunshine.

"Hm, roses are usual, for love," she blushed a little since it was the flower she was named for. She wondered if her parents had given each other roses to show their love.

"For something different, peonies and tulips symbolise love, too." Those were rarer and more difficult to find. "Any red flowers, especially," she added, giving more flexibility to their search.

The task brought her joy. "Many flowers strewn around a special place, or a bunch arranged prettily, or a single beautiful bloom is quite romantic," she mused. "Look for something that speaks to you."

There were many flowers that were beautiful individually, a bright rainbow of colours that all looked lovely together, and little pockets of one flower growing in large clusters. It was up to Sootstorm.

She bumped her friend's shoulder playfully in support. She was sure Ferntwist liked him already.

Presented with so many options, Sootstorm found it impossible to choose. "Roses, then, and uh... a single bloom?" Ferntwist liked simple things... right? Oh Starclan, his brain wasn't working very well. The tom shifted his paws, glad that at least Rosepaw was making things easier for him.

Rosepaw purred reassuringly. "Then, we'll find Ferntwist the most beautiful rose!" It was simple and pure. The thoughtfulness of choosing a single bloom was like the care of choosing a single cat to dedicate a life too.

【Timeskip】

Sootstorm searched through the tall stalks of flowers. Primroses and tulips bloomed right next to his shoulders, while marigolds and daisies crept around his paws. But none of them were what he was looking for. Surely, there was at least one stalk of rose in this fast field of flowers? The tom weaved through bush after bush, stalks and leaves grazing his fur as he swept past.

At long last, he spotted a deep red flower, with petals curled outwards and sharp spikes on its stem. Sootstorm's eyes widened, and he took a careful step towards it. He didn't dare to hope that it truly was what he was looking for. "Rosepaw!" He called over his friend, "Is this...?"

Rosepaw wove her way between the flowers with her friend, waiting for the moment when he would find Ferntwist her flower. He passed many beauties, but it wasn't until he found a true rose that Sootstorm paused in his search.

It was not the soft, low, small, common wild dogrose that Rosepaw was named for. It was a rare bloom; big and furling outward in many curled petals, deep red, with a thorny stem. "It is," she reassured him. "It's perfect!" She giggled, "It's a little sharp, just like Ferntwist! Fiery and beautiful!" She loved Sootstorm's choice for the soon-to-be lovers.

As the two friends turned towards home and a confession of feelings, Rosepaw nudged Sootstorm playfully with a grin. "Hey, you don't need it but, good luck!" she purred with a wink.

Sootstorm gave his friend a sheepish grin. "Thank you. For everything," He murmured, nuzzling Rosepaw's cheek affectionately. He couldn't quite describe what he wanted to say in words, but he hoped that Rosepaw would understand anyway. Ferntwist meant a lot to him, and he wanted to give her the best he could. His friend was kind enough to follow him all the way here to search however long they needed for the perfect gift for his mate, and for this Sootstorm will be forever grateful.

The dappled tom gently nipped off the flower's prickly stem, careful not to bend or cumple any of it's dark red petals. "Okay, I'm ready," He declared, voice slightly muffled by the stalk in his mouth. "Do I look okay? No leaves or grass in my pelt?" Sootstorm asked Rosepaw, green eyes filled with anxiety. Was he really going to do this?