Daniel needs water

[Willow]

Snowprint padded out from the nursery with a big yawn. Her kits were sleeping, for once, and she decided she needed to get some time out of the nursery. She arched her back in a large stretch and dug her claws into the ground, sheathing and unsheathing them. She relaxed her muscles and padded over to the well-stocked fresh-kill pile and grabbed a thrush that was on top of the pile. She took it away to the side of the camp underneath the shade and started to eat it, slowly, looking around at the camp. Lately, a lot had been happening. With the transition from Foxheart to Foxstar and Echosong becoming deputy, there was much excitement in the camp. It hadn't been too many sunrises since the old leader had passed away, leaving Foxstar to lead ThunderClan. Everything had been running smoothly. There was no tension between the clans, the fresh-kill pile had plenty of prey, and there were plenty of herbs and no sick cats for the medicine cats! Snowprint purred contentedly as she ate her prey.

[mylilkitty]

Shadowclaw awoke early that morning to go eat. Anxious about all the fuss over the newly assigned leader and deputy he was in a bit of a rush to get the day started. A little envious about how he wasn't chosen but he kept telling himself to be patient and wait till he was a more experienced warrior before becoming a deputy. While eating he looked up and noticed a queen out too. He recalled her name was Snowprint and decided to go and talk to her. Nervously he walked up and meowed "hello." He didn't even understand it. He could tackle glory and battle but he was frightened be merely talking to she-cats? Perhaps it was just this cat he thought? Suddenly quite interested to learn more about Snowprint he waited patiently for her response.

[Willow]

Snowprint looked up from her thrush, the sunlight glaring in her eyes. She moved her head slightly to the left so that the cat who had spoken to her's figure would block the sunlight from her eyes. She recognized one of the warriors; Shadowclaw. "Hello, Shadowclaw. How are you?" she mewed, her voice small and a little on the shrill side. She was a small cat and she had a meow that matched it, soft and high. Shadowclaw's piercing blue eyes dug into her fur, and she felt the fur on her spine stand on end. She waved her tail to the space that was next to her and added, "Come, sit, if you'd like." she purred. She finished up her thrush quickly and waited for Shadowclaw's response.

[mylilkitty]

Shadowclaw responded to the friendly welcome and invitation to sit down with a deep pur "I'm great thanks. And yes, I would love to join you." Shadowclaw moved to sit next to Snowprint in the shade. As he got closer he noticed how intriguing Snowprint's eye's were. He also took the time to notice her sleek and shiny fur. Quite attracted all of a sudden Shadowclaw purred gently and started some conversation. "How are you Snowprint?" he meowed.

[Willow]

"I'm just fine. A little exhausted though." Snowprint mewed, with a soft mrrow of laughter. She thought about the night before, when Mintkit and Wolfkit decided that they were going to be foxes invading the nursery. She had been pounced on and woken up several times during the night. "Mintkit and Wolfkit are getting a little too big to be stuck in the nursery with me. I expect they'll be apprenticed soon." she sighed, thinking about the kits father. She regretted mating with a rogue she'd barely known-- but she was glad and thanked StarClan for her precious kits every day. She just wished that they could've known their father instead of having him be a total mystery to them. Giving herself a mental shake, she focused her attention back on Shadowclaw.

[mylilkitty]

Seeing that Snowprint was quite tired, Shadowclaw could not disagree with her statement. He also noticed she seemed a little distracted as if something was bothering her. After she responded he was quick to note her space out and could tell her mind was elsewhere. Even so he meowed "Are you glad for that? I mean, happy to see them growing up and feeling a little relieved at last? I don't know but taking care of kits sounds like a lot of work from what I hear." Suddenly he just had a thought. If Snowprint had kits than she must have a mate! He wasn't sure why but that seemed to upset him. He exhaled in a deep sigh and asked "Who is the father anyways?" He suddenly felt like this may be overstepping bounds and he hoped he didn't offend Snowprint in anyway if that was too personal a question for little small talk. He anxiously awaited her response.

[Willow]

Snowprint could feel her eyes overflow with emotions. "He was just a rogue. He's gone now." she mewed. She thought briefly about the tabby cat who had wooed her. She was young and too anxious to be in love. In hopes for a topic change, she felt the worry and pain melt away. She looked at Shadowclaw thoughtfully, then continued, "I'm proud of them, anyways." she meowed slowly, after thinking of a response, "It is a lot of work to raise kits, but the feeling I get from it was just what I had imagined. You feel proud and happy for the kits you bring up." she said, as she felt more emotion flood into her eyes, a little more positively than before. "I'm happy to see that kits that I brought up, all by myself, are going on to be apprentices and then warriors to fight for this Clan." she finished. After realizing she had gone on a little rant, she felt embarrassed. Her ears grew hot and she stared down at her paws, kneading them anxiously on the ground. Mousebrain! she thought, I barely know him!

[mylilkitty]

Shadowclaw was very happy that Snowprint seemed to not take to his question too badly. He could see that she was apparently not over that entire situation with the rogue and he did feel bad for bringing it up. He was quite glad however, that he had some time to respond as she talked about her kits. Shadowclaw listened intently. when she finished he purred to her "Well what do you plan to do now? I mean do you plan to raise more Kits some day?" ShadowClaw felt this could be seen as some sort of pick up but maybe that's how he wanted it. He wasn't really sure at the moment but he knew that he was definitely attracted to Snowprint and he actually was quite pleased to find that she had kits with a rogue rather than with someone from the clan. Pace yourself Shadowclaw, he scolded himself. He barely knew this cat and he was already thinking about her and him in as mates or something. He hoped she couldn't read his thoughts threw his facial expression. He Looked at his paws nervously and waited for Snowprint to respond. He really hoped he hadn't just asked another awkward question.

[Willow]

"Yes, I definitely plan on having more kits one day." Snowprint replied, hastily. She had always wanted kits, since she herself was a kit. She was never fond of rough housing and playing warrior with the other kits and apprentices. She had preferred talking with the queens and helping look after their kits, and dreaming of having her own some day. "But next time, I want it to be with someone in Clan. Someone who will stick around..." she said, looking down and away. She felt awful for rushing into something with that rogue! "Kits deserve to know their father. And my reckless decision has deprived Mintkit and Wolfkit from having a father.." she mewed, her voice full of sorrow. Her mind wandered and her thoughts bundled up. The rogue was a mistake; yet he had given her two of the most precious things she has in her life. She didn't know what to think of it.

[mylilkitty]

Shadowclaw listened to Snowprint's response with full attentiveness. In a way he was very pleased with her answer. So she wants to have kits, he thought. His heart seemed to skip a beat at that thought. Calm down, he told himself. "yeah I totally agree" he purred. "I mean it's not my place to say about the deprivation or about your decisions with the rogue but I wholeheartedly agree that it would be a wise choice to find someone in the clan next time." He thought about what to say next. Should he make a move? he thought. He felt that he may be moving things a bit fast indeed but he really wanted to get to know Snowprint better. Maybe he should just start with something casual. Like going to the lake. "You want to go walk to the lake? I would really appreciate the company." he purred. He really hoped that she would say yes. He waited anxiously for her response.

[Willow]

Snowprint felt her eyes light up with excitement and quickly responded, "Yeah, sure. I'd love to." she said. Then she thought about Mintkit and Wolfkit. She probably shouldn't leave them... but they would be apprenticed soon... they'd need to learn that she can't always be there, correct? "Just wait one moment," she said getting up and rushing off into the nursery. She quickly told one of the other queens that she was going out with some much needed fresh air, and quickly bounded away. She shook the dirt off of her pelt and looked at Shadowclaw, excitedly. "Uhh,.. now?" she asked, feeling a little embarrassed as her normal and natural personality took over her again.

[mylilkitty]

Shadowclaw beamed with excitement at her answer. He nodded when she told him to wait a minute and watched her leave with a wide grin on his face. He silently congratulated himself before she returned shortly after. He quickly composed himself upon seeing her return and responded to her question "Sure! Unless you want to go somewhere else for a while?" As he waited for her to respond all he could think about was how excited he was that he may have found someone who might be a great companion. Wait! Woah! Slow down Shadowclaw, he scolded. Don't get ahead of yourself. He practically jumped when he heard her meow her reply, he was so caught up on his thoughts. He quickly apologized and asked if she could repeat her answer.

[Willow]

"No, now is fine. I was just wondering if you were ready." Snowprint said, kneading her paws into the ground again. Something about Shadowclaw made her really excited. She was a little upset with herself about it, actually. She had just started talking to the cat and she was already starting to feel something? She really hoped that this wouldn't end up like it did with the rogue. She didn't want to be left alone and abandoned with another litter of kits who would barely know their father. Even if Shadowclaw and her had kits, if something went wrong Shadowclaw could distance himself from the new kits and she would have to bring up another litter without a father. She gave herself another mental shake; she shouldn't be thinking so far ahead.

[mylilkitty]

"Ok let's go then." Shadowclaw meowed. He padded off in front of Snowprint at a casual pace and tried not to embarrass himself too much. He was literally bubbling with excitement before the finally got to the lake. He laid down in the shade and purred Snowprint to sit next to him. Once there he didn't know what to ask. After a few painstaking moments of silence Shadowclaw meowed "Umm...I'm glad you came. I've really been looking for somebody to talk to." Ugh that was kinda dumb to say, Shadowclaw thought to himself. He really hoped that Snowprint would think of some good conversation to start off that because he was too nervous to think of anything. WHy was he so nervous? I barely Know this cat and I'm already completely caught off guard by her. He waited and hoped he didn't come off as creepy.

[Willow]

Snowprint let out a soft purr of amusement. "You can let your fur lie flat now, Shadowclaw." she mewed softly, noticing the tom's edginess. She sat down on the grass beside Shadowclaw and rested her tail over her paws, yawning as she stood by the lakeside. "What's got you in a bunch, anyways?" she asked him, hoping he didn't feel like she was intruding on something. Just before the tom could reply, a mouse scuttled into sight about a tail length ahead of her. She immediately went into a hunter's crouch and snatched it up, nipping it's neck quickly, killing it. She silently thanked StarClan for the food, and brought it next to Shadowclaw. "Would you like some? It's not a hunting patrol so we're allowed." she mewed softly.