SWEET SUMMER LEMONADE [ private ]

[lavenderpaw]

"You just - let me know, okay?" Lavenderpaw chirps, walking beside Asterpaw but clearly leading him down the river bank.

It was like any other night. While the sky wore a few clouds to obscure the moon, its light still shown just as brightly over the river's lapping waves and the sandy shore. She and her... friend... already spoke at length about the mundanities of their days since their last visit. They act as if the intricacies of their meals matter, when in truth they can't bare to let the night end early. At some point, Lavenderpaw insisted that Asterpaw trust her - that she's found a space that she wants to share with him. In truth, if the molly wasn't so enamored with him, she might've deemed him foolish for trusting her. Yet all the same, it warms her heart that he does so unquestionably.

In any case, she repeats for the second time that if they must slow down, then they can. Her excitement spurs her paws to move quickly, as she knows the hours of the night wane with every breath. But she also knows that he's not as well equipped with the chilling night air as she might be, and would absolutely take a snail's pace if it means keeping stride with him. Mottled blue-green eyes hold to the trestles by his face as she says, "I really hope you like it." She does not notice the figure following them.

Soon, they approach a cliffside, having followed the river upstream. The noise it produces compounds almost infinitesimally, but Lavenderpaw remains steady that this is a good idea. Again, her eyes are only for him, even as the beauty of the waterfall before them tries to dominate her attention. It is him that continues to steal away her breath.

"I've heard there's a space behind it," she says, and she moves her paw to press against the side of his. Her ears burn, but she doesn't look away. She knows that he will need to borrow her bravery and courage, even if he agrees of his own volition. No sense in acting shy or nervous now. "You'll have to go through the water, but... I'll keep you warm, Asterpaw - and we can wait until we're both fluffy and dry before we part ways again...!" she tries to encourage him, a small smile creeping on her face.

@ASTERPAW @JUNCOPAW :)

 

[ASTERPAW]

x

She could lead him astray, a siren drawing his attention away from the comforting beam beckoning him home, and yet he follows her blindly without a second thought nor caution. Everything becomes unimportant whenever he's in the prescence of Lavenderpaw and nothing could truly outshine her no matter how hard it may try in taking his attention from her, he gives her a nod then offers a faint smile as he reassures her "I'll keep up... I'll follow you." The words of his mother echoing in the back of his mind as he pushes himself to keep the same pace as the Riverclan apprentice despite how he may stumble on large paws and he swallows down a wheeze that begs for him to stop to catch his breath. He refuses so that he didn't slow the both of them not with the night being so young and their time is fickle, he would chase his happiness as his mother had stated, and he would do anything even if that meant he would be short of breath.

He's too preoccupied with Lavenderpaw not realizing that someone trails behind them and his stuffy nose wouldn't assist him on this matter either, the chocolate tabby offers a timid smile when she says that she hopes that he likes it. "I will, I haven't seen it yet but I'm sure that I'll love it." The half-clan prince states with confidence despite the slight tremble in his voice and when they arrive at the cliffside, he can't help but be reminded of the height that they scaled and how far of a fall it'd be. He swallows opting to focus his warm gaze onto Lavenderpaw once more knowing that all fear would be swallowed in one breath and his ears twitch at the sound of water flowing.

The sight of the waterfall is enough to make his head tilt towards the sky as he gets a good look at it and he's distracted by it for a mere heartbeat before his companion speaks up once more stating that there may be some space behind it. His heart skips within his chest, feeling the way his face begins to grow warm, and he only seems even more interested at the aspect of the both of them keeping one another warm. The thought of being briefly being submerged terrifies him and several what ifs begin to flood his mind... like what if he slipped and fell? "It's worth every moment..." The voice of his mother echoes within his mind and the fear subsides enough for him to offer a shy chuckle as it tumbles out from his throat.

"I'll follow you... I will follow wherever you take me, Lavenderpaw." Asterpaw says at last with a brief dip of his helm and prepares to become drenched by the water that cascades down, his eyes never leaving that of the slate-gray molly knowing that if anything went wrong then she'd be there to catch him, and if she didn't... well, he lived his final moments where he wanted to be. By her side. The dark tabby slips through the water to see the space that his friend had mentioned and he's quick to shake himself off to discard water from his pelt as the droplets scatter against the stone, he draws close knowing how she said that they would keep each other warm, and tentatively allows his shoulder to brush against her own feeling that familiar electricity ripple throughout his body.

Even with their pelts drenched, the waterfall being a usually breathtaking sight, his eyes never leave Lavenderpaw too enthralled by the beauty that the Riverclanner still seems to posess despite how the two of them had crept behind the body of water as if it were a mere curtain "You're absolutely m-magnificent." He utters in a quiet breath trying to keep his teeth from chattering from the cold that threatens to creep into his skin, "What other wonderous spots do you know?"

CITY OF STARS; ARE YOU SHINING JUST FOR ME?

ASTERPAW

THUNDERCLAN APPRENTICE
TRANS MASC x HE/HIM/THEY/THEM​

x

"speech", thoughts, attacking
a runty, longhaired chocolate tabby with clay toned eyes and low white. a sickly apprentice with small patches of fevercoat left over in his pelt, kitten fuzz, and fat that clings to him but is fading away to give way to a taller/more lanky build
sickly child of loonstar and sablestar; littermate of dreampaw and magpiepaw; padding after lavenderpaw

asterpaw's an introverted apprentice that keeps to himself for the most part unless family's involved, he usually keeps his head low and eyes averted so he doesn't make direct eye contact. once, he actually gets to know someone is he more open towards them and can prove to be a devoted friend. once he's comfortable around other individuals, he tends to speak a lot more and sometimes over shares about himself without realizing it. he hates that he was born sickly but despite it, he tries to overcome it and pushes himself harder than any of the apprentices

 

[JUNCOPAW]

Juncopaw's heart beats fast, faster than it had ever done—and she's entirely convinced that the entirety of wetlands reverberates with it.

Part of her tells her this is wrong. Lavenderpaw has been sneaking out during the night, and truly, it's not like it's Juncopaw's business... except when she remembers that they are littermates. Of course it's Juncopaw's business. What if her sister got in trouble and got hurt? Then Juncopaw would feel infinitely more guilty about not checking out whatever the other she-cat had set her focus on. Does Rosemarypaw or Jackdawpaw know about this? Probably not. Plus... Juncopaw is curious. She loathes the act of following Lavenderpaw like this, but the need to know keeps her going. Whatever secret Lavenderpaw holds so close to her heart, it's not like Juncopaw plans on telling others. It can be a shared secret. (Even if keeping secrets from the rest of the family also feels grotesque.)

Juncopaw is not a professional stalker by any means. She lacks the proper patience for it, a byproduct of her ever-excited personality, but Lavenderpaw appears too distracted to take notice of any mistakes. She hasn't been this far without her mentor before, and that notion is scary in and of itself. Stormswirl would likely be furious with her. But if she won't get caught... Lavenderpaw can teach her how to sneak away like a professional. Starting today!

Somehow, Juncopaw is not as surprised as she had imagined when she sees Lavenderpaw scoot so close to another tom. What's his name... the air tells her ThunderClan, but Juncopaw has never been particularly good at remembering names outside of her own Clan. This makes sense—a little friendly outing. Perhaps... too friendly... but Juncopaw isn't about to set rules for her sister. Lavenderpaw can be friends with whoever she wants, and however she wants.

It just doesn't mean that she is off the hook, yet.

After what feels like an eternity of sneaking around, Juncopaw takes a deep breath and pushes herself through the curtain of the cascading waterfall. It fills her ears, eyes, and nose, and for a moment, Juncopaw is paralyzed. She shakes herself like a wet dog, no doubt spraying Lavenderpaw and her friend straight in the face.

"WOAH! StarClan, that's cold. Get out of my ears... I can't hear a thing,"

she mumbles to herself, eyes squinted shut.

The moment clears. Slowly but surely, Juncopaw gets all her senses back, and she can come face to face with the shocked expressions of the pair before her.

"Hi! Lavenderpaw! And, um, I don't know who you are. I mean, I probably saw you before, but I don't remember your name. Sorry. It's not personal."

Juncopaw has a wide grin on her face as she looks from Lavenderpaw to the stranger. This is... kinda awesome. Much better than the images that her vivid imagination had fed her before this.

"I, uh- I kinda followed you. Sorry!! I won't tell dad. Or mom. Or momma. Are you two, like, together? That must be why you're sneaking around!!"

Her shrill voice echoes through the cavern, despite how loud the waterfall behind them is. At least it acts as something soundproof; had it not been for its chaotic, overwhelming noises, the entire forest would hear Juncopaw's glee by now.

 

[lavenderpaw]

He looks at her as if she's hung the very stars, and Lavenderpaw can only bask in the warmth he provides.

The fleeting worries and fears that she's pushing him are just that - fleeting. The tom quickly discourages any untoward thoughts by reassuring her that he trusts her, and that wherever she will go, he will follow. Foolish, her sensible part says, but her heart flutters endlessly regardless. The way his frame rustles the undergrowth, his paws landing on the dirt and sand beneath them... even his uneven breathing at times. It's all music to her. Lavenderpaw could get lost in the territories - beyond them, even - but if he's there beside her... then she's okay.

Their arrival to the waterfall is met with a clear air of fear. She expects as much, as even she finds herself afraid of what kind of mercy this landmark will afford her. But, again, he believes in her. The water doesn't scare him when she's there. Bravery imbibes him and the top moves first, paws sloshing in foamy water as he passes through the threshold, the falling water cascading down his back in quick, thundering rivulets. Lavenderpaw quickly succeeds him, too succumbing to the harshness of the waterfall. When she parts to the other side, she expels a held breath and immediately seeks him out. The depths of the cavern allow little to no light, and the waterfall is loud - maybe even louder with the echo. But -

Fur presses to her shoulder. Beneath the damp fur, she can scent him. Not ThunderClan, not his ever plaguing illness... just him. She wonders if the distinction truly means anything... if they would be better off, suddenly, without their Clan titles to make useless rivals of them. Lavenderpaw feels an ache in her chest that is both infuriated and soothed by his presence. If allowed, she cranes her head into his neck, further preserving their shared warmth - as well as that sting of electricity that keeps her heart thudding in her ears.

"You're absolutely magnificent." Oh, how she swoons like a pathetic molly. She hardly thinks he would be saying as much if he saw how much she antagonized one of his Clanmates recently. She can keep that in the ruff of her neck for now. Lavenderpaw twists to look up towards him, and she notices that she can feel how warm his breath is. Are they... that close? If she scooted in a little closer, could she feel his nose next? Moons ago she would've been disgusted with the idea, but the intimacy now feels... comforting. "Well... aha..." she speaks quietly, feeling her heart crescendo in her chest, until -

"WOAH!" She is showered, unceremoniously, with the waterfall's rage once again.

Lavenderpaw jumps, the water keeping her grounded and her fur slicked, yet her frame arches in surprise nonetheless. In the darkness, she can't tell exactly who it is. But the way she rambles and laments, Lavenderpaw immediately susses out the interruptor.

"Juncopaw...!" She sharply squeaks. Her rumble seems to have been lost to the waterfall's roar, as her sister prattles on about their secret. Her jaw tenses, but for the moment, she's grateful that this is how Asterpaw meets Juncopaw. Call it self sabotage or a sense of body dysmorphia, but while the blue smoke certainly thinks she's pretty, she thinks her sister is prettier. Asterpaw would have to have suns for eyes to see the silvered girl in all of her glory. Still, Lavenderpaw can't help but feel frustrated, if not disoriented, by the interruption.

"Could this not have waited until the morning?" She barks, eyebrows pinching centermost on her head. "I would've come home...!" Would she have? There was that light pull, to run away with the tom, as if there is something to escape from here. Her ears fold to her head, and subconsciously, she presses her shoulder closer to Asterpaw's. Juncopaw's question comes at an awkward junction, then, as the blue pelted molly clearly does not want to pull away from her brown tabby... friend... yet putting a label on what they are doing seems just as difficult.

"Uh... we are..." she looks to him for help.