Sweet as a Rose
Prologue - Firey
Ivypaw sat by the stream, her tail tip streaming in the water. She felt lonely, and she could remember every part of her accident. How she had a twisted paw since birth. Everyone thought of it like a flaw, a mistake that shouldn't have happened. Everyone but...
"Hey, Ivypaw."
The brown and white she-cat looked up as the smoky gray tom approached. His single white paw stood out, but not as much as her twisted left paw.
"What are you doing out here, Snakepaw?"
He gazed at her fondly, and his tail wrapped around her shoulders, "I noticed that you didn't come back from hunting, so I came out to find you."
Ivypaw snorted, "My mentor thinks I can't hunt."
Snakepaw shook his head, "Not everyone thinks that way. I know you can hunt and fight as well as I can, probably even better."
The brown and white she-cat stared into his amber eyes, "Thanks, Snakepaw." She whispered.
He didn't say anything, but he let her rest her head on his shoulder. "Let's get back to camp now," he mewed softly, "I don't want the Clan to worry about us."
Ivypaw stopped him with her tail, "Nobody will mind two apprentices out in the middle of the night," she pointed out, "Even if we're on the RiverClan border."
"Exactly, we should go."
"We're not doing any harm." Ivypaw argued back.
Snakepaw gazed back at her for a few moments, then sighed, "Alright, we'll stay here for awhile longer." Ivypaw purred at his response.
The two apprentices sat side by side, and Ivypaw sighed, "Our assessment is coming up soon, isn't it?" Snakepaw merely nodded.
The silence stretched out for moments longer, then Ivypaw continued, "I can't wait to prove myself in front of Brookwhisper. She thinks I'm not strong enough to be a warrior! I hope she lets me take the assessment..." She lowered her head.
Snakepaw immediately leaned over and licked Ivypaw's cheek, "You're good enough right now to become a warrior." He reassured.
But the brown and white she-cat was far from reassured. She was sitting there, in an upright position, staring at Snakepaw.
The smoky gray tom froze too, realizing what he had just done.
Ivypaw left out a puff, and Snakepaw hurriedly covered up his mistake, "I'm sorry, I just-" Ivypaw waved her tail, silencing the stricken apprentice.
They both knew that Ivypaw hated being touched by others, and Snakepaw rarely showed any physical affection to her, only sometimes, he would wrap his tail around his shoulders. Other than that, nobody touched Ivypaw.
Snakepaw's amber eyes were wide and he tried to apologize once more, "Ivypaw, I-"
"It's okay," she mewed, silencing Snakepaw once more, "It's fine, really." She smiled slightly and tentatively wrapped her tail around his.
Snakepaw relaxed and purred, "Ivypaw..." He couldn't get the words out.
She looked over, and titled her head slightly, "Yes, Snakepaw?"
"I-"
Nothing came out.
Ivypaw looked amused, and she leaned over, her breath tinkling in Snakepaw's ear and she whispered, "I love you, Snakepaw."
"I..." he took a deep breath as he stuttered over the words.
"I love you too."