"Wake up." A soft purr awoke Cloudfur. He stirred, finding Tootsie gazing down at him. "Uh, hi." He meowed nervously, scooching away from the side of the nest where Tootsie was leaning over. She purred. "Good morning, Cloudfur." Cloudfur glanced around. He was still in the abandoned badger set. Cloudfur jumped from his nest, pain flashed through him. "How long have I been here?" He demanded. Tootsie looked suprised, and hurt flashed through her eyes for a moment. "Two sunrises." She whispered. Cloudfur was boiling with anger, and he flexed his claws in frustration. "Why didn't you take me home? I should never had trusted a rouge!" He hissed. Tootsie raised her gaze, looking irritated and suprised. "Hm, maybe because you were close to death? And I have NO clue where your den is?" Her anger faded. She looked puzzled for a moment. "Aren't you a rouge?" Tootsie asked quietly. Cloudfur looked away. "I should never had saved you! Clancat!" The words stung, as Tootsie lashing her plumy tail, stalked from the den. Cloudfur scraped the ground in annoyance. Could she stop flirting for once, and actually care? Cloudfur hissed, and stalked to Tootsie's nest. It was cold. How long was she watching me sleep? Before he turned away, he felt a hard vine beneath her nest. He reached for it, and found a purple kittypet collar, with a silver Twoleg slate clipped on. Cloudfur blinked at it in suprise. He glanced around, before slipping it back under the nest and padding from the set. Cloudfur tasted the air. He followed her scent trail. Squirrels scrurried across the path, but Cloudfur was too preoccupied. He followed the scent trail, getting closer and closer, until he reached a small stream, bubbling over mossy rocks. Small silver fish were slipping through the cracks of rocks, and large willow trees surronded the damp grassy clearing. On the rocks of a tiny waterfall in the stream, there was a fallen log, that had a perfect bridge across. Perched in the middle, was Tootsie, dipping one of her white paws into the shimmering water. Water droplets scattered her fur and whiskers, making them shine in the sun. Cloudfur imagined his tail twining with hers, and his fluffy pelt brushing against her sleek, soft fur. Cloudfur shook his head. Tootsie is a rouge, and i'm a medicine cat. It would never work. Cloudfur padded across the grassy clearing, trying not to make a sound. Tootsie's ears twitched, and she glanced at Cloudfur coldly. Cloudfur glanced away, shame burning beneath his pelt. "Tootsie... i'm sorry." She turned back to the stream, and kept her gaze fixed on the water, not replying to Cloudfur's plea. Cloudfur's pelt bristled. "I'm trying to say that... I can't stay." Cloudfur finished with a sigh. Tootsie blinked at him, with an expression Cloudfur couldn't read. She beckoned him with her tail. Cloudfur cautiously padded onto the log, digging his claws in the soft damp bark. "If you're leaving, I should tell the truth." Cloudfur looked at the grassy clearing, wishing to get off the unsteady log, but he listened intently to Tootsie's words. "I... i'm not a rouge." She whispered softly over the loud bubbling of the stream. Cloudfur looked at her, and she glanced at him nervously. "I know." Tootsie blinked at him in suprise. "How?" She croaked. Cloudfur purred nervously. "I-i, uh, found your collar beneath your nest." Cloudfur meowed apprehensively. Tootsie narrowed her eyes, and he felt her tense beside him. "You were looking through my stuff." Cloudfur gulped. Tootsie relaxed, purring. "Just, don't do it again." Cloudfur left out a sigh of relief, before Tootsie continued and looked back at the shimmering water. "I live part time with my housefolk. Most of the time I live out here." She gestured with her tail to the willows and streams. Cloudfur nodded, still a little confused. He could feel Tootsie's blue gaze burning his pelt, but focused his gaze on the bubbling stream. "I'm sorry I lied. I... didn't want you to think I was soft." Tootsie whispered. Cloudfur turned his gaze to blink at her. "Soft? You're the toughest cat I know!" PART 3 COMING SOON!!
janainaart
stormborns
germansingergirl
jbbartram-illu
kianamaiart
izzy806
snowghoul
