Until you can't go on any more (Tilly)

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw's eyes widened. She definately was fast. He bolted after her, trying to use his intense stanima to catch her. He spun around trees and followed her for as long as he could. He was just gaining on her when he tripped over a root and fell on his face.

"Foxdung... I've really got to stop doing that..." He grumbled as he looked up.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw skidded to a halt to look back at Longpaw. she laughed melodically as she saw him trip, and danced over to him. "Are you alright?" she asked sweetly.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw grumbled.

"I've inherited too much of my mother's ThunderClan bloodline... Running is such a nuisance." He muttered. He looked up at Foreverpaw and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm just glad I didn't trip you or blind you with dust this time." He meowed.

[kelsey .]

She laughed, and then looked at Longpaw more closely. "your mother, she is from ThunderClan?" Foreverpaw did not know that. she suddenly wanted to know Longpaw's story, even if there was no story to be told.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw struggled to get to his feet. Once he'd righted himself he nodded slightly.

"Yeah. Her father was a WindClanner, though." He meowed. His mother had told him many times that being half-Clan was something that was unjustly ridiculed by many cats. She told him that the blood in your viens didn't matter. It was the heart that counted. I wish I knew what sort of heart I have... he thought.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw stared into his eyes, heart racing. "It's okay to be half-clan," she said, guessing his thoughts. "I'm Half...Clan I guess. Half Clan, Half Loner. but as long as your devoted to wherever you live, it doesn't matter. You belong there." she said mystically, fur shimmering in the darkening sky.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw stared into her eyes and found that once again he couldn't look away. He felt his heart start racing and then he blushed and managed to avert her gaze.

"Yeah, well, I guess it doesn't matter. After all, I'm a mix of so many different things I wouldn't be able to trace it all back! But I don't have to be ashamed of." He sighed and looked up into the sky. He wished Dragonstar were still here. He wished he could talk to his father. He wished he could see him and ask him things and have him there to love him forever... But he's gone. He's one of those twinkling stars up there in the sky. Longpaw remembered how hard his mother had taken his father's death. She had been so quiet... He wondered if she'd ever get over it. He looked at Foreverpaw and smiled a little sadly.

"It's hard to be alone, you know? Even with my mother and my siblings I just feel... out of place." he sighed.

[kelsey .]

"I didn't like my sister at all, and I was afraid of my father. I've been alone from the start. I never had a mother." When Foreverpaw came to TrueClan she had hoped to make friends. But no one seemed to see through her randomness, her willingness to burst out suddenly and then crawl back in solemnly. They didn't see why she liekd to chase Butterfly's, or stare at the clouds, or dream things about cats she has never met. She felt things were easier with Longpaw. Right.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw smiled slightly.

"I guess you've had it rough. But don't worry. We'll keep each other company. I'll be like the brother you never had." He meowed, flicking her shoulder with her tail tip playfully.

[kelsey .]

She laughed, although it seemed a little off. I wish we could be more than just friends. I feel a weird connection. she wondered if Longpaw felt this connection, and decided he didn't. Why would he call me his 'sister' if he didn't feel anything?[.i]

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw smiled at her easily and felt as if some strange soft light had descended upon his heart and had cooled his chest in a very soothing manner.

"You know, I've never really felt this nice around anyone else before. I'm just normally so irritated by everyone. But it's like you understand. I like that." he meowed, purring softly as he padded forward into the little wood.

[kelsey .]

She nodded. "Everything seems right when I'm around you. I don't have to worry." She followed him, step for step, side by side. "Want to have a hunting match? I be I can beat you!" She purred happily.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw shrugged.

"Sure. I'm not the best hunter, but I guess it's good practice." he meowed, grinning. He scented the air and padded off into the undergrowth. He picked up the trail of a mouse and stalked it, but as he crouched to leap on it he accidently tripped - once again - and it narrowly escaped his flailing paws. He swore crossily and turned to find something else.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw giggled slightly at his stumble and went off to find her own prey. She soon smelled a vole in the bushes. She stalked forward, leaping and catching the critter with ease. Burying it in some earth, she went to find more.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw soon picked up the scent of a squirrel. He stalked forward and leaped after it. He threw himself onto the tree and clawed it aside as it tried to escape. He leaped down and bit down on its neck, killing it. He kicked some dirt over it and sighed. Well, it wasn't very pretty but I caught the freshkill. He thought.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw had caught one mouse since her first kill. She decided to watch Longpaw as he hunted, to see how good he was. she crept along silently, eyes glimmering with joy.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw stalked after a pigeon. He paused and listened, then slowly began clawing his way forward. he paused and scented the air, then leaped out and caught the bird as it flew off. He bit onto its neck, but his momentum carried him off and he fell onto his back. He grunted as he dropped the pigeon beside him. I'm such a clutz... He thought miserably.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw padded out of the brush quietly, licking Longpaw's ear. "It's okay. I'm clumsy, too." she said sympathetically.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Longpaw blushed when she emerged. Crap she saw it... He thought. He blushed even more when she kissed him. He shuffled his paws and thought he must be burning red at the moment.

"Oh well... um... I... uh..."

[kelsey .]

She laughed sweetly. "A Family kiss. Don't worry." She said, eyes glazed with embarrassed joy.