Alone.

[kelsey .]

Forevrpaw glanced at Forgottensong for a moment. She knew this cat very well, even if most didn't. she knew he was like herself. "This is my sister, Heather, who should be leaving at any moment now. she does not belong here." She couldn't stop gazing at Forgottensong. He is quite handsome, she thought.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong blinked slowly. Hmm... He turned to Heather. He recognized that expression well enough, but he knew that Foreverpaw was probably right. He stepped up to her and looked closely into her eyes and then nodded.

"You should be going. Would you like an escort?" He asked, his eyes and voice emotionless. Heather looked up at him, and then she smiled, blinking her eyes flirtateously.

"No, thank you. I can take care of myself." She mewed, flicking his nose with her tail tip as she walked past him. He eyed her expressionlessly but said nothing. She's a strange one. I think she must be like Lastsong. He thought.

[kelsey .]

"Sorry abou that...that was an unexpected surprise." she said quietly, strangely. she looked up at the moon, it had a strange orange hue to it. "Oh, lookie at the moon! It's so pretty." She sang a little ditty about the moon.

"Oh moon, oh moon,
you came, so soon!
Your lovely glow alight
My, you sure are bright!
With that tender orange hue,
The stars are saying, 'Look at you!'
Oh moon, oh moon
You left, so soon."

She didn't know where that song came from. It may have came from her brother, Ash, who was the creative poet. Hmmm... She wondered.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong listened intently as she sung. He looked up at the moon and smiled slightly. It was a nice but sad little lullaby. He knew many songs, which some thought ironic. But he had immersed himself in old legends and tales. Essentially he had been studying as a young cat to become a Teller, but war had destroyed his hopes of his dream. I was named for my calling... For the song that was sung upon my birth. The Forgotten Song.

"The leaves are strewn with the blood of battle,
Through the night the sufferers cry.
Bring salvation to the people,
Or let them fade away and die."

His voice was gentle and luring, though his words were sad and spoken with such despairing passion that they could cause tears to well up, though the numbers of the words were so few. That was only part of his song...

"I enjoyed your singing. It is much more beautiful than mine." He meowed gently.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw felt swayed by his voice. "No, no, you are an excellent singer. Do you know any more songs?" For some reason Foreverpaw knew she had many at paw.

"As I light my path
I fell the wrath,
Of words never spoken
And as I walk my way
I feel the sway
Of winds never broken."

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong listened intently to Foreverpaw's voice. She could rival the most learned Teller. If I were but as bold as Lastsong I would say that she was the very ocean, her voice as strong and smooth as its currents, both soft and roaring at the same time... He thought, staring calmly at her. He thought of his songs, of the legends and the tales he had learned many times...

"Long were the seas tossed aside,
One of beauty lost upon the tide.
A deep root had she in the ways of old,
But alas, she could not hear what the waves foretold.
Doom came upon her heart,
When she had it stolen by the art,
Of a dangerous demon of the sea,
One who called himself 'By the Lee'.
He struck down her will and pulled her deep,
Into the restless waves,
And there her heart has long been kept,
A heart that has broken and cannot sleep."

His eyes were half closed, and his rich voice seemed effortlessly to lift into the air and dance into the night. He sighed and smiled slightly.

"I am afraid I know many sorrowful songs. I always found them much more interesting... more enchanting... I studied them more than the others." He meowed, his voice - though above a whisper - as quiet as the sea itself after a storm.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw nodded. "My songs come from my dead brother, Ash. He was very studious and...almost magical." she felt her heart swell with sadness and...what else? Was she feeling something for this warrior? She was almost a warrior herself...they were nearly the same age. She felt as if Longpaw didn't exsist anymore, for now. She was caught in the moment.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong studied her face intently. She is sad. And something else I have never seen before... at least, not like that. He thought. Her face was quite beautiful, as he found himself studying each feature and thinking of the many songs each delicate mark and color streak in her eye reminded him of. She was truly a poet's dream, he thought.

"It is often from those close to us that we learn the truest of our heart's songs." He meowed with a slight nod. He turned and eyed the place where the other she-cat had dissapeared to.

"And that cat... she seems to be your source of despair. I wonder why." He didn't state it as much of a question, and his voice was low enough that she might have missed what he'd said completely.

[kelsey .]

"Because...I am the reason she has that scar on her throat. I didn't do that to her but...Well it's her fault, right? she's the one who enraged Father!" She realized Forgottensong would have no idea what she was talking about, so she told him her story. Three cats knew know. Well, maybe two. Did Dragonstar count?

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong listened intently as Foreverpaw told him her life's song. It was somewhat sad, he had to admit. But for all the deaths and pain, there was a greater song of suffering to be heard. Such as the Forgotten Song... I suppose I am vain to think so. But I cannot refuse to think it is true. He thought, watching her. Still, she's suffered so much inside. And no one accepts her because she is withdrawn into herself. She's afraid to trust. Or at least that's what I think... He blinked and touched the ground with a paw, unsheathing his claws and digging up the soft grass underpaw until it lay in a rather tattered pile. He looked up at her.

"Life begins pure and clean. We know no pain or sorrow, and we feel hope and joy in our hearts. But different trials... different obstacles will tear up that perfection, until sometimes it may be left in ruins. Is this what your heart looks like, I wonder? Is this how my own heart looks? I do not know. But what I do know is that hope is never a waste of time." He reached out and patted the earth back in place. He smiled at her.

"It's not perfect, but it's whole again." He murmured.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw nodded, his words making sense. My, he understands me more than Longpaw did. "forgottensong, hae you ever been in love, and then felt like that love just...went away? Found a new love?"

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong looked intently at Foreverpaw, a smile on his handsome black face.

"I have heard of love, I have yet to experience it in its fullest, though. Why? Does your own heart yearn for someone, Foreverpaw?" He asked curiously. He wondered if it was really his business or not, but he supposed she would say so if it wasn't.

[kelsey .]

She sighed. "Well, it did. Longpaw. But I think he likes someone else. But who knows? I already think I like someone else." she glanced at him quickly and then looked away.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong watched her face intently.

"Oh, I see. He is the son of our past leader, Dragonstar, is he not? I would see where one would admire such a cat. But if I am being honest he is rather... how shall I put it...? Irritable." Forgottensong meowed thoughtfully. He gave a soft snort of laughter and looked at Foreverpaw intently.

"But it is very nice that you should find another to care for. Lost loves are a fact of life, as I understand it. True friendship is as great as love, though, and I should very much like to extend to you such a gift." He mewed softly, looking down at his paws and kicking the dirt beneath his paws a little in embarrassment. Where he came from, what he was asking had... somewhat of a deeper meaning... He knew that she would not understand that, but still, he wanted to say it to her.

[kelsey .]

Through a complicated twist, She knew what Foreversong was feeling. And she felt that feeling back. Is that what he meant? "I think I understand you, if I'm correct..." She hoped he knew what she was trying to say, that she liked him too. But her words had not said that feeling. "...And I think I feel the same way..."

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong did not know what to think. She could be thinking what he was - of the traditions of his homeland, where true friendship was shared only between close relitives, the occasional friend, and most sacredly of all, mates. He did not know if she understood that entirely - but a part of him wished that she did, and that she truly did love him. His heart felt complete around her, the lost end to his song somehow coming into his ears. Her voice had entranced him, and had called to his heart feelings unknown before. He did not know if this feeling was love or if it was something else. He only knew what he felt, and what the songs told him... Love is bittersweet. So joyous, but also bitingly bitter when it is tarnished... I feel something that sounds like the love from my songs. Could I love Foreverpaw?" He recalled the verses of his song, far into the story that had given him his name. He could not but help let the soft notes escape from his lips, but no words formed. No words were needed really. The song's happy verse. The one part that did not speak of sorrow. The end.

"I hope, Foreverpaw... I hope with all my heart, that one day I will sing you my song." He said quietly, padding forward before stopping. His ears swiveled back and her stared down at his paws, blushing. His song... the song he had never sung fully to any cat. It was a sacred rite, keeping one's heart song to one's self until it was time. His heart yearned to pour out his knowledge of the words, the phrases, the notes, the melodies. He wanted her to hear it. He wanted her to see into his heart, and take it as her own. He wanted her to accept his love.

He wanted her to love him as well.

[kelsey .]

Foreverpaw felt light and airy, but she managed to find some earth underneath her paws. She looked into his eyes and felt her heart racing. "I'm sure your song is the most beautiful one of them all." Foreverpaw knew she didn't like Forgottensong. She loved/i] him, even if she was young. Longpaw seemingly disappeared. so let him be with someone else. Forgottensong is the one.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Forgottensong felt a rush of pleasure at hearing her say that. He opened his mouth to reply but suddenly scented something and swiveled his head, feeling his heart drop into his stomach. He just comes at the most unpredictable and unwanted times. Forgottensong thought gloomily as an almost mirror-image cat sauntered into the clearing.

"Well, well, what have we hear? Seducing the ladies are we, Forgottensong? Pfff. You should know your pathetic excuse for a mating call would break the hearts and eardrums of any cat who heard it. Almost thought mother must of hated you but I guess it wasn't her decision, was it?" Lastsong pondered, curling his lip as his cold, humorless eyes raked over Foreverpaw. Forgottensong said nothing, only watched his brother will a sullen expression. Sometimes I hate him... The tom thought.

"So, why this one, hmmm? There're plenty other much more beautiful ones, if I'm being frank." Lastsong meowed, eyeing Foreverpaw curiously. He may have looked like Forgottensong, but as Lastsong's own call surmised, he was much different. He had been the eldest of the litter, so his father had given him a great song of battle and ferocity. Forgottensong was the youngest, so...

"She's more beautiful than the others to me." He muttered unhappily.

"Ooohh, so she's caught your attention for other reaons, too? I must admit, though, mother and father would be dissapointed." Lastsong murmured, shaking his head sadly.

"Shut up." Forgottensong growled, furious that Lastsong would insult the cat he so deeply cared for. Why did his brother have to be so... infuriating? If Forgottensong had the nerve, he'd claw his brother's ears off. But he was too weak compared to his brother. He wouldn't last long. His song was one of despair and yet shadowed hope, but Lastsong's was of battle and glory and victory. The older tom had been chosen to best his little brother every time.

[kelsey .]

"Back off." That was all Foreverpaw said. When Foreverpaw got angry, she could get insane. Eyes blazing, she walked right up to Lastsong and stared into his eyes angrily. "Your jealous of Forgottensong because he is much more smarter and wiser than you. His song, even if I haven't heard it, is the most beautiful, best song, I bet. Your song would be a tale of lost confusion and your own little failures." She hissed, claws extended.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Lastsong's eyes widened slightly - though they held little interest in her words - and though he didn't move he craned his neck back so that he wouldn't have to be as close to her.

"Well, kitty, I must say I'm surprised. My brother was never very romantic. You hooked this one good." Lastsong murmured. Forgottensong growled at him.

"Just leave." He snarled harshly.

"Oooh I get it. Having a private moment, were you?" Lastsong winked at his brother, who rolled his eyes.

"Let me tell you, little shela," Lastsong purred, "My brother's song is not something to envy." He lifted his tail and trotted towards the camp. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at the she-cat.

"Just remember that." He meowed and then left. Forgottensong stared after him, bristling, then sighed and his tail and whiskers drooped. Lastsong was right.

His song was nothing to envy.