[i remembered black skies] gingerxcedar

[{amberrr}]

<sup>Gingerstripe purred, and led the way to the entrance to the camp. She knew Cedarstar liked her now. He wouldn't ask her to go on patrol, and jump almost for joy when she had said yes if he didn't like her! Excitedly, she followed Cedarstar eagerly through the entrance to the camp. She twitched her whiskers with happiness. She hadn't been this happy since she'd been made an apprentice. Gingerstripe had been younger then, her eyes only on the prize. Looking back, she realized there was much more than simply helping her Clan and fighting tooth and claw for them.

It was making sure they were happy, not only that they were protected. And right now, she was positive she was making one of her Clanmates very happy, indeed. She had only seen the destination, not the journey along the way. Her father had always told her to look in the present, and not be so fussy about worrying about tomorrow. It had only taken him 14 moons, but she finally understood what he had meant about that. Gingerstripe wished she could tell him she finally understood why he had drilled that into her head. But...she couldn't. He wasn't around anymore, not since that badger...

Her angst was gone, as she'd looked up at the surrounds and she stifled a gasp. The New-Leaf weather was making the land simply well, gorgeous. The brown, depressing earth was slowly filling with bright green grass and blooming flowers. The barren trees were blooming with leaves, new leaves sprouting every which way. Death had come to some trees, but ivy was covering them. Gingerstripe realized death always would be remembered, but the meadows moved on, and looked to the plants and animals that were there now.

"It sure doesn't seem like Leaf-Bare anymore," she observed, partially to herself. Realizing he had heard, she bent her ears down in embarrassment. Obviously it didn't look like Leaf-Bare, plants were budding and animals were scurrying.</sup>

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Now that he'd recovered his breath, the leader stood up again. He smiled slightly before his broad face returned to its normal neutral expression. "Indeed. Much is in the air." It was a reference, if a light one, to how he felt. A signal. A sign that was subtle enough that if she did not love him - his heart twisted at the thought - she would probably miss, but if she did feel the same way - his heart thumped anxiously - she would surely pick up on.

Please, StarClan, let her feel the same, he begged. Let her realize how much I would do for her...love her...be her loyal mate. Mate. The word caused a thrill in him like it had never before. He'd said the word countless times - but never with this meaning, a meaning for himself. A meaning he'd longed for it to have for moons. He was young for a leader - only 44 moons - yet he felt like he'd carried the burden of wanting romantic love for so long. And here was a ginger-furred magnet for it.

But would she return his feelings?

[{amberrr}]

<sup>"Indeed. Much is in the air."

At this remark, Gingerstripe widened her eyes. Could Cedarstar possibly be hinting that he...loved her? The very thought sent chills down her spine in delight. Cedarstar could be the one, he's handsome, brilliant, and he understands me for me, she thought to herself. He had never wanted her to change, he liked her the way she was. He understood her, and that what Gingerstripe had been longing for, someone to understand her for her, and not to try to use her.

He was the one. Now, the only problem was telling him how she felt about him...Gingerstripe gasped. Never, in all her moons, had she had a problem with talking. Ever. The words just came to her, but now was different. Telling someone that you love them isn't as easy as it would appear. Well, she just have to dive right in, so she wouldn't back out. Hopefully he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

"Cedarstar, I have something to tell you...I love you."</sup>

[Cloud of Diamonds]

It was like many things. A feeling of his life coming to a point. A summation of everything he had ever endured now rewarded. Trust and connection. Adoration. Remembering.

Love.

It was almost too good to be true. In fact, he found himself wondering if he was dreaming. But no - no dream could be as sweet as this. And then he found part of himself smirking at his sappiness and saying get on with it already. He grimaced at it, but then smiled again and opened his mouth to reply.

"I think I love you too, Gingerstripe." He said in his rumbling mew. And then, memories so strong they made him blink surfaced.

"Do you remember...back in ForestClan, when I said to the cats who were leaving how they should turn around if they were too weak to come with? I...regret that now. Because I remember how scared everyone truly was. True, they should have been stronger. But you were among them, were you not? And..." He trailed off, staring at his paws. Why was he saying this?

He looked up again, his fur bushed slightly in anxiety.

"...do you forgive me?" He said weakly. Perhaps she wouldn't understand why he was like this. It was just...love made him so strong and yet so weak at the same time. And...the Journey had always haunted him. He didn't mind being strict and sometimes harsh - it was part of who he was and the rank he held. But that speech had always haunted him slightly whenever he remembered it. It had made him wonder if he was meant to love, though he shoved those feelings away.

And yet here was she, so perfect for him.

But would his love forgive his long-ago crime?

[{amberrr}]

<sup>"I think I love you too, Gingerstripe."

She purred, and did in fact jump in delight to here that he loved her. That made her world complete! But, then she saw the look on his face. Gingerstripe wanted to ask him what was wrong, but he answered the question before she uttered a word.

"Do you remember...back in ForestClan, when I said to the cats who were leaving how they should turn around if they were too weak to come with? I...regret that now. Because I remember how scared everyone truly was. True, they should have been stronger. But you were among them, were you not? And..."

Gingerstripe understood he felt guilty about rushing the Clan into this, but they had /all/ benefited from it. Regardless of whatever had happened to them in this new land, it's still far better than what Brownstar would have done for them. Gingerstripe had no regrets, and to be honest, had actually be extremely excited to go live in a world all their own. But...there was even a deeper meaning to her going with Cedarstar. Gingerstripe was still haunted by the place that the badger had killed her mother & father. To this day, it still haunts her dreams on occasion.

"...do you forgive me?"

This part shocked her. She had never had the feeling that he had thought that he'd been pushing the Clan into it. But, looking back on it, anyone could have felt that way about Cedarstar. Not her. She'd had different motives back then.

"There's nothing to forgive, you were doing what leader's do best, lead," she said, purring,"we all went with you didn't we? But..." she said, realizing this just /might/ be a time to actually be serious,"if you would like this weight lifted off your shoulders, than you I forgive you."</sup>[/b]

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Though it sounded silly and cliched, he felt like he was relaxing from the tension of moons. A weight from his shoulders. A load off of his back. It was silly; he should have shrugged it off, like his love said. But then, he was only feline. A leader he may be, and a good, hard, strong one, but when it came down to it, he was an ordinary cat like everyone else, if one with nine lives. But then he purred. It was because he was still just a cat that he could enjoy the simple pleasures of life and need not always be some distant being who ruled with unquestionable judgment. Heart filled with longing, he padded up to her, so close their whiskers touched.

Then he sighed, and sunk his head into her sweet-smelling, soft shoulder. He felt like he had a refuge now, a safe place even in the darkest of storms and conflicts. A shelter that would not turn him away, and in return he would defend with every breath he had, every bit of strength in his nine lives. It was his, and he was hers. They belonged to each other now. Some silent, immensely powerful pact had been made, he felt. Maybe it was his imagination, but it was as strong of a feeling as hunger or pain, only it was love.

"Gingerstripe..." He muttered, lifting his head away slightly from her pelt. "Will you be my mate?"

[{amberrr}]

<sup>"Gingerstripe..." He muttered, lifting his head away slightly from her pelt. "Will you be my mate?"

Gingerstripe had been studying a leaf, just to make the awkwardness less...awkward, but him saying this made her want to jump for joy. He did like her! Why had she been worried in the first place, she'd known that he liked her, deep down. She started purring when his muzzle touched her pelt. This may sound cheesy, but it felt right to be with him. Like her other half was filled. Eww, that /did/ sound corny. But, hey, maybe that's what it felt like to be in love?

As soon as he asked her that question, she had an answer, she'd want to spend the rest of her life with him. "Yes, of course, Cedarstar!" she barely managed to meow out, from her purring. Everything was perfect now. Gingerstripe had finally put her past behind her and the future was looking as bright as ever.</sup>