pafp boom clap | blushing and hanging

[Catfishleap]

Life was going well! Catfshleap had not received any life altering injuries for a full 12 moons, or close to that, a win. She had been growing and maturing, a win. She was a fine enough warrior, and for now, that was a win. She even had her best friend back! A WIN!

Yes, GreenLeaf was just getting better and better.

She emerged from the river, silky fur dragged down by the weight of the water. It was so nice to be able to swim without freezing. She shook her coat somewhat dry and then started to groom the rest of her coat. It was peaceful at the riverbed, a group of cats were there relaxing and cooling down after some scorching patrol. There was laughter and idle chatter as some cats splashed and others lay in the sun drying of wet fur. Catfishleap watched idly sticking to the outside of the group, something the molly typically didn't do. It is in that moment of peace that she felt a presence saddle beside her. Hazewish is at her side, she can feel the heat of the sun of the grey tabby's fur and as she looks to her friend something happens.

As she looks at her friend, as she feels her friend press into her, her stomach flips. Butterflies. Circling her stomach, flying up and down and all around. Had Hazewish always been so pretty? They must have been? Her fur had always been downy and thick. They were well-groomed and their eyes had always glowed like this. Hazewish must have always been pretty... it's just in this moment they are pretty to HER. Catfishleap's eyes dart away as all the cooling effect the water had on her dissipates. She doesn't say anything, a bit unusual, but maybe Hazewish will just take it as not disturbing the silent peace. Instead of the fact that Catfish wasn't quite sure she remembered how to say "Hi." normally.

She hadn't had many crushes in her life, she had been smitten over Iciclefang moons ago but that faded. But, now she feels it again, the hot face, the scrambling of her brain, the utter state of shock she is thrust into. Her tail idly swishes back and forth not quite finding a rhythm, Haze is still just there leaning against her. Then her brain starts working again, just for a second. A troubling thought that she can't be feeling this! Why is she feeling this? They had just gotten back to normal, this was normal! Yet her she was, admiring them, no that's not how it was supposed to work.

As her ears became hotter and red and her head became increasingly more upset, she came to the conclusion. This is not a win.

"speech"

please wait for @Hazewish
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[Hazewish]

TRAVELER, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED (AND NOW YOU MUST GO) ⋆⁺₊⋆

Hazewish is not prone to loneliness. The past seasons without Catfishleap went by alright and they were not thrust into a moons-long depression at the lack of a best friend, thank you very much. But it’s such a joy to have one again, to have her again, that the year without appears bleak by comparison, and Haze finds themself wanting to… cling, a bit. Just to remind the two of them how nice it is to be together once more, and to enjoy the time they have before something new happens to disturb this tentative peace.

As Catfishleap steps out of the water, Haze pads up to her and presses their whole side against hers, nudging her a bit with a secretive smile. They’re pretty sure they saw two apprentices sneaking downriver, and in a bit they’d love to track them down and spook them a little, something they hated as an apprentice and now find infinitely funny as a warrior. But before they can share that plan with Catfish, they feel the easy warmth of her fade as she draws back just a little bit, body tensing for no clear reason.

For all her growing and maturing, Catfishleap was still the same cat that Haze remembers freaking out about liking mollies too much, worrying about her appearance and reputation, putting distance between them for the sake of becoming a better warrior. She doesn’t think Catfish would feel embarrassed to be seen with Haze anymore, but it still has her frowning quizzically, wondering if one such past insecurity may be rearing its ugly head now or if Catfish saw something that she should also be worrying about.

Shifting to face her instead of leaning against her, Hazewish tilts their head and asks: ”Good?”

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