Where the heart is [Mintkit, Sparksetter]

[Azura]

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[scrolly:h(223),w(400),sy][atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/8qA6.png] Aza's paws were weary as she paused, hesitant, at the DuskClan border. The scent line was delicate, intangible, but to her it represented the cross-over point between her difficult-but-normal life as a rogue and the tangled emotions and politics that came with messing with the Clans and their stupid code. She was at the very southernmost tip of DuskClan territory, far away from anywhere they'd be likely to pitch camp. She doubted that she'd find a DuskClan warrior here, but it was the closest place to Twolegplace to enter DuskClan territory. She would have preferred to go in somewhere closer to the centre, minimising her time inside DuskClan territory, but Mintkit was tired and probably wouldn't appreciate any detours. Besides, nobody would attack Aza; she had a DuskClan kit with her... right? Raising her nose, she froze. Or maybe I will find a warrior here... The scent was one utterly fixed in her memory forever; Sparksetter. The handsome, sweet, confident DuskClan warrior who had captured her heart not that long ago. She crossed the border with none of the reluctance of moments before. Sparksetter's presence took away all of her doubt and fear. She wondered sometimes at the irrationality of her trust and liking for him, but she couldn't help it, even when she told herself to stop, stop, Aza, you're being stupid, it was no use, no use! She sighed. "Come on, Mintkit, not long now," she encouraged the kit at her side, then broke into a jog, a run, a headlong flat-out sprint towards the source of the scent. She couldn't contain her energy, her reckless enthusiasm for meeting the cat she could scent. "Sparksetter!" she called, and then she broke into a clearing, and there he was, handsome and perfectly groomed as always. "Sparksetter," she repeated, her voice faltering. "I've come to... to return an errant DuskClan kit." Aza looked at her paws for a moment, then put on her best don't-care face. After all, Mintkit was there and she couldn't be allowed to suspect the affection between Aza and Sparksetter. [/scrolly]

(OOC: Kay, we all sure on what's happening here? PM me if not... also sorry for useless post. NO MUSE)

[Mintkit]

Azura set off at such a fast pace Mintkit barely had the time to register her sudden disappearance before she was gone. Blinking, Mintkit attempted to follow, but was soon confused by the foliage that masked Azura's scent and prints. And Mintkit, naturally, had never been good at tracking and her keen sense of smell didn't suit to cats.

Panic arose. Azura... why did she just suddenly run off? She told her they weren't far. Does that mean... Azura just literally abandoned her? Mintkit was seriously beginning to think she had just been ditched when she heard the call:

"Sparksetter!"

It was Azura's voice, definitely, but tainted with something new... something... off...

Frowning, Mintkit followed the sound of Azura's voice, and emerged into a clearing. Azura was there, but....

... did she look different than usual?

[Sparksetter]

Sparksetter sighed. It was a nice day, sun shining, earth singing. Sparksetter was trotting slowly around DuskClan camp, hunting. It was a slow day as far as prey went, and Sparksetter just couldn't seem to find anything. He was getting frustrated.

The time dragged by until he heard a rustling and a thump - like something was running. Could it be prey? He turned and was about to pounce when -

Azura. With a kit.

Sparksetter blinked. What was going on?

Azura's eyes were strained, like she wanted to run up to Sparksetter and nuzzle against him, but she knew she couldn't. "Sparksetter!" she shouted, then..."Sparksetter. I've come to return an errant DuskClan kit."

Sparksetter blinked. "Alright then." He glanced at the kit. "Go on. Back to camp. Go on."

[Sparksetter]

(OOC: Also, sorry for my lack of a posting table, but I'm too lazy to go find the code and then copy-paste)

[Azura]

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[scrolly:h(223),w(400),sy][atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/8qA6.png] For a moment Sparksetter's eyes caught her, perfect and deep. She stared, her breath snatched from her throat, and then he blinked and the moment was gone and she was able to look away, breathing hard. Aza glanced behind her as Mintkit entered the clearing. She tensed slightly and steadied her breathing, attempting to give no clue of her feelings. She calmed her face and smiled tightly. This could be a difficult situation - Mintkit could not be allowed to guess at she and Sparksetter's budding romance. She turned to Sparksetter and saw him blink, surprised. "Alright then," he said, and glance at the kit. "Go on. Back to camp. Go on." Aza hissed under her breath. If he acted that impatient to be alone, Mintkit would suspect something for sure. No DuskClan warrior would let a kit just wander through the territory back to camp on their own, not in their right mind anyway. And Mintkit had probably been away for enough time that she wouldn't know where the camp was. "You just wait here," Aza told Mintkit gently. Over the short time Aza had spent with the kit she had come to respect the small kit's bravery and endurance. For a Clan cat. For a kit. Of course. "Wait in the clearing. I need to... have a word. Yes. A word. With Sparksetter." Aza paused, her tongue stumbling slightly. "A private word. You wait here. Then Sparksetter will escort you back to camp..." and here she shot a warning glance at her... friend? mate? Whatever he was. "Won't he?" Drawing Sparksetter off into the bushes with her tail, she looked over her shoulder to check that Mintkit was still in the clearing and they were out of sight, then nuzzled his fur. "Sparksetter," she breathed quietly. [/scrolly]

(Arghhhh no muse I'm hopeless at romance)

[Mintkit]

"Go on. Back to camp. Go on." Sparksetter's eyes shone onto Mintkit's, and she took a small step backwards.

Azura hissed at Sparksetter once. "You just wait here. Wait in the clearing. I need to... have a word. Yes. A word. With Sparksetter..." The cat stumbled a bit on her words, and whatever she said next, Mintkit did not hear. Her eyes only flashed from one cat to another, her brain immediately wondering what was going on. Sparksetter's casual behavior, and Azura's suddenly tense, nervous personality...

Azura flicked her tail, and led Sparksetter off into the bushes. Mintkit stayed in the clearing, frozen in shock, almost unable to process the sudden circumstances...

One thing was definitely clear at this point. Azura and Sparksetter were hiding something - and they weren't going to tell. Only one choice was left at this point; quietly, Mintkit padded over to the bushes and leaned in to listen.

[Sparksetter]

Sparksetter saw Azura tense. "You just wait here," she told Mintkit, stuttering. "Wait in the clearing...I need a word. Yes. A word. With Sparksetter...a private word..."

Azura, clearly nervous, flicked her tail, and Sparksetter followed after, off into a bush.

Sparksetter considered the situation for a moment. These were dangerous waters. While he still needed to keep up the charade with Azura - a plan was already forming in his mind, and that plan required that he have her wrapped around his tail - but....if that stupid kit saw anything or heard anything - anything at all - everything was over. Sparksetter considered his options carefully. Should he act like he was in love again? Or just send Azura on his way and find another loner to do his bidding?

No. The show must go on.

He stared deeply into Azura's eyes and asked in the most emotional and romantic voice he could muster, "Why did you come here, Azura?"

[Azura]

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[scrolly:h(223),w(400),sy][atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/8qA6.png] Aza didn't hear Mintkit pad over to the bushes. In fact she didn't hear anything much. The little cat was completely zoned out, overwhelmed by her feelings. "Why did you come here, Azura?" asked Sparksetter. His voice was so perfectly deep and romantic that Aza couldn't resist. She buried her face in his shoulder. "Oh, Sparksetter," she half-sobbed, half-murmured, her voice muffled by his beautiful silvery tabby fur, "it's been so long. It's hard being mates like this, you in DuskClan, me outside, meeting on the borders and snatching moments here and there. I wish..." but here even love could not prevent Aza from doing the sensible thing and stopping talking. She knew all about Clan cats and their fierce loyalty, and she knew that asking Sparksetter to leave his Clan and be with her forever was not a great idea. She drew back, caught a breath, and answered his question. "Well, originally I was coming because this idiot of a kit decided to stray into Twolegplace and I was bringing her back... but I can't say I wasn't influenced by a hope of meeting you." [/scrolly]

[Mintkit]

"Oh, Sparksetter, it's been so long. It's hard being mates like this, you in DuskClan, me outside, meeting on the borders and snatching moments here and there. I wish..."

Mintkit had to fight to keep the sharp intake of breath back. Did Azura just say... mates? She stared at the bushes, unable to figure out why or what was going on. She had definitely suspected something... strange between Azura and Sparksetter in the beginning, but something like this was outrageous...

Azura had just pretty much fessed up to having a relationship with Sparksetter. A loner and a DuskClan guard. Something unheard of in history, and if word got out... the consequences would be of a dire, unimaginable level.

Mintkit shrank back from the bushes softly.