First Encounter

[Wazo]

ooc: gah, i must be losing my mind...XD, freudian slip

Seabreeze smiled back at Gryffinwing, unaware of the raging battle going on inside of her. Sure, she had noticed Gryffinwing's slight stare, but she thought that she must look very odd to a clanner. Her long silver tail flicked back and forth curiously and she glanced Gryffinwing up and down. She seemed much stronger then Seabreeze would ever be, Gryffinwing could certainly take care of herself. Seabreeze was a little envious to tell the truth. She always got underestimated and protected because of her size which was frustrating for such an independent and outgoing she-cat.

"RavineClan..." she repeated, feeling the name on the tip of her tongue. "That's so odd," she exclaimed. "But I like the name. And Gryffinwing, strange...I've never heard of such a name," she mused, her brow furrowed in concentration. She shook herself out of her thoughts. "My name is Seabreeze, it's a pleasure to meet you," she replied with a warm smile.

She noticed how Gryffinwing seemed on edge. Seabreeze hoped she wasn't making her uncomfortable, Brownspot didn't seem this way. Trying to start conversation, she asked, "Is Brownspot related to you?" she asked curiously. "He smells similar like you."

[Raven-chan]

'Seabreeze. Seabreeze. Seabreeze.' The beautiful name kept chanting within her head, almost like a taunt, mocking her for her gorgeous sleek body, beautiful eyes, amazing name, everything so much better than herself...

Gryffinwing shoved these thoughts violently away. At Seabreeze's words, Gryffinwing was a little startled. RavineClan sounded strange to her? Weird. Then again, so did the word 'Druid.'

At the mention of her odd name, Gryffinwing's mouth quirked up in an odd little smile.

"Yes, I have an unusual name...yours is beautiful, though." She added, without a trace of envy in her voice, of which she was very proud. At her question, Gryffinwing didn't know how to respond. Well, she obviously did know, but she really didn't want to.

"Brownspot is my mate." She meowed quietly, not unfriendly at all, just a pleasant fact. Her voice, though she didn't know it, warmed a little at the thought of Brownspot being her mate. She still loved him, with all of her heart, and it tormented her that he might love someone else over her...

[Wazo]

Seabreeze beamed with a low purr. “Thanks. I believe I was named this because I love the water so much. That’s where I live with my mate, on the water,” she commented, thinking to her home where her three beautiful kits were sleeping soundly.

She hesitated momentarily when Gryffinwing remarked that Brownspot was her mate. Not because of any attachments to her, but because that meant Gryffinwing must be the mother of the three kits that had died so suddenly. Her ears tilted back in grief and her midnight blue eyes grew darker, unable to think of what to say. She didn’t want to bring up that particularly painful moment, Seabreeze didn’t even know if Gryffinwing knew that she knew. Therefore, she chose to keep silent about that and responded with a nod. “That’s why you two have similar smells,” she commented simply, still unsure as to what to say.

[Raven-chan]

Gryffinwing smiled at Seabreeze, feeling her heart clench at the thought. Her and her mate...with kits...She thought back to her own kits, her beautiful kits who had not survived. They had such strong resemblances to their parents, and to Silverhawk.

Gryffinwing shoved those awful thoughts away, forcing herself to not think of them, her kits, her family that had perished so young. Instead, Gryffinwing struggled with finding something suitable to say.

"You live separated from the rest of your...group, with your mate and kits? You don't all live together?" She asked with a sudden burst of inspiration, happy that she had moved the subject away from mates, (who had possibly betrayedher ) and kits (who had died so young...)

[Wazo]

Seabreeze nodded. “Of course. After I became a ranger, I moved out of my Speaker’s den and got my own den. Right after I received my name of course. Then Leopardfire became my mate. I didn’t know him that well but usually all Rangers pair up quickly,” she answered, realizing she was babbling a bit off topic. “But yes, we live in separate dens. Leopardfire is watching the kits right now, so I left for a bit,” she added, looking at Gryffinwing. “It’s nice to take a break once in awhile.”

Her midnight blue eyes flickered with curiosity as she tilted her slender head. “Why wouldn’t you live separately?” she asked, unable to imagine as to why a bunch of cats would stay together. Separate dens just seemed to make so much more sense to Seabreeze.

[Raven-chan]

Gryffinwing had to smile, she couldn't help it. Living alone with Brownspot...she liked the idea, but the mere thought of being separated from her Clanmates gave her such a fright, such cold, chilling fright.

"We all live together. It's more...I don't know, it just is so much more...alive, I suppose. You create such a big family..." Her voice trailed off, thinking of how old her kits would be. Apprentices by now, training and growing up, romping around the forest. She violently shoved the thoughts away, turning her equally dark gaze to Seabreeze's, a small smile still there, her tail twitching behind her.

[Wazo]

Seabreeze nodded, even though she still didn’t really understand. The Druids were like a big family to her, but she couldn’t imagine being with them around the clock. She liked having time to develop relationships with her mate and her kits. How could you get to know your mate if you were constantly around the rest of the clan? Or perhaps the clanners chose their mates on their own time…an idea that astounded Seabreeze.

Seabreeze’s eyes became curious. “Then if you all live together…” she trailed off, furrowing her brows in thought. “How do you get to know your mates? And the kits live with you too? How do you watch kits?” she asked in wonderment, eager to learn more.

[Raven-chan]

Gryffinwing almost laughed with pleasure at Seabreeze's enthusiasm. She had never thought about it in this light before, about how hard it must seem to other cats...

"Well, you usually get to know your mates before they become your mates anyways, and after that it's just an enhancement of your relationship, I suppose. All of the kits are housed in one den with their mother. Mates continue to get to know each other when they go on patrols together, talk together at night, take time after their patrols are finished to go for a walk..." Her voice trailed off in nostalgia, but she quickly returned to the present, meowing,

"I think it would be awfully lonely living by yourself in one little den..."

[Wazo]

Seabreeze looked surprised, the clanners must choose their own mates then. Her and Leopardfire didn’t know each other much at all before they became mates. Now hearing about the clan’s ways, she wasn’t sure which ways were better. Seabreeze had always liked the ways of the druids, yet, having the kits all together made sense too. That way, the kits would have immediate friends outside of their litter that they would rely on for life. Her kits could be friends with Snowstorm’s, but that wasn’t the same as growing up together. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that the ways of the clan strengthened group loyalties more then the ways of the druids. The druids still came together as a group, but family ties were more important.

Seabreeze shrugged. “Well you live with your parents until you become a listener, and then you move into your Speaker’s den where they train you. Then when you become a ranger, you have your own den. But usually you are not alone for long. Most Rangers take mates quite soon after becoming one. That’s really when you get to know them. Me and Leopardfire didn’t know each other at all before we became mates,” she commented, pausing to lick her silver fur. “But being alone helps strengthen the bond between us.”

[Raven-chan]

Gryffinwing's shock was evident. They hadn't even known each other when they became mates!? This was shocking to her. Always, always she had known that she could choose whomever she liked for a mate, whomever she fell in love with...

What if a mate had been chosen for her? What if she had ended up mates with Hawkshadow? Or Rainwhisker? Both good toms in and of themselves, but nothing compared to Brownspot...her Brownspot. All she murmured, however, as these thoughts were racing through her head was,

"Wow." Being alone really strengthens their relationship...Gryffinwing wondered how her and Brownspot would be if they were alone. And if Seabreeze and Leopardfire's relationship was so strong, why was the silver she-cat after Brownspot? Even more so...Why did Brownspot love this silver she-cat? (She no longer had any doubts. What wasn't there to love about her? Dainty, beautiful, sweet, motherly, kind...)

[Wazo]

Seabreeze noticed Gryffinwing’s shock and shrugged. “It’s not that bad, not knowing your mate before you become mates. Unless you really couldn’t get along with them. But I lucked out with Leopardfire. He even agreed to move into my den, although usually the female moves into the male’s den. He’s very kind and caring, plus a wonderful father,” she commented, her spirits bright as she thought about her mate and her three kits sleeping back in her den.

So Gryffinwing and Brownspot must have fallen in love…a strange concept for Seabreeze. She believed she loved Leopardfire, but wondered if it would have been different if she had gotten the chance to get to know other toms. Perhaps Leopardfire wasn’t perfect for her, but she would never know. Maybe she would have chosen Windrunner or any other tom if she had gotten to choose.

“So you and Brownspot knew each other before?” Seabreeze assumed, looking at Gryffinwing. Strange how similar their eyes really were. “And you chose each other,” she added. She laughed softly. “That seems so strange to me…”

[Raven-chan]

She regrets not being able to choose for herself! Gryffinwing thought indignantly, her heart pounding in her chest, stomach full of despair. She saw Brownspot, fell in love, because she had never loved Leopardfire!!

Gryffinwing didn't respond, but stood, stretching out her muscled limbs and meowing, "I had better go. It was nice meeting you, Seabreeze." She dipped her head in farewell, a glimmer of sadness briefly shining in her midnight blue eyes. And then, the light brown she-cat disappeared into the new forests of RavineClan, her tail hanging low, her heart heavy with sadness.

But of course she would let him go, let him love Seabreeze. She had no choice; she loved him, and wanted his happiness. And if he was happy with another she-cat, she had to be content. She had to let him go...

[Wazo]

ooc: awwwww *cries* poor gryffinwing