Smokepaw felt uncomfortable in Winterclan's territory. The apprentice felt like whomever he was going to meet would have the right to be hostile toward him. Although his tuxedo pattern fur was long, it was fairly thin and wispy, and the wind cut right through to his skin with a ferocious bite.

The cold made his yellow eyes water, and the tom squinted to protect them. How could any cat live here? As he entered the area he believed he was supposed to be in, his eyes opened up wider at the sight before him. A gorgeous hot spring with water a deeper blue than the sky. His bones ached to sink into the warmth that he imagined the smoking waters held.

As he approached the springs, Smokepaw saw a cat waving his tail. That must be my date, he thought, heart suddenly flipping. What if he messed this up?

The shy tom padded toward the other. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to make the introduction, and it seemed like he was saved from doing that because his paws suddenly slipped on the slick rocks and he went sliding forward. "Oh, nonono!" he mewled, gliding forward on his stomach before a combination of drier rock and his claws stopped his slide.

How embarrassing. His heart rate had gone straight up and warm flush worked its way through him. He suddenly felt less chilly. Smokepaw scrambled back up into a sitting position and quickly began smoothing down the fur around his face.

Smokepaw stopped grooming his fur and took a look at his blind date. "Your pelt is so pretty!" He removed the paw on his ear to cover his mouth. "I mean - my name is Smokepaw. It's nice to meet you."

The tom put his paw back down onto the ground and let his claws come out to steady himself so he wouldn't slide again. The warmth was still up in his ears. He wasn't sure how a date was even supposed to work. He wasn't close with anyone from his own clan, so he hadn't had anyone to discuss the date with before it started. But he knew if he messed this up, he'd have no one to blame but himself.

Smokepaw wrapped his tail around his paws. He glanced down for a moment to check that his feathers were still there, firmly twined around his tail: one blue and green, the other ice blue. Both had stayed after his slide, so he turned his yellow eyes back to the tom in front of him, holding his breath in anticipation.

Nice eyes? Smokepaw's eyes were just yellow, but he was pleased that another cat was willing to compliment him. He really couldn't remember the last time that had happened.

"Dayclan cats wear feathers that mean something to them," Smokepaw explained. Looking back down again at his feathers, he was happy that someone had liked them, too. In all fairness, the feathers weren't for any cat other than him, but hearing someone else talk about them was nice to hear. The black and white tom glanced back up at Banepaw. He really was a pretty cat, and he seemed nice just based on introductions. Smokepaw was beginning to feel hopeful that this could go better than expected, ie. He wouldn't make a complete fool out of himself and maybe he would actually be able to relax.

"And it is really cold here," he agreed, beginning to shiver now that the embarassment was wearing off. "But I'm not a very good swimmer. Is the water very deep?"

Smokepaw shrugged. He didn't actually know where the feathers came from. He'd picked them out from a pile of many. "Well," he began, laying his paw down on the blue and green feather. "This one is supposed to bring me luck. And the other is for good health."

As he shivered, he felt the other apprentice lean against him, offering him some warmth. The gesture touched him. They didn't know each other yet and Banepaw was already being so kind. A purr began unbidden in his chest.

"That's reassuring," Smokepaw smiled. He watched the smoke rise up around the hot water. It looked so inviting.

"Maybe we can go closer? I bet the steam is warmer than here," the tom said hesitantly. He glanced over at the silver tabby for confirmation.

Smokepaw felt oddly pleased that although they had moved closer to the water, the other cat had stayed by his side. He had really expected to be met with hostility or at least indifference, and this change of pace was so unexpected and unlike his conversations with others back in DayClan. His luck might run short at any point, but he was sure going to enjoy the attention he so craved while it lasted.

"DayClan?" he mused, thinking about the other apprentice's question. His tail instinctively wrapped around the silver tom, and he quickly pulled it away, horrified at the idea that he had annoyed the other apprentice. He started talking quickly to cover up his embarrassment. "I don't know anything about WinterClan either, so I don't know how different we are from each other. We have warriors who fight and apprentices like me who learn in groups called battalions. There are some special ranks in our clan, too, like animal whisperers. And of course we have a class system, too."

"I'm sure your clan is pretty similar, huh?" Smokepaw racked his brain for more information to share with Banepaw, but came up blank. He felt like he was probably repeating himself. The clans couldn't be that different, right?
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ooc; dude I love banepaw lol, smokey is smitten. & also I'm lol-ing at this thread name, so great.

Smokepaw felt his body go hot as the other apprentice intertwined their tails. He let out the smallest gasp and looked back at them, admiring the way the black and silver fur colors mingled with his blue feathers. While he admired the sight, he listened to Banepaw's information about his clan. Knights and witches? What strange names, but beautiful nonetheless.

"I suppose they're the same position," the tom said thoughtfully. He glanced away from their tails because turning his head was putting space between them, and suddenly he wanted as little space as possible. He blamed the feeling on the cold air. Mindlessly, he trailed one black paw into the water in front of them. It was delightfully hot, and he hissed, pulling his paw back before forcing it back into the warmth. He could see debris float around in the water from where his dirty paw had just been placed. The water rippled out from the point of entry. Then an idea came to his mind. He glanced around their paws and found a small stone, and curiously, he removed his paw from the warm water long enough to shove the stone forward into the water. It skipped against the stunning blue springs once or twice before sinking. Smokepaw admired the ripples and glanced back at Banepaw.

He was reminded of something, so this time he nudged the silver tom. "Banepaw, watch this." When he pushed another rock into the water, it skipped one extra time and the rippling in the water lasted longer. When the ripples cut the stillness of the springs, the light on the water sparkled and reflected all of the environment around them, picking up different colors. Overall, they were blending into a shiny silver. Shyly, the apprentice glanced at his blind date and said, "The color of the water is like your coat. And it's nearly as pretty."

Banepaw was most definitely smitten, the tom beside him was handsome, sweet, and attentive. He was incredibly happy about the events that had brought them together and he knew, with all certainty, that this was the tom for him. Sure, the were both apprentices, both from different clans, and still young but there was an energy between them that was impossible to ignore. One that made the chilly air around them warmer.

So when the tom skipped a rock and gave him a compliment he ducked his head, ears hot, and nudged Smokepaw. With effort and bravery, he meowed, "you know, I think you're the best cat I've ever met." Banepaw's voice vibrated as he watched what was left of Smokepaw's trick, body warm and spirit glowing.

Banepaw's serenity was shattered in an instant as his words seemed to upset the other tom. Worried, embarrassed, and confused Banepaw leaped to his paws, "no, no! It's not a joke, Smokepaw! I'm sorry if I came on too strong or I'm too weird, I didn't mean-," he was talking over Smokepaw, prattling on desperately, until the other apprentice fell. He bounded the short distance between them and splashed into the water himself, "Smokepaw, are you alright?! Don't - don't get out. You'll be very cold if you do." He wanted to wrap himself around the other apprentice, wanted to make his doubt and sadness evaporate, but now he wasn't so sure if that's something Smokepaw would want.