Hello all. This is a collaboration story with Wolfiswolf. Every chapter is written by both of us. This story will feature gay pairings. If you don't like, then do not read, plain and simple. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not in anyway shape or form own Warriors. Yet.
Warm, mid-morning sunlight shone down over the landscape, turning the tips of the barley stalks from golden-gray to a bright yellow. A cool breeze rustled the leaves on the few trees dotted here and there, and a few clouds floated across the sky.
Ravenpaw shifted slightly on the fence he was resting on, raising his head to look out over his domain. The many fields of the farmland lay quiet and peaceful as always, and the black cat gave a proud smile at his territory.
He twitched an ear at the sound of approaching pawsteps, and turned to see his friend Barley padding up to him, a pair of mice hung from his jaws by their scrawny pink tails. Ravenpaw let out a purr of welcome as the black and white tom leaped up to settle beside him on the fence.
"Good hunt?" He greeted, flicking his white-tipped tail at Barley's catch.
"I'd say so," he replied, pushing one of the mice toward Ravenpaw. "Here. I caught it for you."
Ravenpaw mewed his thanks and dug into the meal. Barley did the same and the two toms finished their prey in a few rapid gulps. After he had finished, Ravenpaw stretched, licking the last traces of mouse from his whiskers before standing up on the narrow slab of wood. Barley watched him do this before slipping off the fence again.
"Where're you going?" Ravenpaw called after his friend, his bright green eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Going to visit someone," Barley called back over his shoulder. "I'll be back later this evening." With that, the black-and-white tom turned and made his way through the long grass, away from Ravenpaw.
Ravenpaw nodded, but couldn't suppress a pang of longing as he watched his friend make his leave. He began to wonder why, but his thoughts were interrupted by a yawn. Sighing, he layed back down on the fence, his eyes locked on the spot where Barley had disappeared. After a few minutes he closed his eyes, attempting to push his wonders of Barley and his whereabouts to the back of his mind, but they kept coming back. Gnawing at his brain like a termite on a tree trunk. The black tom let out a hiss of frustration and hopped off the fence, deciding to do a perimeter check.
He avoided the path Barley had taken, although a part of him itched to follow, instead heading toward the barn. He saw nothing unusual and renewed the scent markings, his black-and-white pelted companion lingering at the back of his mind.
He kept himself busy with this all afternoon, wandering around the territory and letting his thoughts swirl. He thought about all sorts of things, although every one of them were centered around Barley.
What puzzled him most was that he couldn't figure out why. Barley was most certainly his closest and best friend, and had been since he'd met him. But 'best friends' didn't explain the strange fluttering of his heart every time they saw each other, or shared prey, or fell asleep cuddling, did it?
He couldn't say for sure, but what he did know was that he was determined to figure it out.
He was pacing around the barn when Barley arrived, slipping in through the hole in the wall. Ravenpaw stopped at the sight of him, mewing a greeting.
Barley returned it with a nod, then settled down in one of the hay piles to sleep. Ravenpaw reluctantly followed, settling down close to him. He rested his head on his forepaws and let the sound of Barley's soft breathing lull him to sleep.