Sunshine Child {p}

[Holly]

Sun flowed down on my dark shoulder as I trotted down the river.  Pale brown water rushed out, cool against my curious paw as I dipped it in.  The heat beat down, relentless.  I smiled a bit before falling to lay down on my back.  My stomach faced the open sky.  I let out a happy meow and a little yawn.  Why waste the chance of enjoying sunshine?

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74 — Vale — BY JAY

[Vale]

"Hey, little boy." He grinned and padded over. He sat down beside the tomcat and flicked his tail. "How's it goin'?" He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. He had seen Holly a few days ago and last he had Vale had asked him an interesting question.

"Having fun?" He lay down and let the sun hit his pelt. He looked back over at him. "You haven't taken a drink from the river right? Remember it's tainted."

[Holly]

Not feeling the gusto to make myself get up, I simply lolled my head back.  Vale was upside down in my vision.  I gave a lazy smile.  "Sun bathing like an old man, how about you?  Up to the usual of finding me everywhere I go?"

I shot straight up when Vale mentioned the river being tainted.  My eyes widened frightfully.  The other day I had woken early before hunting and come down to sip from the river.  "W-what?  Since when?  Oh no... Vale, what do I do?"  I frantically looked from side to side then looked back up at the tomcat.

I'm screwed if Vale is my only hope.

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116 — all of u — BY JAY

[Vale]

"Old man? Haven't you called me that before?" He snorted. He laughed lightly. "I'm a good tracker. What the Darkpool do you expect of me? Something lowly? Of course not." He snorted. "Technically you are mine anyhow. I mean I take your prior words the other day as an accept to my request." He flicked his tail. "No.. you didn't.. You idiot." He wanted to cuff him on the head.

"Dear Darkpool Holly did you not hear Drought's announcement? He even sent cats to the twoleg place to investigate. My you disappoint me. But I suppose I have to do something now don't I?" He sighed. "Not much I can do actually. You'll probably get as sick as a dog. You will either just take a while to heal from a nasty bug or die depending on how tainted it is, and what exactly is in the river." He shrugged.

"Don't worry. If you aren't a wuss you'll live."

[Holly]

I blinked in dismay at the tomcat.  A request?  What was this relationship even?  Vale was making it sounds like some sort of business deal.  I shuffled my paws, slightly confused on what to say.  He did just say, "mine" right?  I gulped, feeling a tad bit flustered as I averted my gaze to a nearby tree.  Wow, who would have ever thought a tree could be so captivating, but in my defense it was a curvy tree with some nice thick branches.

I took a little breath and dared to look up at him.  A tinge of disappointment floated around within my forest colored eyes.  I let my stare linger for a moment, words trying to come out, but they only failed.  I let out a sigh.  "You literally just called me "your's" and you don't even want to... I don't know!  Take care of me?"  I was pouting like a petulant child.  Maybe I was a little jealous of Vale, the cat who wasn't groveling for affection.  I'd have to fix that soon.

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181— u — BY JAY

[Vale]

"If you haven't seen me I am not exactly a caretaker. Do you really expect me to know how to treat a full grown cat?" He cocked his head with narrowed eyes. You'll be fine. Drink a lot and make sure you eat. If you really need to I can catch you something but I'm not a babysitter and I'm not a caretaker either. So please don't label me like that." He flicked an ear.

"I can leave if you'd like." He lashed his tail. "If my presence is a hindrance to you I can make myself scarce." He rose to his paws and stretched. "Today would be a nice day to go catch some prey. Maybe I'll go for a run and a hunt." He yawned.

[Holly]

I sucked in a sharp breath and gulped.  Vale had mentioned that he didn't do relationship stuff.  Maybe I was being overly dramatic and just digging a deeper hole for myself.  My anxious paws kneaded the ground as I looked away.  I was embarrassed with myself for making such arrogant statement as to ask for his care.

I shuffled away a few steps.  Trying to conceal the hurt glazing over my eyes, I turned away.  I was ready to just leave.  Vale had expected me to trust him and I had.  I had asked for help, but he couldn't apply back.  "Sorry," I murmured, trying not to cause anymore issues.  My tail hung low and my shoulders hunched.

I was very good at hiding my feelings.  I felt so vulnerable and it was an honestly disgusting sort of thing to feel.  I really hope he'd stop me and ask me what was wrong, but I highly doubted that would happen.  Maybe he'd start caring when hedgehogs started flying.

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172— ew this all sappy — BY JAY

[Vale]

Vale had grown up not loving anyone. Sure you could say he loved Drought like a brother or someone like a friend but never literal intimate relationships. He was new at this and he didn't even know what his relationship with Holly was. Vale was cruel yes and maybe cold. But he had a heart, even if it wasn't one that beat the fastest or felt much sentiment.

He walked over to Holly and pressed his head up against his. "Boop." He grinned. "You're mine." He narrowed his eyes and kept his head pressed against his. "One." Vale stood there for an awkward second and turned away. "and.." He began to walk away. "Only!" He yelled, back turned and he made his departure. He didn't say anything else.

Vale left the scene, leaving Holly probably in a bit of a daze.