Settling In {open} | {Freeze}

[Azaleapetal]

So, IceClan had accepted them in. Azaleapetal was thankful for that. Sitting at the edge of camp and peering up at the cloudless blue sky, her thoughts strayed back to TreeClan. Had anyone even notice them leave? She almost hoped so, though at the same time she didn't. Would they hate her and Freezefeather for this? They had just walked out on their Clan... but there were no connections there in the first place. Neither she nor Freezefeather could be marked as 'social', so their only friendships had been towards each other. And by her own order, their paws led to IceClan for a new beginning. Hopefully one for the better, yet she was already doubting that. Perhaps leaving TreeClan hadn't been the best idea? Certainly Azaleapetal felt like she belonged here rather than under the forest branches--and she truly didn't know why. IceClan had called to her, but had it been good to give in to the temptation of leaving, despite not feeling loyal to TreeClan?

Even if Freezefeather was supporting her, it was... still difficult to grasp what she had done. Though now she was an IceClan warrior. A loyal one? She couldn't answer that. Her loyalty had only been to TreeClan for the first moons of her life, back when she was still innocent and mildly social. And back when Freezepaw hadn't been someone important, only annoying. The only ones to depend on then were her Clanmates and kin. But when they all fell apart, she becoming anti-social, her siblings going missing like so many other cats, and the growing dislike of her mother... there was nothing to cling to in TreeClan. But there was someone. And that had been Freezefeather, her mate.

She wondered, briefly, if he was even liking it here. What if Freezefeather was already regretting his choice?

[Freezefeather]

Freezefeather still held fast to his resolve.

Mostly for his mate. They had both been accepted into Iceclan's ranks, which was a good thing. He had never exactly found he had any semblance of a connection to Treeclan when he'd been a member there. True, he'd lived the life any Treeclan cat did. Become an apprentice at six moons. Become a warrior once you were old enough. Then live for Treeclan. Well... Maybe not that last one since he'd abandoned the clan along with Azaleapetal. He'd never felt a pull towards anything. Someone... Sure. He would easily do anything for her. He didn't care about much. He was never really the social type or the emotional sort. He'd never really had a family. He'd never made any friends. Really... His only true relationship was with Azaleapetal. He never knew anything more, thus he didn't have much in the way of regrets.

He wasn't sure what the future held. He didn't care as long as he and Azaleapetal were together in that future. Though, it would be ideal if they found Iceclan to be their new home, where they would live and die. A brief thought crossed his mind, and he turned his bored, yet attentive gaze over to his mate who was on the other side of the new camp. Would they... Start a family in Iceclan? The idea made staying even more ideal, he didn't like the idea of them being on the run looking for shelter with her suddenly giving birth.

He wasn't sure if she'd want a family. Though... He did. His family was nonexistent. He wanted to know that love that a father was meant to have. A parent, was meant to have. He wanted to be able to be what Rainspark never was for him. He crossed the clearing and took his seat next to Azaleapetal.

"We're here now." He stated bluntly.

[Azaleapetal]

The sudden appearance of her mate made Azaleapetal jump, soon after giving Freezefeather a furious glare and casting her frosty eyes around to camp to make sure no one had seen her fear. Then, with a stiff rise of her chin and a dignified straightening up, she allowed Freeze to take a seat before scolding him. "Next time, maybe a little more of a warning before you startle me?" she grumbled, though fought the action to flatten her ears in guilt. She didn't want to be mad at Freezefeather--of course, that was hard to do at some points when his laziness was viewed to exist just to spite her. But to have done an action in a public area, besides in the comforts of the forest with only her mate beside her, made Azalea's fur burn with embarrassment. At least being in public had it's positive influences, like the fact Azalea wouldn't be as easily drawn to lowering her mask when near Freezefeather.

Azalea let her words sink in for a moment, waiting for his response or silence, and then meowed again. "Are you... liking it here?" she hesitated just the slightest, though at least had her voice low enough not to be noticed by a passing IceClanner.

[Freezefeather]

Freezefeather shrugged.

"Perhaps." He replied simply. He noticed Azaleapetal seemed rather stressed out. Perhaps... He should be a bit, kinder towards her? Although, he wasn't sure if she'd appreciate it. He knew her well enough she'd thrive best being able keep up her self-image of strength.

He shrugged. "It's new. Too soon to make a proper judgement." He meowed wisely.

((Short... Sorry.))

[Azaleapetal]

Azaleapetal considered his words thoughtfully for a moment before she gave her soft tail a sharp lash, and angled her ears away. She appeared to be searching for what to say. And when she found it, she replied. "If you don't like it here--in the future, or even now--we can go." she said, hoping her voice sounded earnest. And she suspected it did, despite how much she was against the idea of leaving. She did rather like IceClan. "I would rather be someplace we can both be happy than not. So... if it bothers you at all, simply say the word. I will not hold it against you, Freezefeather." And she added, in a low voice for only him to hear, "Since you are my home before some Clan."

{ don't worry, me too ^-^ }

[Freezefeather]

Freezefeather looked at Azaleapetal carefully.

"You keep bringing it up, over and over." He noticed. "But... I suppose you wish to ensure my happiness as I try to ensure your's. However, I will not be unhappy here unless you are unhappy."

((AHAHAH my muse died a painful death.))

[Azaleapetal]

Azaleapetal sighed after his words. He was right. Any more prodding and she was certain he would proclaim their return to TreeClan just out of annoyance. "Fine. Fine. We remain here." she murmured, turning her gaze out to the sky. Was the sky suddenly prettier here than in TreeClan? Technically it could not be so, but... it seemed that way. That everything in IceClan was almost an upgrade on quality and detail. Perhaps that was because it was all new to her. Aza had lived in TreeClan her whole life, gone from one side of the forest to the other, until everything was familiar. Now in IceClan, it was a whole new landscape. Everything so different and clear. It... she supposed that made sense, in a way, for things to appear better.

Aza swallowed uncomfortable, a new topic coming to mind. She hesitated on voicing it, but eventually found some sort of courage to go with it anyway. "Do you... think about the future?" She shot him a wary look before quickly snapping her attention away, suddenly interested in her paws. "Er... I-I mean... the... u-um...." It felt awkward asking this in a public place, so instead the she-cat lifted her chin and gave her head a wicked shake. "No, no. Never mind. I'll bring it up later." she murmured, almost just for herself.

{ should I close the thread and just make it for these two? since no one is going to join in all... xD }