what if (p)

[Deleted]

|| Natalia ||

Jude was returning from the barn, the sun beginning to set. He had plans to get to his den and fall asleep.Talking to clan cats all day was tiring.

A scent came near as he pushed deeper into the territory. 'Natalia.' He kind of... didn't want to see her. Mostly because he was angry. Angry that she'd gone into the twolegplace when she said she'd stay away. 'She's obviously smart enough to figure out that Thomas could've been around. She could've died!'

He wasn't in the mood to yell. Right now he was too tired, and he just needed to cool down. Maybe after that he wouldn't be too angry with her. Scenting the air, he turned and took another direction to the dens.

[Natalia]

Natalia felt awkward as Jude's scent hit her nose.

She was well aware he likely wouldn't be happy because she poked a hole in their agreement. She said she wouldn't go looking for Thomas. She never explicitly said she wouldn't go to Twolegplace. She hadn't. She'd been looking to talk to Ginger, she'd managed to avoid him on the way there. She'd just been stressed out from her talk with Ginger and slipped up on the way back.

Said slip up really messed things up for her. Jude knew where she went and she couldn't cover it up.

Plus now she made more scars to add to the one he'd given her when they were kids, right before he'd left. She was scared of talking to Jude. Would he be angry? Would they go through another period of avoidance? She was sure if she could smell him, he could smell her. But he didn't show up.

She sighed and started to make her way back to her den.

[Deleted]

The scent wasn't going away. 'She must be heading to her den.' He sighed. Maybe this was a sign that he should talk to her. Or at least acknowledge her presence.

He kept walking in the same direction, though gravitated a little closer to her scent. 'I don't have to talk for long. I can just say hi.' He took in another breath, determined to hide his anger. At least for now.

Soon the forest opened up into a small clearing. His den was just past this. Jude glanced toward her scent, easily catching sight of her bright pelt. He forced a smile and a nod before continuing on his way.

[Natalia]

Natalia blinked.

She saw Jude was coming in the same direction. Perhaps he was going to his den...? Her den was a little off the beaten path, being somewhat separate from the others. It was farther away because when she made it was before she'd met Jude. 

Jude's smile seemed... Forced. She folded her ears back and avoided his gaze. Not looking at her friend, she crawled into her den and curled up in her nest. She'd already cleaned it of her blood, thankfully. 

She sighed. It seemed Jude didn't want to talk.

[Deleted]

Jude shook his head to himself. He didn't get it. Why was she in a bad mood? 'Though she does fold her ears back a lot. Maybe it's just a habit?' He doubted this was the case.

He huffed, watching her head back to her den. He really didn't want to talk- especially not to her- but he couldn't leave a friend if something was up. He wouldn't be able to sleep well because of it.

He trailed after her, stopping and standing outside of her den. "Is something wrong?"

[Natalia]

Natalia lifted her head to see...

Jude. He was standing in the entrance of her den. Her ears flattened again, though her expression didn't seem angry. She was still averting his gaze. She still...

"Well... Sort of." She sighed. "You know."

[Deleted]

"Oh." 'She's still shaken up, isn't she? I guess it'll take time for her to recover...' He frowned, realizing she was still avoiding his gaze. "...Nat? Is there anything else going on?" He was starting to become a little worried.

[Natalia]

Natalia shifted her weight uncomfortably.

".... I know you're angry." She replied quietly. Then she stared at the ground, waiting for what she believed his reply would be.

[Deleted]

He looked down at himself. How had she known that? Did he appear angry? He looked back over at her. "Of course I am. You could've died."

[Natalia]

Natalia absentmindedly pawed the ground.

She didn't say the thought she thought would upset Jude further, even if it was the forefront of her mind. "... I guess." She muttered quietly. 

[Deleted]

He could tell she was hiding something. "You can tell me anything, Natalia. I won't be mad."

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed.

She still couldn't look Jude in the eye. "I wasn't... Looking for him. I was trying to talk to Ginger. I avoided him on the way there, dived into some bushes. Ginger wanted me to..." She faltered. She shook her head. "She wanted me to apologize to Thomas. I-I... Kinda freaked out and tried to run home. I ran into him... I just was too messed up I guess, to see him coming on the way back."

[Deleted]

Jude was quiet for a few moments. The whole run-in sounded accidental. That was good, at least. "Okay." He said softly, still trying to look her in the eye. Was she afraid that he'd get angrier? "Thank you for letting me know."

[Natalia]

Natalia slowly moved her head back to meet Jude's eyes.

He didn't seem... Angry. Just... Quiet. Did that mean he was beyond rage?! She hoped now. She didn't say anything in response, still looking like she expected Jude to say something unpleasant.

[Deleted]

Jude was finally able to see her face. Her expression nearly broke his heart. 'I can't still be mad at her. I know she didn't mean to run into him...' "Do you still think I'm mad at you?"