How about a contest?

[♫.Starredmyst]

Silverdust examined Snowsong's attitude minutely. It was hard to tell if she'd been fooled, for she shrugged and grinned anyway.

"Doesn't matter. Everyone's gonna think it's a date anyway, just 'cause you're a she-cat. Let's see, umm. We should invite Rippedheart and Rainclaw, Riss. They should meet Snowsong. And maybe that Darksong tom Rainclaw's always fighting with lately...they'd make a hilarious couple, don't you think?"

"Hmm," Risingdawn answered vaguely, tail flicking. He was studying Snowsong out of the corner of his eye, an unfathomable expression on his face. Silverdust had a sneaking suspicion he hadn't expected Snowsong to say quite what the she-cat had, and it was obvious -- to her at least -- that he was trying to figure out if the white warrior was serious. She decided it was definitely good to see what he was doing.

"Awfully romantic night for planning," she teased, a blatant hint. "This is so funny. You two must be, like, the least interesting cats in the Clan to say there's nothing remotely love-ish about all this."

Yep. She'd guessed right. Riss was watching Snowsong intently. He hid it well, but his sister saw things others didn't. She felt bad for him, but of course Snowsong couldn't be serious.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong was running out of fake explanations, and she nearly bit her lip. She didn't know what to say. Silverdust would win this, causing Risingdawn and her to be thought as a couple.

Just then, an idea popped up , but she doubted it was good. "Well, they'll all need proof to say that we're a couple, and talking together doesn't actually prove anything." She mentally cursed herself for having such a stupid explanation.

[♫.Starredmyst]

From the corner of her eye Silverdust was watching Risingdawn who was still watching Snowsong. He didn't react to what the white cat had said, so she pushed it a little further.

"All right, you win," she said cheerfully. "I can't prove it 'cause I just came. After all, I'm sure it really takes an entire afternoon of fishing and talking to figure out a measly hunting party, right? Right?"

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong wasn't sure if Silverdust was trying to trick them or something. She had just met her, so she knew nearly nothing about this unpredictable she-cat. Well, she was just unpredictable at the moment. She knew that if she got to know Silv much more, she would be able to predict at least some of Silv's actions.

Snowsong decided that she should stop acting tense, for it would blow their desperate try to convince Silverdust that they were only hunting and planning. "Yes, you're correct."

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn was chewing his lip nervously, a bit of white fang poking out from the ginger fur. He didn't seem aware that his anxiety was showing, and Silverdust glanced at him, concerned. She'd like to keep up the game -- Snowsong seemed like she'd be fun to chat with, once they got to know each other -- but Riss obviously couldn't tell if his new friend was lying or not, and Silv couldn't quite bring herself to torture her brother that much.

So the silvery she-cat locked gazes with Snowsong, suddenly serious. Bright blue eyes met hazel ones without a shock; when she willed it, Silv could have as forceful a stare as this stranger. "So you're telling me you and Riss would never, ever even think about anything romantic?" she asked suspiciously, eyes narrowing. Her gaze flicked over to Risingdawn's face in a subtle but clear signal she hoped the she-cat would interpret.

Be careful what you say next, you Snowsong cat, or I might have to shred your fur.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong flinched slightly at Silverdust's question. She didn't know what to say. "Well....It's hard to tell....I can't read your brother's mind, and I've only met him, so I don't know plenty of him...But what I can tell you is that I suppose that one day, a tom may sweep me off my paws and take me to a paradise that I'm unsure exists for us..." Her tone was slightly calm, yet slightly anxious.

Snowsong nearly mentally cursed herself for no reason. Had it been the complete truth that escaped her jaws? It must have been. Oh man, if Silverdust thinks I said something wrong, she'll likely kill me for Risingdawn's sake...Not that I actually mind, but...Gah, Snowsong, quit it! She didn't notice that her paws began to shift uncomfortably.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn relaxed again and even smiled slightly. Go on, say something, mousebrain, her sister prodded him mentally, but it seemed he'd backed off so the girls could have it out. Silv shrugged and grinned at Snowsong, dropping the deadpan act.

"Good answer," she said cheerfully. "I think we're going to get along well, you and I, miss Snowsong. You're fun to talk to. Take care of Riss, now!"

She stuck her tongue out at her brother and decided promptly that her presence was no longer required. Quicksilver, before either of the cats could say a word in response, the young warrior slipped back away to camp, vanishing into the night.


Risingdawn stared after his sister's back, rather bewildered. He hesitated, then turned back to Snowsong with a slight smile.

"Well," he said with a sort of wry affection, "that's Silv for you. I think you passed the test." He paused, then added with a slight teasing edge, "She's going to hold us up on that hunting thing now, you know."

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong relaxed as Silverdust said her words were a good answer. She was about to open her jaws and speak, but Silverdust had already disappeared into the bushes. She figured that Silverdust was heading back to camp, but she wasn't exactly sure.

Snowsong then turned her gaze slowly and half uncertainly to Risingdawn. She then nodded, quite joyously, to Risingdawn's first statement. She then inwardly tilted her head slightly at his next statement. "Well, I don't exactly mind...."

[♫.Starredmyst]

"Good." Risingdawn tilted his head back, staring up at the stars, and was silent for a long moment. They walked onward, and he realized they were still angling away from camp. They ought to go back soon, really, or he'd be exhausted tomorrow...but this was so nice.

"You're a good actress, by the way," the ginger tom added, a wry twist to his lips. "Almost had me fooled for a minute there."

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong padded onward after Risingdawn, her gaze halfway toward the stars. Her ears flicked slightly as he said that it was good, and she allowed her paw-steps to be concealed by silence. She wondered if they ought to get back to Camp soon, even if this was likely the nicest moment of her life.

Snowsong's ears flicked once more at Risingdawn's next statement. "Well, thanks...." She didn't actually think she was a good actress, until tonight, as well as when Risingdawn complimented her. She slightly sheepishly lowered her gaze halfway toward her paws. "Well, I only lie fully or halfway when I need to...."

[♫.Starredmyst]

A faint, not entirely happy expression flickered across Risingdawn's face and was gone, and he laughed quietly.

"That's a good thing, I think. I don't trust cats who lie as easily as they breathe. I think Silv saw through you, though -- or failing that, through me."

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong's ears slightly flicked, and she turned her gaze halfway to Risingdawn. "You trust me, right...?" She felt slightly nervous about his response, but she wouldn't actually beg or force him if he said he didn't.

Snowsong then faintly shrugged at Risingdawn's last part of his statement. "Well, she was so good at it I thought she wouldn't believe anything I said that she thought was suspicious, or let it go after a single statement that left my mouth...." She shifted slightly uncomfortably. She was slightly concerned, but she felt better with Risingdawn at her side.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn chose not to answer Snowsong's question at first; she seemed to take his relaxed silence as an answer and went on to speak of Silverdust. He laughed. "StarClan knows what she's really thinking. She has this bizarre ability to be both totally honest and manipulative at the same time, but no matter what she's really trying to do it's pretty clear how she feels on the subject. I don't think it matters for now, if she likes you."

He was quiet. Subtly, without saying as much, the tom angled their progress inland on a path that would gradually take them back toward camp; like it or not, it was getting late, and he did need sleep. He figured Snowsong would take the hint without offense.

The stars still glittered above and for some reason they seemed brighter than they had earlier that night. He smiled, quietly, and admitted something he'd have sworn he never would have a few spare hour before.

"Snowsong...I think I trust you more than I have any cat I've met in -- StarClan, in probably six moons. I don't know why and it's kind of strange, but -- I hope you feel you can trust me too."

He cast her a sidelong glance, uncertain, but with a faint smile flickering across his face. Deep green eyes sparkled in the starlight.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong allowed a light smile to play clearly at her lips. "Of course I trust you Risingdawn...I've never trusted a cat as much as you...Even though I've put some of my trust to Silverdust, you seem to stand out with the amount of trust I feel that I've given you.." Her hazel gaze gleamed unnaturally for a second, and her smile seemed to be the warmest she had ever made a smile, even though it was so light.

Snowsong noticed that the stars were shining brighter than before. Never in her life had she seen them shine so brightly. When she lowered her gaze back to Risingdawn, she noticed that the moonlight was beating on his pelt. Another realization showed that the moonlight was also beating upon her pelt as well.

Snowsong had noticed that Risingdawn was likely desiring sleep. "It's getting late...I wouldn't mind if you take us back to Camp...Or do you want me to lead us..?" She figured that she had always been out of Camp more times than Risingdawn, but she wanted him to make the decision. "Or..We could sleep in the forest near Camp..." What was she saying? Risingdawn would likely choose the Camp instead of the forest.

[♫.Starredmyst]

A faint, wondering smile lit Risingdawn's face when Snowsong said those words. He was certain then, absolutely certain, that she had given him a gift he'd thought forever denied him, and in the same instant was completely determined to pay back that gift because beyond giving it, she completely deserved to feel the same way. There was something about her -- a lurking shadow, an old scar that seemed to permanently affect her actions and emotions -- the same something that had made him trust her in the first place, and that had caused him to extend that trust in hopes of showing her he felt the same way. In a flash he resolved to drive that shadow away, certain that there was a beautiful cat beneath.

And then she was speaking of the hour and he dragged himself back to reality. Spend the night out of camp -- the ginger tom was rather startled by the thought, for he wasn't quite so much the loner to have spent a night in the wilderness before, but suddenly a bit of privacy with Snowsong seemed agreeable indeed. He nodded, a little uncertainly.

"I -- sure. I don't mind staying out for a night. Have you got any place in mind?"