[ Orange Fire | Charley | Earth Tribe Border ]
 
It had been a work of pure heart. Forged only during the night, for fear some other nosy Fire Triber would spy on her craft, it had remained a rugged secret that she dared not tell any cat, and if any questioned why she seemed so exhausted when the sun broke, she'd merely grumble some half hearted insult and carry on her day's work, paws trudding with fatigue. Between forging sessions she'd tuck it deep in her nest, where a now slightly-wilting ivory hued flower was hidden, tucked away in total safety from prying eyes. When exactly she had made the decision to craft something so intricate (at least to her experience), she wasn't exactly sure. All she knew is that in her heart of hearts, it needed to be done.

From a glistening block of copper mixed with precious amounts of tin, it had begun to take form,  first crudely, swirling above the glistening embers in a radiating circular sillhouette, then gracefully, until it was not unlike the brilliant Earth Tribe tattoo that glowed on its to-be recipient's shoulder. It was the most important thing she had ever made in her adulthood, no, her entire life, and it had to be, well...perfect. As she worked in the forge, she could see in her mind's eye his brilliant blue eyes, glinting with laughter, his russet fur covered in mud.

And, after almost five sunrises of late night work, with only the moon and the brilliant light of the forge to work by, it was ready. Glistening a brilliant umber in the morning sun, the bracelet,  akin to a sturdy vine swirling around a forepaw, felt cold and solid in her muzzle, where she held it with the greatest of care. It was a large thing, heavy to the small she-cat, throwing off her balance and resulting in a few embarrassing stumbles and curses under her breath, but she knew in his paws it would be, well, right. Well, that's what she'd been telling herself.

She had left the Fire-Tribe camp at dawn, when asked where she was going she had answered with a flick of the ear, and her stride was light, eyes sparkling with determination. She had run through exactly what she'd say to the Blue-Green Earth, rehearsed it in her head for what felt like ages, until it was running through her mind with each step. It was going to work out perfectly, she was sure. Positive. Never had she been so confident or pleased with anything in her life.

That is, until she took her first steps towards the Earth Tribe border. Suddenly, her confident strut was gone, and the sheer weight of what she was doing suddenly seemed to fall on her shoulders, and her pawsteps were hesitant. Spirits, they hadn't even met that long ago. He'd probably laugh right out in her face at the suggestion of the gift, if not turn it down entirely. She had poured her heart into it, though now she felt as if maybe it was a bad idea. Charley felt her heart pounding heavily in her chest, nerves that were so unfamiliar to the patched tabby making her stomach grip tight. "Spirits, what are you doing, Charley?" She groaned through the craft that was still held tightly in her muzzle. Standing unprotected by the Earth Tribe border, the young she-cat suddenly felt  thoroughly ridiculous. It wasn't too late to go home, though, was it? Wasn't too late to hide the bracelet akin to Fadri's swirling tattoo deep in her nest and wait for another day? Or, y'know, never. That sounded like a good option too.  Her heart throbbing in her ears, she gripped it tighter in her jaws, and turned around, praying that no Earth Tribers were nearby.


[ Blue/Green-Earth | Fadri | Earth-Tribe Border ]
Strange, strange places. Deep in the mines, with thin air and companionable darkness, he’d been working all day, and it showed. Fadri didn’t mind that he was coated from nose to tail-tip in fine dust, not when it meant he got to explore the mines, to hunt through the walls and the rocks, finding the minerals that the other tribes needed. It was an adventure, he never quite knew what he might find, and the Earth-Triber was beginning to get the hang of it, too. He didn’t mind the dirt, or the dark, he enjoyed the secrets. It was almost as if each different crevice had a story to tell, and it was rather intriguing, he found, to learn where, exactly,, he could find different mines of minerals. Had ancient Earth-Tribers placed them there? Had the Earth-Spirit? Or were they something so natural only nature had the capability of choosing where they would rest.

The trees had strange places too. Up in their branches, he could see everything that belonged to his tribe or so he liked to think. Everything the sun touched, and even some of the things hidden from it in the shadows, everything within the scent-markers belonged to earth-tribe. It wasn’t someplace he’d ever expected to call home, but that it was. He didn’t really know any of the cats well, nor did he understand many of the ways that the tribes worked, but Fadri loved it anyways. The earth was fun to dig through, the trees rather enjoyable to climb. While he’d never truly though he’d enjoy being anywhere but the mountains, and he missed the feeling of rock underpaw, he was content. Not that he would ever admit it to another tribe-cat, of course.

He wasn’t in a tree or in the mines now, though; those had all passed earlier in the day. He’d begun to wander the territory aimlessly, paws taking him from the crescent pool to the night watch forest, to camp and then out again, never stopping for long. Just now, he was wandering the border, blue eyes searching it carelessly, debating the possibility of venturing out to enjoy some time time among the neutral lands, maybe bumping into some other cat. New acquaintances, old friends, whichever, he was willing. But was it worth it if he needed to start mining again soon? He had no inclination to follow his instruction to return later, but he enjoyed his time spent in there so much that he was eager to return.

It was in this half-contemplating state that he caught scent of something distinctly not Earth-Tribe, and though it took a few moments for his distracted self to fully compute, his intrigue pricked. Jaws parting slightly, Fadri drew in a breath, running the scent over his glands and grinning when he recognized it. But what was she doing so far away from Fire-Tribe territory? Bounding forwards, he pushed through the underbrush, blue eyes lighting up when they landed on the small ginger form. ”Charley!” He purred, slight concern in his voice. ”Are you okay?” He took a moment to look her over, when his gaze landed on the circle in her jaws, and his head tilted, curious. What was that? It was pretty; a coloration he hadn’t seen before, but obviously something metal, with little bits breaking off. Tail-tip twitching curiously, the tom kept his jaws shut, assuming she was going to answer the question whether he asked it or not – what was it? Some form of accessory, he gathered, tail-ring maybe, or bracelet? Hopefully she’d tell him that, too. Did she make it, or is she just delivering it to some-cat? ”Surely even the fiercest smith in Fire-tribe speaks better without a full mouth?”


[ Orange Fire | Charley | Earth Tribe Border ]

It took all of her self control not to pelt back home towards Fire Tribe, to keep a casual  stride as her heart screamed for her to get the heck out of there before any cat, before he saw her. Suddenly she felt unbelievably insecure, foolish, though the thought of the bronze ringlet held so carefully in her mouth not meeting its intended made her heart wilt a little. But honestly, why in Nandryx would he accept it? He'd think she was messing with him, or worse. Thoughts so unusual to the normally boastful and confident she-cat with a spring in her step wound through her mind, until she felt as if her fur might burn off from utter embarrassment. What was wrong with her? This was so unlike her usual attitude, it was startling. But hey, at least he wouldn't have to see-

”Charley!”

The newly hued Orange Fire felt her muscles grow stiff, paw held in midair as his cheerful voice floated towards her, and she let out a sigh of defeat. Dang. Any other time she would have been thrilled to see her friend, but now she just felt utterly terrified.Her heartbeat escalated far past what she had ever assumed possible, and she turned around, dropping the carefully crafted piece aside in hopes that he hadn't seen it. "Ah...Fadri! What're...you...doin'...here?" She echoed, trying to sound casual despite ignoring the fact that it was, y'know, the earth tribe border, her ears flat and burning with a rosy tinge she prayed wasn't visible. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a hind paw resting protectively over the bronze bracelet that she prayed he hadn't glimpsed. "F-full mouth?" She echoed, then dropped her ears as realization hit her, and she slumped down, feeling thoroughly miserable. <b"It's just..ah.." she mumbled, grasping at the air for words. She had rehearsed this so well in her head, and now that it was happening, well...she didn't know what to do. At last she gently rolled the beautiful bracelet forward, with the delicacy that one might use on the tiniest of eggshells, and nudged it towards him, her gaze resting firmly on her paws as the object twinkled lightly in the sunlight. After what felt like eternity but was actually probably just a few heartbeats she let out  quiet mew. "Just...take it." she murmured gruffly, flicking her tail as she shot a glance aside, shoulders slumped and ears flattened tightly against her head, tone miserable. "It's for you. I get if you don't want it, I just...it was a stupid idea, really."


[Blue/Green-Earth | Fadri | Earth-Tribe Border]

She seemed tense. Angling his ears forwards, the tom tilted his head a little, glimmers of curiosity shimmering in his normally reserved blue eyes as he watched her attempt to hide the circlet behind her. ”I’m wandering Earth-Tribe territory.” He mewed, a faint grin on his lips. It was of no matter to the tom whether or not his friend was trespassing, he was no guard and beyond that, he held no true care for tribe-laws. There were certain things he kept to, but finding Charley in his tribe territory gave him no desire to run off.  Had he surprised her? That didn’t seem to quite be the case, she hadn’t jumped at his presence, merely stiffened. No she’d been expecting someone, perhaps.  And he’d disappointed her? No that wasn’t it either. She was embarrassed about something though.  

Her slump looked so dejected he felt an immediate pang of sorrow- what was wrong? She’d had a bad experience maybe? Or she’d given up on something? The curiosity that peeked through his eyes was now tinged with more concern, but still he waited for her to continue. And when she did, his own ears flickered back in surprise, looking down at the shiny object before him. It was really beautifully crafted, the intricate design catching his eye almost immediately. It looks like my tattoo He realized, astonished. ”For me?”  He crouched down inspecting the ringlet, admiring it’s beauty. ”Ahh. Thank you.” He mewed, offering her a smile. ” It’s beautiful.” He purred slipping it over his paw where it nestled against his short leg-fur, and appreciating the contrast between his creamy-colored appendage.

Tilting his head back in curiosity at his friend, his ears flitted forward once more, pleased smile playing back on his maw. ”Why in Nandryx wouldn’t I want it? Did you craft it yourself? It‘s very well done.” He grinned at the she-cat suddenly, a different kind of glint in his eye. ”Was there a reason for it or were you just feeling particularly generous to your dashing earth-tribe tom friend?”” His words had a teasing ring to them, and indeed, they were meant to be taken as such, though a faint bout of curiosity tinged them as well.  What had inspired her to give him such a fine item?


[ Orange Fire | Charley | Earth Tribe Border ]

Her heart beat had escalated until she thought it might burst, her brilliant blue eyes were focused pointedly on her paws. The heartbeats (as she was sure it must had been, though it felt like countless season cycles) until Fadri reacted to the gift stretched onward, the pure anxiety, a feeling so alien to her welling in her chest until she thought she might not bear it. Her muzzle and ear tips felt as if they were on fire, but not any fire she could control or admire the beauty of. Just pure...what was it, embarrassment? She didn't know. Far from the confident young she-cat she usually boasted about being, she was convinced that Fadri would outright reject the gift, or worse. The thought of it made her insides feel like they were deflating, and she was hunched over in a position that could only be described as one who was absolutely miserable. "Yeah, well, I'm s-" She began gruffly, feeling completely down, half ignoring what Fadri had said in preparation to get out of there as fast as possible, before his words registered fully in her mind. She had mentally prepared herself for the worst, rejection, laughter, but...this? He...he liked it? Blinking with utter confusion, Charley tilted her head and forced herself to meet his gaze, and within it found nothing but warmth. "You mean...you like it?" She echoed, now feeling even more foolish than she had at the start. Despite her embarrassment, she felt a smile tug at the corner of her maw, suddenly feeling as if a weight had rolled off of her shoulders, and she gav him a genuine grin. "Right, well..." she added sheepishly, giving a shrug and shifting her paws into a less hunched position, as if she had been keeping her cool the entire time.

Her words faded as her gaze drifted down to where the beautifully crafted ringlet rested above his paw, as if it had always been there, and always would be. Its colors played just barely off of his russet colored fur, yet against his pale cream forepaw it stood out just enough to look rather spectacular. She felt herself smiling.

"Ah...yeah, I did," she mewed, for once in her life feeling sheepish and more modest than one might expect from a spitfire such as she. And craft it she had - Spirits, it felt like a part of her, but a part of her that was destined to be with him. Not in any sort of sissy she-cat way, of course. Just some lame metaphor. (She would insist this no matter what.) At his question, she felt her muzzle burn once more, and she gave a shrug, using nothing but pure will to not let her gaze drift from the brilliant deep eyes she had met just moments before. "I just...uhm...I dunno, I thought you'd like it. You are my cat-tree-rock hero." she stumbled over the words, although why she had done it, well, even she wasn't sure. She just felt like she needed to. For him. "Is that a good enough answer?" She mewed, a light tease returning to her mew and a glint appearing in her eye.


[Blue/Green-Earth | Fadri | Earth-Tribe Border]

The corner of his maw twitching into a queer grin, Fadri arched his brow at the she-cats initial reaction. ”Of course I do!” He purred, touching it briefly with his other forepaw. ”Gifts are always wonderful, especially one with as much effort put into it as this. Thank you.” Smiling, the tom took a few steps forwards and quickly touched his nose to her cheek, before withdrawing with even more rapidity. She was more at ease now, he noticed, sitting in a less defensive manner. Was she really so worked up that I wouldn’t accept such a pretty gift? It amused the tom mildly, the relief his friend was showing.  No, it wsn’t relief, exactly. More like she’d never been worried at all, and that realization made him smile all the more. She bounces back quickly.
His ears pricked forwards at her response, lazy grin sprawled on his face again. ”Thank you~ “ He mewed again glancing at it once more, He couldn’t seem to look away from it for long, the way the light hit it just seemed to captivate him for some reason he couldn’t quite put a paw on.
”Quite befitting for one. What would tree or rock or cat do without some vines adorning it?” He grinned, flicking his tail at the little feline. ” If it’s the one you’re giving, I don’t see why It shouldn’t be an answer enough for me.” Her questioning of it made him more curious though. Was there some form of deeper intention? He was intrigued to find out. And she’s quite a bit more daring than I actually thought, coming onto earth-tribe territory. While he had no esteem for the boundaries implemented by tribe-cats, it seemed like everyone else did. Well, everyone except for this cat in front of him.  His eyes glinted with pleasure at that – it was good to know his ferocious little friend had little mind for tribe rules. She cannot be Tribe-Born The adolescent thought once more. Was Artemis this daring? She was his only other friend, really, and yet he seemed to be seeing so much more of Charley of late. ”It’s even more appreciated that you came so far to bring it to me~ Didn’t run into any nasty guards, I trust? He ought not to call them so, he knew, and in reality, he didn’t think they were bad. He liked them, actually, they meant he didn’t have to fight – and he was far too lazy to actually fight, anyways. The warriors were good for that, too, Fadri was happy exactly where he was.



[ Orange Fire | Charley | Earth Tribe Border ]

As her friend gazed down at the gift that encirled his paw, shining there as if it always had belonged, she couldn't help but grin, a light feeling rising in her chest as she did so. Pride, that he liked it as much as she, and, perhaps something else, more obscure she couldn't put her paw on. What exactly it was, she didn't know. But really, what did it matter? He liked it, and that was the best thing she could have hoped for. Perking her ears with surprise, she swallowed as the Blue-Green Earth reached forward to press his nose to her cheek, and with his touch she suddenly felt heat flare up from the exact point his nose had made contact. It wasn't a bad heat, or anything, but it was surprising all the same. "Yeah, well..." she mumbled, stumbling over her words and glanced away, though she couldn't help but grin despite the feeling. It was an odd sensation, what had resulted from the touch, but she was positive she wasn't sick, so it was nothing to fret over.

She grinned as he spoke once more, a warm light dancing in her eyes, before shaking her head, though laughter and a bit of a challenge shown in her turquoise irises. "Nah, they were probably all hiding. After all, I am the fiercest smith in Fire Tribe, right?" she teased. "No guard could beat me, or dare even try."


[Blue/Green-Earth | Fadri | Earth-Tribe Border]

A chuckle bubbled up out of the tom’s chest as he sat himself back down, blue  eyes glinting amicably at the orange-fire. ”I bet that's what they're doing." He mewed, whiskers twitching in amusement. ”Cowering in fear at the sheer thought of you.” Hah, he would believe it of them, too. A Fire-Triber in a forest could pose a somewhat unfortunate threat, after all. Twitching his tail at that, the blue-green Earth’s eyes wandered back to the bracelet on his paw, a smile upon his maw.  He couldn’t seem to look away from it for long - proof, then , of his friends skill as a crafter. It truly was captivating. ”Thank you.” He mewed once more, unsure of what other words he should offer her. Silence was his most constant companion, though it did leave him at times and he usually find himself enjoying it when the lack of sound was gone. Observation, too, and yet it seemed that right now he was unable to do just that - far too focused on the gift to listen to his take in his surroundings.

Maybe I should get her something in return? The thought was brief, fleeting, quickly pushed away by the realization they she would probably know of anything he were to give her, especially of the accessory type. She was a smith, after all, and who else would he be able to go to? A Water-Triber? Maybe. For now, though, he simply dismissed the idea.