Jazz was pretty sure he would kill himself as soon as he got out for ever saying that word. The look he was given told him that. Was she angry? He had complimented her...Why would she be angry? Jazz shook his head. He had no idea how the vixen mind worked. It was all very strange to him really. His own heart sank as she made no comment on the Diamond factor. Oh dear. That really did suck. Maybe she would turn on him as soon as they reached the end of the catacombs. Could he really strike back? He had only known her awhile, but already she seemed a friend...More than a friend...The todd shook his head vigorously. Stupid thoughts that weren't allowed. He would just have to learn to live with it. After this trek, he would go back to the tribe and forget all about Petal. The little voice spoke quietly. Would you really?

That made him think. Would this meeting be pushed back away from all thought? Jazz doubted it a lot. It would haunt him that he had done nothing, nothing at all. He battled with himself inside. He could ask her. If she said no, then that would be that. Jazz could actually go and forget about her. But if she said yes...Well that didn't even bear thinking about. That would be just awful. He followed her silently, trying to figure out what to do. Slowly a plan began to form...Just in case she did say yes...

Maybe they wouldn't have to forget. Jazz had seen nobody or scented no one in the catacombs. They were alone. They could always meet in the twisting tunnels, and no one would ever know. Nobody. Ever. Would Petal agree? If she said yes, then there would only be two choices. Go with his idea, or never see him again. The latter would shatter him, literally. His paws moved slowly. He would wait. Wait until the light shone from the outside at the end of the maze.

Jazz was confused, upset, unsure, hesitant, confused some more all at the same time. It wasn't fair! Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't it just be a case of and Ember and an Ember, or a Diamond and Diamond? Somehow he doubted that Petal would ever consider going to the same alliance as him, and he would never go with hers. Not that it was right, but still. It was hard for him, the loner, the outcast, having to go with the flow of everyone. That wasn't his style. No, Jazz preferred to do the opposite. The exact opposite in fact. So if Ember and Diamond together is frowned upon...Well, you can guess what the todd would do. And what he was going to do, because it turned out he actually liked this Ember, and that was good...And bad at the same time. He was very selfish actually - he valued his life. A lot. He grinned at the thought of giving up his life for his tribe. He couldn't do it. He just...couldn't. His eyes closed for a moment...
And his feet left the ground...
Hitting something very soft, quite unlike the ground...
With a start he realised it was Petal. Jazz yelped, and jumped into the air, his head slamming against the ceiling. He yelped again, this time in pain, and slumped to the ground. This couldn't be happening. What would Petal think?