The battle was long but eventually it did end. Most were left with nasty scars, others weren't so lucky. StormClan had only lost 3 cats fortunately, 2 of which had sided with the Dark Forest. Some cats switched back to the clans's sides during the battle, others simply surrendered at the end of it. It was awkward to be around those who surrendered. The ones who had questioned their ways up until the very end. They still stayed in the clans though, even if they hadn't thought twice about betraying them. For obvious reasons that decision wasn't well liked by many cats but the leaders decided that we couldn't lose anymore cats and it didn't seem like we'd have trouble with the Dark Forest any time soon.
They held a vigil for all the lost cats although Smokejaw didn't sit vigil for Jaggedbee despite the rumors of what could happen if you don't. Nothing did happen though.
Today though, Flintdapple would go see Badgertuft. Or at least she hoped she would. She had no way of knowing if he was okay or not so she'd just have to find out.
She sat down at the usually meeting place. She waited for him, even though it hadn't been long she began to grow nervous. Maybe she was just paranoid though. Her mind went through all the different possibilities; maybe someone found out, maybe he got injured or worse what if he-
"Boo!" Badgertuft jumped out from his hiding place behind a bush. "Oh man, I got you so bad that time."
"Come on Badgertuft that wasn't funny," She tried to be angry with him but she really couldn't. Not for long at least. "I had no way of knowing if you were okay."
"Well I am, not a single scratch," He assured her, sitting beside her. "And you? Are you okay?"
Flintdapple didn't answer at first. She was trying so hard to keep everything together. It'd barely been a day since everything went down, so much had happened. She really wasn't sure what to say. Physically, sure she didn't get any major injuries. But everything else that happened has messed her up, she hadn't even fully processed the loss of her sister.
"Ivyfin died," She told him finally, looking down at her paws. "It was my fault, I got in this fight with Bluebellblossom and she just threw herself into the fight but I-.. I should've stopped it I don't know why I didn't I was frozen I should've-"
She could already feel herself getting worked up. Words just spilling out of her mouth, she had no control of it. Badgertuft moved closer to her, their pelts brushing against each other and his tail wrapped around her side.
"It's not your fault, look at me," He told her and she obeyed, looking up at the black tom beside her. "It wasn't your fault. I'm so sorry that happened."
She just sighed and leaned against him. After a bit she asked him, "Was your family okay?"
"Yeah, mostly," Badgertuft nodded. "Buzzardfin got a sick scar but she's okay."
"Hey, why dont we do something fun?" Flintdapple said. "I could use a distraction."
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"You could teach me how to fish," Flintdapple shrugged.
"What? But you hate water,"
"Then you come up with something," Flintdapple rolled her eyes.
"Alright fine, come with me," Badgertuft led her to the edge of the lake. "Alright just come in a bit, its shallow here."
Flintdapple followed him into the lank, she winced at the cold water but got used to it. It was still uncomfortable though. She didn't like the feeling of her fur being wet but this was her idea so she couldn't exactly complain.
"Right so then you just..." His voiced trailed off and he splash water over to Flintdapple.
She gawked at him in disbelief, her fur was now almost completely soaked. In return, she splashed him back. Of course, being a BayClan cat this didn't bother Badgertuft too much but it was the thought that counted. They splashed around in the lake for a bit until Flintdapple got cold and decided to dry off. They were now laying down beside each other, Badgertuft giving her a few occasional licks.
"Do you think we're being selfish?" Flintdapple asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Elaborate," Badgertuft responded.
"These meetings," Flintdapple said. "We don't care that we're breaking the code or getting to close for our own clan's safety. Isn't that selfish?"
Badgertuft gave her another comforting lick between her ears, "I think sometimes its okay to be selfish. We aren't harming anyone."
"No but we could," She argued back. "If there was a battle or something, I wouldn't be able to fight you."
"And I wouldn't fight you," He said. "That doesn't mean we're endangering anyone. If this makes you happy than, I think it's okay."
"You do make me happy," She murmured, burying her face in his pelt.
She felt safe there. She didn't care if she got back late or if she got caught. She just wanted to be with Badgertuft. That was all she wanted and that was enough.
