Redblaze's Regret {COMPLETE}

Chapter 17

It was a silent walk back towards RiverClan territory, but Redblaze's mind echoed with pieces of the conversation with Icetail. How could an enemy warrior be so loyal to Minnowpaw when her own Clan had tried to drive her out? As Redblaze began the ascent up the slope towards the river, he growled. He supposed even RiverClan had moved past it all, and some of them even regretted their hatred towards the apprentice. What was so special about her? Redblaze wondered. Why was the whole forest so enthralled by her existence? If it hadn't been for her and her curse, Flamepelt would still be alive, and Redblaze would be happy.

    "Why would we go looking for her?" Redblaze found himself muttering his thoughts aloud. "Even if she's alive somewhere, no cat would know where to start. Icetail's a fish-brain." But working through his thoughts was doing nothing but making Redblaze angrier. He could have been sleeping instead of wasting his whole night breaking the warrior code over such nonsense.

    He sighed as he drew closer to the river. The trees in ThunderClan territory swayed gently in the night air. Redblaze looked to the sky and the swath of Silverpelt's stars. "Why can't you just be here with me?" he whispered, as if his beloved mentor would answer him.

    Redblaze nearly jumped out of his skin as he approached the river and suddenly noticed that he wasn't alone. His fur lay flat again, however, as he recognized the gray pelt of Tawnyclaw, whose head snapped towards him, a look of questioning in his eyes. Embarrassed and annoyed, Redblaze waded across the river to the other side where the senior warrior lay next to the water. "What are you doing out here?" he asked, a little more rudely than intended, but he was too tired and irritable to care.

    Tawnyclaw huffed a short purr of amusement. "An old cat can't take a moonhigh walk?" he asked jokingly, but on meeting Redblaze's gaze his amused expression fell flat and he sighed. "I could ask you the same thing, you know," he added, more seriously. "But I guess it's better to meet some she-cat at night than during the day where anyone can catch you."

    Redblaze's eyes widened. Had Tawnyclaw seen him leave? Did he somehow know about his meeting with Icetail? "What are you talking about?" he asked curtly, trying not to sound guilty.

    Tawnyclaw laid his head down on his paws, his tail flicking. "I've seen cats do stupider things for love," he remarked. Redblaze then realized his cover hadn't been blown; Tawnyclaw just assumed he was meeting some cat, and for love at that!

    Redblaze scoffed. "I wouldn't do something fish-brained like that," he meowed confidently. "Even if I were interested in taking a mate, I'd pick one from my own Clan!"

    "So you aren't?" Tawnyclaw asked. "Interested in a mate, that is."

    Redblaze hadn't really thought about it much, but he shook his head. "Not really," he replied. It wasn't a lie. "I don't know if that's something I want."

    A look of sadness passed over Tawnyclaw's eyes, and Redblaze wondered if what he'd said was wrong. Thinking on it, he realized Tawnyclaw himself had no mate, or kits, and had never had as far as Redblaze knew. The gray tom cocked his head. "What do you want, then?" he asked.

    Redblaze faltered. "What do you mean?"

    Tawnyclaw met his gaze firmly. "You don't want a mate, sure. I suppose it's not for every cat. It's not an option for some cats," he added much more quietly, a shadow drawing across his face, and Redblaze assumed he meant medicine cats. "What other ways do you plan to serve RiverClan?" His tone wasn't accusing, just curious.

    "I, well," Redblaze stammered. "I'm just a warrior," he admitted. "I guess I can serve RiverClan by being a warrior."

    Tawnyclaw nodded slowly but said nothing, which irritated Redblaze. This felt like some kind of interrogation, and he couldn't fathom what the senior warrior wanted from him. "Is there something I'm supposed to say?" he asked defensively.