Redblaze's Regret {COMPLETE}

Chapter 20

 Redblaze stomped into the camp, fuming from his encounter with Ashflower. It was just past sunhigh now, and the cats of RiverClan were all in the clearing, sharing tongues. The apprentices lay lazily outside their den, and Specklepaw was batting around a shell from the river. The elders were entertaining Ripplekit, Sootkit, and Amberkit, and Ashstar and Birchclaw were exchanging a few words with Cloudsplash, Sweetstripe, and Twigtail. For once, Tawnyclaw didn't seem to be involved in their leader's conversation. Redblaze spotted him lying alone outside the warrior's den, head lifted as he cast his gaze over his Clanmates.

Redblaze growled to himself. He hadn't been this angry in moons. What right did Ashflower have to talk to him like that? So what if he'd rather mentor Falconkit than the siblings of a cold-blooded murderer? No matter what any other cat thought, it was his right to feel that way! Sulking angrily, he padded across camp, not knowing or caring where his paws would take him.

"Does being angry help?" Tawnyclaw's voice stopped Redblaze as he passed the senior warrior. He turned his face towards him, but Tawnyclaw's expression was unreadable. "Does it make you feel better somehow to be so filled with rage?"

Redblaze's tail lashed. This was just like that night by the river. "It's none of your business," he growled, extending and retracting his claws.

Tawnyclaw sighed. "We're Clanmates, Redblaze. Your problems are everyone's problems. You just won't let anyone help you."

His words sparked a fire in Redblaze's chest, and he couldn't stop himself from the fury that rose within him. "For the last time, I don't need help!" he shouted at Tawnyclaw, whose eyes widened in surprise. "I'm fine! The only thing I need is..." he faltered. What did he need?

Tawnyclaw stood slowly, stretching a little. "Is what?" he prompted, his blue eyes glinting. "What exactly do you need?"

Redblaze was panting. The entire camp was watching him again. He could feel their stares burning into his pelt, judging him, scrutinizing him, waiting to hear him say something that would make them hate him even more. His head felt light and he swayed a little on his paws. Tawnyclaw was still watching him, waiting. He finally met Tawnyclaw's eyes, and said through gritted teeth, "I need you to back off."

Tawnyclaw stood straighter, not breaking eye contact. The faded battle scars on his broad shoulders caught the sunlight, highlighting his experience as a warrior. "No," he said simply. "Someone has to put an end to this, Redblaze. I can't stand sitting by anymore watching you destroy yourself."

Redblaze felt his hackles raise. Tension hung thickly in the air and he swore he could hear a small gasp from some cat behind him. He could feel his anger in his ears, burning, and in his pelt, prickling, and in his claws, itching. "Don't pretend you care about me!" he spat. "Just leave me alone!"

Tawnyclaw took a small step forward, and Redblaze hissed defensively. His heart was beating fast, his spine tingling. "Is this how you want to live your life?" Tawnyclaw asked softly. "Always angry, always running, always alone?"

"Alone like you?" Redblaze fired back, feeling no guilt at the sadness that flashed across Tawnyclaw's face. "Are you trying to fix me so that I don't regret wasting my life alone like you?" With no warning, he launched himself at Tawnyclaw, whose face lit up with shock. Redblaze's claws met Tawnyclaw's shoulders and the two fell onto the dirt, grappling and hissing and clawing. Redblaze kicked with a hind paw, scratching Tawnyclaw's flank. Pain coursed through his shoulder as massive claws squeezed tight.

Tawnyclaw's eyes met Redblaze's, a small flame of rage igniting in them. "Is that what you think I've done?" he spat, shoving Redblaze to the ground and pinning him by the shoulders. "I've given my whole life to RiverClan! Every moment of it!"