I finally worked up the courage and decided today was the day I was going to confess. I walked into see a tired dishevelled FreckledWish.
I did not care, I was going to tell her today so I meowed, “We need to talk,” and left to wait on the edge of camp for her.
I assumed she would take her time as she would need someone to look after the den temporarily.
I guessed she would ask Leafbelly as she was the most knowledgeable after me, as I was the one asking her to come, I was sure she would ask Leafbelly. She finally came, and things seemed awkward between us.
"How about we collect some herbs while we talk" I suggested awkwardly thinking perhaps this was the best use of our time together.
FreckledWish nodded and we wandered a bit aimlessly looking for the herbs she needed for the medical den.
FreckledWish remembered then that she needed cobwebs, turning our aimless look to one with direction. She signalled with her tail to go down the tunnel leading the gorge. We walked down the tunnel fur touching in the cramped space, I could hear my heart beating loudly with nervous excitement.
We got to the bottom of the tunnel where it was no longer cramped, I whispered to myself, "This is my opportunity."
FreckledWish was intently grabbing cobwebs when I confessed suddenly,
"Freckledwish, I know it's wrong but... I think I love you-“ I blushed feeling flustered but I continued on, "It’s just that... you have always been there for me, your beautiful, smart and-" I stopped my confession when FreckledWish pressed her head against mine.
"Listen to me, I know this love is wrong but... you have also been for me through all the times I've seen someone die, you have been there for me. Steelmask... I love you too." She whispered to me, tears of joy running down her face, “I was worried you were going to tell me that you could no longer be my friend.”
“What! No! I could never do that to you!” I exclaimed, "I love you too much. I have loved you since I was born…well to be honest it was more of an obsession or idol worship then, but I did love you.”
“I realised I loved you after Maplestripe was murdered,” she answered, "I was just too busy learning to notice you really before then. I am sorry.”
I was not upset at all, I was just thrilled that she loved me back. That day she became my queen, although we did not do anything, we were openly affectionate, our tails interlocking as we walked, and grooming each other in the den.
A moon went by from then and we were called to the gathering of all the clans. Freckledwish seemed excited to go as she mewed, "SteelMask, we going to the gathering now!"
Leafberry agreed to look after the medical den while we went, as no suitable apprentice was found yet. She waved us goodbye and wished us a safe journey before reentering the den.
JaguarStar led the patrol, once we had joined it, leading us on then to the four tree. Upon entering the clearing FreckledWish immediately ran to where the medicine cats were. My heart ached a little as I could not join her there so I contented himself with watching her from a distance to make sure she stayed safe.
I looked around the camp and noticed that Skyclan was missing. I had just got done wondering where they were when they walked in. And to my surprise, in walked Cloudcream who settled himself on the deputy's rock. I was both shocked and not surprised at the sametime because of the reveal that happened at a clan gathering I had only heard about as a kitten.
"Thank starclan; you're finally here, let's start the gathering" the ThunderClan leader mewed looking at SkyClan.
"I'll go first, WindClan is going well, prey is running well" JaguarStar mewed flicking his tail towards Scourchedstar to indicate he had finished speaking.
"Shadowclan is going well, some injured cats, that's all." Scourchedstar mewed nodding at Raccoonstar to report on their clan.
"ThunderClan is also well, some sicknesses, but that's all." Raccoonstar mewed before looking at the new leader on the rock.
Oakstar stepped up,
"As you can see SkyClan's old leader has passed away. My name is OakStar and my new deputy is CloudCream. Despite these changes SkyClan is going well."
The other clans cheered for the new leader and deputy. Our clan, however, was silent, we were all concerned about Cloudcream’s appointment. How did he manage this knowing that he was a twice convicted murderer?
We headed back after the gathering and I moved into FreckledWishes den permantly. No cat said a thing to us, nor behind our backs for this. I think it was out of pity of CloudCream’s actions.
