Confusing Twists | A Warrior Cats AU

Chapter 6

: It's Not A Waste Of Time :

Brambleclaw sighed, his tail drooping. It had been a quarter moon and Ashfur was still just irritable and bitter as ever. And despite Brambleclaw's best efforts, still refused to open up even slightly.
I thought maybe we could be friends again. But maybe that's just wishful thinking. The thought tore into him.
At least Brambleclaw had been able to assure Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf that they would always be his kits no matter what. That meant more to him than anything else.
But he still didn't have the confidence to try and talk to Squirrelflight. He wanted to apologize but. . . Brambleclaw shook out his pelt. He didn't know why he didn't have the confidence. But he just didn't.

Brambleclaw padded past Ashfur, earning him a hate filled glare.
“I don't know why you're so mad at me. Firestar gave you the punishment.” Brambleclaw forced his tone to remain calm.
“Oh so you don't think it matters to me that you stole my mate?!” Ashfur hissed, his ears flattened to his head.
“I didn't steal her. You don't own her. So I couldn't have stolen her. She chose me. It's your own fault you decided to have a tantrum.” Brambleclaw shrugged.
Ashfur let out a snarl and stalked off, tripping once as he did.

Brambleclaw sat down beside Ashfur again. He started off by greeting him, and as had happened the past three times, Ashfur just glared at him, his ears flattening to his head.
“Hey, about earlier. Is that really why you ended our friendship? Because I started hanging out with Squirrelflight?” Brambleclaw expected the usual angry silence from Ashfur. But instead Ashfur actually responded.
“Yeah! You decided to steal my mate! Of course I ended our friendship over that!” Ashfur snapped, seeming to finally decide just hissing and snarling wordlessly wasn't enough to get Brambleclaw to stop pestering him.
“I didn't even know you liked her for the longest time! How was that my fault?” Brambleclaw exclaimed. That was true. For a long time he didn't think Ashfur liked Squirrelflight.
Ashfur didn't buy it. “Oh sure you didn't! What a convenient excuse! I'm not going to fall for your lies again!” he spat venomously.
“It’s true, I wouldn't have gone after her if I knew you liked her!” Brambleclaw insisted.
Ashfur just snarled.
Brambleclaw sighed. At least he responded. That's progress, right? Then Brambleclaw narrowed his gaze. What am I even trying to do? He had just decided to try and talk to Ashfur one day. He tried to kill my kits, why do I care if he's lonely? I have so many better things to be doing. Like trying to talk to Squirrelflight.
“Stop thinking about her.” Brambleclaw mewed, to himself and Ashfur.
Ashfur didn't respond, just continuing to growl.

Brambleclaw couldn't sleep that night. He could tell by the growls of frustration from the back of the den, that Ashfur couldn't either.
Brambleclaw’s ears pricked as growls turned to whimpers.
He looked up and saw Ashfur curled into a tight ball in his nest. Drops of moisture soaking onto his front legs.
Brambleclaw’s heart twisted with pity. But he didn't move. Ashfur would probably just hiss and snarl. It probably wouldn't be worth it.
Brambleclaw wasn't going to waste anymore of his energy than he needed on Ashfur.
Besides, if he's going to cry about things he can fix then why should it matter to me? He felt bad as he thought it. And yet he still couldn't wrap his head around why he suddenly was so insistent on bonding with Ashfur. It didn't make any sense.
“You should talk to him.” A voice whispered.
Brambleclaw almost shot up. He looked around and saw no one.
“Yeah you can't see me. No one has ever been able to, unless I allow them to. Names Vixen by the way.” The voice sounded again. Brambleclaw had no idea if they were a she-cat or a tom from their voice.
Why should I talk to him? He tried to kill my kits! Brambleclaw pointed out.
“You’ve been trying to bond with him for a few days now. Admit it you-” their voice was cut off.
Brambleclaw was confused. ‘Admit it you-’ what? Brambleclaw wondered what they could have meant. ‘you don't mind that fact’, ‘you know he can change’, ‘you. . .’. It suddenly hit him and he froze. Brambleclaw took a sharp breath. He had to finally admit it to himself. All these feelings were rushing back because now he and Squirrelflight had broken up. . . He couldn't supress them any longer. And he was going to at least try to do something about it.

An:
Bramble's chapters end up being so much longer than Ashy's lol