SageClan remembers the night when Rookstar disappeared. Later she was found dead, body slashed with clawmarks. Many assumed it had been a rogue's attack, or that of a rival Clan, and Heronstar was quickly thrown into leader position. The charismatic...
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Smokebird finished his meal and licked the last traces of prey from his jaws, paws tucked beneath him. Darkness was creeping into the sky, and some cats had retired to their dens early while others gossiped and talked between each other. Several had begun sharing tongues, grooming their friends' pelts. The vegetation surrounding the camp clearing swayed every so often in a light, cool breeze, and the tree branches waved. The edges of Smokebird's fur glowed in the sunset's fiery radiance.
Everything was so peaceful. Tension had left the camp, and sometimes Smokebird wondered if his Clanmates had almost forgotten about Rookstar's surprising murder. He had to admit, there were days where he went without thinking once about the tabby's slashed throat.
His ears twitched as Smokebird heard the sound pawsteps coming towards him. He glanced upwards, seeing Heronstar standing above him. He flicked his tail to acknowledge his brother's presence, and the sturdy tuxedo tom settled beside him.
"Sorry for not listening to you earlier," Heronstar mewed, taking Smokebird by surprise. His whiskers twitched.
"It's fine."
"Yeah, well..." Heronstar let out a puff of air, tail curling around his flank. "I shouldn't have ignored you. You carried important information and I just brushed you off."
"It's fine," Smokebird repeated, although he appreciated Heronstar's apology. He admired his brother's willingness to admit he had been wrong.
"Good. Well, let's put that behind us, Heronstar mewed, standing. He have his dark pelt a few hasty licks. "I'll see you around." Smokebird nodded and watched his brother leave. He rested his head on his paws, closing his eyes to slits.
Several moments later, another set of paws approached him. Grunting, Smokebird opened his eyes, seeing that Flamepuddle had now come. Instead of lying down, the she-cat sat beside Smokebird, gazing out onto camp.
"Is something wrong?" Smokebird asked, raising his head.
"Maybe?" Flamepuddle replied uncertainly. "I mean... I guess so, but it's stupid. I shouldn't let it get to me."
"Tell me," Smokebird said. He assumed it might have something to do with Palethorn, considering the way Flamepuddle had reacted when she arrived and saw the cat with Whisperfern. Or, Smokebird thought again. It could have something to do mainly with Whisperfern.
"You don't need to know." Flamepuddle stared down at her paws, dark eyes ablaze. She might be angry. Or irritated in general, Smokebird thought, searching her eyes. Is she irritated with herself? For "letting it get to her"? Smokebird hated not knowing things. He could usually pick up on issues, but Flamepuddle was being annoyingly vague.
"You can tell me. I won't say anything," the tom asked again. He paused, considering. "If you don't want to tell me the whole story, can you give me a clue on what's it about?"
To Smokebird's surprise, Flamepuddle chuckled. "I bet you've already picked up on it, with your skill," she mewed. "Any hints I give you you've probably already figured out."
Smokebird frowned. "Well, will you give me one anyways? I just want to better understand how you feel." He tried to sound gentle and trustworthy. He was just so curious.
"Fine," Flamepuddle huffed. She lifted her eyes, their brown color flaming in the sun's orange light. "Here's a clue: me being a jealous fox-heart and not knowing how to be good enough." She spat the words sourly, expression changing to anger.
An "Oh," was all Smokebird could muster. He knew he needed to comfort his friend, and he also had an idea on what was going on. It definitely had to do with Palethorn and Whisperfern, but how they fit in specifically, he wasn't sure. "You're not a jealous fox-heart, Flamepuddle. I know you, and trust me, you're not."
"But I feel like I am!" Flamepuddle yowled, sinking her claws into the ground. Smokebird gave her a sympathetic glance.
"You don't have to," he mewed. Suddenly, he had an idea. "Maybe if you told me more about what this was about, I could help you."
a/n -- Smokebird would honestly annoy me so much in a situation like this, ahaha,...
does this fanfiction suck? i'm not sure, like I said, I feel really uncertain with my fanficitions.. and.. are they okay? decent? do you enjoy reading them? wooot
actually, this is the most i've ever wrote in a fanfiction, lol, what's wrong with me, ikr
