Author note: Hey, this is Demon Kitty Girl. First off, I'd like to say that I'm not continuing The Nightly Hunt and that instead I'm going to start doing songfics… Whoo! Anyways, though this one is sort of AshSquirrel with some SquirrelBramble thrown in, after this I'm going to let you guys make all the suggestions, unless I really want to do one of my own thoughts… And I'm fine with doing made-up pairings! In fact, sometimes they're even more fun! Anyways, see how you like it! It's to Over My Head by The Fray…
I never knew
I never knew that everything was falling through
That everyone I knew was waiting on a queue
To turn and run when all I needed was the truth
But that's how it's got to be
Ashfur padded up to Squirrelflight, feeling the familiar rush of strange excitement that tore through him as her beautiful eyes met his. "H-Hi Squirrelflight…" he stammered, "Want to go hunting with me?"
"Sure, Ashfur!" she replied, "I felt like moving my feet a bit… Brambleclaw's had me staying at camp the whole day!" There was a twinge of bitterness in her voice as she spoke the last sentence. Why was the new deputy being so cold?
It's coming down to nothing more than apathy
I'd rather run the other way than stay and see
The smoke and who's still standing when it clears
As the two cats set off, Ashfur sheathed and unsheathed his claws nervously. Should he tell her how he felt today? No, he thought, I'll wait. I don't want to see her say "no," to tell me she's going to go off with Brambleclaw again…
As if on cue, the tabby stalked up to them. "Squirrelflight, you're staying at the camp today, remember? We need some warriors to stay on guard duty."
Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
Over my head
Squirrelflight's eyes turned dark almost immediately, her fur fluffing up and her tail lashing angrily. "Who's going to attack us, Brambleclaw?! It's not like any of the Clans have been overly hostile, and have you seen the number of cats here?! They can spare two!"
"Squirrelflight…" murmured Ashfur, attempting to lead the she-cat away with his tail, but she tore away. "Brambleclaw, you're just acting like a piece of crowfood because you're jealous of Ashfur!" she spat, finally stating what every cat knew.
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind
She's on your mind
Brambleclaw's eyes turned sorrowful for a moment, but then he turned away, snarling, "He's not much to be jealous of. If you really want to be out hunting with him, then go."
Squirrelflight opened her mouth to say more, but Ashfur quickly led her past Brambleclaw and out of the camp. Taking one look back at the tabby, Ashfur saw that he was padded dejectedly away, his tail dragging on the earth.
Let's rearrange
I wish you were a stranger I could disengage
Just say that we agree and then never change
Soften a bit until we all just get along
As soon as the sounds and smells of the camp were far away, Squirrelflight turned on Ashfur. "Why in StarClan's name did you do that?! He was insulting you! Ugh, whatever happened to Brambleclaw obviously isn't going to wear off…"
Though the last sentence probably wasn't even meant for him to hear, it struck Ashfur like a claw to his face. If it wasn't for that deputy, he and Squirrelflight would probably be mates by now. As it was, it seemed like soon they wouldn't even be friends.
But that's disregard
Find another friend and you discard
As you lose the argument in a cable car
Hanging above as the canyon comes between
"You and Brambleclaw used to be close." commented Ashfur, unsure of why he was even bringing it up.
"Yes…" Squirrelflight sighed, but then her eyes brightened up and her tail twitched. "But not anymore! Now it's just us, Ashfur, and aren't we supposed to be hunting?"
His whiskers twitching with amusement and relief, Ashfur sped after the nimble she-cat, energized by her words.
Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
Over my head
Suddenly, Squirrelflight skidded to a halt. Ashfur nearly crashed into her, yowling "For the love of StarClan, what was that for?" playfully, but falling silent when he saw the terrified expression on her face.
"Fox," she replied simply, "I smell fox."
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind
She's on your mind
It wasn't long before the stench reached Ashfur's nostrils too, and it was fresh—foxes, lots of them, were near them. "We have to run!" he yowled, setting off in the direction of the camp. However, he heard a thud and a cry behind him, and turned around to see that Squirrelflight had collapsed onto the hard earth, with a fox, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, approaching her cautiously. "Squirrelflight!"
Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
Over my head
Without even having to look around Ashfur knew that there were more foxes, more than enough to kill two warriors. How could no cat have noticed the growing population before? Probably because of Brambleclaw keeping them all in camp… thought Ashfur bitterly. But no matter what the cause, Ashfur knew he couldn't escape without Squirrelflight, so he rushed to her aid. "What happened?!" he mewed hurriedly.
"Tripped on a root…" she grumbled, attempting to pull herself upwards.
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind
She's on your mind
The foxes were closing in, and though Squirrelflight was on her feet again, they blocked every way out. "Never have I seen anything like this!" the she-cat cried, her eyes filled with terror.
Ashfur pressed his pelt to the warrior's own, feeling, even though, his heart was filed with terror, a rush of adrenaline. "We'll fight." He snarled, his teeth bared.
And suddenly I become a part of your past
I'm becoming the part that don't last
I'm losing you and it's effortless
The gray warrior let out a yowl and charged the nearest fox, lashing out with his claws. It retaliated with its teeth, and bit his neck. Ashfur attempted to free himself, batting at the fox's face, but it held fast, and soon Ashfur felt himself losing consciousness, his vision getting worse and worse…
Squirrelflight… will you go to Brambleclaw now that I'm gone? he thought, feeling his heart fill with pain.
Without a sound we lose sight of the ground
In the throw around
Never thought that you wanted to bring it down
I won't let it go down till we torch it ourselves
He heard Squirrelflight yelling his name, the triumphant cries of the foxes around him, and, just as he was cast into blackness, a yelp. Squirrelflight? He couldn't tell, he had gone too far. He only hoped that she would be all right…
And everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
Over my head
Ashfur awoke to the smells of herbs and Cinderpelt's warm paw on his flank. "Ah, you're awake…" she mewed happily, "Squirrelflight probably wants to see you, then. She was worried…"
Ashfur attempted to follow the medicine cat as she padded away, but a sharp pain in his chest stopped him and forced him to move back into his previous position. "Where is she?" he asked.
"In the warriors den. Sharing tongues with Brambleclaw." replied Cinderpelt cheerily, not knowing how much what she had just said hurt Ashfur.
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind
She's on your mind
Cinderpelt returned, this time carrying with her the sweet scent of Squirrelflight. "Ashfur, you're okay!" mewed the she-cat happily, running forward to give her friend a lick on the head.
"Hello, Squirrelflight…" replied Ashfur, grinning. Cinderpelt gave the two cats an amused look and gestured to Leafpool to come out with her, leaving Ashfur and Squirrelflight alone. Is this the right time to tell her? thought the tom.
Everyone knows
She's on your mind
Everyone knows I'm in over my head
I'm in over my head
I'm in over...
"Squirrelflight…" began Ashfur, trying to choose his words carefully.
Squirrelflight nodded for him to go on, looking curious. Suddenly Ashfur felt lost. What do I say? How do I say it? How will she react?
Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
Over my head
Suddenly Ashfur thought of how close Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw used to be, how sad Brambleclaw had looked after he and Squirrelflight had left to go hunting… No, he thought, I can't do it.
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind
She's on your mind
"Great StarClan, Ashfur, what is it?" mewed Squirrelflight, beginning to look restless.
The tom hesitated, for a moment a look of sheer confusion on his face. Then, finally, he opened his mouth to reply. "Nothing."
Author's note: Aww, poor Ashfur! Anyways, review! Don't forget to suggest new ones!