"Oakheart…" She murmured.
Despite her being leader of one Clan and him ascending to the rank of deputy in another, they kept in contact at Gatherings. Or tried. There were times when one would notice the other sneak off, and join them at some quieter part of the neutral territory that made up Fourtrees. There were silent promises made to meet there later some nights.
Sometimes, he was the only thing to get her through those harsher leafbares. She gave him tips the on the little things, handling patrols and like, when he first started out. He told her all about Mistyfoot and Stonefur. It's how she knew what to tell Fireheart in her later years, how she knew you be so proud of them despite them never remembering her…
He is the first face she sees in StarClan. Mosskit is the second. Thrushpelt is the third.
"So," He snorts, winding around her as she stands there, gaping. "I met your actual mate. Nice tom you snagged. Pity none of your kits look remotely like him, the fish-face."
"Come off it, squirrel-breath." Oakheart scoffed playfully. How…
"We came to an understanding." Thrushpelt explained. "I was never mad at you, Bluestar. Not even when I figured out who the father was. You've been through far too much to be the cause of my scorn. Anyway, Oakheart's not too bad once you get to know him a bit, but I'm not here to trod all over your family time. Welcome to StarClan, Bluestar. Enjoy the afterlife."
The sandy grey tom touched his nose to her cheek and bounded off.
"That's one way to make an entrance." Oakheart snickered.
"I thought for sure he would claw me when I got here. Mosskit greeted him fondly enough and I had no idea who he was. He explained everything, was all patient and the like. I swear, that tom probably doesn't have an negative bone in his body." The red-brown RiverClan deputy chuckled. "Makes me wonder what in the world you saw in me."
"Sometimes I wonder that too." Bluestar scoffed. "Cheeky toms, the both of you. He didn't even let me say hello. Or apologize."
"He didn't want to hear it." Her mate informed her. "Sorry for what, not loving him? You don't owe any cat your feelings, Bluestar, no matter how nice they are to you."
"I know that now." She scoffed.
Look at how her mother and father turned out… and Snowfur… Stars, she and Whitestorm would probably never see Thistleclaw again!
"Can we see Snowfur?"
"We?! I don't wanna run into any of your kin. They'll shred my hears and have me for bedding! Except for Mosskit." He purrs, nuzzling their daughter. "She won't hurt me, will you, dearest?"
"Of course not, Oakheart!" She chirped. "I wouldn't hurt Thrushpelt or Bluestar either."
"Yeah, I'm sure." The tom snorted. "C'mon, you've got family to see and I've got cats to be judged by."
"Oh, keep your fur on, fish-face."
What was her family up to anyway? And what had Thrushpelt meant by what he said last? Surely he didn't think he wasn't part of her family?
"I need to find Thrushpelt!"
"Find me for what?"
The grey tom materialized at her side and Bluestar screeched in shock. Oakheart howled laughing.
"You were saying." Her friend purred, amused.
"You said that last part like you're not part of my family." Bluestar offered hesitantly. "I don't want you to stick around if it'll hurt too much, but I would like to see you every now and then."
"StarClan had countless cats, dear one, I had so much more to find when I got here. And I got over the thought of you loving me long ago. I'd be honored to remain in your life, Bluestar. I just didn't want it to be awkward for you." He chirped.
"I call fish-dung to that, ThunderClanner." Oakheart laughed.
"He found someone in StarClan and he's perfectly fine with them. He'll introduce you someday. Didn't you say that you wanted to see your parents and sister?"
"Oh! Yes please. I just… wanted to clear things up."
"I'm sure you did, love."
The four of them set off in search of the rest of Bluestar's family, and the blue-grey she-cat snickered internally. If this was the afterlife, she could absolutely deal with whatever came her way.