Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. If I did, I would make this actually happen in the books, because Sootfur needs to be in the books.
Rating: T, mainly because I rate everything T! And because there might be something that happens later that is violent.
A/N: This doesn't take place during any of the books; it's just sort of during NP after Starlight, but not really part of the storyline. One night I just thought 'Hey, I think these two would be cute together!' so I made a fic about them. Hope you like it!
A pale gray tom sat outside the ThunderClan camp, his pelt soaked through with rain which seemed to penetrate his very spirit and caused his whiskers to droop with the weight of his pain. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes closed, and his tail did not even move as a tiny tick tickled it with its small feet. As it bit into the tender skin and drew blood, the tom flinched slightly but remained still otherwise, not even bothering to swat it. His speckled gray pelt was washed dark with the water and his ears were trembling with the sound of the thunder and slashing wind, but he was still; he had no strength to move.
Then he caught a flash of amber by the entrance to the camp, and suddenly his friend Squirrelflight was beside him, her anxious mew barely audible above the storm "Ashfur! What are you doing out here? You catch a cold, and Cinderpelt would have to give you some of her herbs and you'll be off duty for days!"
Ashfur rose slightly, his paws squealching as the mud shifted beneath them "I don't want to go back just yet, Squirrelflight." he meowed, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground "Brambleclaw will be mad with both of us; you, for being with me so often, and me for allowing you to be out here in this weather. A tom is very protective of the she-cat he loves."
Squirrelflight flinced at the thought of Brambleclaw, but not out of fear. Her body quivered with anger "I don't care what he thinks or feels." she hissed "I'll only be with him if he stops trusting Hawkfrost; you know as well as I do how evil he is."
He nodded "Yes, but that's still no reason to make him feel even worse; if you stay with him and talk, he may begin to realize that his half-brother isn't as perfect as he thinks he is. And besides," he added, looking up into her green eyes, blazing with anger at her former friend "You're making him even more jealous by staying with me."
The anger faded and Squirrelflight bowed her head "I know," she sighed "And I'm sorry that I'm putting you in more danger because of Brambleclaw, but I just...can't go back to him yet. And I think you should tell Firestar abou-"
"No!" Ashfur growled, pushing away from her "I won't tell any-one but you! I can't! I don't...I don't want to be mocked. Many already expect trouble, with so few she-cats these past few seasons. I will not be one of the toms that fight over Whitepaw when she is older, or you. That might arose suspicion, but luckily most toms will be too much occupied to bother thinking too much of it. However, they may think me a coward and I would lose some of my honour." he scraped at the wet ground, closing his eyes "But I am prepared for that."
Squirrelflight pressed against his side, licking his ear "It's alright, Ashfur, I'll help turn their eyes away, and reassure them of your strength and courage. I'll just remind them of the dog pack back in the old f-"
Ashfur felt his friend stiffen and he glanced up. Then his insides grew cold and his heart beat faster.
A pair of amber eyes cut through the darkness, and they were alight with fury. Then powerful shoulders pushed through the wind and rain and Brambleclaw stood in front of them, his tabby frame shaking with anger.
Immediately, Squirrelflight drew away from Ashfur's flank and stood before Brambleclaw. The amber eyes were fixed on her now, and Brambleclaw spoke, his voice a low growl "I came out here looking for you, Squirrelflight. I didn't expect you to go over to Ashfur so quickly, and be out in this weather, at his side. What were you going to do with him? Planning to have his kits, were you?"
Squirrelflight growled back "We were planning nothing of the sort. We're just friends, and if you can't see that, you're more blind than I thought you were."
"Just friends?" the dark tabby tom glared at Ashfur, who shrank back slightly "You've been spending so much time together, all the Clan have been discussing you! Some of the warriors think that you've been falling in with a few too many toms too soon."
"What?" the dark ginger she-cat hissed furiously "I've only ever loved you, Brambleclaw, but you've been plotting with Hawkfrost. I can't stand being with you when all you want to talk about is him!"
Brambleclaw hissed "He's my brother, Squirrelflight! Am I not allowed to be with my family? Mothwing, Tawnypelt, and Hawkfrost are all in other Clans; I have no kin in ThunderClan!"
"That shouldn't matter! You're supposed to be loyal to ThunderClan alone!" Squirrelflight said, her neck fur raised half fearfully, half angrily "But you seem more a friend of Tawnypelt and Mothwing and Hawkfrost than you are with your own Clanmates!"
Brambleclaw launched himself furiously at Squirrelflight, claws unsheathed. He aimed for her shoulder with his teeth, but Ashfur dove on him, his teeth set in his ear and his hindpaws thumping the bigger cat's back. Brambleclaw squirmed, trying to throw the other tom off, but Ashfur clung on tight, sinking his teeth deeper. Yowling, Squirrelflight meowed, "Stop it, you two! You're acting like two kits!"
Ashfur let go and slid off Brambleclaw's back immediately. Brambleclaw sat down and licked his paw, drawing it over his bleeding ear and washing it. He glared at Ashfur "So!" he meowed "Finally sticking up for a she-cat, eh? First time for everything!"
"Squirrelflight's my friend; of course I'd stick up for her!" Ashfur growled.
Brambleclaw sneered "Yeah, right, just a friend!" he hissed "Liar. I know you like her! And, since you do, you're my rival."
Ashfur stared back at him "I'm no threat to you, Brambleclaw." he said quietly.
Brambleclaw paused, hearing the certainty in Ashfur's voice "What? Why not?" he asked.
"Because," Ashfur meowed "I don't like Squirrelflight, I like Sootfur."
