Ashfur was pacing back and fourth in the middle of camp. Not realizing how much attention he was drawing to himself. Firestar watched him curiously and soon made his way over.
"Hello Ashfur," the orange tom said, "something troubling you?"
Ashfur jerked his head around startled to hear a voice, "Oh... N-no. Everything's fine."
"That doesn't sound fine," Firestar replied.
"N-no! Really! I'm okay!" Ashfur stuttered. He forced a smile but Firestar could tell he was faking it.
"Ashfur, if you need to tell me something, then tell me. I won't be mad," Firestar said sternly.
"I know you will be though..." Ashfur sighed, "It's not something you can accept that easily."
"Well is it that bad? You're drawing attention to yourself by pacing so much."
"It's very bad! I can't just-" Ashfur paused, "I... I have to go!"
"Ashfur wait!" Firestar called after him.
"I'm sorry!" Ashfur ran out of camp and to the moor. Hoping Scourge was there.
"Sc-Scourge? Are you here?" Ashfur cried.
There was no answer.
"Scourge please!"
"I'm here," the handsome black warrior replied back to him, "what's wrong?"
"I'm so scared! How will Firestar react when I tell him about us?" Ashfur started shaking and crying.
"Ashfur..." Scourge lifted his mates chin up to look into his glassy blue eyes, "It's gonna be alright. I told you I'd protect you."
"And what if you can't?" Ashfur asked.
"I can and I will," Scourge said in a deep serious tone.
"Promise?" Ashfur asked in a shaky voice.
"Absoluetly," Scourge smiled.
"O-okay... I'll tell them tomorrow," Ashfur said.
"That's the Ashfur I know and love," Scourge licked Ashfur's muzzle and smiled.
It was now daylight and Ashfur was wide awake. He sat by the large tree and kept his head down. He didn't know how to tell Firestar about all this.
"How does Scourge expect me to tell him?!" he thought to himself.
"Ah?" Ashfur looked up to see Firestar approaching.
"You needed to speak with me, Ashfur?" Firestar asked and sat down.
"Y-yes," Ashfur gulped, "W-well..."
"Spit it out. I have warrior duties to attend to," Firestar said slightly irratated.
"I...I have a mate," Ashfur admitted.
"That's it? Ashfur! I was expecting somethingfar worse!"
"No... He's from BloodClan..." Ashfur's eyes got dark.
"He?" Firestar raised aneyebrow in confusion, "and did you say Bloodclan?"
"Y-yes," Ashfur replied.
"Might I ask who?" Firestar shifted his paws uneasily.
"S-S-Scourge..." Ashfur stuttered.
"What...?" Firestar's voice became flat.
"L-look! F-Firestar! I-I really like him and-"
"No! Ashfur! He is only using you to get into our clan and take over the forest! How could you be so foolish?!" Firestar spat.
"Firestar please!" Ashfur pleaded.
Firestar hissed at Ashfur and backed him into the tree. Ashfur trembled and closed his eyes. He felt his life flash before him.
"Scourge! Please! Help me!" Ashfur thought to himself.
As if oncue, there was a loud screech at the entrance. Firestar jerked his head around to see Scourge standing at the camp entrance. Every cats eyes were on him.
"You touch him and I will rip your heart out of your chest," Scourge said in a deep tone.
"Scourge!" Ashfur stumbled over to him and landed on his side, next to his mate.
Scourge smirked and looked down at Ashfur, making him blush. Scourge looked back at Firestar, "I was never fond of you dirty clan cats. Especially you, Firestar."
"Dirty?!" Firestar snapped, "You're not even a true clan! You're just a bunch of rouges left behind and forgotten!"
"And?" Scourge narrowed his eyes, "You're a run-away and it's likely your owner has forgotten you. We are much more powerful than you'll ever be and your clan is filled with rouges you consider better than every other cat in the forest."
Firestar grunted, he was at a loss for words.
"Now- my mate will be protected no matter what! Hurt him and I will kill you," Scourge threatened.
"Humph," Firestar said, "I know you're just using him."
Asfur looked up at Scourge, begging to StarClan it wasn't true.
Scourge looked down and smiled at him softly. Reassuring it wasn't true. Ashfur smiled back.
"Using?" Scourge said laughing, making Firestar shiver, "The only one using anyone around here is you! Treating these cats like your own slaves! You've done nothing benifitial for this entire clan. Now BACK OFF!"
Scourge hissed at Firestar and made him back up a few steps. He turned and faced Ashfur and licked his muzzle. Ashfur smiled.
Scourge whispered to him, "I told you I would come."
"I love you. I believed you would," Ashfur said softly.
"I love you too," Scourge replied.
Scourge turned back to Firestar and sneered. He turned to face everyone, "I am making my leave! Hurt him, and nobody will ever find your body!"
Scourge left and it was silent for awhile, but it soon went back to normal. Firstar however, was still upset. Especially at Ashfur.
