AN: Sorry for the delay. I was at a friend's house, and then my basement flooded. Uug.
My tail was twined with Hollypaw's along the walk home. She was very quiet, but I suspected she was just digesting this new milestone in her life. We walked shoulder-to-shoulder as we pushed our ways out of the thick gorse wall near the entrance of the hollow. Shock stung me when I saw a familiar, pale ginger coat. Squirrelflight and Stormfur were back, and talking to Firestar.
I glared at Hollypaw, my eyes warning her to act happy. She didn't move from my side. I felt eyes on my pelt and looked forward. Firestar was watching us, surprise deeply lining every feature on his face. That she-cat glanced over her shoulder and I watched her pupils grow as large as full moons. "Hollypaw…?" She was at a loss for words.
Hollypaw purred kindly, "I'm glad you're back. How were things in Riverclan?"
"Fine." She answered instantly. "I see we missed a lot."
A growl bubbled out of my throat, and I saw Squirrelfight's eyes flash with worry. The very space between us seemed to scorch when I growled, "You don't need to know everything, Squirrelflight."
I led Hollypaw towards the barrier, glaring sideways. Firestar and Stormfur shared a confused glance, but she looked horrified. I narrowed my eyes and looked away as I ducked through the tunnel. I emerged into the camp and felt myself letting go of the cat I tried so hard to cling onto, fully embracing my new life with Hollypaw.
The next day, the whole clan knew that Hollypaw and I were now mates. Most of the clan was on our side. There were only a few that gave me unhappy glares in the warrior's den. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight were the ringleaders. Stormfur, Brook, and Mouseclaw were the others.
I ignored them. They were not important to me in any way. Lifting my head and tail, I stalked out of the den and padded across the camp. Watching Leafpool and Jaypaw pad past me to the elders, I slipped into the medicine cats' den.
Brackenfur lay awake, with Cinderfur asleep at his side for company. He purred tensely when he saw me coming through the entrance of the den. I purred back, curling myself in front of him. I asked in concern, "How are you? Better?" My neck fur prickled when I heard his terrified screech echo from my memory as he fell into the hollow.
"I'm getting there." He grunted. His eyes shined with amusement and he teased, "My leg might take longer to heal that my shoulder!"
Both of our eyes glanced down at his leg. The wound my desperate grip had left was still raw and seeping. Brackenfur and I chuckled together. I apologized, "I didn't mean to bite quite that hard. I just didn't have anything else I could do."
My friend gently nudged me and promised, "It's okay. I'm grateful that you tried to help me." Before I could say anything more to him, he sprung a new conversation. "So, Jaypaw tells me... You and Hollypaw?"
I looked up to meet his gaze. He looked a little bit surprised, but non judgmental or disapproving. I felt my entire body shake a little with the force of the purr that rumbled out of my throat. "Yes, me and Hollypaw."
Brackenfur smiled. "That's really great, Ashfur. Hollypaw is a good cat. I'm happy for you, and I mean it."
What had I ever done for a friend as great as him? He was supportive of this new relationship. That was good. He was a respected cat, and he had always been wise. Having him on my side might lure some of our clanmates into being less shocked by this turn of events.
A rather dark growl suddenly bubbled out of Brackenfur's throat, making me jump a little in surprise. He winced and carefully rolled onto his good side. Poppyspots stirred beside him. Alarmed, I asked, "What's wrong?"
"Ah, it's my shoulder. It's starting to burn again." He answered distractedly.
"Should I fetch Leafpool?" I offered instantly.
Cinderfur's head popped up. Half dazed from sleep she mumbled, "He needs poppy seeds, and his dose of comfrey." Before we could move, she passed over to the herb store. Neither of us complained. She had spent so much time in here when she broke her leg it was not surprising she knew more than we did. She would have gotten Leafpool or Jaypaw if she didn't think she knew the right herbs.
After his dose had been taken, she left and I shared tongues with my friend until he had fallen asleep.
The next sunhigh I was on a patrol with Spiderleg, Mouseclaw, and Hollypaw. It went quite well. I took Lionpaw out for some training before dusk had settled.
The next morning at dawn Squirrelflight awakened me. Her eyes were guarded and her voice unusually dull when she reminded, "Hunting." Saying nothing else, she nudged Brook away and the two she-cats left the den. I was secretly glad she wasn't going to make a fuss over this like Brambleclaw was trying to. She was a good cat. If it would hurt her daughter, she would avoid doing it.
I joined the she-cats and Lionpaw at the thorn barrier. Graystripe arrived with Hollypaw and Foxpaw in tow. The troop of us silently filed into the forest and took up positions among the herd. Graystripe was in the front with Brook. Foxpaw was between Squirrelflight and myself. Hollypaw and Lionpaw were behind us in the rear.
Foxpaw chattered quietly this bright, early morning. Squirrelflight nodded along, her fierce green gaze pinning me down from afar. I felt my eyes narrow considerably, suddenly glaring at nothing but her. I didn't even consciously notice Foxpaw had shot forward after some prey. All I saw was the murderous green eyes of the shadow of my past. Maybe she wouldn't say anything, but she didn't need words. I could find my way through her heart like I could find my way through the camp.
She was watching me, and she was going to make sure I didn't hurt her daughter.
I wasn't bothered by the unspoken challenge. I relished it. Obstacles to scale made the journey that much more fun, not harder. Nothing was too difficult for love to overcome.
"Windclan!" Foxpaw yowled, tearing back towards us. Many warriors were hot on his tail, their eyes glimmering with a hard light as they launched themselves at us.
One of the younger warriors, the black she-cat Nightcloud, crashed into me in an attempt to pin me. I felt her claws sink deeply into my shoulder and ribcage. Hissing, I allowed myself to flop onto my side. Using her momentum against her, I managed to flip her onto her back and hold her under my greater weight. She yowled so loudly my ear rang as I sank my teeth deeply into her neck.
Spitting like a demon, Crowfeather scored his claws down my back to make me let go of his mate. I yelped, startled, and was forced to spring away. The lean warrior shoved Nightcloud behind him. She was absorbed into the fray, and the two of us were left glaring at one another.
I heard a familiar caterwaul and glanced over his shoulder in time to see Hollypaw send Weselfur flying. Before she could so much as chase after his retreating form, Tornear landed on her.
I gasped, "Hollypaw!"
Crowfeather stiffened and quickly glanced over his shoulder. In his distraction, Graystripe leapt on top of him. I dodged them and bundled towards Hollypaw. Terror jolted my body when I saw his jaws about to clamp onto her throat.
Anger lent me strength as I sharply bit down into Tornear's scruff. He screeched as I heaved him backwards and slammed his large body into the rock under our paws. I sprang on top of him and sank all my claws into his stomach, tearing fur off of his shoulder with a vicious bite.
The tomcat snarled and spat as he struggled against me. I was upturned and bounced against the hard ground. I wailed in fury as I my sight bleached red. Bloodlust washed through me as I raked my claws across his eyes.
I wanted to kill him. He was going to hurt my Hollypaw. He was going to murder her- an apprentice! I really wanted to kill him.
This black sort of hate, a sort I had never felt before, helped me yank him down and force his belly to the ground. I felt blood well between my claws as I gouged them down his spine. He scrambled free of me and unsteadily dashed back towards the border. I stood still and tried to catch my breath.
The whole exchange had taken no more then five heartbeats, but I was sure he bore wounds he would feel for a moon to come. Nobody was going to hurt Hollypaw and get away with it.
Nobody.
The blood rushing through my ears almost deafened me to our deputy's powerful battle cry. I didn't even see which others were with him to send the Windclan cats running. I whirled around; feeling my heart skip a beat with relief when I saw Hollypaw was all right.
I dashed over to her, burying my nose into her bleeding muzzle. Droplets of it started to mingle with both my own and Tornear's. I fretted as she purred, "Oh, Hollypaw, I thought I was going to lose you!"
I rasped my tongue against her shoulder wound. She nudged my cheek affectionately and tried to laugh off the fear I could smell radiating from her pelt. She changed the topic, sort of. "You flayed Tornear! I've never seen a warrior fight like that before, Ashfur."
I lifted my head, locking my eyes onto hers. No, she never should see warriors fight the way I just had. That was not even a degree of danger and hate that the bitterest of enemies should shed upon each other. No cat should ever want to kill like I just had.
But I did, and she had seen it. Not only that, she was proud of me for protecting her like I had. I couldn't stop myself from purring. I promised whole-heartedly, "Anything for you, Hollypaw."
She turned her head suddenly, and gasped. I followed her gaze and felt myself stiffen. Patchy and horrifically torn apart, Lionpaw lay half-concealed in a swathe of bracken. I bounded over there, hovering a few paces back. Orders and words were shouted behind me, but I didn't hear any of them.
The last cat I had seen like that was Hawkfrost, and those were memories I would rather not have to relive. I was a different tom back in those times. I was distorted by hurt and hope, and manipulated by Tigerstar's cunning son.
A small shiver ran down my spine and I shook the thoughts away from my mind.
Jawpaw arrived on the scene a millisecond later. He was blind and in the path of many cats he could run into, but for his brother it would seem he had perfect eyesight. He weaved through the tense throng with expert skill- even shoulder Brambleclaw away from my side.
Stumbling beside Hollypaw he demanded, his voice sharp with a mixture of professionalism and fear, "Hollypaw, is he breathing?"
An eerie silence spread through the warriors gathered behind me as Hollypaw pressed her nose to her brother's neck. Her hackles began to bristle and she reported, "I don't think so."
