Story takes place somewhere around Sunrise. Requsted by warriorcrazy. Enjoy.
Pelts of Storms
Stormfur felt as if he had just been attacked by a fox.
He fell, skidding on the wet plains of RiverClan territory. His attacker leapt off him and landed lightly back on ShadowClan territory. It almost felt as if he had been hit by a monster. The gray tom stood, spitting reeds. They tasted worse than he imagined.
"Nice going," he muttered sourly. And he meant that sarcastically. "Except you sneaked behind me while my back was turned." He began grooming his shoulder fur, more of an attempt to hide his embarrassment than because of the grime. "AND you crossed RiverClan territory."
He looked up. "I ought to tell Leopardstar."
Tawnypelt rolled her eyes, as if it wasn't such a big deal. "It wasn't intentional." Stormfur doubted it. "And it's not my fault you slipped back onto your territory."
Stormfur shook his pelt, not allowing the she-cat to muddle his mood. "So, how have you been?"
Tawnypelt shrugged indecisively.
He waved a tail. "Want to go for a walk?" he asked unexpectedly.
Tawnypelt blinked in surprise. She looked away, hesitating. Stormfur noticed where this was going. He raised his tail defensively before it got any further. "Hey, it's not anything romantic. Just to reminisce about our travels together."
Tawnypelt's face relaxed considerably. "I'd like that."
The two Clan cats padded together, making well sure they didn't cross either territory, their backs to the lake. "Did you meet up with Brambleclaw and just, you know, talk?"
Tawnypelt shook her head. "He's been busy lately. I rarely see him without a patrol of cats surrounding him." She watched a butterfly briefly flutter by with interest. "And you know how awkward it'd be if I tried to have a conversation with him while everyone is looking."
Stormfur didn't answer. He himself had tried to come to speaking terms with Crowfeather. But the tom hardly seemed to bother speaking with anyone outside WindClan himself either.
The two Clan cats chatted back and forth, sharing news about their going ons in the Clan. Stormfur admitted Brook still felt awkward staying in RiverClan, and that he hoped she would become more comfortable with them after a while.
But when Tawnypelt asked why they left the Tribe, he stayed silent until she got the message not to ask that again.
Tawnypelt, meanwhile, found that she was getting along quite nicely with Rowanclaw. She shared that the tom might like her more as just "friends." But she's waiting until he hinted anything further ahead of time before coming to that conclusion.
Stormfur, he had to admit, was surprised by this news. He had always thought Rowanclaw was a she-cat. He shrugged the thought away as they turned back around and began walking back towards the lake.
Then Tawnypelt asked him a question that threw him off completely. And one, he had to admit, he never thought before.
"Are you happy being back in RiverClan?"
He almost paused in mid-step. Just a half-second falter before he regained his footing. But that small gesture alone was enough for the she-cat to notice.
She frowned his way. But thankfully didn't press the tom.
True, Stormfur was glad to see his old Clanmates and friends. But he was not sure if he was truly happy to be back again. When he left to live with the Tribe, the intention was to have been permanent. He never thought he'd be back.
He blinked and looked behind him. Tawnypelt had stopped walking. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he wasn't even aware they had passed by their meeting place.
"You okay?" she asked quietly as he came to stand beside her.
Stormfur nodded without really thinking. Tawnypelt tentatively pressed pelts with him. He almost moved away from her in surprise. But that would have been disrespectful. After all, she was only trying to help him. And he was glad of her comfort.
"Thanks," he muttered, resting his head on her shoulder. She was too large for him to reach her forehead.
Tawnypelt rested her chin on top of his head. "Don't mention it. That's what friends are for, right? Just remember that you have Brook with you. You're in this together."
"Yeah, I know. I appreciate―"
Stormfur paused. He wrinkled his nose. "Do you smell something?"
Tawnypelt didn't answer. She snaked her tail around his flank, pulling him closer. The smell was now most evident to the tom. He didn't like where this was going.
"Tawnypelt," he mewed warily.
"Hmm?" She muttered, chin still on his head, eyes closed.
"You didn't tell me you're in heat."
He felt her tail tighten around his flank. "Why should that bother you?"
"Tawnypelt," he repeated firmly, putting a paw between them. "You know I can't do this." He made to leave, but she tightened her grip, holding him in place. "Tawnypelt!"
"What?" She placed a paw on his shoulder. "Stormfur, you need to relax," she soothed. "Remember: we're just friends.
Stormfur doubt the she-cat truly believed what she was saying at the moment. Why didn't he detect the scent sooner? Now that they were literally brushing against each other, the smell of pheromones was strong in the air.
He should have known better. Tawnypelt began grooming him between the ears. "Your so tense," she muttered. The sarcasm almost escaped the tom, but he held it in.
He shook his head. "I have a mate. And we're both from different Clans."
"Not at the moment."
"What are you...? Stormfur didn't have to ask. They were right right between the borders. Neither on RiverClan or ShadowClan. Had she planned this?
He pulled away. And felt pain as she dug her claws on his shoulder.
"Tawnypelt!"
The she-cat released Stormfur in surprise. He quickly backed away from her, following her gaze.
Standing behind them was a small brown tabby she-cat. Gray eyes narrowed as she stared up the ShadowClan Warrior, who looked as if she had been caught with her paw in the fresh-kill pile.
"Brook!" Stormfur never felt as glad to see his mate now than he did before. He quickly put as much distance between himself and the ShadowClan warrior.
Tawnypelt waved sheepishly. "How are you, Brook?"
The Tribe cat padded forward purposely, her claws digging on the reeds. She didn't stop until she was a whisker in front of Tawnypelt, looking up at her. Though her head only reached around the ShadowClan Warrior's shoulders, she didn't let that stop her from glaring up at the now wary she-cat.
"Stay. Away. From Stormfur," she hissed softly.
Tawnypelt leaned her head back. "We were only chatting―"
The tribe cat snarled. "Save it!"
For some time each she-cat glared over their own respective borders. Stormfur stood by, close enough in case Brook needed help, but far enough to give her space. He didn't really know what to do except stand there like a clueless apprentice. After all, he never actually had she-cats act this way over him before.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Tawnypelt bowed her head.
"Sorry," she muttered, her body slacked in defeat.
Brook flicked her ears dismissively. "See that you do." Without another word she turned, back to the ShadowClan warrior as she met up with Stormfur.
He nuzzled her cheeck with his. "Brook, I―"
She covered her mouth with her tail. Her eyes told him all he needed to know. That she wasn't mad at him. And not to worry. That only made him love her twice as much. Wordlessly they left together, tails twined. Stormfur turned back only once.
Tawnypelt stayed on the same spot. Her eyes silently stared after them until the Reeds covered her from view.
