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The seventh installment of Repair is here! This one has FireSand, not-quite one-sided FireCinder, one-sided DustFern, and not-quite one-sided DustCinder. The part with Sandstorm was really fun to write, she's such an enigma... what? I didn't want to make her all bad! Anyway, please review!
Disclaimer: I do not and have never owned the series Warriors by Erin Hunter.
Cinderpelt watched from her den as a broad-shouldered warrior returned to camp with his apprentice, chatting amicably with her. Fernpaw smiled up at her mentor, and the medicine cat could tell she was trying to flirt with the older tom. Resentment rose up in her throat towards the gray flecked she-cat, though she couldn't place a paw on exactly why. She suddenly regretted suggesting to Fireheart that Dustpelt should mentor Fernpaw.
It was your fault, a hauntingly familiar voice told her in the back of her head. You're the one who drove them to each other, and you're the one who drove him away.
Why did she care so much who the amber-eyed tom took as a mate, anyway? Your fault. It's all your fault.
"Go away," Cinderpelt growled softly to the green-eyed she-cat whose voice tortured her with every breath.
Don't try to deny it… it's your fault.
Cinderpelt unsheathed her claws, ready to slice her own body apart to rid herself of the pale ginger she-cat's muttering in her ears. Just as she touched the tip of her claws to her own injured leg, though, the lithe warrior spoke again.
Don't you remember your promise, Cinderpelt? Just think of how disappointed Dustpelt would be if you broke your promise…
The blue-eyed medicine cat stopped, slowly sheathing her claws. As much as she hated to admit it, the dead she-cat was right. Dustpelt would be horribly disappointed if she broke her promise.
Cinderpelt gazed around her den, and almost swore she saw Sandstorm grinning proudly at her. She blinked quickly, ridding herself of the dead warrior, and opened her eyes to see that her den was empty once again.
"Cinderpelt!" a tom's voice called into her den, and for a second she hoped it was Dustpelt.
However, she tuned to the entrance of the den and saw, instead, a bright ginger tom with green eyes. She smiled at the deputy. "Fireheart," she meowed, voice becoming friendly, "What are you doing here?"
The tom shuffled his paws anxiously. "Well… I wanted to know if you've heard anything from Sandstorm?" he asked sheepishly, hope flickering in his eyes.
The blue-eyed medicine cat's eyes widened. What was she supposed to tell him? Tell him that I'm fine, and I'll always be with him. Tell him that I still love him, and I always will. Cinderpelt smiled sadly at her former mentor. "Yes, I have. She says that she's fine, and that she'll always be with you. She says that she still loves you, and she always will."
"W-would she be angry if I moved on to another she-cat?" the ginger tom asked warily.
No, I'll support his decisions no matter what. The medicine cat smiled. "I'm sure she'd support your decisions no matter what, Fireheart."
The tom beamed. "Thanks, Cinderpelt," he meowed, before padding out of the den much more cheerfully than when he entered.
Don't worry, Cinderpelt. There will be some cat for you.
The blue-eyed she-cat smiled this time at Sandstorm's voice. Did she mean that Fireheart would become Cinderpelt's mate? She hoped so…
She suddenly became aware of the smell of the forest in the den, as the scent drifted away. A light wind ruffled her fur, as the voice spoke once more. Time will tell, Cinderpelt. Perhaps in another life, you and I could have been friends. She felt a tail rest lightly on her shoulder.
Cinderpelt smiled. "Perhaps," she whispered, as the wind died down and the tail lifted away from her.
The smoky gray she-cat gazed out at the Clan's camp from her spot at the entrance to the medicine den. When her stomach growled at her, she slowly got to her feet and began to pad towards the fresh-kill pile. She nervously picked up a sparrow, feeling as if the whole Clan was watching her, and hurried back in the direction of her den. In her hurry, she collided with a dark brown tabby warrior.
"Watch where you're going," the tom hissed, then looked at her with surprise. "Cinderpelt? Oh… sorry…"
The medicine cat looked up at the amber-eyed warrior. "Dustpelt," she meowed quietly, "come with me."
Hope flashed in the dark tabby's eyes, and he eagerly followed her to her den. Inside the den, he sat down awkwardly in front of her.
"I-I'm sorry…" Cinderpelt mewed softly, "I didn't mean to make you angry…"
He laughed lightly. "It's fine. I shouldn't have gotten so upset with you… StarClan knows you can't help who you fall in love with."
For a heartbeat, the blue-eyed she-cat wondered if the tom had been referring to himself as well as her, but she quickly brushed it off. "I'm so glad you forgive me, it's been so lonely without you coming in every day!" she meowed, relieved.
Dustpelt smiled widely. "It's nice to know I was missed," he replied cheekily. "I'll have to argue with you more often!"
"Don't push it!" the medicine cat laughed.
And for a while, all was right in their world.
And I feel so ashamed;
This should have been easy…
And I want you to know
That I won't let go again…
