A/N: I think I took a long enough mini-break, resulting in a very boring weekend, but I needed the small break from writing. I felt as though as I was rushing a bit last time, so I'm just gonna relax and take my time. Chapters will probably still be once or twice a week though.
Thanks to Mad Hat Dragon for following and adding this story as a favorite!
Reviews
Key Steps- Yes Bluepaw. Thank you and I hope you have a nice day too!
CloverBudgie- It would've yes, but kind of cliche a bit. Yes, he's going to have to train hard if he ever wants to be great. Yes, yes they are the cutest together. I have no regrets. I hate having to blink multiple times so I won't cry, it's the worst feeling in the world. Yeah… you'll see soon how it affects him. I suck at drawing personally, so anything is better than my own art lol. Hmm… one quote I'm specifically proud of? I think the one conversation that sticks out to me the most is the convo between Hollypaw and Sootpaw near the very beginning of the story, when he asks if it would be better if he was dead? Idk, why but that one is the one I like. Another convo I really enjoyed writing was the one between Flarepaw and Darkpaw, when she confesses to him that she isn't fine. That was fun. (I just noticed I really like hurting my characters emotionally, oh well. They have to deal with it.
WolfFang-Of-Windclan: Same. Yeah, I don't like crying in front of other people too, so I usually hide out in my room if I'm going to read something I know is going to be emotional or begins to get emotional mid-way. Why? Idk… cause I'm a masochist maybe? Besides, I like to make my stories and characters as realistic as possible. Nobody lives a life full of happiness, there are always some roadblocks and bumps they have to cross. I never said this story was going to be a happy one XD. Yeah, I enjoyed the light teasing between the two lol. And yes, it has already been established that Whiteshadow is hands-down the best character in here haha.
Warriors27- Yup, one can only imagine how much pain he went through, I don't think my words did him justice. It's very difficult for me to choose one as well. Though my favorite favorite convo hasn't even occurred yet, so oh well.
Slytherin Buttercat- I think we're all in denial. Yeah, I feel bad for putting my babies through this, but it must be done. Well, if you think about it, Flarepaw is more used to those memories and it's more like an old wound acting up again, Sootpaw's is still very fresh. I love angst almost as much as I love romance in a story, I feel like they sort of go hand-in-hand. Yes, this chapter is called Acceptance. Hmm… maybe. Yes, you might still want your box of tissues nearby.
Hailstrike- Thank you! Hooray, everybody suffers. And you are absolutely correct, this is going to be a major turning point for our two main characters, mostly Sootpaw. You'll see why sooner rather than later. I hope I do not fail in meeting your expectations.
The Unnamed Guest- Yep, he's dead. Yeah, the fact that she is a GR apprentice is the one fact he always overlooks a bit lol. Sootflare all the way. To answer your question: no. The only one she kind of takes her mask off for is Roseberry (also Willowflame), and even still, she only does so for a very short period at a time. Yeah, I hate getting frustrated as well, some things I have the patience for, but others… not so much. Yeah, if only he could be in two places at once. Yep, sadness and sorrow and pain all around. They were just doing simple sparring matches there when the avalanche of rocks started. Well, this is really the first time he had to watch someone he loves die in front of him, I'd be petty too. In his mind, why should his friends feel any pain if he can take it away and shoulder it for them? Not the best way of thinking, but that's Sootpaw's way of thinking. It is ironic, and that is one thing Sootpaw needs to learn; no matter how hard you try, some things you just can't change or do. That is a lot of choices lol. I enjoy each and every conversation I had to write, well mostly. One that really sticks out to me the most would either have to be the convo between Holly and Soot (Friend) and the convo between Flare and Dark (Remember). Not gonna answer any of your theories, just gonna say that maybe they're true lol, no spoilers here. That's just how Sootpaw saw her, the combination of gold and orange. And it's closer to cream than it is to amber, but it does have hints of red and amber yes. Thanks! Second Review: I did, Embers and Ashes is probably my ninth attempt at a story? The only ones that I actually completed were "Mismatched Curse" (my second story) and "Nothing but a Monster" (my third story). "Stolen" was my fourth story that I never finished and eventually deleted. "Heart of the Moon" was my first story and I still cringe just thinking about it. "Darkness in our Hearts" was the sequel to that in which I only wrote like one chapter and stopped cause… no, it was a bad story lol. "A Silver Curse" was intended to be a sequel for Mismatched Curse, but I hit a wall there and decided to stop. I then went on to "Armageddon", which was my first ever story written in third person, all my stories prior were written in first person. I then began "Nothing but a Beast", sequel to "Nothing but a Monster". There was also another story called "Wildfire", but that never really took off. In the end, I began "Embers and Ashes" and ultimately stuck to it, the others I ended up stopping. I also began "Renegades" but updates for that are sporadic. I could go into detail about each and every story, but I'll do that next time.
Depression (Guest)- Yes, yes that was dark. That's what I was aiming for. Yeah, it's very hard choosing one convo out of all of them. Thank you!
Pebblewish- Sorry about that? And thank you haha.
Mad Hat Dragon- Sowwy. The Bluepaw that died last chapter is not the Bluepaw that is Rainpaw's brother, they're in two entirely different clans. The one that died was a Commoner in Blazeclan, the one still alive is a GR apprentice in Stormclan. Sorry if that confused you, I have a bad habit of having the same names on some characters.
Thanks to everybody who reviewed!
Let's get started!
…
"We are gathered here today to take the time to mourn for those we have lost. You have my sincerest condolences; it is always disheartening to lose those who are so young…"
Flarepaw tried- she really did- to pay attention to the rehearsed lines of her leader. The Grand Royal's red fur stood out brightly against the white of the snow covering every inch of the clearing. Huddled in a semi-circle a few tail-lengths away from the tom were the saddened faces of the Commoners, both apprentices and warriors. A few Artisans sat on the outskirts of the melancholic huddle, still in the general area of the clearing, to give what little sympathy they had in them. Not that it mattered. The area was evidently empty, with only the small numbers of the Low Ranks there.
No High Rank attended the burials of a Low Rank.
Five days came and went since the deaths of the two Commoner apprentices; Bluepaw and Shrewpaw- the sorrowful ceremony and honorary grievances that were to be given was forced to be put on hold. Less than a day after the tragic deaths, a blizzard tore through all the territories and ravaged the land day and night. The sudden storm caused everyone to retreat into the safety of their dens. For the most part.
It was the day after their deaths- the second day of the ongoing blizzard- that someone found Sootpaw out of camp, alone and freezing, stuck in inches of snow but still very much alive. Or, as alive as he can be.
He had been adamant on burying the two of them, so much so that he did it alone in the middle of a snowstorm.
The image of Sootpaw being carried across the backs of Yellowpaw and Adderpaw, the sunset in his eyes dull and body limp, brought a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the frosty weather.
With the clouds parting overhead, the Grand Royal had announced it was only appropriate that they followed through with the tradition. Flarepaw found herself hidden in the shadows cast by the treeline rather than by Sootpaw's side, no matter how much she wanted to be in that very spot. It wasn't forbidden, but it was strictly discouraged for any High Rank to attend the burial of a Low Rank- especially the Grand Royal apprentice's. Her teeth gritted in disappointment at herself.
Even after everything, I still can't bring myself to break the rules. When will I be brave enough?
A breath of frustration left between her teeth, her silver eyes once more roaming over Sootpaw's figure. The Commoner sat closest to the site where he had buried his deceased friends, his body rigid and ears flattened. His tail flicked against the layers of snow he sat on, a sporadic twitch that was almost absent-minded. Flarepaw felt her familiar frown make its presence known on her face. In the days that passed, she hadn't seen the tom break down. It was almost as if he wasn't allowing himself to.
She herself knew how dangerous that was.
"In honor of their courage for attempting the trials to rise to the next rank, they shall join our ancestors in the sky with brand new names. Commoners, let us send two honorable warriors and beloved friends to the stars above. Let us all remember their new names; Bluewing and Shrewtail!"
"Bluewing! Shrewtail!"
Flarepaw remained silent, watching with little knowledge as to how events like these were supposed to be. This was vastly different than the ones with the High Ranks. Everything was quieter, everyone was less energetic. Whenever a High Rank passed away, the ceremony held to honor their memory was always filled with loud cheers and the bright callings of their names as each and every clan member chanted to the sky above them. Here, there was none of that. Much like always, the Low Ranks were reserved. Their voices, even combined, barely reached the outskirts of the clearing as the minimal amount of noise hit the trees surrounding them. In their chants, it was a truly sorrowful tone that was supposed to be expected whenever one grieved for another. Flarepaw didn't belong here. She held no ties with either of the two, only the knowledge that Sootpaw was friends with them. As such, she held no grief for either of them. All she could do in this out-of-place moment was sit back and watch.
And since she was watching, she was the first to notice when Sootpaw's twitching tail abruptly stopped when the chants began. His already rigid posture became even stiffer, the fur along his shoulders bristling and his previously lowered gaze raising to the Grand Royal. Adderpaw and Mousepaw, the other two Commoner apprentices, watched him nervously as he growled under his breath. Since Flarepaw was sitting in a position where she was only able to see the back of his head, she couldn't exactly tell what emotions could've possibly gone through his eyes.
All the she-cat knew was that when the tom suddenly stood up and raced out of the clearing- as if all of this was too much for him- she needed to follow.
And follow she did.
…
She didn't know how far he intended to run for, but she pursued without missing a beat, hidden in the shadows of the trees.
Flarepaw kept the Commoner in her line of vision, always glancing briefly ahead of him to make sure he wouldn't accidentally slam into anything. She trusted in her speed that she would be fast enough to make sure no harm came to him. Considering the state he must have been in, she held her doubts on whether or not the tom actually saw what was in front of him. From what she could tell, he ran blindly through the repetition of white snow and brown trees, all of which streaked past them in a blur.
She could hear his sharp, nearly panicked, inhales of breath. It heart her own chest just listening to it. His paws appeared heavy as they sank into the snow with each step. He stumbled with every step, grunting with the effort it took for him to raise his paws just a bit higher to get himself out of the small hole they created. Even from where she was, the shivers that brought turmoil to his body were evidently noticeable.
Just when she was about to speed up to stop him in his desperate race away from the clearing, he stopped running. The momentum of his sprint and the abrupt stop caused him to fall over, his muzzle landing and breaking through the surface of the snow. Flarepaw gradually slowed to a stop, panting ever-so-slightly and still hidden in the shadows. Sootpaw remained in his hunched over position, his muzzle buried in the snow, before his shoulders rose and fell in what she presumed to be a sigh. He moved one of his paws achingly slow in a place where he could push himself up, raising himself just enough for his whiskers to still brush against the particles of white.
He took a few moments to gather himself, a shaky sigh escaping his lips and crystallizing in the space in front of him. Flarepaw moved hesitantly so she was able to see the side of his face. One of his golden eyes was visible, his head lowered once more and almost to the point where his chin touched his chest. His gaze was distant- lost in his own mind as he slowly raised his head once more. The downward tilt of his lips replaced his usual smile. This image of him made her fur bristle uneasily.
It was odd. To see Sootpaw, the tom that always wore a grin, frown this much.
A flare of what could only be something similar to panic flickered in her chest when he began moving once more. This time, he didn't run. He walked in the gait of defeat, his ears flattened. Flarepaw felt her paws itch to follow him, her voice threatening to call out to him so they could talk. But whatever words she was going to say suddenly caught in her throat when a figure suddenly appeared in front of the worn out tom.
"Oh, would you look who it is? The tom who always insists on being a thorn in my side."
For reasons she couldn't understand, she didn't like the tone Rowanpaw used against Sootpaw. The normally cocky smirk that she was used to seeing on the Royal's face was there, but when directed at the Commoner, it took on a whole different manner. The taunting tilt of his head, the casual posture of his body-
"Aww, what's wrong? You look so upset."
That fake tone of pity. She heard it all before, but now, it just made her blood boil beneath her skin, her eyes narrowing. The only thing that stopped her from going out there and shoving his face into the snow was the one thing that made her want to do that in the first place: Sootpaw. If she went out there and acted defensively on his behalf, only her ancestors knew what Rowanpaw would tell the rest of the clan. The frustration she felt earlier returned full force, her teeth gritting on their own accord.
All she could do- like earlier- was sit back and watch.
"What's wrong? Got nothing to say to me, rat?"
"...Leave me alone…"
This was another thing she noticed. Whenever the High Ranks taunted the tom, he would still respond with his usual attitude, but at a slower reaction time. Where before, he would spit insult at them faster than they could think, now, it almost seemed as though he needed time to think of what to say.
"Leave you alone? I just wanted to check on how my dearest friend has been coping. What? Don't tell me you're through feeling sorry for those pathetic friends of yours-"
"Shut up! Just leave me alone!"
"Still can't get it through that thick skull of yours, huh? Bad things happen, Commoner, and there is nothing you can do about it. Just accept it already, it's getting boring without you around to pick on."
"Bad things just don't happen. They just don't. And if they do, I can get strong enough to protect them. I could've protected them!"
"You think you can protect them? You?"
Rowanpaw laughed at his own words, taking a brief pause from speaking. His deep guffaws were loud, his head throwing back as if he heard the funniest joke known in the world. Sootpaw simply stood there, staring at the tom through narrowed eyes. At least, Flarepaw reasoned with herself, there was some sort of spark returning in the sunset. Whatever light that was beginning to show, however, was soon vanquished with Rowanpaw's next words.
"You keep boasting about how you're such a guardian to your pathetic friends… yet, in reality, you failed at protecting them when the situation called for it. Tell me, if you failed to protect them once, what makes the next time something like this happens any different?"
The tom's words caused both Sootpaw and Flarepaw to flinch, the she-cat could only hope to imagine what the Commoner was thinking. He backed up hesitantly when the dark brown Royal took a few steps forward, his lips pulling back in a scowl and his amber eyes burning- daring Sootpaw to say any different. To see the rebellious and sharp-tongued apprentice cowering as he was now sent a jolt through her. Rowanpaw's words came out in a whisper, the weight of them clinging to the Commoner more so than any condescending shout could.
"You're no guardian. You are, and always have been, just a lowly, weak little Commoner."
Flarepaw heard herself gasp, her eyes immediately drawn to the tom in question. His own eyes had gone wide, his mouth dropping slightly. Seconds of silence stretched to a minute. Rowanpaw remained in his spot, waiting for the tom to respond, either verbally or physically. One look at Sootpaw's face made the small spark in her chest from earlier become an almost overwhelming inferno. It was clear he was holding back the tears that threatened to spill over. The shivering that had taken over his body from earlier returned stronger than ever, his breathing became ragged with the effort it took him to hold back.
Even now, he was still trying to hold back.
It was seeing this- seeing Sootpaw so close to tears that sparked something akin to hyper protectiveness in her mind. Whatever the case, this tom, the one that always smiled and made sure everyone else was happy, should never be so close to tears. Those golden eyes of his should never be anything but sparkling with mischief or shining with joy.
It was seeing this that made the decision to finally walk out of hiding very simply.
Her pawsteps were light, shifting the snow underneath. In this moment, she didn't care about her personal challenge to walk silently on top of snow. She just needed to be there, by his side. Her sudden presence was easily noticed by the Royal, who turned his head in question before relaxing slightly. If Sootpaw heard her, he did nothing to show it. His body curled against itself slightly, his eyes wide and unblinking, and it seemed that any sort of sudden action or words would cause him to sprint away like before.
The she-cat moved at an even pace, neither fast enough to run nor slow enough to walk. Her gait was determined, the silver of her eyes burning with a devoted flame. The worries she held earlier all seemed like miniscule problems when compared to the concern she had for the tom in this moment.
"Grand Royal Flarepaw, it's nice to see you. I was just on my way back to camp."
Rowanpaw shared pleasantries just like any other day, his smirk shifting to an easy smile. His amber eyes remained on the other High Rank, almost as if he was acting that Sootpaw wasn't even there. There was a certain kind of curiosity in those eyes, though he knew better than to outright question as to why she was there. Flarepaw ignored him, standing just beside the Commoner and facing him. She tried meeting his gaze, though even as she did, she couldn't tell if he was actually looking at her. He seemed so… lost.
He so strongly denied being as weak as everyone thought he was. The whole purpose as to why he continuously went against the rules placed on him was to prove he was more than just his name, more than just a Commoner. It was in the hopes that one day, someday, someone else will believe him and accept his way of thinking. That they wouldn't be scared to go against the rules like he did. To hear he was nothing but the one thing he refused to accept, even coming from someone like Rowanpaw, was unimaginable.
She could practically see the hopelessness in his eyes as he actually considered if the Royal's words held truth or not.
To see this level of despair in the normally bright sunset made her heart race in alarm. It was a worrying thought. What would happen if Sootpaw believed the Royal? What if the bright tom turned dull? What if the sunset disappeared behind clouds of sorrow and never returned?
I won't accept that. I won't allow that to happen. Not now, not ever.
"Leave."
It was surprising how difficult it was for her to speak, even just a simple word. Flarepaw's blood continued to boil beneath her skin, a prickling that made her fur bristle along her spine and shoulders. Her claws itched to unsheathe and unleashe some of the wrath she restrained within her. The shaking of her voice was a side effect of her muted rage, the storm in her eyes brewing dangerously. The muscles of her body constricted, clenched in an effort to hold herself back from lunging at the one who caused Sootpaw to feel this much pain.
Rowanpaw was unaware that he was the one to provoke the turmoil of fury within her.
"What?" The tom sounded bemused, his face scrunching in confusion. Nonetheless, he could sense the irritation in her voice, causing him to take a cautious step back as he tilted his head.
Flarepaw moved her gaze from Sootpaw to the ignorant Royal, the subtle shift from concern to deadly darkening the silver of her eyes. Her body turned stiffly to better face the tom. The corners of her lips pulled back in a scowl, her fangs glinting in the low light and sending a shudder down Rowanpaw's spine. The urge to tear at him was getting all the more difficult to resist, and for a second, she felt herself take a step forward.
"Leave."
"What do you… are you-"
"If you say another word, Rowanpaw, so help me I will tear you apart where you stand."
The Royal flinched, his eyes flickering over the she-cat for a brief second before his eyes widened. From her posture and the slow unsheathing of her claws, he would be a fool to ignore a threat like that. The tom bit his lip, holding back on whatever he was going to say and instead decided that now was a good time as any to leave. The questions swirling in his amber eyes was obvious as he hesitantly began padding away, consistently looking back to where she was standing and his gaze flicking over the Commoner every once in a while. Flarepaw remained where she was with a glare following the Royal's every movement. Only when he was out of her line of vision did she turn back to Sootpaw.
The tom's body was still tormented with quivers, his breaths ragged and eyes blinking rapidly. His head was shaking from side-to-side and his teeth were clenched in the effort it took not to break. His tail was covering his paws, tightening around one of his legs and claws digging into the snow.
"Oh Sootpaw…"
All her anger dissipated in a matter of seconds upon seeing him like this, replaced with the chill of concern and leaving her shivering at the sudden loss of heat. The words that had been so hard to say earlier came out in the breath of a whisper, a soft exhalation that gently brushed over him as she stepped closer to him. Instinctually, she tenderly placed her forehead against one of his shoulders. For a brief second, she could feel him stiffening, his body freezing completely. He had done something like this to her once, when she had finally opened her eyes for the first time after the fox attack. She had reacted similarly to him, unprepared for the sudden source of contact.
It took him a few moments before he gradually accepted it, the stiffness releasing from his body as he leaned forward to place his own forehead against her shoulder. The breath he released was shaky, his body still shivering as he shuffled closer to seek her warmth.
"...I can't do this, Flarepaw…"
His voice sounded so small, so timid, it made her heart ache for him. A small whimper sounded form the back of his throat; and it was that sound that made him press himself closer to her. Sootpaw was so close to cracking, she could practically feel it in the way his body shivered almost violently against her. The fur on her shoulder where his head rested became damp as his tears began to fall unbidden from his eyes.
If only there was a way for her to take his pain away. Someone like him shouldn't be this close to breaking, shouldn't be allowed to feel pain like this. It was simply unacceptable.
"You've been so adamant about carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. It's perfectly acceptable for you to be vulnerable right now, but that doesn't make you weak. You need time to mourn for those you have lost. Time you're not giving yourself, Sootpaw."
"I can't. They need me, Flarepaw. Mousepaw… Adderpaw… do you know how much they cry at night? How much they're missing them? I can't let myself break… they need me to be strong. I need to be strong for them."
"They're not around to see. Nobody else, only me. You need this time, Sootpaw."
"I can't do it… I can't keep pretending that everything is okay. It's not. Nothing is okay anymore."
"So... stop pretending. You don't need to pretend around me."
Flarepaw kept her tone soft, almost encouraging. If he kept it up any longer, the emotions he held in would eventually begin to destroy him. She knew how that felt, and she would never wish it on anybody else. Especially the tom. It took her far too long to come to terms with her emotions, she didn't want the same thing happening to him. His words were muffled, almost as if it was difficult for him to speak through his impending sobs.
"I can't- I feel like… like I'm going to collapse. I can't allow myself to do that. If I fall… it'll be the end of me. I don't know if I could ever- if I could ever get back up."
She felt foolish for worrying about anything else before now. It was clear he needed someone beside him. He needed someone there, even as he insisted that he didn't need help from others. He had dismissed his mentor's worries, pushed away Sagepaw's concerns with a smile that could almost rival how bright it used to be. The tom found any excuse to avoid Hollypaw, always staying by Mousepaw's and Adderpaw's sides. Because of this, nobody was there for him.
From this moment on, Flarepaw would be there. She would be the friend he needed, the support he required in situations like this. She would protect him in any way possible. That's what friends did for each other, right?
"...Let yourself fall… and I'll be there to catch you. I'm always here for you, Sootpaw. So, give me all your pain; put all your weight on me. You're safe here with me… I'm not going anywhere…"
It was these words that finally got to the tom. The shuddering sobs he had held back finally released all at once, his voice cracking with his cries and his tears flowing freely and dampening her shoulder. Sootpaw attempted to form words, but they were both muffled and incoherent. She could catch simple words; the names of his deceased friends, his consistent and shaky 'sorry', and his overall questioning as to why this had happened.
It broke her heart just listening to him, her paws settled in a way to support his quivering body. The anguish in his mumbles coaxed her into raising her head slightly, just enough for her to whisper soothing words of reassurance directly into his untorn ear. Occasionally, she found herself softly nuzzling the top of his head or his neck, her tongue gently swiping across his ear.
It was unknown as to whether or not the tom fully accepted their deaths yet, but this was definitely a start.
Though, it wasn't an easy one.
…
It was difficult, damn near impossible to tell how long they sat there. All she knew that when his sobs had finally ceased and they made their way back to camp, it was night.
They walked side-by-side; Flarepaw's tail gently draped over his back as she walked slightly ahead of him, giving him a bit of time to himself. She could hear his occasional sniffles, and when she glanced back at him, the tired look in his eyes was clear. His face was expressionless, but in a passive sort of way. The soft crunching of the snow underneath was the only sound shared between them. The chilliness of the cool night air brushed through their fur, but when compared to the frost during the blizzards, this was easy to handle.
She only stopped because he did.
Her tail pulled gently away from him as she turned around to face him, tilting her head slightly in a silent question. A troubled look began to spark in his golden eyes, and he refused to meet her gaze- choosing instead to look at the path ahead of them that would lead to the camp entrance.
"I-" he paused briefly to clear his throat, his voice scratchy before he swallowed lightly. "I don't think it's a good idea if I walk in… with you."
For a few seconds, she could only blink at him in confusion. Flarepaw opened her mouth to voice her question, but stopped right before she could.
Right… he's a Commoner. Who knows what everyone would say about us.
Instead of a frown, a warm smile appeared on her face and a soft purr sounded from the back of her throat. He never ceased to astound her. Even with everything he was feeling, no matter how much pain he was in… he was still concerned about her. He was worried about what the clan would say about her.
"I-I'll just find a way in… I know a way in so the clan won't-"
He paused in his fumbling over words when she stepped closer, her head having to tilt slightly back to look him in the eyes. The sunset was still dull when compared to before the tragedy, but it wasn't as lifeless as when they found him alone in the blizzard. Flarepaw met his gaze with a stern one of her own that left no room for doubt when she spoke.
"I don't care."
"Wha- you don't… care?"
"I don't care what the clan thinks anymore… I told myself that from now on, I'll only do things that make me happy. I've only just learned that… what makes me the happiest… is being around you- seeing you happy. That's what makes me happy."
Sootpaw could only blink in response, utterly dumbfounded. The sudden and bashful need to look away almost caused her to do just that, but instead, Flarepaw sent the tom another warm smile. The corners of his lips quirked in response before a shaky smile of his own appeared. Giving a single nod, the tom let her lead them the rest of the way down the path.
Those on guard for the night were the Noble Ashtail and Artisan Blazefang. When they saw Flarepaw, they immediately nodded their heads in respect. Their reaction for when they saw the Commoner was completely different. For a few seconds, neither of them moved, seemingly frozen from the cold. But after those seconds passed, they both wore a similar expression of haughty disgust. Sootpaw's ears flattened ever-so-slightly when the two guards began approaching him, desperately glancing in Flarepaw's direction with wide, worried eyes.
The Grand Royal apprentice simply continued walking, the Commoner hastily following a step behind her. The Noble warrior was the first to reach them, his claws unsheathing in a matter of seconds and his paw raising as soon as he was in reach of the Low Rank.
Those sharp claws of his never reached Sootpaw, though, because Flarepaw was quick to intercept.
As soon as the amber furred she-cat stepped in the way, Ashtail's paw froze mid-swipe. The Grand Royal apprentice stood casually, glancing at Sootpaw to see his surprised expression before doing the same to the Noble. Blazefang, who was a step behind the High Rank, froze as well.
"G-Grand Royal Flarepaw?"
"Why don't you continue that attack, Noble?"
The glimmer in her eyes and the subtle smirk on her face taunted him, daring him to do anything against her. Ashtail could only stare at her, his mouth open but no words coming out. Flarepaw allowed a chuckle to escape her lips, dismissively nodding to the tom and motioning for Sootpaw to continue walking. The Commoner wordlessly padded ahead, the she-cat doing the same seconds after. Ashtail and Blazefang stood side-by-side, glancing at each other in utter confusion.
As the grey furred Commoner began moving through the tunnelway, Flarepaw paused. Glancing behind her shoulder, the dangerous glint appeared once more in the storm.
"Oh and Noble? Just get back to your duty, and stay out of my business. You didn't see anything tonight, did you?"
"...N-No… Grand Royal Flarepaw."
"Good. That's what I like to hear."
Flarepaw turned her head forward, swiftly passing through the tunnelway and joining Sootpaw on the inside of the camp. The Commoner blinked as he looked around, a breath of relief escaping him in a sigh at the sight of emptiness. Everyone was most likely asleep or seeking shelter from the bitter night. Once the she-cat joined his side, he turned his head in her direction, briefly nodding it back in the direction they came from.
"You didn't have to do that, you know?"
The Grand Royal apprentice merely shrugged, humming in response as she lightly nudged her shoulder against his and causing his lips to quirk up. For a few moments, they just stood there- relishing in the rare silence of an always bustling and noisy camp. Sootpaw's shaky exhale caused her to move her gaze away from the serene atmosphere. The longer she stared at him, the more she noticed the nervous tick he developed over the days. He consistently bit the inside of his cheek. His eyes flickered from one area of the camp before going to the next rapidly, back and forth. That lost expression from earlier returned to his face, and the small smile she had managed to coax out of him slowly began to disappear.
Before it could fully vanish from view, she stood up from her spot- stepping forward a few steps. Her tail loosely pulled at his leg to get his attention. With barely any hesitation, she motioned her head in the direction of her solitude den. The tom followed the motion with his eyes, those of which went wide only seconds after before looking back at her.
"I don't… I don't think I should, Flarepaw. What if someone finds out I spent the night in your den? You've already done so much for me… and risked so much for me just by walking into camp together."
"I already said I don't care. Just know the offer is there if you wish to accept. Goodnight, Sootpaw."
With a simple shrug, the she-cat began padding in the direction of her den. Flarepaw could briefly here the shuffling of his paws against the snow, deep in contemplation before she entered her den. The sudden change in temperature from the bitter cold and the warmth of her den sent a tingling through her skin, a heavy sigh escaping her lips and an easy smile present. She repeated the events of the day in her mind, proud at herself that she was the one to help Sootpaw, even if it was only a little bit.
"I don't care…"
A weight was lifted off her shoulders simply repeating those words in her mind. Settling in her nest, the she-cat blew out a soft breath and closed her eyes. It wasn't going to be easy to make everyone else accept her for who she really was, the one behind the mask. Even she found it difficult to remove it.
But it didn't matter. In the end, it was her happiness that mattered, and it was this happiness that she would fight for no matter what came around.
When a familiar presence hesitantly settled beside her, bringing along a comforting scent of cold winds and ivy and a soothing warmth, it only served to make her smile grow. The sound of his hesitant purr made her own make an appearance, and it only grew louder when he began grooming the fur along her shoulders.
"Thank you, Flarepaw… for everything… I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Don't worry about it."
Regardless, Sootpaw continued with his gentle grooming, smoothing down the fur on the back of her neck and by her ears. Flarepaw found her eyes drifting shut on their own accord, a relaxed purr that almost never occurred creating a peaceful symphony in the spacious den. It didn't take long for her to drift away into the world of dreams.
But not before she vowed that she would accept any challenge that dare step in her way.
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A/N: Whoo… I didn't realize how difficult it is to write a non-happy Sootpaw. Still content with it, though. Here's hoping we get a happy Sootpaw back soon.
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Question of the Day
What, in your opinion, is the scariest natural disaster?
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~Wolfcreations18