Hexagon

Chapter 71: Holiday Special :)

Hey what's up guys, it's Tigercry and I'm so excited to be helping Azra out with a special chapter! Hexagon kinda breezed over the holidays, so we've designed this! A group of scenes spanning two days about the group spending the holidays together!

THIS TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE SPRING FLING. Consider it a belated holiday gift of sorts.

Hopefully you all enjoy it!

Hey, Azra here! I'm sure everyone's noticed this doesn't look like a normal update, so let me explain: basically, I had my semester finals this week and was so swamped with work (uuuugh damn you chemistry) that I didn't really have time to write. Thankfully, Tigercry came to my rescue and wrote this holiday special to post instead of a chapter.

I know I left everyone on a cliffhanger last chapter, so hopefully no one minds this belated holiday present. Happy (very very very late) holidays everyone!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

-CinderBlazeWarriors

-xbloodywhalex

-HollyleafML (x2)

-Runereader of the Nightwings

-A River Of Ink

-Muziccat91

-Briarfang

-Ivystormrandomness

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES: ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND A HEADCANON

"Is Hawkfrost gay?" I hesitate to call him gay. I call him "fucks anything that breathes regardless of age or gender" People like that are a disgrace to the LGBTQ+ community. So no. I don't think he's gay, I think he's a disgusting pedophile, and calling him anything else is borderline offense (I hate him).

There's going to be a headcanon that comes up briefly in this chapter. I don't think that Jayfeather was born blind (I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THE ERINS SAID BUT ITS MY HEADCANON OK) I personally like to think that he was born with sight, but caught a severe upper respiratory infection as a baby, which blinded him. This is an actual thing that affects cats, and if they're unlucky their vision sucks, or in some cases, they go blind completely. I think that Jayfeather was one of these incredibly unlucky kittens, but was so young at the time that he doesn't remember having sight anyway, so it doesn't bother him.

On with the fic!

Hexagon Holiday Special via Tigercry

Scene List

Snowball Showdown! (3rd person)

Briarfeather Blues (Briarlight's POV)

Cinderblaze In The Moonlight + Irritable Jayfeather (3rd Person)

Snap, Crackle, Pop of the Fire (Mistyblack) (3rd Person)

Mistle-foe (Ivybreeze) (3rd Person)

Hollyleaves on Ice (3rd Person)

Snowball Showdown!

"FOXLEAP!"

If the loud banging open of the gym door nearly made everyone's heart stutter; then the loud booming shout by a certain Shadow Division teacher gave everyone a heart attack.

Instantly everyone froze, all one-hundred fake snow covered students freezing mid throw, duck, and even run. The music turned off, a snowball thrown off kelter collided with a mildly amused looking Jayfeather, and a certain strawberry blonde took a snowball with enough force to knock him off his feet.

"Hey!" Lionblaze spluttered, the impact of being knocked off his feet by the fake snowball causing him to temporarily forget their collective incoming doom. "What the hell Breezepelt?" he asked wiping snow off of his face and front of his clothes as he stood up.

Breezepelt's usual dry stare didn't change much besides a faint smug-like glinting in his eyes. "What goes around comes around asshole."

Lionblaze's mouth opened to reply, but a subtle nudge of an elbow in his side made his quickly shut up. The whisper afterward wasn't needed either, but did help clear things up in his foggy brain from the snowball.

"Blaze, do you want to die by Blackstar?" Cinderheart's harsh whisper luckily didn't carry too far in the empty room, but the hesitance in her blue eyes and amused fear gave away her feelings on the current situation.

"Where is that little rat?!" A vein on Blackstar's temple popped violently. His eye gave a dangerous twitch. "Foxleap get over here!"

"Well this turned out a lot differently than I thought it would," Lionblaze whispered to his girlfriend, tilting his head toward her.

"Really?" Cinderheart whispered back, "a snowball fight not sanctioned by the teachers? How would it end any other way?"

She then jumped back a few steps with a yelp as Blackstar hurtled a massive snowball that practically disintegrated against Lionblaze's face, sending snow flying everywhere and knocking the blonde back down onto his butt.

"Foxleap! Get out here young man!"

Nobody moved, the meek and nervous freshman shrinking away from the angry teacher while those used to Blackstar's usual intense nature casually waited. Keeping quiet to avoid further aggravating the man but also just standing in a casual and unconcerned way.

Someone pulled lightly on the sleeve of Briarlight's long sweater, the fabric long enough to hide her hands when not rolled up or pushed up at the elbows.

At the tugging of her sleeve Briarlight looked over, looking at the nervous looking freshman standing half-behind her just like hoe Halfmoon was half hidden behind her and half behind Jayfeather. The pale skinned girl's fingers holding onto the cuff of his hoodie sleeve, making Briarlight's heart ache yet again, like it always did these days. Using the young freshman as a temporary distraction, she pulled her gaze away from her two friends and to the little freshman. It was Twigpaw, one of the newcomers she had shown around the school in the beginning of the year before Cinderheart's transfer. Immediately Briarlight's heart softened.

"Yeah Twigpaw?" She asked in a low tone, keeping Blackstar from hearing her as he stormed around looking for the ginger.

"Are we all in trouble?" Twigpaw whispered softly, "I've never seen Blackstar that angry…"

Briarlight gave a snort and gave her a friendly nudge and smile, "Hang around us enough and you'll see it more than once," she teased then shrugged lightly, pulling her sleeve over one hand and rubbing the fake snow from the younger girl's face. "Foxleap makes Blackstar blow his top, any mention of him and you can practically see Blackstar's eyebrows furrow into a goofy unibrow."

"I heard that Briarlight!"

Briarlight withdrew from Twigpaw and offered Blackstar as innocent grin, "Heard what, sir?"

"Go run two laps around the gym," the teacher grumbled and continued his search for Foxleap.

Briarlight grinned at Twigpaw, ruffled her bangs in a playful manner and set off, her long legs carrying her effortlessly over drifts of fake snow. There was some soft giggling and laughter, Briarlight's actions having effectively lighten the mood a little and allowing the collective group of nervous freshmen to relax somewhat.

"Ah ha!" Blackstar shouted a moment later as one of the snowmen near Lionblaze and Cinderheart stood up, Foxleap's shoes and pants poking out from beneath the snowman before it crumbled to pieces, leaving the grinning ginger facing the angry teacher. The two of them staring intensely at each other, waiting.

They waited.

And waited, waiting for each other's first move.

The air was filled with tension, tense from the no doubt upcoming conflict between the formidable Shadow head and the reigning King of Pranks.

However, the soft clicking heels against snow-free wooden flooring signaled the arrival of someone else.

The arrival of Mistystar seemed to temporarily break the tension in the room as a whole.

Blue eyes peered curiously around with a professional air, blue-silvery hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves, looking put together and immaculate, as usual.

"What's going on here?" Mistystar's professional tone of voice didn't hold, and within seconds, everyone could hear the giggle creeping into her voice. "Did anyone authorize this snowball fight?"

The silence spoke volumes.

However after a moment Hollyleaf spoke up from where she was standing beside Fallen Leaves. "I don't think so no…" she murmured, confirming the teacher's thoughts.

Mistystar's calm expression didn't change to be angry or anything at Hollyleaf's admission. Rather she looked around for a few more moments. Her gaze wandering over the snow angels, scarves and carrot nosed snowmen, snow forts, a meticulously built igloo, and the many students with fake snow in their hair.

Then, to many students' surprise, the Mistystar's pink lips pulled themselves up into a small smile. Her eyes twinkling with amusement as she carefully leaned over and scooped up a good handful of the fake snow before lobbing it at Blackstar.

The snow collided with the back of his shirt and the teacher gave an annoyed grunt and turned around, only to blink then cock his head slightly. "What, Mistystar? These kids threw a snowball fight in the gymnasium without permission."

Mistystar gave the barest of shrugs, her hands calmly clasped together behind her back as her eyes wandered to the poster on the wall about Foxleap's snow gathering. "It's the holidays Blackstar, if anything we should be thanking the one responsible for this."

Blackstar's jaw dropped, "Thanking?" He spluttered fiercely, "he," he pointed toward Foxleap, "he ruined the gym!"

"Maybe so, but the faculty have been frazzled with everything else going on so the holidays completely skipped our minds." Mistystar's gaze flickered to Foxleap before returning to Blackstar, "as long as he cleans it up before tomorrow I don't see why they can't carry on." Blackstar spluttered some more, looking indignant but also defeated at the same time.

Mistystar chuckled lightly and gestured for him to follow, "Relax Blackstar, it's a weekend and Christmas is just around the corner. The rules can be temporarily bent for today now can't they?"

Blackstar's ears were tinted red now but the stickler for rules reluctantly trudged toward Mistystar, a look of grudging acceptance on his tense face.

Mistystar however looked at Hollyleaf, "Hollyleaf, I expect you to supervise those responsible for this cleaning it all up properly with the help of the janitors. As for the dorm events, every student participating must clean up together, without the janitors. Everyone understand?"

A chorus of 'yes, we understand Mistystar,' followed and Mistystar's smile widened a little before she headed out of the gym, Blackstar trailing at her heels like a massive kicked puppy.

Cinderheart gave an audible snort at the sight as the door shut behind the two teachers and the atmosphere instantly lightened. Students chatting together about the parties and patting the fake snow off of their clothes.

"He is so whipped," Lionblaze grinned before Jayfeather, who had been trudging through the snow toward their group aided by Half Moon, flicked the back of his head.

"Says the blonde who's wrapped around a certain silverette's finger."

Cinderheart snorted in amusement. Lionblaze went red and immediately denied it.

"That's different!"

"Uh huh."

Briarfeather Blues…

"The mistletoe is getting overwhelming," I sighed, leading Jayfeather through the small crowd of people at the entrance of the room and carefully dodging a few mistletoe sprigs hanging from the ceiling. "Foxleap put it about every five feet," I explained to my blind best friend. I was holding his wrist, guiding him through the Thunder common room.

I'm sure I could've led him by the hand too, if I had the confidence. Sure it had originally crossed my mind when my other best friend asked me to lead him to the party while she grabbed something for it from Daisy; however, I had quickly pushed it aside and tried my best to not do anything of the sorts.

After all, Halfmoon didn't know I had feelings for Jayfeather too.

She had no idea how much it hurt me to silently stand by the two of them through all of Halfmoon's cautious advances and pretending I'm still just his best friend with a vague interest in medicine. Not that I blamed her for not knowing. I was keeping it from her on purpose, and while I felt a lot of guilt for technically lying to my best friend, I also didn't want to lose her as such over a boy of all things.

"Seriously?" Jayfeather's cranky tone broke me out of my thoughts as we walked, "Who the hell is he trying to pair up, Briar?"

Right, that's what mistletoe was for. Getting two people to kiss. One of the topics I was trying to avoid like the plague. (Like I needed the idea of kissing Jayfeather to further mess up my already confusing emotions)

"Who knows," I lightly shrugged, my feet taking us toward one of the recliners at the back of the room. It was quieter here, and I knew he'd prefer a quiet area with little to no people. Plus I had thought ahead and currently had my wireless headphones hanging from my neck along with having Jayfeather Ipod in my pocket via a favor from Lionblaze. "To be honest who knows what the hell goes through that prankster's head-"

"Are you two talking about me?"

Foxleap's appearance nearly gave me a heart attack.

I gave him an deadpanned glare, "Fuck off Foxleap, and take your insane amounts of mistletoe with you too."

Jayfeather chuckled lightly beside me and I couldn't help the hints of a smile that no doubt crossed my face. Jayfeather rarely laughed, and it was a beautiful sound to my well trained ears.

"But why?" Foxleap asked with a cheeky grin, "you two are just so cute though!"

My heart jumped to my throat and I quickly released Jayfeather's wrist as if I had been burned. Crap, did we really appear to others like that?

"Funny", Jayfeather said sarcastically. I subconsciously noted that he hadn't actually addressed the comment.

"We're not a couple," I told him, unsurprised at how easy the words came out of my mouth. I guess I was so used to the idea of never getting anywhere with my feelings that telling that to someone else wasn't that hard.

Jayfeather said nothing.

"If you say so!", Foxleap sing-songed, and produced a spool of thick scarlet ribbon out of who knows where.

Instantly I felt a wave of concern and took a step back, but it was too late.

"Ooph!"

Faster than I could blink and with enough force to knock me into Jayfeather, Foxleap wound the ribbon around the two of us, pinning us together.

I couldn't breathe.

Being pressed together due to the ribbon, I was close enough to see every detail in his eyes. Every bit of silvery scarring, every remnant of the vicious upper respiratory infection that had taken his sight.

My arms were pinned at the elbows at his shoulders, the pads of my fingers unintentionally brushing over one of his cheeks while the other arm was pinned between us.

I didn't dare move, nor breathe, and for a fleeting moment I wanted time to completely stop.

His nose bumped awkwardly against mine as he tried to figure out what exactly was going on, and I could feel the gentle puffs of air from his nose brushing over my face.

I dimly registered Foxleap was there standing nearby and that the noise of the party had dimmed to a lower volume, but… I couldn't focus on it no matter how hard I tried.

My entire mind was buzzing, buzzing with something that while I wanted, I would never do without a reason.

I was close enough to kiss him.

And… I really wanted to.

What about Half Moon? Somewhere part of my brain asked, and I didn't have an answer.

What about her? Why do I have to do nothing all the time? Why couldn't I do something I wanted for once?

Jayfeather and I were frozen, my mind arguing with itself and buzzing with indecision while Jayfeather seemed to break out of the spell and growl at Foxleap.

"What the hell Foxleap?"

His tone drove a knife into my heart and I swallowed hard, feeling my hands trembling. He sounded completely livid.

I quickly forced my head back, giving him space by practically cranking my neck back and to one side while curling my fingers into fists. My nails were cutting crescent shapes into my palms.

"What?" Foxleap responded innocently and I wanted to slap him and shake him, demanding why he had put me through that kind of turmoil, but I did nothing. Pinned to Jayfeather, who didn't want anything to do with me in that moment.

"Why did you-" Jayfeather cut himself off, and I heard his voice instantly change and clam up slightly. "... Briarlight?"

"Hmm?" I responded, keeping my eyes squeezed shut to fight my emotions and wrestle them down like I always did.

"Why're… why are you crying?" His voice was adorably awkward, but I couldn't bring myself to care about it right now as his words registered and and I blinked.

Registering Jayfeather's nose now against my cheek over where a rascal of a tear had escaped my iron grip.

"Oh, uh allergies," I couldn't come up with a better excuse in my current mindset, "there's a lot of perfume and stuff in here."

It was silent between us, and I could tell Jayfeather didn't buy it, especially when he spoke next.

"I'm sorry," he grunted, the words barely audible.

"Huh? What for?" I asked him with a shrug, completely ignoring the strangely quiet Foxleap.

"I made you cry," Jayfeather mumbled and I blinked in surprise before the words fully set in and I hastened to explain.

"N-no you didn't, I'm okay I swear I'm just-"

"You're upset because I sound like I don't want to be near you." Jayfeather cut me off and I couldn't force any words out through the choked lump in my throat.

Yes, I was hurt. Yes, I was a little upset, yes I had wanted (and still want) to kiss him just once, and yes I felt like I was betraying him and Half Moon for having feelings for him. However, I didn't want Jayfeather to blame himself. "No…" I tried to rebuke but couldn't find the strength to finish the sentence.

"I'm sorry," Jayfeather insisted and I got the message. Both the verbal and the underlying one.

I'm not mad at you at all.

Foxleap broke the silence, "Mistletoe!"

I was going to kill Foxleap.

…After I escape the mistletoe and have my first kiss stolen by Jayfeather under mistletoe of all things.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips and I spoke in a mumble, "Stay still," I mumbled to Jayfeather who made a noise of confusion. I could feel my ears and cheeks flushing a dark red, "you want to get out of this right?" a slight nod. "Then stay still and let me get us out of here."

My mind and heart were seriously at war right about now. I felt so much guilt for supposedly betraying Half Moon, and at the same time I wanted to lean forward and let Jayfeather have my first kiss.

However I needed to get Jayfeather out of this and back into his comfort zone.

So while Jayfeather held perfectly still I tilted my head and brought it closer to his, struggling to breathe at the closer proximity. I'm sorry Half Moon, I silently told my best friend before closing the remaining distance and pressing my lips to Jayfeather's.

It was messy. It was awkward, and there was a great deal of teeth clacking and spit but at the same time it was wonderful, because it was Jayfeather.

I didn't realize Foxleap had loosened the ribbon until my fingertips found Jayfeather's jaw and I felt Jayfeather flinch a little.

So with the wake-up call and despite my heart yelling at me that this wouldn't ever happen again so I should relax and enjoy it more, I pulled back.

Hunching my head and shoulders and letting my hands drop listlessly to my sides as I took a step back, feeling numb.

I wasn't happy despite having just kissed my crush and the best friend I had been having feelings for for what felt like forever now. Instead I felt numb, numb with guilt and regret.

I should've just slipped out of the ribbon, instead of kissing Jayfeather who Half Moon, someone who was practically my sister, had a crush on too.

My lips were tingling from the kiss, proof I had in a way betrayed Half Moon. "I'm sorry…"

Jayfeather didn't have to ask why, he understood. "Don't be, it's mistletoe," he pointed out despite how I could feel the tears blurring my vision, "Briarlight… it's not fair to you to do what you do."

I shrugged and turned away from him, "I'm fine, promise." I turned to Foxleap with my watery eyes but managed to give him some sort of beary-eyed glare, "Do not tell Half Moon. She can't know I kissed Jayfeather even if it was just for a mistletoe prank, understand?"

For once Foxleap seemed to understand how serious I was and he nodded, looking a little regretful. "I understand."

"Good," I breathed a shuddering breath, forcing my emotions into order besides my disobeying tear ducts and pulled my headphones from around my neck. "Here's some headphones Jayfeather, and I brought your Ipod too so you can just relax till Half Moon gets here," I spoke briskly, trying to get through it all before Half Moon arrived and found my composure dissolving before the eyes of twenty plus people. "There's a recliner two feet behind you," I gently pushed the two items into his hands, "Tell Half Moon I'm going to study and I'll see her tomorrow."

Jayfeather said nothing for a moment, his blind eyes seemingly searching my own.

Part of me wanted him to give me a hug, to pull me close and tell me it was okay, that nothing was wrong, but I knew it wasn't Jayfeather's style.

"Okay," Jayfeather eventually said I couldn't help the pain in my heart at the one word answers.

I had made the mistake and I was going to be the only one to bear the guilt.

To my surprise, Jayfeather didn't stay seated. Instead, he rose out of his chair, and wrapped me in a tight, comforting hug.

"You did nothing wrong," his words were barely audible, his lips next to my ear. "Everyone's heart wants something, Briarlight. It's not a crime to act on what your heart wants." The guilt, which had been sitting in the pit of my stomach like a cold, heavy boulder, eased up just a bit.

I could've dissolved into tears and thrown my arms around his neck in that moment if I were anyone else.

Instead I nodded, took a deep breath and stepped away from him, turning my back to him and walking away.

After barely thirty seconds a soft hand grasped mine in a comforting manner and I looked up through my blurry vision to see Cinderheart. Her eyes flashed azure blue under the ceiling lights as she wordlessly guided me out of the room and into the hallway.

"W-what?", I blubbered. Cinderheart remained quiet. She pulled me up one of the smaller, mercifully deserted staircases to the second floor, where her dorm room was located. We reached her door, and Cinderheart swiftly pressed her hand against the lockscreen. The door swung open.

The room glowed with warm light, a sharp contrast from the turbulent, snow laden clouds outside the window. Both beds had been piled high with all kinds of comfort items, embroidered throw blankets and mountains of pillows, stuffed animals, colorful quilts and fluffy comforters. Among these items sat Hollyleaf, cross legged, holding a TV remote and a massive bag of chocolate truffles.

Cinderheart ushered me inside and gave me a quick hug, "I'll take care of Jayfeather and Half Moon, you hang out here till you feel better." She gave me a little squeeze before disappearing down the stairs while I numbly wandered over toward Hollyleaf.

She looked up at me through her rarely used green rimmed glasses and offered me one of the discarded chocolate bars lying around on her floor near her textbooks and notes. "Chocolate bar?" She asked with a smile, "Cinderheart suggested this goofy christmas movie while I'm studying, you want to join me?"

Despite everything going on I couldn't help but smile and catch the candy as she tossed it to me. "Free food and a movie? Why not."

Cinderblaze In The Moonlight + Irritable Jayfeather

"No."

Lionblaze knew Jayfeather would hate his idea.

"Come on Jayfeather, Briarlight is sleeping in Hollyleaf's room, Cinderheart doesn't have another place to sleep with her there and my girlfriend is so not sleeping on the couch."

"Then you better find somewhere else because I'm not sleeping on a couch either you asshole," Jayfeather snapped and promptly threw a book at his brother.

Who caught the book and gave him a weird look, "What? Dude that's not what I meant. Cinderheart's going to just share with me. It's the only solution besides Cinderheart sleeping with Hollyleaf and apparently Cinderheart's a hugger in her sleep so Hollyleaf pushed her off to me."

"Our sister is obsessed with making sure you two stay together," Jayfeather groaned before flopping back onto his bed and hiding beneath the sheets and blankets. "Just keep your voices down, and if you do anything gross I'll sic Hollyleaf on you."

Lionblaze put the book down onto his brother's clean desk and rolled his eyes, "Stars, you're dramatic. We're just sharing a bed not doing anything weird. At least do that weird voice text thing with Briarlight and make sure she's alright would you? She didn't look so good when she left."

Jayfeather guiltily averted his eyes. The shame he felt after the fiasco at the party was immeasurable, and he doubted Briarlight would want to talk to him at the moment. But Lionblaze had a point. It was his fault things had turned out the way they had, and really, the least he could do was make sure she was alright. Just as he was about to dial, a knock sounded on the door, and Lionblaze dashed over to open it with the air of an eager puppy.

Sure enough, Cinderheart stood behind it, hair mussed, wearing flannel pajama pants and an oversized University of Arizona hoodie. She had a large red quilt tucked under one arm.

"Hey", she said, smiling as she stepped into the room. Lionblaze breathlessly returned the greeting, while Jayfeather gave a nonchalant wave from where he sat on his bed.

"How's Briarlight holding up?", Jayfeather asked, his tone becoming more serious.

"She's fine", Cinderheart reassured him. "She doesn't blame you, you know. Don't blame yourself for something you can't control. Although", her voice dropped, so only Jayfeather could hear. "You should decide soon. Briarlight or Half Moon. Pick one, it's not fair to either of them to lead them on."

Jayfeather gave a quiet, solemn nod.

Cinderheart raised her voice again. "Are you sure this is okay, Blaze?"

Lionblaze rolled his eyes and gave her a hug from behind. "It's fine, right Jayfeather?"

Jayfeather said nothing, but Lionblaze took it as a yes.

"See? Plus his best friend is taking your space, it's not like he can't relax a little and not be such a cranky ass all the time." Lionblaze pointed out as he released Cinderheart from the hug and threw himself spread-eagle onto his bed. Cinderheart snorted with suppressed laughter.

For a few moments it was quiet, the three students settling down for the night. Lionblaze lying on his back with an arm tucked under his head; Cinderheart curled up on her side near but not touching him; and Jayfeather hidden beneath his blankets on the bed on the other end of the room.

The lights dimmed till they were off as the silence stretched on from a minutes into hours; where the trio's slow breathing were the only sounds in the room as they all drifted off to sleep.

…

"Come on Lionblaze!" Lionblaze felt someone tugging on his shirt, the toddler then pulled a face at his sister and tried to untangle her smaller hands from his shirt, "Get off Hollyleaf!" He whined and tried to edge away from his sister's insistent hands.

"Pass… I'm open…" Sleep ridden murmurs coming from somewhere near his face caused Lionblaze's eyes to slowly open. His eyelids felt like they weighed tons as he tried to force them open. Shafts of freshly-minted sunlight poured in through the wide windows, the cobwebs of his dream slowly melting away into the warm comfortable reality around him.

The source of the warmth was revealed to Lionblaze's sleepy mind as it focused further on the world around and not his dream world.

"Can't… miss…"

Cinderheart was asleep on her side and stomach next to him, one of his forearms resting across the back of her shoulders with the backs of his fingers brushing over the soft sleeve of her hoodie. She was facing him, nuzzled up close to his chest with his arm acting as a pillow, her arms held close and comfortably near her chin. While Lionblaze had shifted some point during the past few hours to be curled around her.

Lionblaze felt the fabric of the front of his shirt be tugged a little, almost like Hollyleaf had tugged on it in his dream, and saw Cinderheart mumble a few words and her hands twitched a little, causing it to feel like she was tugging at his shirt.

She looked happy and comfortable curled up there, her long eyelashes resting on her cheeks and her lips curving up in a relaxed smile. Her silvery hair was spread out around his arm over the sheets behind her and her hood was rumpled up.

Lionblaze gave an affectionate chuckle and tilted his head down as he tucked her blanket more comfortably around her sleeping form, before sliding under the warm, heavy comforter and letting his eyes fall shut.

Snap, Crackle, Pop of the Fire

The windowpanes were misting over from cold. Blackstar reclined into an armchair, glowering resentfully at a pile of ungraded papers. His room was so warm, his bed so inviting, the TV begging to be switched to some kind of Christmas movie. The flames in the small gas fireplace gave a particularly loud crackle, as if urging him to set the papers aside and just go to bed.

Blackstar considered it. He capped his pen, slid the papers into a folder, and had just been about to reach for the remote when there was a knock on the door.

With an irritable sigh, he set the remote down. He put on his best "I've was being responsible and productive face until you interrupted me" face, and answered the door.

To his relief, it was not Headmistress Bluestar or Deputy Headmaster Firestar. It was Mistystar, dressed in dove-gray pajamas and holding a mug of what smelled like mocha.

"Oh. It's just you, Misty."

A teasing smile crossed her face as she put her hands on her hips. "What kind of welcome is that?", she quipped.

Blackstar didn't answer, but smiled as he ushered her in. She immediately sank into his favorite armchair and patted the spot beside her.

Blackstar coughed, feeling himself grow hot. "You...want to share a seat with me?"

Mistystar snorted. "No, I want you to sit on the floor. Obviously, now come on!" He wandered over, feeling trancelike and dreamy as he sank into the chair next to her. He was much bigger than Mistystar. His frame took up almost the whole chair, leaving the tiny woman practically sitting on his lap. But she didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, she reached for the remote and put on the Christmas movie.

Blackstar wasn't sure what to do with himself. He reached uncertainly for the pile of papers when Mistystar gave his hand a firm rap.

"You work too much", she said quietly. "I...worry about you."

Blackstar just stared.

"Grading papers over Christmas!" She picked up the stack of ungraded work, and looked as if she wanted nothing more than to toss the whole pile into the fire.

"Black. Doing all this work, loading yourself up over holidays, never giving yourself a day off….it's not good for you. The world won't end if you take a break just once."

Blackstar didn't know what to say. Just the fact that she had noticed, nevermind the fact that she cared, meant more to him than Mistystar would probably ever know.

"Now enough with this nonsense." Mistystar firmly set the papers down. "Promise me, Black. You'll take better care of yourself."

Blackstar nodded mutely.

"Now let's watch the movie. It's one of my favorites."

Mistle-foe

Breezepelt's back slammed into the training mat beneath him. Ivypool's heavy boot pressed down against his windpipe. He looked up at her through watery eyes. She was smirking, the spar more of a test of strength than one of the borderline-death matches that the Dark Forest required virtually every night at training.

"Six - zero," Ivypool smirked at him, eyes gleaming as she moved back and stood casually with most of her weight on one leg. She sheathed her daggers in her belt and straightened the collar of her jacket "Come on Casanova, you can do better than that."

Breezepelt rolled his eyes and pulled himself to his feet, feeling his body aching slightly from being practically slammed to the ground six or more times by the smaller but more agile Ivypool. "Easy for you to say," he shot back, "you're not using a massive axe that weighs probably half your weight."

Ivypool casually raised an eyebrow at the subtle jab at her weight and balanced her favorite dagger on one finger by the hilt. "Keep talking that shit and we'll see how sharp my daggers really are okay?"

Breezepelt straightened his shirt and yanked his axe where it was stuck blade-first in the training mat some 10 feet away. He looked Ivypool up and down, carefully analyzing his opponent and trying to come up with a suitable counterattack.

She's fast, clearly much faster than me when I'm swinging this thing around. His eyes flickered to the daggers sheathed at her belt. I don't have as much training with a dagger as this axe, but… if I can get close enough to her to grab one of them… my chances would lower from impossible to really difficult.

Breezepelt's eyes flickered to the small leaf stuck in one of Ivypool's thin braids. A thin little leaf of mistletoe and at the moment, his source of determination to finally beat her.

He might have muscle and power behind his swings, but he was slow, no match for a talented fighter like Ivypool.

"Quit looking at me and count down," Ivypool drawled and broke the other teen out of his analytical thoughts.

Okay, swing, block, run, grab the dagger, then play it by ear. Breezepelt resolved and narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Relax, count offs are for babies", he jeered. "Just… go!"

With that he was off, running toward Ivypool brandishing his axe with a roar, his mind fixed firmly on his objective.

Ivypool unsheathed her favorite dagger in response and followed his lead, her footsteps barely audible around his heavy ones and the screeching of metal that followed.

Sparks flew and vanished as both blades glanced off of each other, the momentum sending Ivypool's dagger hand flying to her left and Breezepelt's axe slightly off kilter to her right. The tip of the massive weapon slicing cleanly through the side of the thick leather of Ivypool's knife belt in the process.

The belt snapped open and dropped, scattering Ivypool's knives at the floor around her feet.

Breezepelt threw the axe away from him as the belt fell, sending it flying through the air as he ducked and rolled. Ducking under her other arm and wrenching one of Ivypool's daggers of its sheath before holding it above him with both hands with his back to the mat.

Sshhhing!

Half a second after Breezepelt lifted up the dagger, Ivypool's favorite dagger, a beast she affectionately named Sabertooth, slid across the belly of the other blade and nicked the front of Breezepelt's thumb. It bounced off and she tucked her body into a backward flip to give herself more space. She stood, her knees bent into a defensive position on the balls of her feet with the dagger held parallel to her right arm.

"What the fuck was that?" Ivypool deadpanned, but Breezepelt could see the alert gleam in her eyes and knew that while he had surprised her, she was more than willing to continue the fight.

Breezepelt forced his larger body into a backward roll and stood up himself with a grin, "Come and get me," he teased and Ivypool gave an intense grin of her own before their blades collided once again.

Crash!

Zzzzing!

Sparks, yells, and the various sounds of metal colliding with metal resounded through the air for the next minute or two before…

Crunch!

Ivypool's wrist was hyper flexed and she instantly released the knife in her hands to elbow Breezepelt right in the nose.

It wasn't hard enough to break it, but it was enough to make him see white spots before having his feet knocked out from beneath him.

Oh hell no! There's no way in hell I'm losing now! Breezepelt caught Ivypool's ankle between his feet and quickly knocked the other foot out from under her, unbalancing her as he sharply drew his feet toward him and knocked hers out from underneath her.

"Urk!"

Ivypool fought back, catching his head in a headlock while he twisted his hips and flipped them over, his hands reaching around the back of his head to grab at her wrists. He pressed dual pressure-points, the action forcing her to release him as he managed to get to his feet and run straight toward a wall.

He managed to smash Ivypool between his bulk and the wall with his arms now pinning her arms flat against her sides.

There they stood, Ivypool pinned and both of them catching their breath.

Their heavy breaths from the fight mingled and Breezepelt couldn't help but crack a rare grin.

"Finally pinned you."

Ivypool gave an out of breath chuckle and raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner, "If I really wanted to, I could get out of here in less than ten seconds Breezepelt."

Breezepelt rolled his eyes, "It wouldn't hurt to give my masculinity a break every once in a while." Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her bloodied lip (maybe he had hit her a little too hard there). "Merry Christmas," he told her then smirked cockily, "You've got mistletoe in your hair."

To his surprise, she didn't blush, or act embarrassed in the slightest. No, she smirked and leaned forward, putting her lips right by his ear.

"I know," she told him in a tone that made Breezepelt's breath hitch. Seconds later, Breezepelt found himself sprawled on the floor, Ivypool having completely wiped the floor with him in all of five seconds.

Ivypool's boots clunked gently against the floor as she approached him and crouched down. Her long blonde hair dangled down as she casually brushed a bit of blood from his now split lower lip, a smile tugging at her lips. "There, now we match."

Breezepelt gave a rough cough and sighed from his spot spread eagled on the floor. "Guess so. You, madam, are an asshole."

Ivypool gave him a cheshire cat grin, "An asshole that can and will wipe the floor with you every time you get cocky."

Despite her jab at his lower skill level and how his body was positively dying from the spar, Breezepelt couldn't help but feel relaxed and content in that moment.

After all, Ivypool had tasted of steel and peppermint, and she had no doubt planned on this happening if the purposefully placed mistletoe was anything to go by.

Hollyleaves on Ice

Hollyleaf's mouth opened wide in a sleepy yawn. The digital clock hanging from the wall read 5:34 am, long before the rest of the school was even close to awake.

"C'mon!", Fallen Leaves called from across the gym. "Perk up, Holly! It's snow!".

"No shit", she grumbled back, rubbing her eyes as she ran her fingers through an untouched snowdrift. The snow felt light and fluffy, not the slightest bit wet or cold. She didn't mind. Yes, it took away from the realism aspect for sure, but it was better than walking out drenched and freezing.

Hollyleaf peered across the gym, where Fallen Leaves was sprawled out on his back, making a snow angel. She grinned deviously, and carefully scooped up a handful of snow, beginning to compress it between her fingers. Once she was satisfied with the shape, she hurled it at Fallen Leaves with full force, watching as it exploded on impact.

Her boyfriend emerged from a pile of white powder, spitting out the artificial flakes.

"You", he growled dangerously, getting to his feet. "It. Is. On." He seized an armful of snow and charged at her, tossing it over her. It got in Hollyleaf's face, went up her nose, and covered her from head to foot, but she didn't mind. The competitive spirit in her was blazing to life, as she dove behind a large drift to protect herself from the onslaught of snow.

Fallen Leaves was close now, almost a foot away from her when she sprang out from behind the snowdrift and charged for his legs. She caught him around the middle, her added weight making him lose balance and topple backwards into the snow.

Fallen Leaves burst out laughing. "You sneaky-", he snickered. "That was smart, I'll give you that." Hollyleaf smiled too. "Glad you think so", she teased. "I'll take this win as my own, thanks. Hollyleaf, 1. Fallen Leaves, 0."

"Hey!", he protested. "You haven't won yet. Let me up and I'll prove it." Hollyleaf just smiled, laying on top of him with a nonchalant expression on her face. "Well then, I don't have any incentive to let you up then, do I?"

"Is that another challenge?", Fallen Leaves remarked.

"It's whatever you want it to be", she teased back. Fallen Leaves' lips twitched upward in a smirk. "Well in that case", he said. "I don't feel bad for doing- this!" He hooked his leg around hers, and with a jerking motion, had switched their positions. Hollyleaf now lay with her back to the floor, a surprised expression on her face. Fallen Leaves grinned unapologetically from above her.

"That was underhanded", she grumbled. "You sneak."

"Oh, and that little trick earlier wasn't?" Hollyleaf tried to hold the glare, but eventually succumbed to laughter, collapsing backwards into the snow. Fallen Leaves had been watching her with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I have an idea", he suddenly proclaimed. Hollyleaf turned to look at him. "Yeah?", she asked curiously.

"Lie still", he instructed. "I want to try something." He turned away, and picked up another large armful of snow, then dumped it over Hollyleaf's legs. Hollyleaf propped herself up on her elbows, and watched curiously as Fallen Leaves began to shape the snow. Several handfuls later, and Hollyleaf knew. The snow had begun taking the distinctive form of mermaid tail.

Fallen Leaves had bent low over her legs, and with careful fingers, began shaping dozens upon dozens of scales onto the snow. Within thirty minutes, fins had begun to take shape, and after an hour, Hollyleaf found herself with a glorious mermaid tail of snow, covered in meticulously crafted scales, complete with fins and seashell belt.

Fallen Leaves sat back, admiring his work. "It looks awesome", he remarked, and Hollyleaf smiled, running a gentle hand over the scales. "It's pretty great", she agreed.

The babble of voices came out of next to nowhere. Before Hollyleaf was able to free herself, the gym door swung open to admit none other than Foxleap and Jayfeather. A cheshire cat grin spread over Foxleap's face, and Hollyleaf realized with a jolt of terror that his phone camera was angled directly at them.

The redhead made a peace sign out of his fingers and called, "Check Instagram when you finish!"

End Chapter 71

Not gonna lie. I have no idea how Tigercry can put out like 5k words in less than a week. Damn. ::is secretly jealous::

Tigercry: Try 6k! It takes practice, like my other warriors story which averages 11k per chapter!

-Tigercry

Anyway, thanks for reading guys!

Reviews :3

Azra out!