Firestar finally addresses the clan

You know, there's a storyline forming in my head somewhat for this. I think I really need that outline though. Let's be honest, this will end up unfinished anyway ;-; Dang plot bunnies won't leave me alone and when I do write them down, I don't know how to continue.

I'm trying ;-;

In the meantime have some fluff.

Please review!

Leafpool and Squirrelflight couldn't remember the last time Firestar had been so affectionate and loving towards them. He loved them and gave them his support when needed, but never had he acted like this. They weren't used to him giving them loving nuzzles and licks, not since they were kits anyway, and even those were rare back then. Even though he was being gentle, they couldn't help but be wary of him. One step out of line and they might feel those claws first-paw.

"Think he'll let us go?" Brambleclaw questioned from under Firestar's wing. He doubted it; Firestar had been giving him subtle glares, daring him to exit the den. It was a look of a cat who didn't want anyone leaving until he was finished. Though with Firestar's current mindset, who knows how long it would last.

Firestar, for his part, was just happy all his treasures were in the same place as him. Now he could protect and care for them, away from any threats outside the den.

"He has to let us go sometime; what if someone else comes looking for us?" Leafpool meowed. Something told them all that Firestar wasn't going to be as receptive to the rest of the clan as he was with them four.

The stone sent out a pulse of warmth, analyzing its host. Its host was finally happy and relaxed. It sent out another pulse of warmth into Firestar's head, his eyes turning blank and his body fully relaxing as he began to remember where he was and what he was doing.

The four cats turned to look at him in surprise as he gave a groan and shook his head, wondering what he had been doing. He blinked as he saw his body curled around his daughters and Sandstorm and Brambleclaw under his wings. The fins that replaced his ears were tipping themselves red from embarrassment.

"Firestar? Are you okay?" Sandstorm asked her confused mate. He turned to look at her blearily and retracted his wings. They all gave sighs of relief as the saw his eyes had turned green again.

"I- what was I doing?" he said, trying to remember. His head felt like it had gone through a good night's sleep actually, but he still recalled Brambleclaw trying to comfort him and then- his ear tips flushed redder; he hadn't done much besides giving his mate and daughters his love- as well as Brambleclaw. Wha- Brambleclaw wasn't even his kit! Did his feral side think of Brambleclaw as his own?

He turned his head to Brambleclaw, eyes not exactly meeting his. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me!" Brambleclaw's response was to give him a short lick between his ears. "I don't think you're all that aware of what you're doing when you're like that."

"But I still did it. It must have been so awkward for you all..."

Sandstorm gave his neck fur some licks. "It's okay, you weren't yourself. You didn't hurt anyone; you were just really affectionate."

"And you prevented us from leaving, that too," Squirrelflight grumbled. Leafpool whispered a "not now" to her.

Firestar twitched his whiskers. "How long was I...?"

"Not long actually. But the clan seems to think we're taking too long to give them answers. Some of them made me want to claw their ears off though," Sandstorm meowed. He sighed, he supposed now was a good time as any to address the clan. But Sandstorm had all but confirmed that some of the clan was already upset with him. He feared their ire. Were they mad that he almost tried to claw them to bits or were they scared of him? He was already beginning to stress out again, and it hadn't even been that long.

He felt the stone give another pulse of warmth, and he stared down at it confusedly. What was this thing trying to do? The other cats noticed where he was staring and followed his gaze, seeing the stone glow brighter than usual.

Brambleclaw frowned. "What is it doing now?" Firestar gave him a confused shrug. "I'm not sure. It's- it's giving out such a nice warmth and I... think it's trying to make me relaxed?" He felt good, his stress melting away, but he couldn't help but wonder why.

"What, it is trying to comfort you or something?" Squirrelflight said suspiciously.

"I'm not sure. The last time I ignored the warmth, scorned it even, I went...uh... you know, all feral and cuddly," he said embarrassed. "In any case, I have a clan to address." He sat up and stretched out his limbs, wings stretching to their full wingspan that didn't managed to fit into the den. He murmured an apology as his wings almost hit the other cats, the den becoming too crowded and he quickly retracted them.

He realized that he could hear the whispers outside his den clearly. They were talking about him, some scared of his new form, others angry at his feral behavior, others doubting his ability to lead, and others defending him. He shook his head lightly, trying to filter out the voices.

"Firestar? What's wrong now?" He turned to them with tired eyes. "I... I can hear them. All their whispers..." They gave him concerned looks as he tried tuning the voices out. Great, just what he needed; his hearing had gotten to Dovewing-levels of hearing.

"His hearing has gotten enhanced too?" Leafpool said concerned. He gave a short huff and stormed out of the den, the other four following him. Cats stopped and watched in shock and surprise as he finally exited the den, gazing upon his new form. He climbed to the top of the High Rock, claws scratching against the stone, calling for a meeting, trying to keep his voice steady and strong.

Most of the cats in the clan were already out, mingling and gossiping about him. There were a few cats coming out of the dens, those who were tired of the constant talk around camp.

"Firstly, I'm aware of last night's events and I could have hurt someone, and I apologize. I wasn't exactly... myself at the time."

"We're only getting an apology? You looked like you were going to tear us apart last night!" Thornclaw yowled. Firestar tried his best not to cringe. "I know, and there's nothing I can do to make it up to you all. Many of you are probably scared of... this," he gestured to himself, "but I'm still able to lead this clan, and I'm going to make sure that I'm not the reason anyone here gets hurt."

There were many that still didn't look convinced. "How do we know that you won't suddenly act like you did last night and turn on us huh?! What are the other clans going to think when they see what you've become?!" Berrynose yelled out. He heard many cats give their agreement, and he averted his eyes, not knowing how to answer. The stone pulsed and he was flooded with warmth and this time he didn't shy away from it. He didn't want to breakdown in front of these cats.

"Or maybe it's all an act and he'll kill Brambleclaw and Sandstorm next..." someone whispered. He snarled and his eyes flashed red. He shut his eyes tight and shook his head, trying not to succumb to the stone's influence. They all looked up at him in fear, wondering if he was able to go feral again. He took deep breaths, trying to think.

Brambleclaw bared his fangs at the crowd. "How dare you! He's trying his hardest not to hurt anyone!"

"No, they're right," Firestar said resigned. Brambleclaw's head swerved around to gaze at Firestar incredulous.

"I can't make any promises that I won't go back to acting how I was last night. And I can't speak for the other clans. But..." he trailed off, gazing at his clan in disappointment, "I had hoped that my own clan would try to support and help me through this so nothing bad happens." His tail curled up around his paws, his head lowered, "Perhaps I was mistaken."

"That's fox-dung and you know it! Of course I'm helping you, you mouse-brain! Wings and scales aren't changing anything between us!" Firestar's head snapped up to look at the speaker. Graystripe grinned back at him. Of course, his oldest friend would support him. Soon enough, there were multiple cats yowling out their support for him, and he couldn't be more happy.

He leapt down from the High Rock, and he saw Foxleap dragging Cherrypaw over to him. "Firestar, Cherrypaw has something she would like to say," he said as he gave a subtle glare over at his apprentice.

Cherrypaw wilted. "I'm sorry!" she blurted out. Firestar gave a blink in surprise. "You all told me not to touch anything but I did so anyway! It's my fault you're like this!" she wailed.

"Cherrypaw..." she looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "You should have listened to your mentor when he said to stay put. But it's not your fault that this happened; no one could have predicted this."

"But I-"

"What's done is done, and I don't think this is going to be easily reversed. But you still disobeyed orders. I trust that Foxleap has punished you accordingly." He nodded to the warrior, and Foxleap sighed, nudging Cherrypaw to her paws and guiding her away.

Sandstorm padded up to him and gave his pelt a few licks. "Already back to being a leader. I'm so proud of you," she purred. He purred back, another pulse of warmth going through him at his happiness of his clan being semi-accepting of him. He would show them all that they had nothing to fear from him.

Oh look the Protection Squad is gaining numbers.

Will the other clans be fearful enough of Firestar's now form that they won't attack Thunderclan? HAhahahaha I'm not there yet. Let's be honest something like this isn't going to keep the clans from attacking anyone. But what am I saying, I haven't done the Gathering chapter yet.

Tell me how I did.