Fluff!
Nope, no Moonpool chapter today! This would be pretty short if I just skipped to all the good stuff.
So here's some fluff between Fires and Sandy.
Ideas still appreciated!
Review please!
Firestar lay in his nest, trying his hardest to tune out the voices echoing outside in camp. His enhanced hearing could hear everything- conversations he wasn't supposed to hear, conversations that had nothing to do with him. He could especially hear half of the clan talk about him again though. He scared them again.
He couldn't even flatten his ears onto his head to block everything out; he physically couldn't move them like that. Not anymore.
They were all discussing the foxes. Normally when a cat fought off a fox and got injured in the process- like a normal cat- it was considered valiant and brave. They were doing a service to their clan, getting rid of the predators. Or they were just reckless, that too.
But when a cat fought and killed two foxes without nary a scratch, it was just unnatural. One didn't fight even one fox without injury, but here he was, having killed two with ease. It was possible to chase off or kill one fox without much injury, like Lionblaze, but two of them?
So here he was in his nest, trying to get away from his clanmate's whispers once again. He was getting sick and tired of being scared of his own clan. He was also tired of his clanmate's fear of him; they knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt them, at least not on purpose.
And yet they were scared of him anyway...
The whispers continued to permeate into his den, and he desperately wanted them to stop. He tried placing his paws over his ears, but it didn't do a thing to solve his problem. He wanted to roll over and just bury his head under the mossy nest, but he learned the hard way not to do that. The moss would be pierced and caught on the little spikes running down his spine, and getting the moss off him was just a hassle.
He whimpered, just wanting some quiet. The stone pulsed and sent out a wave of comfort and reassurance. What did it matter if they talked about him? He was meant to be feared!
'That- that wasn't me! I don't want to be feared!' He gazed down nervously at the stone in his chest. It was giving out a warm red glow. He was certain that it was putting foreign thoughts into his head at this point. Even worse, they weren't just foreign thoughts anymore, but his thoughts. He was beginning to truly believe in what was being pushed into his head, and it scared him.
His head perked up at the scent of his mate making her way towards the den, and he gave a chirp of greeting as she entered.
"You look like a kit that had his moss ball stolen. What's wrong?"
"Am I really that obvious?" he grumbled. "I can hear them. All their whispers. I think it's starting to get to me."
Her face softened, immediately knowing what he was talking about. News of what Firestar did the foxes traveled around camp fast. She could see all the looks they gave him, all the looks of wariness, confusion, and fear. She couldn't blame them for being scared, but couldn't they see what they were doing to him? His new form and powers weren't something that he could easily control.
She was worried; Firestar wasn't one to give up easily. He had fought back against those who told him to go back to being a kittypet and subverted everyone's expectations when he proved to be one of the greatest warriors the clans had ever seen.
But this wasn't the same case. Instead of being ridiculed, he was being feared. Every action he did decided whether or not the clan would continue to fear him. The more they feared him the less chances he would get to prove to them that he wasn't a monster.
If you treated a cat like a monster they might be bound to start acting like one.
She gave him a lick between the ears. "Come on, let's get out of this stuffy camp." She nudged him up to his paws and led him out of camp. He felt his fur heat up as cats turned to stare at their retreating figures, and the whispers were even harder to block out since he was outside his den.
"Just ignore them," Sandstorm murmured.
As they trekked further into the territory, Firestar found all the tension in his muscles were leaving him. He was much more relaxed out here, with only his mate for company. They stopped at the lake and Sandstorm laid down by the shore, gesturing for him to join her. He did so eagerly. She reached over and started grooming his neck fur, being mindful of the little spikes trailing down his neck and back. He gave a purr and leaned into her touch.
It would be so much more relaxing if his hatchlings could join them.
His tail gave a happy wag, and he carefully curled it around her, drawing her closer to him. She didn't mind; her close proximity extended her reach and allowed her to groom other areas of his body.
This was nice. For a moment he could pretend to have no responsibilities or leadership duties that needed to be fulfilled. He could pretend that his clanmates weren't whispering about him behind his back. It was just him and his mate; his sweet, loving mate who was giving him all the attention in the world.
As she should be.
But he would be remiss in his duties if he didn't shower his mate and treasure with the love and adoration she deserved. So he reached over and started grooming her, to her delight.
"Feel better?" she purred.
He rubbed her cheek with his scaled one, thankful that his face scales weren't as sharp as the ones on his tail. He wouldn't hurt her like this. "Very much so. You always know how to make me feel better."
"Want to go hunting after this?" He gave her a nod, but didn't move to get up. He wanted to enjoy the moment some more.
His nostrils flared and he opened his mouth at the strange scent coming near them. He frowned; what was Windclan scent doing here? There shouldn't be a reason for any Windclan cat to travel this close to the lake.
Sandstorm opened her mouth to taste the air, seeing her mate was doing the same thing. "Why is there Windclan scent here?" she scowled.
It was one thing if it was a medicine cat, but with his enhanced senses, he could smell Onestar's scent mingling with the other scents.
"Onestar was here," he meowed lowly. "He was with a small patrol."
"But why would Onestar need to gather a patrol and cross this close to the shoreline. They had to have been going somewhere."
He winced, knowing exactly where Onestar had headed. There was only one place he would go if he needed to travel this close to the shoreline. He looked out towards Shadowclan territory, an ominous feeling traveling down his spine.
Sandstorm followed his gaze. "You think he needed to see Blackstar or something?"
"Possibly. But for what?" He gulped. Whatever Onestar needed Blackstar for, it couldn't be good. Onestar had made his distaste for Thunderclan as well as for himself abundantly clear for moons now. Onestar hated him even more now that he was... well this.
"I'll have to tell the clan to watch out for Shadowclan and Windclan. They might be up to something." Well that was his day ruined.
Sandstorm sighed. "Well, there's nothing we can do until we actually know what's happening." She turned back to him and gave his ear an lick. "How about that hunting?"
He purred. "I'd love to."
The stone's working its magic surely but steadily into him. Time will tell if Firestar does start acting like a monster...
Really should have passed by Riverclan instead of Thunderclan Onestar. Now they know that you're up to something.
Tell me how I did.