Chapter 3: Bonding
Tigerclaw goes out of the warriors den. It has been three sunrises since his meeting with the strange she-cat and becoming Bluefur's friend. So far it's been working great. Going hunting together, sharing tongues and fresh-kill. Going on most patrols together whenever Bluefur isn't being held by her deputy duties.
"Hi Tigerclaw!" Bluefur mews as she bounds up to him.
"Hi," he replies back. Still a little uneasy at her closeness to him. But it's for the goal of uniting the clans! He should not be this uneasy at doing this. The she-cat believes in him to go through with this. And it's not like there won't be success to come out of it.
Just breathe, Tigerclaw. There's nothing to worry about, he thinks in his head internally.
"I've just finished sending out all the patrols. So want to go hunting? Just you and me?" Bluefur's blue eyes shine with excitement.
"Sure, just let me see if there's any fresh kill left before we go."
Bluefur nods, "See you at the entrance!" She then bounds off, her paws churning up grass in her wake.
Tigerclaw lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Padding to the fresh-kill pile, he sees a few mice. So he picks one and carries it over to the warriors clearing. Laying it on the grass he settles in to take a bite.
Suddenly he sees Thurshspelt coming up to him and Tigerclaw gulps his bite of mouse down and begins to internally panic. Oh what if their mateship wasn't really over, oh, he might have really screwed things up. Thurshpelt is going to be so mad…
Thurshpelt sits down beside him and washes his ears. Tigerclaw looks at him in confusion and angles his ears towards Thrushpelt.
Thrushpelt glances at him and smiles, "There's no need to be nervous Tigerclaw."
"Why not? You used to be mates with Bluefur and now I'm….."
"Heh. Yeah. But it's clear Bluefur isn't interested in pursuing a relationship with me after our kits disappeared."
Tigerclaw narrows his eyes. Something about the way Thurshpelt mewed sounds off. His tone sounded wanting, and he said our kits almost seemed forced. But why would it be forced and why would he long for something that's over? And if he's longing shouldn't he be trying to get Bluefur's interest again.
"I understand your confusion, Tigerclaw. But I've tried and failed to get her to love me. But I am happy that she's found someone she loves. Good luck." Then Thrushpelt gets up and pads away.
Tigerclaw blinks. Did that just really happen? Did he really gain Thrushpelt's approval so quickly? So then that she-cat was right. Bluefur really has no cat to lean on for support.
Suddenly not feeling hungry anymore he walks over to the entrance where Bluefur is waiting.
"Tigerclaw!" Bluefur purrs in excitement, as she walks forward. She touches his nose with hers. Then she looks over to where he sat and gives him a confused look. "Aren't you going to eat the mouse? Does it have to do with Thrushpelt?"
"No, no not at all. I just didn't feel hungry after all. Besides, I want to spend as much time with you as I can."
He can't believe he just said that. Neither can he believe himself for getting angry at Thrushpelt for not even trying to win back Bluefur's favor. It just seems like he used her for having kits. Which makes his blood boil, Bluefur deserves so much better than that crowfood excuse of a cat!
He isn't much better himself, but at least he plans on sticking around even if it isn't for love. And how can his clanmates be so blind?
"Really?" Bluefur asks, breaking through Tigerclaws thoughts.
"Yes," He mews, licking her cheek in reply. He has to try and not physically shake himself over the anger he's feeling towards his clanmates. Sure a lot of them offered their condolences for Bluefur's lost, but none of them actually checked on her to make sure she was okay.
Not even Lionheart of all cats. He vaguely remembered that Lionheart was an apprentice when Bluefur was an apprentice as well. So why didn't he check on her?
He mentally shakes himself out of thoughts. Now is not the time.
"You ready?"
Bluefur nods and quickly spins around and races through the entrance. Tigerclaw rolls his eyes but runs after her. When he reaches the tunnel entrance, he sees Bluefur at the top of the ravine, staring back at him. She glows with confidence and the sun dapples her pelt beautifly, making her blue gray fur shine.
"Come on! Last one to the Great Sycamore is a rotten piece of crowfood!"
"Hey no fair!" He complains as she turns around and sprints away. But he can't help but admire the change in her. Only three sunrises ago was she saddened. Burdened by her guilt, her posture slacking, her voice monotone most of the time or tinted with sadness.
Now her posture is straight, her whole body brimming with confidence, and Bluefur has a glow in her blue eyes that wasn't there previously.
Somehow, Tigerclaw wonders as he races through the undergrowth trying to catch up to Bluefur, if the she-cat did not only give him his gift to achieve his goal, but to also make Bluefur happy again. And if she did, then damn is that she-cat sneaky.
But why help him then? Unless helping him also helped Bluefur. Pausing to catch his breath, he stares through the forest. Is the she-cat watching him now? Is she satisfied, or is there more to this than meets the eye, Tigerclaw wearily wonders.
Remembering the race that Bluefur cheated on by giving herself a head start, he quickly begins running again. His great big paws skim over the undergrowth and he nimbly jumps over an old fallen log covered with moss. When he reaches the Great Sycamore he discovers that Bluefur is there waiting for him at the base of the giant sycamore. Her tail is neatly over her paws and she smiles.
"What took you so long?" She asks, all innocent like.
"I had to catch my breath." Tigerclaw huffs in response.
"The great, mighty Tigerclaw? Having to catch his breath? But I thought you were the best warrior in Thunderclan?" She teases.
Tigerclaw looks away and flattens his ears, embarrassed. It's true, he is the best when it comes to hunting and fighting. And he bets that he can outrun Bluefur if they started at the same starting point.
"You only won because you got a head start." He points out, still a little embarrassed that Bluefur of all cats beat him in a race.
"But I thought the great Tigerclaw would easily catch up and outspeed me. I must have been wrong."
He harmuphs and sits on his haunches, admitting defeat, reluctantly. Speed is definitely not his strength when it comes to running. Which is odd, since he is fast in battle, or maybe his reflexes are the cause of his speed in battle.
"Oh, so you admit defeat? I didn't think you'd give up so easily."
He opens his mouth in reply, and then closes it. Fox dung! Why can't he think of anything to say back? This was unusual for him. Normally he always has snark and snide comments to reply with for his other clanmates, so then why is it different with Bluefur?
"Let's hunt. And then you can prove you're a good warrior if you can catch more prey than me."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Yes it is. I'm giving you another chance to prove you really are a mighty warrior, like you often say you are." Then Bluefur comes in close, and brushes her face and body all along him, then her tail touches touch feels nice, but at the same time the big tabby feels uncomfortable. He looks back, and Bluefur mews, "Well?"
Tigerclaw swallows, uncomfortable, but manages to mew, "Then challenge accepted Bluefur."
"Great! The cat with more prey is the best warrior in the clan."
Bluefur runs off and he stands, looking at where she went. She disappears into the forest. What is this feeling? Bluefur's actions have made me uncomfortable, yes, but there's something else. When she touched me, it felt natural and nice. Like…like….Tigerclaw thinks. Struggling how to describe the feelings he is now feeling.
In the shadows of the trees, unaware to Tigerclaw, the she-cat who gave him his power watches in amusement. She thinks, who knew Tigerclaw could even feel love towards someone he hates in an alternate timeline? And Bluefur making him uncomfortable at the same time! Hilarious! Yes, this should be even more entertaining than I originally thought possible.