Stay Friends?

Ashkit

Risingkit was the loudest kit in the den. Goodness sake, why did he have to be so loud? The entire nursery had to wake up in the middle of the night sometimes to listen to him screaming for milk. And it wasn't even a nice sound; it was a grating, screeching sound, definitely not like a nice warbling bird's call!

Ashkit was so fed up with Risingkit's attempts to banter with her friends, too. She just couldn't believe that Mintkit actually found those attempts cute. At most, Fishkit understood that Risingkit needed some facts smacked into his head.

Although, the gray kitten thought that Fishkit's attempt for 'whacking facts' into Risingkit's head was a little overboard.

Ashpaw

Ashpaw was free from Risingkit's constant warbling and all that for a couple moons – apart from that one fox incident. Ashpaw gave him a great verbal bashing of the ears as the pair trekked back home. Thankfully, those moons stretched further when Risingkit abruptly decided to become Risingpaw the medicine cat apprentice.

That was all the better for Ashpaw, mostly. There was the downside that at some point she might be treated by Risingpaw, but that was future matters. Now she could have Mintpaw and Fishpaw all for herself and there was no one who could stop her. Of course, Ashpaw found Mintpaw chatting with the ginger tabby medicine cat now and then, but that was only a dust particle compared to the time Mintpaw spend time with her fellow kithood friends.

The one thing Ashpaw found herself annoyed by, though, was the way Risingpaw tried to rile her up every single time they had tick or moss-collecting duty. The two would glare at each other from opposite sides of the elders' den as they rapidly splattered mouse bile over the elders' fur. The elders regularly complained about the jibes that the pair threw at each other. The didn't complain about the speed, however.

It was a small competition, but it meant a lot for Ashpaw.

Although… Funnily enough, as time went, the little insults that Ashpaw and Risingpaw threw at each other suddenly felt like gentle teasing. Ashpaw found that they were now talking – not mocking – as they went to the forest to collect moss.

And one day, Ashpaw overheard an elder say, "Risingpaw and Ashpaw's work definitely makes me comfortable – they get ticks out of fur in no time flat, and they somehow manage to find the softest moss in the entire forest!"

The gray apprentice discovered that it didn't annoy her that the elder referred to Ashpaw and Risingpaw as the cats who did the work and not just Ashpaw.

Ashfrost the Warrior

Ashfrost became a warrior earlier than even Fishpaw, the oldest apprentice in the den. She lavished in all the attention she got, but never forgot that she still had to be diligent. She wanted to be more than a warrior.

She wanted to be deputy.

Yes, Lightflame had already promised her that position, but she still needed plenty of respect if she were to claim that position fairly.

And so she did do her warrior duties – perfectly. She wasn't the best hunter in the clan, but she still made up for it by offering to train apprentices if a mentor was injured or ill. That had become a common phenomenon in MazeClan, especially with all the Outsider attacks.

"Aren't you tired?" Mintstalk asked, worried for her best friend. "You're overexerting yourself, Ashfrost."

"I'm fine."

"Uh – "

"I said I'm fine to Mintstalk, Fishfin. What's with the two of you?"

"I mean – " Mintstalk hesitated. "We were just talking about you, and… uh…"

"Oh, for goodness sakes," Fishfin interrupted. "Don't you think it's about time that you should get a mate, Ashfrost? You're not getting any younger."

Ashfrost stared at her friends. "I'm plenty young, and I have plenty of time," she protested. "Besides, why ask about me when you yourselves don't have mates?"

"Well, that's the thing – "

"At any rate, you're right, Mintstalk, I should get some rest," Ashfrost hurried on, desperate to get out of the conversation. "It's nice talking to you guys – just don't bring that darned topic up when I'm not ready yet." The warrior made quick steps to her nest in the warriors' den while Mintstalk and Fishfin exchanged confused glances.

"But it's barely sunhigh!" Fishfin meowed.

STAY FRIENDS?

Ashfrost grumbled quietly to herself as she twisted around in her moss nest. Mintstalk was right – Ashfrost had been overexerting herself and failed to see the signs. She let out a couple of hacks to let the tickle out of her throat.

"Careful!" The gray she-cat raised her head. Risingsun's large form was silhouetted in the entrance of the medicine den. "You don't want to strain your muscles; not after how much stress you went through." The medicine cat padded into the den, holding a bundle of herbs in his mouth.

"Yeah, well," Ashfrost croaked, "I can't say I'm feeling too good."

"Obviously," Risingsun agreed, setting down the herbs. "Eat some poppy seeds after I get you something to eat." The tomcat paused, then looked at Ashfrost with narrowed eyes. "You did eat regularly before you got landed here, right?"

Ashfrost stared at him, a little sheepish. "Uh, not really – " she began, before being cut off by Risingsun.

"Why didn't you?" he demanded, his fur bushing up. "You… you complete mouse-brain! How do you not find time to eat and take a break?" Risingsun shook his head. "You are confined to camp for a moon for recovery," he announced.

"What?" Ashfrost struggled to her paws but was stopped by Risingsun's tail resting on her side. "But - but I… But I promised Fishfin and Mintstalk and Bramblestep that I'd go out hunting with them today!"

"Medicine cat's orders," was Risingsun's only reply. "I'll tell them about it. They'll be worried about you, anyway."

Ashfrost sank into her nest, grumbling with annoyance.

"For the next few moons, you're going to rest," Risingsun continued, ignoring Ashfrost's irritated mumbles.

"And what am I supposed to even do here in this dump?" Ashfrost inquired, an edge to her voice.

"Not to worry, Fishfin and Mintstalk agreed to drop in regularly to gossip with you," Risingsun sniffed. "Just tell them not to mess up the herb supply."

"It's going to be the most boring moon ever," Ashfrost complained, turning over. "I have no purpose as a warrior in this place, for goodness sake! Give me something to do, or I'll refuse to eat the poppy seeds!"

Risingsun flinched as if she'd given him the heaviest insult ever. "No, no, no, no," he pleaded. "Just… I'll get you a mouse, okay? Just like you like! And then after you eat the poppy seeds and rest, I'll give you a couple of tasks."

"Apprentice tasks?" the gray she-cat guessed.

Risingsun didn't answer that. "Just eat the mouse I'm going to get you, you irritated furball."

And that she did. It turned out it wasn't apprentice work, but it was something even a kit could do. Cleaning out the moldy herbs in the medicine den. Needless to say, Ashfrost grumbled during the entire ordeal. She also nearly chewed Risingsun's ears off when the medicine cat attempted to stuff all the berries and leaves in one corner.

"You're going to be disorganized forever if you do it that way," she told him.

"You don't know me," Risingsun insisted.

"Everyone likes to be organized," Ashfrost rebuked him.

"Not me."

They bickered for the rest of the day – and they bickered back and forth for the couple moons Ashfrost was stuck in there. Any patient who had to be stuck in there during that time – and goodness, there were a lot – had to deal with the noises of the pair arguing over the organization of the medicine den, the way Risingsun dealt with kits, and so on. Whatever became an issue in Ashfrost's eyes instantly became a debate topic.

Fishfin and Mintstalk regularly visited as well. Ashfrost was grateful for their company, but their conversations were less active and more like it was polite. It cost Ashfrost a lot of endurance to not fall asleep right there on that very spot.

"StarClan, you're looking sleepy," Risingsun commented one day as he came in.

"I told you that StarClan was a myth ten times already. But I guess so." Ashfrost gave a large yawn. "I've never realized that I've never talked so much with Fishfin or Mintstalk. We just played together."

Risingsun shrugged. "Mintstalk is a good cat for conversation."

"Nooot for me," Ashfrost yawned again.

"Well, they're your friends. Try switching to different topics or something."

"Like that'll be any better." Ashfrost settled her muzzle into her paws. "It's way more preferable talking to–" She cut off abruptly.

Risingsun tipped his head. "What?" he prompted.

"Uh." Ashfrost blinked. "Nothing." She closed her eyes in an attempt to fall asleep, but she tossed and turned until midnight before finally drifting off.

STAY FRIENDS?

Something had come over the gray she-cat.

She was… incredibly tense around her former competition partner now.

She suddenly found it hard to ask him the smallest of questions.

What had come over her?

She pondered over this for the remainder of patient life. One day, though, it became clear.

It had been a moon since Ashfrost had been allowed to return to her duties again. She found that her gaze drifted over to the medicine den more than she would like. Mintstalk, who was digging into a mouse next to Ashfrost, followed her friend's gaze.

"Why are you looking at the medicine den?" Mintstalk mewed, nudging Ashfrost.

"Uh!" Ashfrost blinked out of her stupor. "For no reason," she replied hastily. "Just thinking."

"Yeah, I've been thinking too." Mintstalk tore a piece of meat from her prey. "I think that I like Risingsun."

Ashfrost's heart froze up in her chest. "Say what now?"

Mintstalk nodded. "I think he's kind of nice? And he's a good conversation partner, and he's so darned empathetic and a good listener! And I think-" The brown she-cat sighed dreamily. "I'm thinking about asking him to be my mate at some point."

Ashfrost just stared at Mintstalk like she'd grown a second head.

"What do you think?" Mintstalk continued, oblivious to her friend's reaction.

Ashfrost hesitated. "Hold that thought for a couple days?" she offered. "I'll be the second opinion. Just… give me some time."

Mintstalk purred and pressed up to Ashfrost. "Thank you so much! Of course I'll wait!"

Ashfrost got up a bit too quickly, nearly tripping over her paws as she rushed to the medicine den. "Risingsun!" she hissed. "Risingsun, I have to talk to you!"

The medicine cat spun around in shock. "Ashfrost? What – "

"Let me explain, alright? Follow me!" Ashfrost bounded out of the medicine den, the confused and bewildered medicine cat in tow. She zipped through the maze – she got out of there in record time before dragging Risingsun to the forest.

"Alright, we're out of camp!" Risingsun snapped at last. "Explain yourself, will you?"

Ashfrost stopped running and took in a deep breath. "Mintstalk likes you," she blurted out.

Risingsun's eyes widened.

"And…" Ashfrost ducked her head. "I think I might like you too," she mumbled.

There was silence, except for the twittering of birds. Ashfrost slowly raised her head to see Risingsun's mouth agape. He snapped it shut, before letting out a forced laugh.

"Oh, ha ha. You're just joking with me right now, aren't you?" the medicine cat let out a few more chuckles that sounded more like a hacking fit. "Joke's over, now. Tell me the truth."

"I'm not joking!" Ashfrost insisted. "I think I do like you! I've… I've been in that way for two whole moons, and I only just realized it! Mintstalk said that she liked you and I was jealous! Jealous! Goodness sake, I was…!" Ashfrost bowed her head again. "I was just… confused. But I do like you."

Risingsun stopped laughing. Actually, he did seem to be trying to laugh. But no sound came out of his throat; he was just opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of the water. Ashfrost returned his wide-eyed stare helplessly.

Finally, the ginger tabby spoke. "No," he mewed firmly.

Ashfrost nodded. "I guess you'd say that," she replied angrily. "You just… just see me as friendly competition."

Risingsun held up a paw before she could go any further. "It's not that, Ashfrost," he meowed quietly. "I do like you… just as a friend."

"That doesn't make it any better."

"I know, but hear me out. You're not in like – or love with me. It's temporary. It's infatuation."

"Excuse me?"

"You don't know me properly. I've never shown you my bad side. Only the good side, because that's what I wanted you to see." Risingsun looked like a defeated feline, his whiskers drooping and his ears flat. "It was incredibly selfish of me to lead you on like that. And all because I thought that if I wasn't all goody-goody all the time, Fishfin would smack me all the way to StarClan."

"StarClan is a myth!" Ashfrost's head was ringing with all sorts of thoughts. "Why? I wouldn't have done that, I've grown past that! And so has Fishfin!"

Risingsun shook his head. "You'll understand when it's time," he answered. "I don't think I should be the one who tells you about it." He rose to his paws and padded in front of Ashfrost. "But I am your friend. If you want to talk more… well, you know where I am."

He padded away, leaving Ashfrost standing, alone, in the shade of trees.

Ashfrost the Queen

Ashfrost was more than happy to accept Fishfin's offer to be her mate. She'd spent more time with her old friend than Mintstalk after… what she liked to call 'the confusion'.

During the time she cared for Birdkit – her son, her pride and joy – Ashfrost did find that love was something different than the feelings she felt for Risingsun.

Those were… a tad cluttered, a bit messy to describe. She didn't know what those were supposed to be. Not yet.

For now, she focused on being a good mother.

Ashfrost the Deputy

Not too long after Birdkit weaned of his milk, Ashfrost was named the deputy of MazeClan. Her ceremony was a bit marred by Risingsun and Mintstalk's revelation, however. Her old friends announced that the brown warrior was expecting the medicine cat's kits… and it caused an uproar. Medicine cats were not supposed to have kits before they fully trained an apprentice, after all.

Ashfrost expected herself to feel that bitter feeling of jealousy as before. But she didn't.

During her deputyship, she focused on helping Risingsun and Mintstalk take care of their troublesome litter of four. Adderkit, Meadowkit, Lark-kit, and Heatherkit – they were like a second litter for her.

She used this motherly figure of hers several times. That included the time she had to encourage Flamepaw to take the throne.

Ashfrost the Elder

It was getting cooler when Ashfrost announced her retirement. Love for her clanmates, the ones who had passed – it made her warm, even when she was in the shade of the elder's den. Her life in there was… made somewhat enjoyable when Risingsun joined her. He was getting old, and Larkeye was about to train her first apprentice.

What they did was talk each other's ears off. Like the old days. Friendly banter that shredded the ears of passerby within a few mouse-lengths.

Just like the old days, and Ashfrost was fine with that.