Redtail padded along the border of ThunderClan and ShadowClan. The Thunderpath roaring loudly as a monster swiftly ran past him. He glanced over at ShadowClan before turning around, "Good. Those ShadowClan fox-hearts haven't been on this side." he observed, looking around, remembering that he invited a close friend to join him, "Tigerclaw?" he asked, looking around, not scenting his clan mate anywhere near. "Tigerclaw!?" he called, more worried, looking in the direction of the Thunderpath, running over to it's side, praying to StarClan that he wasn't hurt by the monsters.

The tom realized his friend was nowhere in sight and kept his gaze turned to the Thunderpath, the wind blowing against his muzzle. A large muscular, new warrior creepily sneaked up on his friend, with a wide smile he pounced, pinning Redtail and mewling, "Rawr! I'm a ShadowClan warrior!" he teased. As Redtail was pinned, he (out of instinct, threw the cat off with his hind paws and hissed. Then realizing it was the friend he was looking for.

"Tigerclaw!?" he growled, before laughing a bit, "What in the name of StarClan are you doing?" he asked with a smile. The tall brown tabby tom walked over with an innocent smile, "Ever since you became deputy, I've noticed you seem a lot more tense, I mean, we hardly talk any more." Tigerclaw mewed sadly with an embarrassed smile. Redtail smiled and pat Tigerclaw's head with his tail, "Yea...I have been a bit stressed ever since I became deputy, it was just sudden and I tried my best to change for the sake of the clan." he said honestly and apologetically

Amber eyes gleamed in the moonlight as Tigerclaw chuckled, "Mouse-Brain, you don't need to change! Bluestar chose you because of who you were, not because of who she WANTS you to be." he said, trying to make his best friend seem a little happier. It worked, Redtail gave a warm smile back and looked up at the storm clouds covering the crescent moon. "We should get back, it looks like it's going to rain." he said looking at Tigerclaw with a relieved smile.

As they walked back Redtail heard a loud crack and boom, flinching and making his fur stand on end as he dashed under a tree, shivering. Tigerclaw glanced at him confused before padding over to him and sitting down, "Um...Are...Are you okay?" he mewed as rain started trickling down. Another loud crash was heard as the night sky was lit up. Redtail flinched again and lied down, putting his paws over his head, scared. The large brown tabby tom smiled softly and pat him with his tail. "I get it, you're scared of lightning and thunder," he mewed.

"I'm! I'm not scared of thunder and lightning! I'm just-"

"BOOM! CRACK!" Another flash went across the sky

"Scared?" Tigerclaw finished with a soft smile, laying next to Redtail as he nodded quickly.

Tigerclaw sighed as he looked around, they weren't getting wet since they took shelter under the tree, but he knew they couldn't stay all night. "We're going to have to walk through this...It doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon," he said, glancing at the scared red tom next to him.

Redtail nodded and slowly stood up, not wanting to embarrass himself any more in front of his clan mate. "Y..Yea, let's get going." he said shakily.

As the two toms walked in the rain, they heard no more thunder or lightning for a while. "We're almost there!" Redtail exclaimed, smiling at Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw rolled his eyes, shrugging it off. "I'm glad there was no more thund-" Redtail was cut off by a loud crash of thunder as he pressed against Tigerclaw, scared stiff. Tigerclaw blushed lightly as Redtail got so close. The ThunderClan deputy wouldn't move and stayed close to Tigerclaw.

"R-Redtail...?" Tigerclaw asked, "A...Are you sure your okay...?" he asked, feeling his pelt get hot. Redtail shook his head and ran back under the tree, "Only Bluestar knows my little...secret of my fear...So she'll understand..." he mewled sadly.

"Understand? Understand what?" Tigerclaw asked curiously, walking back to him, laying next to him.

"I'm not going back out there...I'm staying right here until the storm stops..." he mewled sadly. Tigerclaw glanced at his friend in disbelief, "Um...I can stay with you...You know...If you want me...to..." he said, stuttering more and his pelt getting hotter with embarrassment my the minute.

Redtail smiled and nodded, "I'd love that, thank you Tigerclaw." he said with a yawn. The deputy pushed his way into Tigerclaw's fur. The new warrior felt Redtail's wet, cold pelt and didn't argue. He rested his head on the back of Redtail's neck and he purred. "Thanks Tigerclaw...You're warm..." he murmured as he closed his eyes.

"And you're cold...now...um...shut up and get some rest..." he said, not mentioning the only reason that he's warm is because he's hot with embarrassment. Redtail was fast asleep, nuzzling into Tigerclaw's pelt. "Hey...Redtail...I...Um...I feel like I need to say this...Ever since you became deputy...you've been drifting away from me and it's made me jealous. I've missed talking...hunting...and just being with you. Redtail...I love you." he purred as he snuggled into Redtail.

The ThunderClan deputy was fast asleep, not hearing Tigerclaw's confession. It was enough for him though. "I got it out of my system" he thought, "Maybe now I don't need to be so...obsessive...I love you Redtail, even if you never know it..." he purred as he licked Redtail's ear, "Good night." he mewed as he closed his amber eyes and fell asleep soon after him.

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Morning came as Redtail yawned and opened his eyes, looking around at the rain covered forest. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in sight. He tried to get up before realizing that the heavy new warrior, Tigerclaw, was on top of him. Redtail's pelt got hot with embaressment as he stood up, pretending it didn't happen. "What was Tigerclaw doing...Do I care...? I mean...He's strong...kind...handsome..." Redtail shook his head of the thought, "No! He has a mate, Goldenflower...Besides...I don't think he'd be into me, it's impossible." he growled to himself as he broke his own heart, wanting something he knew he couldn't have.
Tigerclaw was still fast asleep. The deputy slowly padded over and licked Tigerclaw's nose as he slept, "I love you...I'll...Um...See you at camp..." he said sadly as he dashed through the woods to the ThunderClan camp, without looking back.