"T-Tidalpaw?" Flamesoul mewed weakly, staring unbelievably at her sister. All her sister did was stare ahead, her gaze unwavering.
Medicine cat? I thought you wanted to be a warrior! Why didn't you say anything?
"I do not wish to play the role as a warrior, but a medicine cat," Tidalpaw switched her eyes over to Falconwing, who looked utterly surprised herself. Falconwing wasn't usually surprised, but this hit the whole clan like a monster.
Flamesoul looked at Ferneye, who didn't look angry, or disappointed, but rather accepting. Her lead-green eyes were unreadable, but Ferneye's movements were easy to decipher to Flamesoul; spending countless moons in the nursery with her.
Flamesoul looked away before they could make eye contact. Flamesoul shuffled a little closer to Ashclaw, wanting to escape into his fluffy, thick, soft pelt. She could feel him relax, understanding that she was shocked.
The clan waited for Cinderstar to speak once more, looking at her expectantly. The leader looked to Falconwing, who gazed back, her yellow eyes filled with eagerness, but wisdom.
"W-W" Cinderstar stuttered her eyes as wide as Flamesoul's, but cleared her throat. "Why didn't you say anything till now?" She asked her voice low and calm like a babbling brook.
"Well, I didn't know how to tell you. And as a matter of fact, I was going to tell you tonight, but you held the ceremony, so I had to tell you out here before I became a warrior." She explained, her eyes stuck to the ground. Cinderstar wrapped her tail around her.
"Do not worry, we will speak to Falconwing about this, little one," Cinderstar soothed, leading her toward Falconwing.
The medicine cat stepped out of the way as Cinderstar and Tidalpaw passed first. She nodded to the camp, before disappearing afterward herself.
Whispers and murmurs started to arise from around camp as soon as they entered the den. Heads hung close together in discussion as her clan discussed the events that just occurred.
Flamesoul looked into Ashclaw's calm eyes, hoping to forget everything just by looking into his ocean-like gaze. He smiled, licking her between her ears as she purred. Suddenly, Flamesoul jerked her head back up, looking at her clanmates confusingly.
"Did they forget about us?" Flamesoul worriedly looked back at Ashclaw, who had the same amount of wonderment in his expression. Leafpelt padded over to them, shaking her eyes.
"They shouldn't have! But, I suppose they would've called out new names," Leafpelt's voice trailed off as her head hung.
"I hope not! They would never forget to welcome new warriors! Something kinda important did just happen, so I suppose it would've been easy for them to forget…" Flamesoul leaned close to Ashclaw as the both of them looked around the camp at all the different groups of warriors and elders and queens.
"W-What now?" She looked expectantly at him, hoping he'd have an answer. He looked back, worry and astonishment clouded within his eyes.
"I-I don't even know," He murmured, breaking his eye contact with Flamesoul. She sighed, brushing her fluffy tail along his shoulders, comforting him.
"Let's just go and sit outside of the camp entrance and guard it together," she suggested, rising to her paws. Flamesoul felt Ashclaw rise beside her. She smiled a little, feeling happy that he would join her.
"Yeah, yeah that would be nice," he agreed. She nodded in agreement, leading him to the camp fern tunnel, sitting on the left side while he took the right side. She looked out into the forest, mouse flooding her scent glands as her mouth watered. But she shook her head, ridding the thought of eating without her clan.
She side-ways glanced at Ashclaw, noticing he was cold and tired.
She heard him sigh deeply. She looked over, seeing how sleepy he actually was. He's not gonna make it she joked to herself, giggling a bit. It made Ashclaw perk his ears up, staring at her with confused blue eyes.
"Hey, what's so funny, uh?" He asked smiling, amusement sparking his sleepy gaze awake. Flamesoul was glad he was more awake now, meaning that she wouldn't be by herself with her thoughts tonight.
"Nothing," she mewed sarcastically as she shrugged. She couldn't stop herself from laughing. Flamesoul closed her eyes, trying to make herself shut up before the whole camp could hear her hysterical laughing.
"Stupid furball," he growled playfully, bunching up his haunches to pounce. She stood on her hind legs, ready for him to leap. He glared at her, and she glared back. She couldn't help but giggle to herself a bit, which made Ashclaw smile.
He finally jumped at her, tackling Flamesoul softly to the ground. She lay there, limp as Ashclaw pinned her lightly. Think of a retaliating move…
"I won, I have declared my victory!" He announced through a smile. Flamesoul smiled from cheek to cheek. She laughed along with him, which made Ashclaw blush a bit.
"I suppose you have," she agreed, purring loudly. Ashclaw stepped off her, letting her get to her paws. He licked her ears, purring with a smile. She returned with a lick on the cheek. She giggled, closing her eyes, soothed by the rhythmic sound of Ashclaw's purrs.
Flamesoul reopened her eyes as Ashclaw returned to his guard spot. Flamesoul was a little sad that he left, but at least he was still with her. Her cheeks turned red a bit as she felt his calm blue eyes resting on her pelt.
She tried to distract herself by looking up to the stars stuck in the sky. She realized it was Moonhigh. She remembered her promise to Runningpaw. I'm coming, Runningpaw!
"Uh, I'll be right back, just gonna go make dirt," she told Ashclaw as he nodded, before trotting quickly toward the Mighty Rocks. A cool breeze swept through the forest making Flamesoul shiver a bit.
She finally arrived at the humongous rocks, remembering all of her training she did. She looked around, finally seeing Runningpaw waiting for her near the SwiftClan border. His yellow eyes met hers, immediately filling with delight and bliss.
"You came!" He purred as he ran over to her, brushing his cheek against hers. Flamesoul was taken aback from the friendly gesture. She froze as he continued to rub against her. She finally snapped back into reality, replying to him.
"Y-Yeah, of course I would come." She stuttered, smiling against his molten brown pelt. Runningpaw stepped away so he could face her, his yellow eyes fulfilled with warmth.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm Flamesoul now!" She declared, puffing her chest out proudly. Runningpaw gasped, his gaze glowing.
"Congratulations, you're a warrior! I'm so happy for you!" He purred, licking her cheek. She ducked her head, Runningpaw stopped, looking at her confused.
"W-What's wrong?" He asked worried, tilting his head slightly to the side like a kit would do, which made her giggle, before going serious.
"Aren't we, friends? We just met today!" She exclaimed, waiting for his response. Runningpaw's eyes dropped, his ears lying flat. He blushed, rubbing his front paw back and forth against the ground.
"Well, I kinda wanted to me more than friends, since you seemed so nice." he mumbled. She smiled, understanding how he felt. Flamesoul padded over to him, brushing her fire-like pelt with his.
"Don't worry, if you want to," she soothed, which made Runningpaw's eyes glow with hope as he looked into her deep green eyes.
"Really? Like you said, we only met yesterday, and I'm still an apprentice." He questioned her, making sure Flamesoul understood what she had just stated. She nodded, telling him she knew, and she was positive.
"Yes, it doesn't matter that you are still an apprentice, it will all be the same," she purred, running her fluffy tail along his back. He purred, licking her ears. Flamesoul purred as his warm tongue running long her head.
She sighed, laying her head on his shoulder. Runningpaw twined his tail with hers, pressing as close as he could against her. Flamesoul enjoyed his smooth and glossy pelt as his muscles flexed beneath it. It soothed her, making her forget all the troubles in the world.
Flamesoul breathed his scent in deeply, enjoying his grassy and minty scent. It reminded her of the moors, which she desired to run across all of her life.
"I should probably go back," she mewed, looking at him. He nodded, rising to his paws.
"Ok, me too, meet here, same place, same time, ok?" He asked hopefully, looking into her warm eyes. She nodded vigorously.
"Of course, anything for you," she purred, making Runningpaw smile widely, gazing at her with love.
"Ok, good. Bye, I love you," he mewed, waiting to hear what she would say in response. She paused, before answering surely.
"I love you too," she licked his head one last time, before padding away into the trees, back towards camp.