Chapter 22: Fighting a Friend

Darkstripe was starting to get annoyed by how Graystripe and Fireheart were avoiding each other. The skulked around the other like they were clans on the brink of war. A fight between the two was inevitable, and a falling out would likely occur without intervention. Darkstripe decided to do what he does best and get his paws in the middle of it.

He glanced towards Bluestar's den to see her observing the pair as well. With a practiced motion, Darkstripe subtly signaled Bluestar that he wanted to talk. This move was usually reserved for when he needed her opinion on a deal, but he'd been making so many decisions that could be seen as undermining Bluestar's authority that he felt she'd appreciate his opinion without the clan watching. Bluestar stared back a cold stare before nodding. With a covert code the two had developed, Bluestar told Darkstripe to meet her in her den after dark. Darkstripe flicked his ear in acknowledgement as he turned his gaze away to appear interested in something else.

Darkstripe had devised the secret code system with Bluestar and Whitestorm while he was starting his dealing system. Darkstripe never had a reputation as a trustworthy advisor, but he'd always been wise when stakes are low. Bluestar valued that but knew he could never be a proper advisor due to his secret panicky nature. Instead, the three crafted actions that could be easily dismissed as regular if not slightly antsy movements. Nothing detailed could be conveyed through them, but enough of them were crafted to give general ideas. Asking to talk consisted of looking at the other cat and kneading the ground while laying down. Bluestar had returned 'at night' by having her tail tip point towards the sun before lightly swishing it towards her den.

Darkstripe met Bluestar in her den that night.

"What do you need Darkstripe? Another deal you need to make?"

"Not this time. I'm sure you've noticed how Fireheart and Graystripe have been behaving towards each other?"

"Yes. I had planned to send the two on patrols or hunts together to get them to talk."

"No offense, but those two would sooner maul each other right now."

Bluestar nodded before responding, "What would you do in my place?"

"I could never come up with a good answer in your place. I do have a suggestion though. They need to burn out that aggression."

"So, send them on border patrols to pick a fight?"

"I was more thinking having you or Whitestorm hold an impromptu training session at the sandy hollow. Let them fight each other in a controlled manner. Maybe even make them keep going against the other until they drop."

"Are you sure that won't just make them even more of enemies?"

"If they don't think we're watching they might start telling the other their reasons for being so mad. I can't do it since Greystripe is mad at me for attacking a certain Riverclan molly."

"He's seeing a Riverclan cat?!"

"I thought you already suspected it. He does go out to the Riverclan border every day."

"Maybe I should confine him to camp."

"He's not going to stop. I can tell with how moony he looks. I'll leave it up to you to decide if something needs to be done or not."

With that, Darkstripe quietly padded out leaving Bluestar to her thoughts. Bluestar was remembering her relations with Oakheart, and how the clan would need decent relations with Riverclan to dump Brokenstar, no Brokentail, off with them. Greystripe was only hurting himself right now and would likely be caught publicly by Tigerclaw soon. Fondly remembering Oakheart and her kits, Bluestar decided to let Greystripe keep up his game a little longer. Maybe the moony phase will pass.

The next morning Bluestar called Whitestorm, Greystripe, and Fireheart into her den to talk. Fireheart and Greystrive visibnly spaced out from each other upon entering keeping Whitestorm between them. Whitestorm just looked curiously at the pair. Bluestar just huffed in annoyance.

"I've called you three here because I want Whitestorm to host a training session with just you two. Whatever grievances you two have will be settled there. I don't care if at the end of the day you two want nothing to do with the other. You still have to work together when I put you together. Right now whatever you two are feeling is effecting your ability to do warrior tasks. I do not want to demote you to apprentices, but I will of this isn't dealt with."

Fireheart visibly shrank under the reprimand, but Greystripe bristled and looked like he was about to speak. Bluestar froze him with a harsh stare that made him back down. Whitestorm led them to the clearing before looking at the pair.

"You two are going to fight until whatever this is is out of your systems. No biting or claws."

Fireheart stared down Greystripe feeling his inner rage swell. His mind was filled with the thoughts of how Greystripe was betraying him. Greystripe was feeling something similar. The two threw themselves at each other devolving into a vicious grapple. Emotions were running high and soon attacks were getting more dangerous.

Suddenly Whitestorm called a stop. The two stared at each other not wanting to stop, but Whitestorm's commanding presence held them back. He stared at the two for a couple heart beats watching the two pant. He was biding time for their emotions to settle a bit before cutting them loose again. Suddenly Whitestorm stepped out of the way and called to begin. The two still fought viciously, but their fatigue from the first bout curbed their movements to be less deadly. After Fireheart put Greystripe into a pin, Whitestorm called a halt again. Fireheart did not want to give up the position, but he padded a small distance away to let Greystripe get up and face each other. Then Whitestorm called for them to begin again. This continued until the sun was beginning to set. By this point both warriors could barely stand. Whatever hatred the two bore for the other was buried under their new bruises and mountains of fatigue. Whitestorm assessed the two making sure neither had the strength to attack the other again before nodding.

"That was a good session. I hope you burned off whatever issues you two had with each other. I'm going to leave you two to talk. Get yourselves something to eat when you get back to camp."

Greystripe and Fireheart looked at Whitestorm with shock. He wasn't going to help them back in the state they were in. After Whitestorm left, the two were left with nothing to do but stare at each other with hurt. There was no longer the desire to attack, but the feelings of betrayal still resided. Fireheart could feel the hurt coming off of Greystripe. He decided to make the first move.

"I'm sorry for what happened to Silverstream at the battle. I didn't want to hurt her. Darkstripe made a move because I couldn't. He said something about an uninjured warrior fleeing looks suspicious. He gave her that cut so she'd have something to return with. Have you seen her since?"

"Not that its any of your business, but I have. The cut healed quickly. Didn't even leave a scar. I'd have taken Darkstripe's pelt if it did."

Fireheart chuckled. "That's what he said he was going for. He even told me you weren't the first or only cat with interclan relations right now."

Greystripe looked up with interest. "Really?"

"Yeah. He said something about what he calls the Fourtrees club. Apparently a decent amount of cats sneak off to Fourtrees at night to meet their secret mate. If kits come of it, he just says claim queen's right, and no cat can question their heritage."

"I'll have to remember that."

"Look Greystripe. The main reason I'm mad at you is that your relationship is getting in the way of your clan duties and being my friend."

"Not like you've been much of a friend either."

"I've tried to be there for you, but it feels like you push me away every time. I've lied to cover your secret and you lashed out at me for it. Its not just me you're hurting when you act like that. Your apprentice, Brackenpaw, hasn't trained with you in moons. I've been doing everything I can to keep him on track. It just hurts that I've been doing so much, and it feels like you don't appreciate it."

Greystripe hung is head lightly before replying.

"I'm sorry I've put so much on you. I never thought about it. I'll try to do better, but you don't understand how it feels. She completes me in a way no other cats does. I'd wage war on Starclan for her. I find myself entranced whenever I'm in her presence and feel like it cannot be wrong to keep seeing her."

"You are right. I don't know, but you also have to remember there are others in the world, in this clan, that count on you to keep up your duties. I'm not asking you to stop seeing her, but can you please reduce how often you see her and maybe meet at a less suspicious spot?"

"I'll try."

"You better. I think Tigerclaw was beginning to suspect you actually liked fish."

Greystripe chuckled. "Can you imagine him pacing around muttering about a fishing conspiracy?"

Fireheart found himself laughing. When he stared at Greystripe, that hurt between them no longer remained.

"Are we still friends?"

"The best. Now let's get back to camp before there's no fresh kill left."

"Knowing you, there won't be any left after you're done."

The two padded away joking with each other unknowing that a certain dark warrior had been watching with satisfaction. Darkstripe purred to himself as he watched the two leave.