"I suppose you're the answer I was looking for, aren't you?"
Waspeye stared at the red-furred tom in shocked silence, eyes wide and mouth agape. A small, warm smile spread across the older tom's muzzle as he gazed at Waspeye.
"W-what?" Waspeye asked, unable to believe what was happening. His breathing picked up, shaky and heavy. Alder blinked in surprise, as if confused by his reaction. Waspeye's legs shook, unsteady and threatening to collapse under his weight.
"Whoa, hey," Alder said as he quickly moved beside the younger tom, supporting him easily. "Easy there, warrior. I'd rather not drag your unconscious body back to your camp."
Waspeye didn't respond, completely overwhelmed by what was happening. This cat who was claiming to be his father, the question of why Cloverfoot had run away from him, even down to why it had taken him almost fifteen moons to come find out what had happened.
A cold certainty fell over Waspeye, telling him that this tom was dangerous. It was the only explanation for why his mother would just up and run away from him out of the blue. It also explained why it had taken him so long. She must have injured him pretty badly in order to make sure he wouldn't be able to track her down. He must have played the role of befriending her, then slowly tricked her into becoming mates. In all likelihood, he would have had ulterior motives for doing that. There was a chance he wasn't a simple rogue, that he either wasn't at the lake by himself or was scouting for a larger group that was, at most, only a few days travel away. If that were true, Waspeye had found himself in a situation where he just may have to finish what Cloverfoot had started.
Waspeye forced himself to steady his legs, stumbling slightly as he pulled away from the older tom.
"I'm fine," he said, pretending he hadn't come to the conclusion he had for the moment. He would need to catch Alder off guard if he was really going to do this.
"You sure?" Alder asked, seemingly genuinely worried. Waspeye had to admit, the tom could play the part.
"Yeah, I'm fine," the younger tom answered, shaking himself to try and warm up a little. Alder nodded slowly though didn't pull away any.
"How has it been?" Alder asked suddenly, the question catching Waspeye off guard.
"How has what been?" he asked in response.
"Your life," Alder replied. "I know the clans aren't exactly the most open-minded about half clan cats. Probably even less when that cat is half…I believe 'rogue' is the word you use, yes? For a cat who isn't a kittypet or a clan cat?"
"Technically 'loner' is, but that's for cats who just come and go where they please. Rogues are trouble," Waspeye replied, not intending on adding the small bit of bite he'd put into the word 'rogues'. Alder seemed to pick up on it easily.
"And I'm a rogue to you," he remarked, humming curiously. "I suppose that's fair. I did show up out of nowhere, making a ridiculous claim that could easily be fake, for all you know. Maybe I'm even scouting for a group, looking to see which of the clans is weakest and most easily driven from their home so we can take over."
'Fox-dung. He knows what I was thinking,' Waspeye thought to himself. The younger tom's gaze sharpened. If Alder knew what he had been thinking about, then there was no way he'd be able to catch him off guard. That meant Waspeye would just have to pray to Starclan that his warrior training could handle a direct fight. Alder watched him in silence as Waspeye began to map out what he would open with. He might have a chance if he could rush Alder and knock him down. The tom was larger, though only just. He might be able to pin him down and use his claws.
Waspeye was distracted from his planning by a familiar scent. His eyes widened in fear as his head turned just as Brownfur padded into view.
"Oh, hello," his friend meowed as he saw Waspeye. He noticed Alder a heartbeat later, blinking in surprise. "Oh, hello."
"Hello, warrior," Alder said with a warm, friendly smile. "Don't worry, I was just about to leave. I accidentally got a little too close to your camp while on a morning walk and bumped into Waspeye here. We stopped for a chat, but I really should be on my way. I don't want to get him in trouble."
"Oh, alright," Brownfur said, glancing at Waspeye, silently checking if the stranger was telling the truth. He saw the trace of fear in his friend's eyes, the way he'd started to crouch down ever so slightly to get ready for a fight, and the way the tip of his tail trembled. His gaze hardened as he looked back to Alder. "Where are you going, rogue?"
"Oh, that's rude," Alder said, though he seemed to take it with humor rather than offense. He hummed, then took a shot he knew would pay off one way or another. "I'm looking for a Thunderclan warrior named Cloverfoot. We were mates. Some moons ago."
Brownfur's eyes widened in shock, looking at Waspeye. The red and black tom stared at him, wordlessly and slowly shaking his head. He knew Brownfur would want to take Alder before Jaystar to find out his intentions and drive him away, if need be. He didn't want to give him a chance to worm his way into her or anybody else's head, make them think he was trustworthy. Brownfur looked between the two, torn between what he felt was their duty and loyalty to his closest friend. After a moment he sighed, looking at Waspeye apologetically before shifting his gaze to Alder.
"Our leader will want to speak with you," he said sternly.
"Oh, Jaystar, yes?" Alder replied. "She is Cloverfoot's sister, correct? Many moons between them, but sisters all the same." Waspeye exhaled angrily. How much had Cloverfoot told this cat!?
"That's right," Brownfur confirmed, clearly wondering the same thing as he glanced at Waspeye. "Come, rogue. We'll escort you."
"My name is Alder, young warrior," the older tom said passive aggressively.
"I don't care," Brownfur replied bluntly. Alder blinked, caught off guard by the response he'd gotten. After a moment he simply hummed and began to walk between the two younger toms as they escorted him back to their camp.
Waspeye was quiet as they walked, though he was aware of Brownfur glancing at him every so often. The red and black tom ignored them all, too busy thinking about what would happen now. How was Jaystar going to deal with this?
How was he going to deal with this?
"You've grown up well," Alder remarked suddenly. "You're almost as big as me."
Waspeye didn't respond, visibly shifting his gaze further away from the older tom. Alder hummed softly, and Waspeye struggled against the urge to snap some retort at him. Before he could fail, the camp entrance came into view. Waspeye exhaled softly in relief, the three toms soon padding through the bramble tunnel and into the Thunderclan camp. Nobody noticed at first, but soon Waspeye saw Smokepaw step out of the medicine cat den with a yawn. He blinked a few times as he saw the three toms, as if not quite believing his eyes at first, then blinked one last time before his eyes widened in realization and he turned back into the den. A heartbeat later Ivytail followed him out, staring at the three in surprise for a moment before turning and quickly padding towards Jaystar's den.
Waspeye nudged Alder with his shoulder, the older tom stumbling slightly before looking at him. The younger tom simply jerked his head and padded towards the center of camp. Alder and Brownfur followed as Jaystar padded out of her den with Brackenfur right behind her.
"Stop right there," she called, the three tom doing as instructed. "Brownfur, Waspeye, step away."
They wordlessly dipped their heads and moved away from Alder. The older tom kept his gaze on Jaystar, a moment passing before he hummed. His muzzle opened to speak, the tom suddenly freezing as he seemed to catch a familiar scent. His head turned towards the warrior's den just as Cloverfoot stepped out. She froze as she saw him, Jaystar looking between them slowly. Waspeye could see the moment she realized what was happening and who Alder was.
"Cloverfoot," Alder said with a warm smile, dipping his head. "I'm happy to see you made it back safely."
"Stop talking to my sister," Jaystar ordered, bounding down from Highledge and approaching Alder. He looked to her, expression turning annoyed for barely a heartbeat before shifting back to that annoying, friendly expression he'd kept almost since Waspeye had first found him outside the camp.
"Apologies, Jaystar," he said with a dip of his head. She didn't seem surprised he knew who she was.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded of him.
"I wanted to make sure Cloverfoot made it back safely," he answered confidently. "I admit, I wasn't planning on being seen, much less finding him." The older tom looked to Waspeye. Jaystar flicked her tail in a silent order to look at her.
"Why did you wait so long?" she questioned. Cloverfoot padded around her and Alder to stand beside Waspeye. Alder glanced at them, though returned his gaze to Jaystar before she could even think to reprimand him.
"I was…heartbroken, for a long time," Alder explained. "It took me until only a moon or two ago to find the strength to consider finding her. I arrived at the lake a few days ago, but I've been staying away from clan territory where possible. I did run into a Skyclan apprentice named Owlpaw on my travel. Skittish little thing, he was."
"What did you do to him?" Jaystar asked, eyes narrowing. Alder chuckled softly, hunching his shoulders sheepishly.
"I admit that I…allowed him to make his assumptions regarding who I was," Alder answered. "He found me threatening, and I didn't do much to dissuade it. But I never so much as touched him."
Jaystar hummed softly, eyeing the large tom for a long moment. Eventually she looked to Cloverfoot. "Is this him?" she asked simply. Her sister didn't need to answer, the look in her eyes was more than enough. Jaystar turned back to Alder. "Whoever you are, it's obvious my sister doesn't want you here. I would recommend you go back to where you came from. You found her, she's safe. Goal accomplished."
"Not until I've spoken to her and our son," Alder said. Jaystar's gaze hardened.
"They're right there," she said, inclining her head towards Cloverfoot and Waspeye.
Alder scoffed. "You know that isn't what I mean," he said, starting to get annoyed now.
"That's too bad," Jaystar replied sharply. "It's what you're getting."
"That's enough," Cloverfoot said suddenly. Jaystar blinked and turned her attention to her sister. Cloverfoot looked at Alder for a long moment before letting out a small, quiet sigh. "He came all this way. I will hear what he was to say."
"Thank you," the red-furred tom said with a sigh of relief. He looked to Waspeye in silent expectation. The younger tom stared at him in silence for a long moment. He glanced over at where Brownfur stood, his friend's expression giving little away in the moment.
Waspeye huffed softly. "I have things to do," he said, turning and padding away.
"Waspeye," Cloverfoot said. The tom continued to walk for a few heartbeats before he stopped, sighing to himself and turning.
"What?" he asked with a bit more bite than he intended. Cloverfoot blinked in surprise, and the younger tom felt a small satisfaction in the hurt in Alder's eyes. He chased it, padding close enough to the older tom for their noses to almost be touching, spitting his next words out. "Alder thinks he can just walk into camp, make this…ridiculous claim to being my kin, and he expects us to just welcome him in like he belongs. He doesn't! He is nothing more than a rogue, and he needs to go! Home!"
Alder stared at Waspeye with wide, shocked eyes. Waspeye returned the stare easily, his insides bubbling with a rage the tri-colored tom had never expected himself capable of. He felt like he could tear the older tom to shreds. Felt like he should.
"Hey, Waspeye." The tri-colored tom turned his head, finding Brownfur beside him. His friend's gaze was soft, warm and inviting. "Come on. Come over here," Brownfur said softly, gently leading the larger tom away. Waspeye didn't even notice they were walking until they'd sat down away from the others, too entranced with the deep, comforting blueness of his friend's eyes. They felt bluer than before. Like looking into the deepest part of the lake when the sun was high overhead. Feelings the tom couldn't identify nagged at the back of Waspeye's mind, and he shook his head to clear them as well as force himself to look away.
Alder and Cloverfoot sat away from the others now, their expressions impossible to read from across the camp. Waspeye felt the anger bubbling back up as he stared at the cat who claimed to be his father. Brownfur, noticing immediately, distracted him with a sudden, random purr and words the tri-colored tom didn't quite catch. Waspeye looked at him in confusion.
"What?" he questioned.
"I asked if you wanted a vole," his friend replied with a small, amused smile. "Don't think about…all of this. He doesn't matter, yeah? If he tries anything, he's in the middle of our camp. He wouldn't get very far, if he even made it out at all. We're all safe here."
Waspeye looked back to Alder and Cloverfoot, wanting to focus on them so he could act if something happened, but for Starclan's sake, a vole sounded great with everything that had happened so far.
"Thank you," he said softly. "But no. I just…" Waspeye huffed softly and shook his head, unable to find the words to convey what he was trying to say.
"Then let's go for a walk," Brownfur replied. Waspeye tensed up, looking at his friend. "Hey, hey, it's going to be okay. There's nothing he can do to you here. But you need space to think. To calm down."
"There's nothing to think about," Waspeye argued with a shake of his head. "And I'll calm down when he's gone."
"Waspeye," Brownfur said sternly. The red and black tom sighed softly, then looked at him. "Let's go for a walk. I'll tell Jaystar not to let him leave until we get back so you can watch him go."
Waspeye was quiet for a long moment. Eventually he sighed and gave in and nodded. Brownfur dipped his head in thanks and began to pad towards Jaystar while Waspeye padded towards the camp entrance. He ignored Alder and Cloverfoot, even when Alder said his name, and stepped through the bramble tunnel into the forest. Brownfur joined him only a few heartbeats later, the two walking into the forest.
"Talk to me," Brownfur said softly as they came to the lake. Waspeye looked away with a huff. "Hey, come on. You know I'm here for you. Why are you so angry?"
"I…" Waspeye shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and find a fitting way to phrase what he wanted to say. After a moment he just sighed, shoulders slumping. "Why did she run?" he questioned.
"Maybe she just panicked," Brownfur offered, shrugging. "She met somebody nice, got comfortable, then panicked when she realized she was expecting kits and just…ran. It doesn't have to be some big mystery or threat."
"But…" Waspeye trailed off, and Brownfur could see the idea of Cloverfoot doing something like that upset him greatly. Guilt hit him hard, the brown tom frowning as he tried to think of something to say to console his friend.
After a moment Brownfur sighed. "Look, there could be any number of reasons for why Cloverfoot did what she did," he said. "Some good, some bad, some neither. Whatever her reason, she did it. We can't change that. And being angry over it just…gets tiring. You don't have to welcome Alder with a smile, or anything, but give him a chance, if nothing else."
"Why should I?" Waspeye questioned, though the anger was fading slowly but surely.
"Because I asked," Brownfur answered evenly. Waspeye blinked, surprised partly by the simplicity of the answer and partly from the way it made him feel. There was a warmth to it, but similar to the warmth he felt just being around anyone he considered a friend, but it was stronger. More filling yet also more focused at first. It began in his chest, slowly spreading out to the rest of his body. His tail-tip tingled, the warmth spreading to his head and face next, The tri-colored tom turned away, trying to gather his thoughts.
"Alright," he eventually conceded. Brownfur smiled in thanks, and Waspeye returned it wearily.
After a moment Waspeye sighed softly to himself. "There's so much going on lately," he said. "This…Alder situation. Moorwind. Jaystar's expecting kits."
"Wait, what happened with Moorwind?" Brownfur asked, looking at him with confusion.
"Oh, we just talked for a bit," Waspeye said with a nonchalant shake of his head. "Asked me for some advice, I told her what I thought, and then we went our separate ways shortly thereafter."
"About what?" Brownfur asked curiously.
"Did I not tell you?" Waspeye replied, head tilting in thought. He hummed to himself. "We just talked about how the warrior code has changed since it was made, and how the medicine cat code hasn't really changed in any significant ways like it. She didn't think it was fair that medicine cats can't have kits, for example. She thinks that the rule was made because a small number of medicine cats in the past couldn't handle it without taking into account there are plenty of cats who could handle it."
"What do you think?" Brownfur asked curiously. He wasn't overly fond of Moorwind, nor did he trust the she-cat's reason for talking to Waspeye about it, but the topic did intrigue him a little.
"I think she has a point," his friend said with a noncommittal shrug. "There are plenty of cats who can handle their medicine cat duties and raising a family. There are plenty of cats who couldn't. Changing it would require a lot of work, and it would have to be on an individual basis instead of just a blanket change. It's a very complicated situation. It would only take one or two of the wrong cats starting families to ruin it all for the rest of them, just like before."
Brownfur hummed softly. "I suppose I can see that," he said with a slow nod. He hesitated slightly, then looked at Waspeye. "Are you feeling better?"
The tri-colored tom nodded. "Yeah, I think so," he replied. "I just…I don't know. I know it's complicated, but…"
"Being complicated just makes it worse," Brownfur guessed. Waspeye nodded again.
"Exactly," he said, relieved his friend understood. "Before, it was simple. He was dangerous, and that meant he had to go. No matter what. But if it's complicated, then was Cloverfoot the one who was in the wrong? Does leaving Alder without warning make her bad? If he isn't dangerous, then it would, right? You can't just abandon somebody you like that way and still be good."
"Maybe there isn't a right answer," Brownfur suggested. "At the end of the day, that's just life. It's complicated. Sometimes there isn't a right answer. Sometimes your only choices are bad ones, but you still have to choose. Sometimes we just mess up. We get scared or we panic or…who knows how many other factors, but we still mess up. All you can do is try to make amends. To forgive. To let go."
Waspeye let out a slow exhale, eyes closing as he let his head hang. Eventually he looked to his friend. "Yeah," he said softly. "I guess we can go back now. Thank you for bringing me out here. For listening, and for helping me."
"That's what friends are for," Brownfur replied with a smile.
Waspeye returned the smile warmly, Brownfur dipping his head and turning to pad back to camp. Waspeye made to say something, then paused as he realized he didn't know what he was going to say. Just something to be out in the forest with him for just a little bit longer. After a few heartbeats he shook his head and followed his friend, the pair arriving back at camp shortly thereafter.
Alder was still in the same spot he'd been in when they had left, though at some point he had decided to lay down while he waited. Cloverfoot was talking to Lakesplash, Ivytail, and Jaystar near the fresh-kill pile. Waspeye noticed a few cats looking at him silently, though he did his best to ignore them. It was more than a little difficult.
After a moment the tri-colored tom padded over to where Cloverfoot and the others were, the four exchanging glances as he approached.
"I wanted to apologize," he said to Cloverfoot. "I shouldn't have said those things. I shouldn't have been so angry. I just…" A sigh escaped him. "It was a lot to process, and I was afraid that I didn't know you as well as I thought. I look at you, and all I can see is my mother. It was a reminder that you were more than that, that you aren't necessarily perfect. And I was afraid that he was dangerous. That he was going to hurt you, me, or the clan somehow. I lost myself in those fears."
Cloverfoot smiled warmly. "I understand," she said in a gentle voice. "How are you feeling now?"
"Better," the red and black tom replied with a nod. "I'm not angry, anymore. Or at least not enough to matter. I'm just worried what this means for all of us."
Jaystar glanced at Cloverfoot, then stepped forward. "Alder has requested he be allowed to stay," she said. "At least for a short time. He wants to get to know you."
Waspeye blinked in shock, then frowned when he'd fully processed what she'd said.
"Where did he come from?" he asked, and Jaystar glanced behind the younger tom. Waspeye turned just in time to find Alder coming to a stop right beside him.
"I come from my family," he explained. "We're led by my mother, Holly. I have two littermates, Oak and Dandelion. Oak recently became a father as well, two toms named Marigold and Nettle."
"Lot of plants," Lakesplash remarked, more to himself than anything.
"Who's their mother?" Jaystar asked, ignoring the comment.
"A she-cat named Brandy," Alder answered. "A loner Oak met a few moons before I left."
"Do they know you're here?" Jaystar questioned, head tilting slightly.
"Not specifically," he answered with a shake of his head. "They just know why I left, not where. I never told them anything about the clans. They know you exist, just from travelers we've met who know of you, but beyond that…"
Jaystar hummed softly. "If you stay, you'll be expected to live like you're one of us," she said.
"I understand that," he replied with a respectful dip of his head. "I can hold my own. I won't cause any problems." Alder hesitated, then glanced at Waspeye. "That is, of course, assuming I'm wanted."
Waspeye was quiet, looking at the others to see what they might be thinking. Jaystar seemed neutral, if a little reserved. Lakesplash was a little standoffish, though not hostile. Ivytail was too busy staring at Alder to meet Waspeye's gaze. The medicine cat clearly had the strongest negative feelings about the larger tom. A glance at Cloverfoot revealed that she seemed hopeful. Waspeye struggled to decide if she was hopeful for another chance with Alder or hopeful that Waspeye would accept him.
The red and black tom looked back to see Brownfur. His friend dipped his head, and Waspeye felt his reservations slowly fade away. If Brownfur was certain this was the right thing to do, then it was.
"Okay," he said as he turned back to Alder. "We'll make you a nest to sleep in."
Alder seemed to relax from a tenseness that Waspeye hadn't even noticed. He exhaled in relief, eyes closing.
"Thank you," the older tom whispered. He looked at Waspeye with a warm, thankful smile. Waspeye hesitated, then dipped his head. The others dispersed after a moment, only Lakesplash staying behind with Alder and Waspeye.
Lakesplash hummed to get Waspeye's attention, the red and black tom looking at him curiously. Alder seemed to pick up on an unspoken request, turning and padding away to let them talk. Waspeye turned and watched him go, frowning in confusion. He turned back to Lakesplash.
"Are you sure about this?" his former mentor asked worriedly.
Waspeye thought it over a moment, then nodded. "I'm sure he doesn't plan to stay forever," he said. "If his family is expecting him back at all, he won't be here too long."
"And if they aren't?" Lakesplash questioned. "What if he stays here forever?"
"Then he stays here forever," Waspeye answered evenly. He sighed softly. "Look, I don't care who Alder is. We may be kin, but he isn't the cat I consider my father. That's not changing."
A small smile touched his former mentor's muzzle.
"I know," the older tom said, though he still sounded thankful for what he'd said. "I hope he stays, for what it's worth. Starclan knows I have my reservations, but I do hope he stays. He seems like a decent cat."
Waspeye didn't respond, simply smiling warmly at the older tom. They dipped their heads to each other, then parted ways. Waspeye found Alder and Brownfur at the warrior's den, trying to figure out where the large tom could squeeze a nest into. An amused smile touched Waspeye's muzzle.
Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad, after all.