A 'friendly' conversation

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash and Spruceburn were walking in the forest, side by side. They were making minimal chit chat whil out on a hunting expedition. Ember felt that he and Spruceburn got along well enough. That was the best thing Ember could've hoped for, meaning his mate was Spruceburn's sister. So fa, their catch wasn't too bad for leaf-bare, two birds and a scrawny rabbit. After a full day of hunting, Ember decided that they should rest. They came across the apprentice clearing known as the mossy clearing. He sat down and gave his chest a few licks. "So, Spruceburn, how's life been?" Emberflash meowed, failing at trying to start a conversation.

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn laid down next to the tom, the burnt portion of his face not visable from Emberflash's point of view. He licked his paw and drew it over his whiskers. '' So, Spruceburn, how has life been? '' the young warrior asked him. The tabby blinked and turned to face Emberflash, '' It's the middle of leaf-bare and my paws are freezing, thanks for asking. '' he meowed bluntly and then continued licking his whiskers. He had to remind himself to put in an effort to be nice to Emberflash, seeing as his sister Gladetail was... with him. '' How has Gladtail been? '' he asked, his tone softening. '' You two seem happy together, it's nice t see a relationsip without drama once in a while. ''

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash looked away out of embaressmet. He hadn't ment 'how's life been' as a bad thing. But, Spruceburn quickly changed to an agreeable subject of Ember and Gladetail. Oh, where to start. Things are going so great. I just can't stop smiling. We make each other so happy. It's as though nothing could ever dampen our mood." he purred softly. His head shot down to bite his tail tip as an itch grew rapidly. Once cured, Ember looked back a Spruceburn. "Me and Gladetail, we're closer than ever before. It' like we have our own full life outside the cla, our own world."

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn smiled a small smile, that was how he and Birdsong were... But it was still weird hearing someone say that about his sister. But if Emberflash made her feel this way he couldn't do anything about, heck, he didn't want to do anything about it. Spruceburn flicked his ear, thoughts rushing into his head. It was ok for him and Birdsong to feel like that because he was going to die before even considering hurting her. What if Emberflash wasn't like that? What if he was like Wolfstar? What if he stopped feeling that way about Gladetail and just left her? The tabby tom looked at te ground, now only the good side of his face visable to the other tom. '' Emberflash, I'll tell you this one time, '' he growled, not caring if he seemed bipolar, '' if you hurt Gladetail... Or even think about it, I will hurt you. '' He turned to face Emberflash again so the burnt side of his face was visable, his one green eye lit up with a strange ice cold fire. '' By the time I'm done with you, you will wish you looked half as pretty as me. ''

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash sat and purred with Spruceburn for a moment, but he quickly felt tension grow. He opened his eyes to see Spruceburn glaring at him. "If you hurt Gladetail or even think about it, I will mess you up so bad that you'll wish you were half as pretty as me!" he growled, out of nowhere came bad feelings. Emberflash's fur bristled. "How dare you even consider that I would ever betray Gladetail! I love her more than the world itself. You, you're just an asshole, thats why! So sad your life is fucked up! You don't have to fuck up mine!" Emberflash snarled, his fur making him look twice his size.

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn jumped to his paws too, his teeth bared in a vicious snarl. Even if Emberflash had his fur fluffed up to make him look twice his size, Spruceburn was still bigger than him. The wind seemed to pick up with the tension between the two toms, blowing their fur in odd angles and slapping them in the face with a few snow flakes here and there. It took every bit of self contol Spruceburn had to make himself not throw this cat into the nearest tree. '' I bet that's exactly what my father said to Greenlily! '' he snarled at Emberflash. '' You think my life is messed up? Your's will be even worse if you talk to me like that again. '' he growled his claws sliding into the mossy ground and his tai lashing back and forth. '' Run back to the apprentices' den before I claw your ears off! The only reason I haven't yet is because your with Gladetail. ''

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash felt no fear; he wasn't even cold in the least. All he could feel was cold fury. He felt betrayed by who he thought was his friend. As Spruceburn spoke to Ember about going back to the apprentice's den. A sneer grew on Ember's face. He snickered. "Me? Go back to the Apprentice's Den? I think that would be you, seems I've broken maturity sooner than you. I don't care what you say! Gladetail is having my kits so get used to it!" he snapped. Emberflash let the words slip out without feeling any regret. He was proud to be a father, and he was going to father kits before Spruceburn. To Ember, he had won. "Oh, and you think my life will be messed up if I speak to you like I did again? HAH! Not compared to yours! It's not my fault your father is a backstabbing whore,a player! Your life is alot worse than you rezlize that Wolfstar is having an affair with the clan deputy!" The words slippedout before he could stop them. Emberflash ws taken aback for a moment, but he didn't let it show.

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn heard the blood pounding in his ears, how dare Emberflash talk abou Wolfstar like that! He didn't know anything! Just becausehe was with Wolfstar's daughter didn't mean anything. Spruceburn's ears flattened against his skull, his green eye widening in shock. Kits? Gladetail was having this flea bag's kits? Before he could raise his paw to strike this mange pelt Embrflash spoke again, '' Your life is alot worse than you realize. Wolfstar is having an affair with the clan deputy! '' The tabby tom had had enough, he lunged at the ginger cat before him with claws unsheathed. He placed his big paw on Emberflash's throat, '' I'll rip you to shreds! '' he growled, not even listening for a response. He wanted Emberflash to suffer for those words. For making Gladetail pregnant. For talking about Wolfstar like that. For making up lies about Wolfstar.

'' Say it again! '' he spat in Emberflash's face throuh bared razor sharp teeth. He pressed harder on the ginger tom's throat though his claws were sheathed now. '' Kits in leaf-bare? You'll be lucky if they survive! You'll be lucky if you survive! '' Thoughts were rushing through the dark tabby's mind. Could it be true? Wolfstar and Icegaze? No, Wolfstar had changd right? He had changed for his only son, Spruceburn right? Wolfstar had changed for him! He would never go back...

[Birdsong]

Birdsong drew in a deep breath, scenting the air for any hints of prey. Leaf-bare always brought the same things with it--snow and cold, sickness, and lacking prey. But the tawny she-cat felt optimistic. Perhaps she'd get lucky and find a squirrel breaking from it's hibernation to eat something? Her small paws picked the easiest route through the snow as she stalked lithely through the undergrowth, pausing now and again to check for prey.

She paused when the scent of testosterone hit her nose, and she blinked when she realized that Spruceburn was one of the toms caught up in the fray. Worry gnawing nervously in the pit of her stomach, she sprinted in his direction. Once she was closer, she identified the other tom as Emberflash. Cautiously, she crept to the edge of the training hollow and crouched in the bushes, peering out to see what was going on.

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash didn't have time to think as he was blown backwards by the tabby. He was pinned to the ground with a heavy paw on his throat. Yet, though it may have been stupid of him, he wasn't afraid. He swallowed hard and glared at the tom holding him down. "You think I'm lying? Really? How is it that hard to believe? It's not like I'm saying he and Batflight had a secret litter of kits or anything." Emberflash growled. He let out a sigh and stopped trying to get up. Spruceburn loosened his grip slightly an in that moment, Ember shoved upwards and sent Spruceburn flailing awkwardly. He shook his pelt and stood up. "Do not call me a liar, Spruceburn," he growled a warning. "You would never kill me for fear of Gladetail being more hurt than you could ever imagine. She would never forgive you for hurting me. And you realize what you're saying? You don't believe our kits will survive, they will. Because our clan is strong And some warriors may miss a meal or two for Glade."

[Spruceburn]

A new scent drifted toward Spruceburn but he ignored it, his anger building a wall between him and everything except Emberflash. He jumped to his paws and then spun to face Emberflash, ready to attack again. He took in a few deep breaths, he closed his eye trying to calm himself. He had to sort everything out. He flexed his claws a few times and then sheathed them again. Emberflash was his clanmate, Gladetail's mate, and in a strange way his new brother. '' I... I'm sorry. I'm just really protective of Gladetail. I don't want her to go through what Greenlily did and I don't want her- you're kits going through what we did. '' He opened his eye and faced Emberflash, staring at him intently. '' What you said about Wolfstar. Is it true? '' he asked.

[Birdsong]

Birdsong edged closer to the two toms, her ears perked forward and her green eyes wide. What was going on? From what she could gather, they were arguing about Gladetail and her relationship with Emberflash. She knew they were mates, but what she hadn't known was that Gladetail was expecting kits. She shifted restlessly on her paws and found that she felt both happiness for her "sister-in-law" and, surprisingly, jealously. She brushed the second emotion aside and turned her attention back to what was happening in front of her.

Spruceburn had just apologized to Emberflash, and was now asking if what he'd said about Wolfstar and Icegaze had been true. Her fur prickled uneasily as she grappled to understand what that might mean. She'd seen the looks that Wolfstar had occassionally given the other she-cats in camp, yes, but she'd always ignored them, assuming that they meant no harm. If he was like Spruceburn, then he was loyal and loving to the last. But what if he wasn't like his son?

Was if possible that Wolfstar and Icegaze had fallen in love? Is that what Spruceburn had meant? But what about Greenlily?

Birdsong inched a kitten-step forward, listening intently for Emberflash's answer, struggling to make out words over the frantic pounding of her heart. Surely, after once of ripping out Greenlily's heart, Wolfstar would have gained some common sense? Surely he wouldn't... No. He wouldn't do that to Greenlily, or to Spruceburn and Gladetail... would he?

[Ember~Rain]

Emberflash turned away for a moment. Spruceburn was being over-protective. Apparently he thought he knew this cat better, but he was wrong. Then, the subject was brought up again. He gulped and faced Spruce again. "I-I didn't mean to say that. I was so infuriated I couldn't stop it from coming out. Yes, sadly, it is true. Icegaze told me because she was happy, sad, and confused. I romised her I wouldn't tell, but I did. Please, don't tell Greenlily. Icegaze is already undsure of the situation. At the moment, I can't be sure anything is happening betwen them." he meowed.

[Spruceburn]

Spruceburn lifted his lips to bare his fangs, '' Do you think I would lie to my own mother? '' he hissed, '' Icegaze may be my clan's deputy, but my loyalty to Icegaze is nothing compared to my love for Greenlily. '' The tabby tom turned away from Emberflash and started heading back to camp, '' I won't bring your name into this Emberflash, but please understand I must do this. Greenlily has a right to know. '' He said and then dissapeared into the trees.