Ending

[Spottedheart]

Spottedheart looked back at the warriors den sadly. She would soon be moving to the elders den. Her muzzle had grayed and her muscles were stiff all the time. She tended to be at the back of the patrols and return with the smaller, weaker prey. She wasn't the same old Spottedheart she had been so many seasons ago. She could feel the weight of age and responsibility on her shoulders. She was also partially glad that she was moving to the elders den. She'd b able to relax before she joined StarClan, unless of course, she died in a battle before she switched dens. A shudder rippled under her pelt and she licked her chest. Many cats were milling around the camp and Spottedheart felt glad that many of them were her kin and that she had helped mentor many of them. She smiled and looked over to the high-ledge. Her oldest friend Midnightstar had seemed so distant and she hardly ever left her den lately. Spottedheart wondered if something had been troubling Midnightstar and if so maybe she could help. She looked over to the fresh-kill pile was and saw Flamefur nibbling at a vole. She could tell that he was missing the company of his mate as much as Spottedheart was to. Lunafire had moved to the elders den moons ago and never talked to anyone. He had once been so full of life and had been a good mate and friend. Maybe, just maybe when she moved herself maybe he would talk, or at least look at her. Spottedheart sighed and padded over to Flamefur. "Morning Flamefur," she mewed. "How are you?"

[Flamefur]

OOC// I have a bit of an idea. Seeing as both Flamefur and Spottedheart have been having mate issues, and are pretty lonely, maybe a friendship can develop between them? It doesn't have to be romantic or anything- the kits part of the post is just his wandering thoughts. xP

Flamefur's ginger pelt was as lustrous as it had always been, but he had to face it- he was old. Gone were the days when he was twenty moons old, and asking Hawkstar to be his mate. She had long died, and he had moved to his birth Clan, ThunderClan. There, he had aged alongside Midnightstar- but she was gone, too, as far as he knew. He was now approximately ninety six moons old, making him the equivalent of a forty eight year old adult.

The sad thing was, the poor tom still wanted kits. He saw Stormflower and Mapleclaw, his eldest kits by Midnightstar, and missed the days when they were newborns. His most recent litter, consisting of Russetkit, Blackkit, and Ivykit... they were all warriors now! He was old, of course, to be a father, but he was ashamed of his mistakes. He wanted to make it up to his Clan before he died.

The vole he was nibbling became suddenly unappetizing, and he paused, sitting up. He heard Spottedheart approach, and turned to smile at her, though only halfheartedly. "Hey, Spottedheart." He meowed. "I'm... good, I guess. What about you?"

[Spottedheart]

Spottedheart smiled back. "I'm pretty good. I think I'll be retiring to the elder's den soon though." She paused. "The old bones can't take as much as they did anymore," Spottedheart sighed, gazing at all of the younger warriors. She noticed Dandyheart and Russetfur talking and chuckled. "Do you know whats up with Midnightstar? I've hardly seen her in moons and I'm starting to get worried."

OOC sure thing Flames

[Flamefur]

At the she-cat's comment about her aging, Flamefur piped up. "You've always been a strong warrior. There's nothing wrong with retiring to the elder's den. I think I might do so myself, soon." He flicked his tongue across his chest a few times and looked up again. Dandyheart and his youngest daughter, Russetwhisker, were talking near the warriors den. He wondered what would happen between those two. They had been friends for a while, and it was a Clan-wide fact that she had had a crush on him ever since they were kits.

"I don't know what could be up with Midnightstar," he sighed. His mate was distant, even to him. He remembered the days when he hadn't been a good father, hadn't been a good mate. He had tried to please both Hawkstar and Midnightstar. And he had failed miserably. Now, he had to be the best he could be to make up for it... but how could he make it up to her when she seemed so faded?

[Spottedheart]

"Oh don't worry about her Flamefur. She'll come around soon," I hope, Spottedheart added silently to herself. She touched his shoulder gently with a flick of her tail. She picked up a small mouse and started to nibble it, her stomach growling hungrily.

[Flamefur]

The vole forgotten beside him, Flamefur looked up at Spottedheart as she touched her tail to his shoulder. "I hope so." He meowed absently. "I- I know how you feel, now, with Lunafire-" It was then that he broke off, fearing that he had reached an oversensitive topic.

[Spottedheart]

Spottedheart stiffened at the mention of her mate then waved it away with her tail. "Ya, well... Lunafire's different. I think something may have changed him after our second litter was born..." She paused. "Well only StarClan knows. But I'm sure Midnightstar has her reasons." She gave a brief smile.

[Flamefur]

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up, regardless," Flamefur licked his chest fur shyly. He had to agree with her- Midnightstar was a smart she-cat, brave and loyal to her Clan. She probably had good reason to be so distant. But why did that hurt him so much?

[Spottedheart]

Spottedheart smiled and bit into her vole again. She could hardly taste the flavor. "So," she mumbled," what do you think is going on with Dandyheart and Russetwhisker?" She wasn't exactly curious, Spottedheart just thought it was a good time for a change of subject.

[Flamefur]

Flamefur welcomed the change of topic. Not that his daughter's love life was of particular interest to him, but it was conversation material. "I don't know. She's been in love with him since she was a kit," he paused to take a bite of his prey, though it seemed to taste bitter on his tongue. "But I don't know if he returns her affections."

[Spottedheart]

"Well you never know with young cats," Spottedheart mewed. After a few moments of awkward silence, and having finished her meal and sat up and quickly washed her muzzle. A slightly damp breeze blew through the camp and with it the distant rumbling of thunder. Fluffing up her pelt Spottedheart mewed," Looks like a storms coming. Should we send out a border patrol before it gets to wet?"

[Midnightstar]

Midnighstar peered from the edge of her den, her emerald eyes squinted in thought. Her delicate whiskers twitched lightly as she contemplated stepping into the daylight. It had been a long time since she had really conversed with another clanmate, and she had begun to miss the company of them all. On slight edge, Midnightstar slipped out of her cave and onto the ledge, padding down the pile of rubble until her paws reached the soft ground of the clearing. She gazed around, analyzing the setting. Cats were sprinkled across the area, doing casual activities; eating, sleeping, chatting. Feeling uncomfortable as eyes began to turn on her, she flexed her old claws and tore at the grass. After so much time alone, she hardly knew what to do. Did anyone want to talk to her? Did they miss her? Anxious, she decided to remain where she was. As she brought her eyes from the ground and looked about, memories began flooding back; her days of youth, tussling around in the grass with her bestfriend, the gatherings, raising kits, patrolling the borders, being gently pressed against the soft ginger fur of her mate, the sorrow of sharing him.. It all yet again became so vivid. And she realized, despite the pain, there came good experiences too. She shouldn't be keeping to herself so much, trying to bury the hurt. She should be out living life, anticipating what came next and loving it to the fullest. Breathing deeply, she pulled herself up and sat elegantly, flicking her sleek black tail in the air. Her eyes focused on two particular cats, that were truly most precious to her. Their old coats glistened in the light, still vibrant despite the age. She missed them so dearly, her mate and her bestfriend; she just wanted to bound up and embrace them both! But, she remained seated, grooming herself lightly, and waiting.

[Spottedheart]

Spottedheart glanced around the camp. Suddenly a familiar black pelt caught her gaze and Spottedheart saw Midnightstar. It had been moons since she had seen her old friend and she looked a bit out of place among the rest o her clan mates. Gently tapping Flamefur with her tail Spottedheart whispered,"Flamefur, look!"

[Flamefur]

Flamefur nodded his agreement to the other deputy. "It's probably a good idea. The weather doesn't look like it'll be getting better any time-" He was cut off by a familiar flash of black fur near the entrance of the leader's den. The ginger tom's head was still lowered, his prey now completely finished, and he was loathe to raise it. Was she really back? Was this really her? Flamefur finally mustered the courage to look up, and his mate's beautiful eyes caught his gaze. She was here. He barely heeded Spottedheart's comment, and rose to all fours, his eyes focused on the love of his life. Any thoughts of Hawkstar- which were very few nowadays- had completely left his subconscious. It was Midnightstar he wanted to see, to feel her pelt brush against his, to embrace. "Midnightstar," he breathed softly. Before he could even realize it, Flamefur was walking slowly and surely towards her. He had to see her.

ooc// Welcome back, Morgy