The return((open))

[Thorn]

Skystar walked into the camp with tired eyes. Cats gathered around asking many question. The main one was, did Starclan give him Nine lives. Crimsonstar simply walked out on his clan. So he was technically still leader and Skyhawk was never the deputy. He looked around for Frostbite didn't see her. He made his way to a large log where he jumped up and let out a loud yowl."Starclan has granted me 9 lives!" he mewed. Cats cheered but some were still skeptical."I am now Skystar leader of thunderclan!" the more skeptical ones just nodded their heads while the others cheered. The gray tom jumped off the rock and scanned the cloud.

He soon spotted the long furred white she-cat and his heart skipped a beat. He padded up to her imediately and let his gray tail touch her flank gently."Frostbite...."

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite was on her way to the nursery when she felt a tail touch her and a familar voice behind her. She turned around to see Skyha- star standing behind her. Frostbite looked at him for a brief moment and mewed, "I'll be right back.." She padded into the nursery leaving her leader alone and waiting. Not long after did she pad out of the den and padded up to her leader and stood not to close but not to far from him either. "You must be tired. I'll give you some poppy to help you sleep and I want you in your den and to not come out. Tigerflight can take things from here and if anyone has any questions are they not to disturb you and can come to me about it." With that she padded past the tom and headed to her den.

Things were going to change.. but were her feelings? He was now leader and what was she even thinking about ever liking...her leader? That was very much against the rules. Very. She had never broken a clan rule in her life! Now she thinks she is.. in love with Skystar? Her own leader? Medicien cats were forbidden to love. Frostbite didnt even know what love was, and whatever she was feeling now.. it couldnt be could it?

Scanning her den she found the poppy seeds, picked them up and headed back to her leader. She set them down at his paws and mewed, "You are sleeping. Dont argue with me. You can barely keep your eyes opened and stand on your own four paws." It wasnt in a snippy way. It was a calm, relaxing tone she was using. Who was she now?

[Thorn]

Skystar watched her go into the nursery. He wanted to object about the poppy seeds. He had 9 lives why not waste one of them staying up. The tom followed the she-cat to her den and found himself laying down in one of the vacated nests that were meant for the sick. Skystar stiffled a yawn before licking up the poppy seeds that his medicine cat had given him."I can take care of myself Frostbite, I have a clan to run, I need to work just as much as you do nnow if not more." He mewed. he found himself stretching his limbs."double the patrols, more training, I still need to pick a mentor for Rowanpaw as well...."

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite watched her leader head off to her den and lie down. She picked up the poppy seeds and set them back where she got them. She glared at her leader and was about to protest until the words hit her,

I need to work just as much as you do now if not more

What about when she needed his help for hersb. Their talks. Their walks. A friendship was just about growing and now, all of that was now thrown away. As if it never happened. He was leader now and everything changed in only one day.. She flattened her ears on her head but then shot them back up. "I'm sure who ever you pick for Rowanpaw will be just fine. How about you take him, seeing your going to be just as busy as me go take on an apprentice!" Her ears lied flat against her head and growled, "If you can take care of yourself you obviously dont need me around to help you out! Excuse me for worrying about your health and the clans!"

With that Frostbite turned tail and padded out of the den with out another word.

[Thorn]

Skystar flattened his ears as the she-cat spoke. Why was she being so harsh. The tom listened to her speak without saying another word. when she left the den Skystar raised a brow. What was it with she-cats? He just didn't understand them. He thought back to his ex mate Hollyshadow one of their warriors and spat with disgust. He liked Frostbite but didn't want to tell her. It was against the warrior code to mate with a medicine cat. He was a leader as well that certainly wouldn't look good. His gray tail wrapped around his body and he found his eyes growing heavy. He wanted to reach out and call her back in but he couldn't find the energy. He simply loathed in the nest and his eyes closed...."I'm sorry Frostbite..." he mewed in a soft whisper before his mind shut down and went to sleep.

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite padded into her den with a mouth of herbs and padded past her leader. She set her bers gently on the ground and then looked at her sleeping leader. Her eyes softened and she glanced out of the den and saw cats busy as ever. She padded quietly over to Skystar and gave him a gentle but light lick between his ears. Her breathing was soft and she kept her eyes on the den opening. Bringing her mouth to her leaders ears she whispered ever so softly, "Dont forget about me.." With that she turned back around and started to organize her herbs.

[Thorn]

He heard the soft whispers of the she-cat brush against his ear. The tom was already incredibly tired and couldn't even respond. His whiskers twitched slightly, he did hear her. It wasn't long before the tom was in a deep slumber dreaming about his apprentice hood and how he and Shadowpaw had competed as apprentices. They got into claws unsheathed fights, yet soon the compeition drew them close together. They became best friends. As warriors they both competed for deputy but never got it. They were in large battles together as well saving each others lives, except for that one time.

Skyhawk couldn't be there for him. Riverclan was just too quick. Spiderclaw had already gotten to him and before he knew it Shadowfrost was gone. Skyhawk narrowed his eyes in his sleep scrunching up his nose. His hind legs began to kick as if he were fightign someone off. Shadowfrost died that night because of him. When Skyhawk went to go get his nine lives, Shadowfrost was the very last one to give him a life. the life he received was forgiveness....Shadowfrost had forgiven him. Skystar knew that if Shadowfrost was still alive....he would have been his deputy instead of that flirtatious Tigerflight. Tigerflight was however, second best, and he would have to accept that.

Skystars eyes flew open, unaware of how many hours or even if a full day had gone by. He had a clan to run. Apprentices to assign to warriors. His eyes landed on Frostbite who was just as content sorting her herbs. He tilted his head to the side and just let a smile form on his muzzle."How long have I been sleeping for Frostbite?"

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite heard the leader stir then speak. She rolled her eyes and mewed, "not long enough.." She went back to her herbs and was almost done sorting them. It felt just right having him in her den with her. She couldnt aks for anything more. It was just going to kill to see him busy with work and taking on apprentices when she only had one job. to make sure the clan was healthy. Of course her work was never done sadly. always running around and collecting herbs for cats. It wasnt an easy job. Yet she was proud of her work. She then turned her head around to see him looking at her. Her eyes shifted to the floor then back to her leader, "Staring problem?" she asked with a little playful smile on her muzzle.

[Thorn]

Skyhawk simply nodded eagerly. The gray tom stood up and fluffed out his fur. WIth a quick shake he padded over to the she-cat. He let out a warm purr before quickly swiping his tongue between the she-cats ears."Yes, Yes I do." He mewed with a playful grin. The tom looked out to the camp center where cats were sharing tongues. How could he hide his affection for this she-cat without giving away the darkest secret. He sighed quickly and brought his gaze back to her.

"I won't give up on us....you Frostbite...even if the skies or the world gets rough." he mewed softly. He thought back to his pervious mate Hollyshadow who was his mate before Frostbite was even around. they weren't even mates for that long."I hate to have to not be your best friend when the clan is around, and for that I'm sorry.... I want you to know that even if I appear to be ignoring you...or doing leader like things that I'm really thinking of you the entire time...."

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite followed his eyes and closed her eyes when he licked her between the ears. She follwed his gaze then out to the camp clearing and stayed silent. She looked back at him and flattened her ears against her head. Was this real? Frostbite looked down at the ground and couldnt believe what she was getting herself into. She was about to open her mouth but her leader cut her off. "Skystar.. I cant see you get hurt if anyone finds out. Its bad enough cats might already be onto us...and what we have but.. I know the clan comes first so dont be putting soft little lies in my head when I know the truth."

[runningheart]

Sagepaw struted out of the medicine cat den. He was getting used to the fact that he wasn't going to take the same road as his sister, and that he was going to have to care for the clan someday. With his fur fluffed out to keep himself warm he padded out into the clearing. He stopped at once. He stood by Skystar's den, he heard two voices speaking back and forth. One of them Frostbite, his mentor and the other the new leader himself. The young apprentice dove into cover. He listened in on the two cats' conversation. The sentences weren't completely clear but he heard bits and pieces of them, "I.....give..up......us.....Frostbite........not.....your..being......friend.....clan......around................ thinking......you......whole.......time....." That ended Skystar's words and next came Frostbite's voice. "see.......hurt.........finds..out.............already..on...us.......little....lies." That is all Sagepaw could make out. He quickly left the scene, trying to hide what he thought he just heard.

[Thorn]

Skystar flicked his ears and his nostrils flared up. Sagepaw was around, but what about his sister? He sniffed the air one more time."You have a very nosy apprentice Frostbite..." he mewed looking out towards the camp. THe clan comes first? What did she mean by telling lies. He raised a brow curious as to what she meant by it. He was a tom and sometimes you had to explain things four or five times before they actually understood what you meant.

"The clan comes first to an extent, such as there safety, I will always be the first one in line for a battle, you are there for them when they need to be healed, you make sure your own apprentice gets trained, the clan comes first to an extent. In my mind, you are always first, and I assure you I am not filling your head with petty lies that make me look good to you because this is not the case Frostbite."

[Frostbite }}]

Frostbite smelled the air and growled. "He's gonna get it when i'm done here.." Her gaze left the enterence and went back to her leader. Frostbite looked deep into his eyes and took in every word and didnt want to let them go. "See the key word there is your mind. In your mind I come first.. I cant though now because.. it's against the rules..." Her voice suddnely got quiter just incase anyone was listening. "I dont want to have to lose you nine times skystar.. Why did you have to do this...why did you need to be leader.."

[runningheart]

Sagepaw scurried to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a vole for his mentor. He figured it might ease the punishment he knew was coming. The young tom hurried back to the medicine den and sat with the vole at his paws, waiting for Frostbite. He didn't know how harsh the yelling would be, but he ran through what might happen. Thrity different ways of her to take what, he knew, she knew. Both of the cats knew that he was listening to their conversation. Every quiver of movement made him jump. He was so stiff, he wanted to just hide. He starred into the space of the medicine den.

[Thorn]

Skystar thought for a moment. He had to think before placing his words because he didn't want to upset the she-cat."I felt like I needed to because Rowanstar was going to make me deputy before I fell, I felt like I owed the clan a favor in the least. Crimsonstar was too mighty of a leader, and I feel like I owe Shadowfrost. As apprentices him and I competed for everything, and as warriors we competed for the deputy spot but before Crimsonstar it was eaglescreech. but before he was picked...back when Fireclaw was picked him and I wanted that spot so bad. Instead Fireclaw got it, when Fireclaw we died we both thought it would be him or I but it was Eaglescreech instead." he mewed.

"When Eaglescreech passed away Rowanstar told me it was my turn. I knew then that I should keep it a secret, but that night Riverclan attacked, it was close to when you were born I believe, but Shadowfrost died I couldn't save him and for that I will always blame myself." he mewed. "Eaglescreech died 5 moons later in a battle against Shadowclan. I knew then I would be made deputy the next night, I believe you were training under Darkrose at the time. Well I was overseeing Swiftpaw's training and I fell off the cliff...Crimsonstar was made deputy...I knew if Shadowfrost hadn't died it would have been him. It would be Shadowstar .... Skystar sighed wrapping his tail around his paws.

" I wasn't sure it was meant to be me to be honest...and sometimes I still wonder but when I saw the hawk soaring over our camp I had a feeling it was meant to be me...however the choices I've made may not be the best, Tigerflight is a good warrior but I think I picked him because I was afraid...Stormwind would have been a good choice...perhaps a better one even..."