Run Away Bravely (Stormwind)

Jayfeather’s smooth movements as he sorted the herbs stuttered for a moment when he felt Crowfeather’s emotions, which were strong enough that he could feel them through Crowfeather’s natural prickly barrier. He involuntarily glanced at the tom despite not being able to see him.

Leafpool didn’t notice any of this, finding the pitiful few leaves of horsetail and adding the ones she’d collected to it, noting the increase in amount with satisfaction. When she turned around, then she noticed Crowfeather had frozen, staring at Jayfeather, and Jayfeather was ‘staring’ back. She glanced uncomfortably between the two.

Crowfeather’s eyes widened when he saw Jayfeather in the den as well. That’s my son... The tom froze for a moment, forgetting what he’d meant to say to Leafpool.

Leafpool glanced curiously back at Crowfeather when he continued following her after the two stepped off of the log bridge but kept walking, heading to the shared medicine cat den. Once they reached it, she simply walked in, waving her tail at Jayfeather in greeting as she walked over to put the herbs away.

Crowfeather padded close behind Leafpool, planning on following the She-cat into the medicine den so he could say a proper goodbye to The she-cat, who couldn’t do so because of her mouthful of herbs.

Leafpool felt guilty when she saw how much Crowfeather relaxed when the area around then opened up and cast her gaze downwards until they reached the log bridge. She hopped up onto it first, keeping a hold of her herbs while she made her way across.

If Crowfeather caught one of her looks, he didn’t let on to it, continuing to scan the forest until they reached the lakeside, where Crowfeather was able to let his guard down a little and sigh with relief. The shore opened up again, a little like the moor, and he felt less cramped now.

Leafpool padded next to him and just a little behind, letting the tom lead the way. She occasionally glanced at him during the long walk back to the log bridge, only to realize what she was doing and quickly look away again.

Crowfeather nodded, turning back towards the log bridge with a sweep of his black tail. The Tom lead the way back, but he didn’t purposefully speed up to keep Leafpool out of sight this time. He walked alongside her instead.

Leafpool padded alongside him, glancing around for more herbs. When she had seen none by the time the sun was starting to set, she sighed internally and turned to Crowfeather, gesturing that they should probably return to the camp.

Crowfeather nodded, turning forwards and beginning to walk again. While the tom tried to enjoy the quiet, it was too quiet without prey rustling the undergrowth or flapping overhead, and the forest began to close in around him once more.

Leafpool shook her head, flicking her tail. If they come across more herbs, she’d need help, but she was doing fine for the moment.

Crowfeather offered a soft smile at Leafpool when she glanced sheepishly at him.  “Need any help with that?”  The tom offered.  He felt like he was over The she-cat by now, and why not be her friend instead? They were already clanmates anyways.

Leafpool carefully picked the horsetail, flicking her tail, and picked up the leaves once she’d gathered all she could. Remembering Crowfeather now, she sheepishly returned to the dark-furred tom and blinked at him apologetically, unable to speak around the herbs in her mouth.

Crowfeather flicked his ears and followed Leafpool with his eyes for a concerned moment, but then sat down to wait for The she-cat. His eyes scanned the forest around them warily, the claustrophobic inkling of the Thunderclan territory returning to the tom when he didn’t have a companion immediately close.

After the two had walked in silence for several minutes, Leafpool let out a small, startled sound of delight when she saw horsetail. The tabby she-cat immediately switched direction to head over to it, forgetting about Crowfeather for the moment.

Crowfeather felt the stress of moons of pent-up frustration and confusion releasing all at once, The tom sighing softly and breathing in the tranquil forest air gratefully, the tension between the two mostly defused.

Leafpool dipped her head in acknowledgment, rising to her paws. This time, as they walked, she walked alongside him, though kept a careful distance.

“You tried,” Crowfeather replied, offering Leafpool a sad smile. “I have some questions for you, but I can save them for later. Let’s try and enjoy our walk.” The tom stood, waiting for Leafpool to draw alongside him again. “As friends,” added the tom, hoping she’d agree.

Leafpool looked back up at him, blinking in surprise at his sudden change in tone. “Yeah… I guess we did,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, Crowfeather. I should have told you about our kits as soon as I could.”

Crowfeather thought for a moment before his own blue eyes fell between his paws. “Neither does Windclan. I guess we both messed up a little.” He chuckled slightly before glancing back up at her.

Leafpool winced and dropped her gaze to her paws. That stung.

“And what Good was that loyalty anyways?” Crowfeather growled softly. “Thunderclan doesn’t even exist anymore.”

Leafpool scowled, flattening her ears. She didn’t like being laughed at, and especially not by Crowfeather.

Crowfeather nearly spat again, as Leafpool spoke. But, to be civil, he restrained himself to cracking a grin and snorting with feigned near-laughter. “I think you misunderstand what loyalty is. Loyalty would have been staying long enough to train a new medicine cat and then leaving with me, like you promised. Loyalty is not swaying your allegiances from your clan to me and then back again within a single day.”

Leafpool winced at his words but lifted her muzzle defiantly. “We both knew that we couldn’t leave ThunderClan to deal with the badgers alone; while it might not have been your home, neither of us are the kind of cats that would allow such death to happen without trying to stop it. And I couldn’t leave after Cinderpelt died, not when I would have been leaving them without a medicine cat. But just because I chose my Clan doesn’t mean I didn’t love you.” She pinned her ears back, not expecting her speech to do anything but make him angrier. “You can’t know what it’s like, loving someone and choosing to leave them. It tore me apart doing it to first you and then our kits. The four of you might have been left behind, but you didn’t have to choose whether or not to leave the one you love.” She hesitated then whispered, “We we’re both too loyal for it to last, Crowfeather.”