(This is a part 2 to the first TigerFire post i made earlier. I think this one's better written, even if a bit stale in places. :3)
"Hey! Did you even hear me?" Fireheart jumped as his best friend's unusually agitated voice pierced his thoughts. "Great Starclan, Fireheart. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were still an apprentice with dreams of grandeur!" Graystripe Snarled. Fireheart opened his mouth to retort, but realized that he couldn't. The truth was, Graystripe was right. "I-Im sorry. I really am, I don't know what's gotten into me."
Looking down at his paws, he knew that was only half true. But he still couldn't bring himself to say it so brazenly. Graystripe sighed. "We both know that isn't true. You've been in your own world since you emerged from the nursery the other morning." Graystripe's voice was softer now, but no less serious. He reached out and put one of his paws on Fireheart's. "Look. . ." Graystripe started awkwardly when Fireheart met his gaze. He'd never been the best with his words, but he couldn't say nothing. "I know I haven't been perfect myself. You said something when you thought I was making a mistake. It's my turn now, and Fireheart— I think you're making a huge mistake."
Fireheart's heart sank. He hadn't expected today to go this direction. He couldn't help but remember the fights he and Graystripe had over Silverstream. Fireheart prayed it wouldn't come to that. . . "I understand how you feel, Graystripe, but he's not nearly as bad as he seems! He's.. he's nice when you get to know him! He-" Graystripe was already shaking his head. "That's not the problem, Fireheart. You can't actually be that dense."
When Fireheart met his gaze blankly, Graystripe cursed under his breath. "Okay, well, first off, he is quite literally old enough to be your father. Doesn't that bother you? Does that not feel at all odd?" Graystripe only paused a moment, before carrying on. "Plus, you know exactly what he did. To Redtail, to Ravenpaw..."
Fireheart pulled his paw away and looked around uncomfortably, hoping that no one was listening in. Dragging his gaze across the clearing, could see that his clanmates were still sharing tongues merrily, unaware of— A familiar tabby pelt stole his attention away. Tigerclaw lay on the other side of the clearing by himself, a small rabbit between his massive paws. Fireheart couldn't help but admire him, and the way the quickly setting sun shone through the trees onto his luxuriously thick fur. . . Fireheart's gaze wandered upwards until it rested on his prey-stained muzzle. He watched, transfixed, as Tigerclaw swiped his tongue once over those glimmering, sharp canines. . . Fireheart's gaze instinctually drifted upwards, only to discover that Tigerclaw's eyes were locked on him. He looked hungry.
Fireheart snapped his head back towards Graystripe. He was suddenly aware of how hard his heart was beating, and how hot he felt under his pelt. "I d-don't see why any of this matters," Fireheart stammered. "It's not like he would ever feel the same way." Graystripe squinted at Fireheart. He didn't need to look to know what his friend had seen. Graystripe could pretty well guess from how Fireheart was fidgeting.
"You may be the most mouse-brained cat I've ever met." Graystripe murmured after a moment. He could see that there was no arguing with Fireheart now. He did his best, but it clearly wasn't enough. All he could do now is be here for him when it innevitably fell through. Until then, though, his orange friend would need to learn the lessons first-paw. "I won't argue anymore. Just be safe, okay?"
Fireheart opened his mouth to speak, but found that he had no words. He simply stretched his neck out, and touched noses with Graystripe.
With little more to say, Fireheart got up and wove his way through throngs of cats towards the dark brown tabby that he had once considered his mortal enemy. Tigerclaw looked rather pleased as Fireheart approached, tail stood tall in greeting. "Ah, I was hoping you'd stop by." Tigerclaw's deep mew greeted Fireheart's ears like an old friend. "Hungry?" He pointed to the half eaten rabbit with his muzzle.
Settling in, maybe a bit closer than he needed to, Fireheart sniffed at the prey. His stomach complained loudly. Fireheart realized that he couldn't remember the last time he ate. Tigerclaw pushed the rabbit closer, the tantalizing scent making Fireheart's mouth water. Tearing a strip from the rabbit, Fireheart barely cared that it tasted stale. It might as well have been the tastiest prey he'd ever had until then. "Say," Tigerclaw started, gazing down at Fireheart, whose mouth was still full. "How would you feel about training sometime tomorrow? like old times. I want to see how much Bluestar taught you."
Swallowing, Fireheart looked up and locked gazes with Tigerclaw once again. For a moment, it felt like nothing else in this world existed except for the warmth those eyes of his betrayed. Images of Tigerclaw's battle prowess flickered through his mind. The blood, the decisive strikes, those muscles... for less than a split second, Fireheart couldn't help but imagine what it would be like for those teeth to sink into his flesh.
He wouldn't have time to ponder these odd thoughts until later, though. If he had answered, Fireheart hadn't realized he had. "Good." Tigerclaw purred. "Meet me in the training hollow at sunhigh. Until then, you can keep me company. Sound good, Kittypet?"
Fireheart could sense the affection in his tone this time.
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