Hawkstar stood, stretching luxuriously in the late afternoon sun. Streaks of light stained his dark pelt a rich umber color, warming his bones in the process. His left side was still somewhat damp from where Dawnpool had groomed him when they were sharing tongues, he bid her a good afternoon and trotted over toward Hareflight who had just popped out of the Medicine Cat den. She looked worried. Not at all how one might expect given she’d just seen an old friend.
“Hey Hareflight, got a minute?” He called lightly, jerking his head in the direction of the woods. When she assented, he led the way out into the sun-dappled forest. Spring had arrived in a riot of colors. Baby ferns unfurled tenderly, their hues of green at their most vibrant and saturated phase. Birdsong filled the air, underscored by the hum of insects and small prey leafing about in the undergrowth, all busily setting up shop in the wake of winter.
“It’s something, isn’t it.” Hawkstar sighed deeply, turning to address his companion.
“I wanted to have a quick word. It’s reached my ears that you and Juncostar had somewhat of a tiff a few days ago. I wanted to see if, well, if you’re doing okay.” His amber eyes shimmered with concern.
“I wanted to ask you first. Because I’m not about to let him get away with….well, you know. But if you’d prefer I didn’t…..I think something should be said, but you are the aggrieved party here, not me.”
Hawkstar twitched his ears, watching Hareflight with concern. Her nervous demeanor reminded him of his youngest, Coldpaw. The two would certainly get on well.
“It has not reached many ears, I assure you.” He smiled in what he hoped was a kind manner. “Juncostar and I are good friends. Else, I wouldn't feel comfortable calling him a furball when he’s being one.”
He sat down, sensing this would take some time.
“Hareflight, did he hurt you? I don’t just mean your skin. Did he hurt you?”
H A R E F L I G H T
Hareflight started slightly as she was addressed from a direction she was not expecting. Seeing that it was Hawkstar, she let out a light breath and smiled dipping her head slightly in agreement as she began padding towards him. "Of c-course."
Stepping out into the woods, Hareflight opened her mouth to get a deep breath of the fresh growth pushing out of the ground, a clear sign that spring had arrived. Although ShadowClan's mountains had a whole host of other scents, this was something Hareflight often missed about their forest camp. A heavy silence lingered in the air, and, unusually for the molly, she did not even try to make small talk. When Hawkstar finally broke the silence, Hareflight simply listened quietly as Hawkstar began to speak.
She tilted her head towards him slightly, offering a pained smile. "I-I didn't realize it had- it had reached this far." A pause. One breath in. One breath out. "I'm... okay. I-It wasn't good, b-but-" Hareflight paused then, thinking over her words as Hawkstar watched her. "Well, I-I just... I d-don't want to cause p-problems with anyone and- I-I'm worried about h-him too, even a-after-"
Hareflight stopped in her tracks claws catching in the new grass below her in frustration. "I-I don't know wh-why he'd say those things," she said, and though her voice was soft it still caught slightly in her throat, "b-but there must be something wr-wrong with him. There h-has to be." She stared down at her paws for a moment, before forcing her gaze back up to the ThunderClan leader. "Look, u-um... I-if you want to say something to him, y-you can, i-it doesn't really m-matter to me, but... P-please look out for him too. I-I don't know wh-what's going on with him, b-but he c-clearly doesn't w-w-want my help so... s-someone has to- has to look after him."