[Hellion]

Flashbrook

---

Blue eyes stirred open and to his paws, Flashbrook stood up. His limp was tender and very visible in the cold night air. Cursing silently for his lameness, he exited the warriors den and found himself looking upward at the stars. "So many nights I prayed to StarClan for my safe return home. Now that I am home I want to thank you with every fiber of my being, you gave me back Burningleaf and that was so much more than what I asked for." His words were soft but heavy with emotion.

His time spent wandering before turning home were filled with devout love and admiration for StarClan. He sat there for some time just looking at the stars, he wondered if his parents where there. After he returned he learned they had past on, his mother from green cough and his father from a fight with a badger. Curling his tail along his paws, Flashbrook leaned toward his strong side, extended his sore leg outward in front of him, Flashbrook just relaxed and looked up at the sky, wondering if Burningleaf would notice his absence and join him.

---

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to

Word Count::
Tag::Amber
Notes::

[Deleted]

but you'll see every day that i'll never turn away
when it seems all your dreams come undone
i will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride
we are more than we are
we are one

---

The absence of his lover's warmth wasn't immediately registered; it was only after his flank began to feel the cold emptiness that comes with the removal of a heat source. The ginger and white tom shifted, thinking that his mate might have rolled over, but when he still did not come into contact with warm fur, he knew Flashbrook was gone. He rolled over, resting within the nest of the other, breathing in the red-tinted tom's lingering scent.

Golden eyes slowly blinked open, and he stretched between the two nests, a yawn parting his jaws. He rose to his paws, arching his back, stretching his spine. Blinking in the dim light of the den, Burningleaf scanned the sleeping bodies of his Clanmates. Picking his way between the nests and gently rising and falling mounds of fur, the senior warrior successfully made it through the maze of cats and to the entrance. He paused a moment before padding out into the night air.

It was the end of leaf-fall, and the air was heavy with the chill of impending leaf-bare. Briefly, he wondered why all of the seasons had leaf in them. Not all of the territories had trees, so not every cat could see the true meanings of the season names. The idle thought hung in his mind a moment, as he cast his gaze about the camp.

A still sleepy smile pulled at his jaw as he spotted Flashbrook sitting nearby, his injured leg stretched out. His smile faded a bit as he looked at him, his expression dropping to sorrow. He hated what had happened, what had caused Flashbrook's limp, what had kept them apart so long. Even now, even with Flashbrook with him every day, memories of the event still plagued his mind. He was living in a dream world now, and part of him mind still didn't quite believe it was all true.

He shook the thoughts from his mind as he padded over to him. Burningleaf moved silently to take his place beside his mate, settling to sit on his stronger side. He pressed his shoulder to Flashbrook's, a sign that the red-tinted tom could lean against him for support. He smiled at his mate, a contented smile, laced with just a hint of sorrow. Nothing he could say or do could change the past, and nothing his mate could say or do could change the pain and guilt he felt in his own heart.

Burningleaf followed his mate's gaze to the sky, the stars of Silverpelt shining brightly down at them. A cold breeze blew over them, sending a chill down his spine. Behind him, his tail swept around, hugging Flashbrook close to him. The silence between them was comforting to Burningleaf. There was nothing to say. Instead, he just sat there, gazing at the stars, secure in the love they shared between them.

---

B U R N I N G L E A F

[Hellion]

Flashbrook

---

Burningleaf joined him within a matter of minutes but Flashrbook didn't greet his mate at first. He was so engrossed in his prayer and moment with StarClan that he wasn't sure if he was going to be of any decent company to his dear mate, but he did welcome his presence. Burningleaf had been subtle in caring for his mate. The fact that he sat on Flashrbook's stronger was proof of that. Relaxing and allowing his gaze to drift from the stars and to the ground, the red painted tom melted into his mate's comfort a gentle purr escaped his maw.

In silence they sat for awhile, Flashbrook wanted to express to Burningleaf that he wasn't angry for at him for his forced absence and he wanted with all his heart to show that he didn't harbor any anger towards him for his disability. That wretched mentor that taunted them and caused them both so much heart ache was he reason for Flashrbook's injury and he wanted to make sure Burningleaf understood that.

For the past few moons he had been back, Burningleaf had shown signs of regret at first Flashbrook thought it was towards him but he didn't comfort the male instead he waited to make sure he understood what was going on, he learned the truth quickly enough. Burningleaf only showed distress or regret when Flashbrook limped heavily during cold mornings, or when he exited Rookfrost's room with his eyes glazed over from the poppy he requested to ease his pain. Flashrbook wasn't ready to tell his mate that he had started to gather his own poppy seed and hide it in a small cranny in a rock not too far from camp, Flashbrook wasn't even ready to admit his addiction to himself.

Turning his head slightly, Flashbrook gave Burningleaf's shoulder a few warm licks and nuzzled his mate's pelt his eyes closed but his nose drinking in his mate's familiar scent. "I love you Burningleaf" He spoke softly, just loud enough for his words to tickle at Burningleaf's ears, a lover's whispers.

---

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to

Word Count:: 364
Tag::Amber
Notes::

[Deleted]

but you'll see every day that i'll never turn away
when it seems all your dreams come undone
i will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride
we are more than we are
we are one

---

Flashbrook soon relaxed against him, acknowledging his presence with a soft purr. The night was silent around them, but the senior warrior didn't mind. It was comforting, really, with the cool night air and the sleeping camp and the quiet moor.. It allowed him to relax. Sitting in the moonlight with Flashbrook next to him, the nightmares of his past couldn't touch him. Though he couldn't erase it completely, these quiet moments were a step forward in releasing his past.

Flashbrook shifted, turning his head to lick Burningleaf's shoulder. 'I love you, Burningleaf.' The words pulled a rough purr from the red and white tom. He tilted his head enough to return his lover's affection, gently licking the top of Flashbrook's head.

"And I love you, Flashbrook." He rested his muzzle lightly on Flashbrook's head. "I always have." He gave his mate's head another lick. "And I always will." Burningleaf's golden eyes closed as he rested his head on Flashbrook's, a purr rumbling deep in his chest. Every word was true, and he intended to keep his promise.

He was never letting go.

---

B U R N I N G L E A F