[Hellion]

Curled tightly around his mate, Aspenfire tucked his head in closer to the roundness of her belly. Purring slightly he prodded the swell and waited for a gentle push back. The kits were active it seemed. A calm sense of pride filled him.

Despite the fears that coiled in the pit of his stomach for his impending fatherhood, Aspenfire didn't let it harm his joy. His purr continued to rumble until his mate started to purr, her tail lazily flicking over his shoulder.

"Did I wake you? I'm sorry," He muttered, ears tilting back in apology. Ferngaze only smiled and made no remark about his thunderous purr. Taking that as permission, Aspenfire continued to purr and coo at his mate and unborn kits. Faint whispers of their health and safety were said to them. His eyes meeting Ferngaze's when his prayers ended.

-

Further along in the day, Aspenfire left to hunt. Being of TreeClan in origin, he preferred to hunt the small prey in the reeds. It proved to be less of a challenge then he thought. Hunting in the undergrowth was something he grew up with, the reeds were similar. He still had to be careful with his contrasting coat but with Greenleaf warm against his fur he felt motivated by it.

Landing two mice and a small bird, Aspenfire proudly carried in prey back to the RainClan camp. Despite the moons living among the RainClan cats, Aspenfire struggled to call it home. For him, it was less about where he slept at night and more for who he slept beside. Ferngaze was his home. Wherever she was he'd be right beside her.

Entering the camp and silently greeting the two guards posted, he placed his prey before the call of Dewfrost caught his attention. His mate's sister and medicine cat of RainClan always seemed to be coming and going. At first, she seemed like a whirlwind but after learning that was just her personality, Aspenfire adjusted.

They spoke briefly and in that time she mentioned Ferngaze could have a walk or two a day to help keep her active now that she was too far along for warrior duties. Excited for the prospect of walking with his mate and just having couple time, Aspenfire insisted he'd take her out after they eaten. His excitement evidenced by his tail flicking back and forth like his own whirlwind.

-

He proudly presented Ferngaze with a decent sized fish to devour, he watched before suggesting they take a walk. He was a little nervous that she'd say no. It didn't seem easy to grow kits, and judging from Dewfrost's guess that there were three inside, Aspenfire couldn't be upset if she wanted to stay in her nest. However, when she agreed, he smiled happily. He eagerly assisted with helping her up and to regain her balance before the two set off. They didn't bother to tell anyone where they were headed. Plus it was the best way to avoid getting unwanted company.

-

Settling into a walk that suited Ferngaze's condition and didn't make Aspenfire stumble with his longer stride, they walked in peaceful quiet. His tail twined with her's and his head would dip down every few steps to nuzzle the tip of her ear. A whispered I love you shared in those moments.

Caught up in the happiness and love that threatened to overwhelm him, Aspenfire was slow to scent the change in the wind. Subtle at first he thought it was simply because they were downwind but the longer they talked the stronger it got.

"Do you smell that?" He asked, stopping their walk, he scanned the area around them searching for any sign of the scent's origin. The smell was strong, a faded scent of RainClan's camp scent mixed with the strange musk that was loner or rogue.

Ferngaze likely sensed Aspenfire's unease and scented the air with him. Circling around he was never more than a quarter step from her side. As the fur started to prickle along his spine he turned and opened his maw to say something but a voice cut him off.

"Well well, what do we have here?" The voice taunted before the owner emerged from the reeds, a twisted grin on his face.

"Who are you?" Aspenfire responded, moving carefully to stand in front of Ferngaze.

"They don't tell scary stories about me? Shame," He replied back, lazily pacing back in forth in front of Aspenfire. "I'm Salmonclaw, I was cast out of RainClan like day old fish bones. Don't they teach you kits about the half-clan culling?" Salmonclaw mocked. He watched the confused expression on Aspenfire's face grow and the fearful one on Ferngaze's appear.

"You don't seem to have a clue what I'm talking about? You're not from around here then," He concluded, his nose twitching as he caught Aspenfire's scent, and the lingering scent of TreeClan. "You are pretty far from home TreeClanner,"

"I'm RainClan now, just like my mate," Aspenfire shot back, hackles rising further as he gently nudged Ferngaze with his hip to step back further. Salmonclaw chuckled, ears pinning back.

"Mixing with the other clans only dilutes the blood of RainClan. It was my father who started the culling and it might be time to have another," Salmonclaw growled, his claws extending out. Aspenfire mimicked him. A deep fear for his mate forcing him to push her back further, praying she'd take the hint and run. Not that she could run in her condition.

Realizing the fight would be to the death, Aspenfire snarled in warning but Salmonclaw paid no attention. He instead launched himself forward, rushing for Aspenfire. The black and white tom had an advantage. His height allowed for an extended reach. He batted at Salmonclaw claws cutting into his enemy's ears and cheek. However, that turned out to be a diversion.

Pulling himself away from Aspenfire's defensive striking, Salmonclaw shot around and toward Ferngaze. Claws extended to reach for whatever pregnant flesh he could find. Snarling her own response, Ferngaze kicked out and clawed the rogue's face. Blood pooled across his eyes as his brow was cut. In a blink of an eye, Aspenfire was on him, almost demonic growls erupted from him as he tore into the attacker.

Dirt started to stir as they fought, pained yowls escaped both toms before Aspenfire came tumbling out of the fray. Salmonclaw laid unmoving on the ground. Panting and bloodied, he turned to Ferngaze, one eye shut from the damage done above it.

"We got to run! Come on!" He shouted at her, rushing toward her and pushing her along. For him it to less about winning the fight and more about getting Ferngaze back to camp. The two hurried as quickly as they could.

Aspenfire considered yowling for help but feared that it would alert Salmonclaw to their location. He wasn't certain if the tom was dead or alive when they ran and he wasn't about to risk it. Pulling ahead of Ferngaze for a minute, he saw a hollowed out tree. Ferngaze was smaller than him, perfect size for the little tree. It could prove to be a shelter, enough to keep her safe while he ran back to camp and got help. More warriors meant more claws to defend her with. The plan wasn't perfect and fought against his instinct to stay at her side but they just weren't moving fast enough.

"You seemed to have forgotten I grew up in this territory," That voice sent a chill down Aspenfire's spine as he turned sharply on his heels. Without hesitation, Salmonclaw went for Ferngaze again but this time Aspenfire collided with him mid-leap. Tumbling down with the older tom, Aspenfire sank his claws into Salmonclaw's shoulder.

"Tree! NOW!" He yowled at her, praying she knew what he meant. He didn't have much time to wait and see as Salmonclaw's own claws went into Aspenfire's foreleg and ripped at the fur. Releasing his hold he stumbled back, wincing in pain. Without a moment to regain his bearings they were at it again. Clawing and tearing at each other.

Kicked to the point he flew back, Aspenfire landed with a loud thud near the hollow. The wind knocked out of him for a heartbeat too long, his eyes barely focused on the hiding Ferngaze.

Gasping for breath he managed to speak. "You have--to run--witho--ut me now. Yo--u have to run fas--ter then yo--u ever have befo--re," His words came between the gasps for air. Pushing himself up and hissing against the pain, Aspenfire turned to face Salmonclaw again. The older tom now painted all shades of dusty and red. His own coat saturated with an awful crimson hue.

Praying quickly to StarClan to grant Ferngaze all the swiftness they could, he faced down Salmonclaw again. The former RainClan had lost the use of his right eye not that it seemed to slow him down. Instead, it seemed to motivate the rogue to hit hard and dig deeper. With Aspenfire in his single line of sight, he headed toward him again. Rushing toward the tom with every intention of diverting his attention away from Ferngaze, Aspenfire collided with him. Another dust cloud formed this time it lasted longer. Yowls determining various levels of pain rang out in during and only ceased when all fighting was done.

Dead against the battle-torn ground was Salmonclaw, Aspenfire panting over him, legs shakey. Falling to his side, he lacked the energy to right himself again. Gasping to the point his lungs burned, Aspenfire was reminded of the first time he met Ferngaze. How that moment had changed his life forever. There were times he wanted to thank the river for almost drowning him, it helped carry him to his mate. 

Feeling his vision fade and his breathing become ragged, regret started to fill him. At that moment he realized that his kits would grow up without him. However, it was soon comforted by another thought. They had the chance to grow up, to see their mother's beautiful face and to be safe. That was all he ever wanted. That was all he had lived for. 

21 Moons TreeClan Tom

Aspenfire

Honesty has a power very few people can handle

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