Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Apr 3, 2022 3:15:02 GMT -5
Obviously Rootspring had always had a crush on Bristlefrost, but I wanted to check if her feelings really did come out of nowhere or if maybe there was something we've all been missing here. So, similar to my Crow x Leaf thread, I decided to compile all of Rootspring's and Bristlefrost's interactions prior to the love confession, but specifically those that aren't necessarily important to the plot. This can be minor—like either being affectionate in general—to somewhat more significant scenes—like Rootpaw bringing her a vole.
LS:
TST:
I searched through VoS, but besides the love confession itself, there aren't really any moments between them that aren't exclusive to the plot.
So yeah, there we go. Thoughts?
LS:
Instinctively, Bristlepaw bounded forward, outpacing her Clanmates. Reaching the edge of the lake, she took a deep breath, bracing herself to stop her limbs from trembling. StarClan, help me! she prayed. Aloud she called, “Hang on! I’m coming!”
Rosepetal’s voice came from somewhere behind her. “No! Bristlepaw, come back!”
Bristlepaw ignored her. Venturing out onto the ice, she lay flat and splayed out her legs to spread her weight as much as possible, and she forced herself to ignore the shock of cold penetrating her fur. Pushing herself forward with tiny movements of her claws, she headed for the struggling cat. She could feel the ice straining under her weight, but it held until she could reach the edge and stretch out her neck to grab the SkyClan cat’s scruff as he sank under the surface.
Gradually Bristlepaw edged backward, dragging the other cat with her. The ice began to break up around them under their combined weight, but when it finally gave way, Bristlepaw realized that the water was shallow enough for her to stand. She let go of the other cat’s scruff and boosted him with her shoulder so that he could stagger to the bank. Bristlepaw let out a gusty sigh of relief as she followed him and collapsed in a heap beside him on the pebbles. She was shivering, and not only from cold.
I’m lucky that I didn’t drown, too!
“Bristlepaw, are you completely mouse-brained?” Rosepetal came to stand by her apprentice, her voice as freezing as the wind and her eyes like chips of amber ice. “I told you to come back. I should have you dealing with the elders’ ticks for six moons at least.” Her voice grew gentler, almost changing to a purr. “I’d do it, too, if you hadn’t been so brave.”
“I had to,” Bristlepaw explained, warmed by her mentor’s praise. “I’m the lightest of us. Besides, he would have died if I’d left him there.” As she turned to the cat she had rescued, her warmth gave way to sharp irritation. “You stupid furball!” she exclaimed. “What were you doing out there on the thin ice?”
The cat—he looked barely older than a kit—raised his head to gaze at her. His eyes were full of gratitude. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “It was an accident. I’m lucky you came along.”
The two other SkyClan cats had approached and were looking down at their Clanmate. Bristlepaw recognized them as two apprentices she had seen at the last Gathering: Kitepaw and Turtlepaw.
“It was partly our fault,” Turtlepaw admitted.
“Yeah, we’re sorry,” Kitepaw added, ducking his head in shame.
“And so you should be,” Rosepetal snapped, turning her furious gaze on the two apprentices. “How much help do you think you were, running up and down and yowling like a pair of foxes in a fit?”
The youngest apprentice nodded, and Bristlepaw noticed that, even drenched and shaking, he had summoned a gleam of appreciation at Rosepetal’s scolding.
Rosepetal turned to gaze down at him and went on, “Who are you, anyway? I don’t think I’ve seen you at a Gathering.”
The apprentice tottered to his paws. “I’m Rootkit,” he said, shivering. “I mean—Rootpaw.”
Rosepetal tilted her head, studying him. “Are you Violetshine’s kit?” she asked. “Hawkwing’s kin? Look at you—you’re shivering so hard, and there’s ice in your fur. We’d better get you back to the ThunderClan camp so our medicine cats can take a look at you.”
“No!” Rootpaw protested. “We’re SkyClan cats.”
“But the ThunderClan camp is much closer,” Rosepetal insisted. “It makes much more sense to go there.”
“But—” Rootpaw began.
Losing patience, Bristlepaw bent over Rootpaw and pushed her face close to his. “Don’t be mouse-brained,” she hissed. “You would freeze to death before you got back to your own camp.”
Rootpaw hesitated a heartbeat longer, then nodded.
“I’ll come with you,” Kitepaw meowed.
“Turtlepaw, you’d better go back to camp and let them know what happened.” Turtlepaw gulped, as if she wasn’t looking forward to that. “Okay,” she agreed. “We’re sorry, Rootpaw.” Without waiting for a response, she bounded off through the trees.
Bristlepaw steadied Rootpaw on one side, with Kitepaw on the other, as Rosepetal led the way back across the SkyClan border and toward the ThunderClan camp. The young apprentice looked embarrassed that he couldn’t walk by himself. But there’s no shame in that, Bristlepaw thought. Not after you nearly drowned. Any cat would need help.
Rosepetal’s voice came from somewhere behind her. “No! Bristlepaw, come back!”
Bristlepaw ignored her. Venturing out onto the ice, she lay flat and splayed out her legs to spread her weight as much as possible, and she forced herself to ignore the shock of cold penetrating her fur. Pushing herself forward with tiny movements of her claws, she headed for the struggling cat. She could feel the ice straining under her weight, but it held until she could reach the edge and stretch out her neck to grab the SkyClan cat’s scruff as he sank under the surface.
Gradually Bristlepaw edged backward, dragging the other cat with her. The ice began to break up around them under their combined weight, but when it finally gave way, Bristlepaw realized that the water was shallow enough for her to stand. She let go of the other cat’s scruff and boosted him with her shoulder so that he could stagger to the bank. Bristlepaw let out a gusty sigh of relief as she followed him and collapsed in a heap beside him on the pebbles. She was shivering, and not only from cold.
I’m lucky that I didn’t drown, too!
“Bristlepaw, are you completely mouse-brained?” Rosepetal came to stand by her apprentice, her voice as freezing as the wind and her eyes like chips of amber ice. “I told you to come back. I should have you dealing with the elders’ ticks for six moons at least.” Her voice grew gentler, almost changing to a purr. “I’d do it, too, if you hadn’t been so brave.”
“I had to,” Bristlepaw explained, warmed by her mentor’s praise. “I’m the lightest of us. Besides, he would have died if I’d left him there.” As she turned to the cat she had rescued, her warmth gave way to sharp irritation. “You stupid furball!” she exclaimed. “What were you doing out there on the thin ice?”
The cat—he looked barely older than a kit—raised his head to gaze at her. His eyes were full of gratitude. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “It was an accident. I’m lucky you came along.”
The two other SkyClan cats had approached and were looking down at their Clanmate. Bristlepaw recognized them as two apprentices she had seen at the last Gathering: Kitepaw and Turtlepaw.
“It was partly our fault,” Turtlepaw admitted.
“Yeah, we’re sorry,” Kitepaw added, ducking his head in shame.
“And so you should be,” Rosepetal snapped, turning her furious gaze on the two apprentices. “How much help do you think you were, running up and down and yowling like a pair of foxes in a fit?”
The youngest apprentice nodded, and Bristlepaw noticed that, even drenched and shaking, he had summoned a gleam of appreciation at Rosepetal’s scolding.
Rosepetal turned to gaze down at him and went on, “Who are you, anyway? I don’t think I’ve seen you at a Gathering.”
The apprentice tottered to his paws. “I’m Rootkit,” he said, shivering. “I mean—Rootpaw.”
Rosepetal tilted her head, studying him. “Are you Violetshine’s kit?” she asked. “Hawkwing’s kin? Look at you—you’re shivering so hard, and there’s ice in your fur. We’d better get you back to the ThunderClan camp so our medicine cats can take a look at you.”
“No!” Rootpaw protested. “We’re SkyClan cats.”
“But the ThunderClan camp is much closer,” Rosepetal insisted. “It makes much more sense to go there.”
“But—” Rootpaw began.
Losing patience, Bristlepaw bent over Rootpaw and pushed her face close to his. “Don’t be mouse-brained,” she hissed. “You would freeze to death before you got back to your own camp.”
Rootpaw hesitated a heartbeat longer, then nodded.
“I’ll come with you,” Kitepaw meowed.
“Turtlepaw, you’d better go back to camp and let them know what happened.” Turtlepaw gulped, as if she wasn’t looking forward to that. “Okay,” she agreed. “We’re sorry, Rootpaw.” Without waiting for a response, she bounded off through the trees.
Bristlepaw steadied Rootpaw on one side, with Kitepaw on the other, as Rosepetal led the way back across the SkyClan border and toward the ThunderClan camp. The young apprentice looked embarrassed that he couldn’t walk by himself. But there’s no shame in that, Bristlepaw thought. Not after you nearly drowned. Any cat would need help.
Instinctively, Rootpaw halted. Whenever Bristlepaw visited him in the medicine cats’ den, she would always sit close to him, and he found that comforting. He wondered if that had anything to do with his feeling uneasy about recovering so quickly from his dunking in the lake.
Surely I can’t be sad that I’ll have to leave ThunderClan soon?
During the few days that Rootpaw had been living in the ThunderClan camp, he kept remembering how Bristlepaw had rescued him from the freezing water.
She was so brave!
And every time he had seen her since, he had felt himself growing stronger and braver, as if Bristlepaw’s strength and courage had inspired him.
“How are you today?” Bristlepaw asked, padding up to him and touching her nose to his shoulder.
“Much better,” Rootpaw replied. “Thanks to you. Though with such a cold leaf-bare,” he added hastily, feeling a bit guilty, “it might be better for me to stay here for a few more days, get a bit more treatment from the medicine cats, until I know for sure that I’m well enough to go back to SkyClan.” Surely another day or two wouldn’t hurt?
“Don’t worry,” Alderheart put in, looking faintly amused. “Jayfeather and I won’t let you go until we’re sure you’re okay.”
“And when you get home,” Bristlepaw meowed, “you need to stay away from Kitepaw and Turtlepaw, and definitely don’t listen to their so-called bright ideas. They’re not your mentor—they’re not even warriors—so there’s no reason for you to take a risk trying to impress them.”
“They’re older than me, and bigger,” Rootpaw pointed out.
“They’re still nasty flea-pelts,” Bristlepaw declared. “And if you try to prove yourself to them, you’ll end up in even worse trouble. You should just focus on learning to be a good warrior.”
Rootpaw was awestruck to hear all this wisdom from another apprentice. “That’s so smart!” he breathed out.
Bristlepaw shrugged. “Not really,” she mewed. “But I know enough to tell you to keep away from cats who only want to harm you, or make fun of you.”
Surely I can’t be sad that I’ll have to leave ThunderClan soon?
During the few days that Rootpaw had been living in the ThunderClan camp, he kept remembering how Bristlepaw had rescued him from the freezing water.
She was so brave!
And every time he had seen her since, he had felt himself growing stronger and braver, as if Bristlepaw’s strength and courage had inspired him.
“How are you today?” Bristlepaw asked, padding up to him and touching her nose to his shoulder.
“Much better,” Rootpaw replied. “Thanks to you. Though with such a cold leaf-bare,” he added hastily, feeling a bit guilty, “it might be better for me to stay here for a few more days, get a bit more treatment from the medicine cats, until I know for sure that I’m well enough to go back to SkyClan.” Surely another day or two wouldn’t hurt?
“Don’t worry,” Alderheart put in, looking faintly amused. “Jayfeather and I won’t let you go until we’re sure you’re okay.”
“And when you get home,” Bristlepaw meowed, “you need to stay away from Kitepaw and Turtlepaw, and definitely don’t listen to their so-called bright ideas. They’re not your mentor—they’re not even warriors—so there’s no reason for you to take a risk trying to impress them.”
“They’re older than me, and bigger,” Rootpaw pointed out.
“They’re still nasty flea-pelts,” Bristlepaw declared. “And if you try to prove yourself to them, you’ll end up in even worse trouble. You should just focus on learning to be a good warrior.”
Rootpaw was awestruck to hear all this wisdom from another apprentice. “That’s so smart!” he breathed out.
Bristlepaw shrugged. “Not really,” she mewed. “But I know enough to tell you to keep away from cats who only want to harm you, or make fun of you.”
I wonder which cats I’ll meet tonight? Maybe Rootpaw, she added to herself. I hope he’s okay—and I hope the silly furball has had the sense to ignore the other SkyClan apprentices.
[...]
“Rootpaw!” Bristlepaw exclaimed. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Rootpaw assured her. “And it’s all thanks to you! I’ll never forget how you saved my life. Did they give you your warrior name after that? I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have called you Bristlepaw.”
Bristlepaw winced; the comment stung, even though Rootpaw had no way of knowing about her failed assessment. And I’m not about to tell him. “No, I’m still Bristlepaw,” she told him.
“I went on this amazing hunt the other day,” Rootpaw chattered on, clearly unaware of how Bristlepaw was feeling. “I caught a huge crow, all by myself! Four of us shared it, and we still couldn’t finish it.”
Bristlepaw tried to force some enthusiasm into her reply. “That’s great.”
“I love hunting!” Rootpaw exclaimed, his eyes shining. “Don’t you love it, Bristlepaw?”
“I’d love it if there were anything to hunt,” Bristlepaw snapped. Of course I love hunting. I’m going to be a warrior, aren’t I? What a mousebrained question!
Rootpaw didn’t seem bothered by her curt tone. “If you’re short of prey in ThunderClan, I could bring you some,” he offered.
Bristlepaw’s irritation flared into pure anger. Stretching out her neck, she hissed into Rootpaw’s face. “ThunderClan cats can catch their own prey, thank you very much!”
Rootpaw jerked backward, his eyes wide with distress. “I—I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean to say you couldn’t.”
Bristlepaw instantly felt guilty when she saw how much she had upset the younger apprentice. She was trying to find the right words to apologize when the voice of Tigerstar rang out from the branches of the Great Oak.
“Cats of all Clans, it’s time for the Gathering to begin!”
Bristlepaw glanced up at his powerful tabby figure poised on a branch, and when she turned back again, she saw that Rootpaw wasn’t by her side any longer. She spotted him scurrying into a group of SkyClan cats, including the two apprentices who had been with him beside the lake.
It wasn’t my fault, she tried to tell herself, though she couldn’t wipe out her feelings of guilt. He shouldn’t have said something so mouse-brained. And he’s still hanging out with those two useless lumps of fur!
[...]
“Rootpaw!” Bristlepaw exclaimed. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Rootpaw assured her. “And it’s all thanks to you! I’ll never forget how you saved my life. Did they give you your warrior name after that? I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have called you Bristlepaw.”
Bristlepaw winced; the comment stung, even though Rootpaw had no way of knowing about her failed assessment. And I’m not about to tell him. “No, I’m still Bristlepaw,” she told him.
“I went on this amazing hunt the other day,” Rootpaw chattered on, clearly unaware of how Bristlepaw was feeling. “I caught a huge crow, all by myself! Four of us shared it, and we still couldn’t finish it.”
Bristlepaw tried to force some enthusiasm into her reply. “That’s great.”
“I love hunting!” Rootpaw exclaimed, his eyes shining. “Don’t you love it, Bristlepaw?”
“I’d love it if there were anything to hunt,” Bristlepaw snapped. Of course I love hunting. I’m going to be a warrior, aren’t I? What a mousebrained question!
Rootpaw didn’t seem bothered by her curt tone. “If you’re short of prey in ThunderClan, I could bring you some,” he offered.
Bristlepaw’s irritation flared into pure anger. Stretching out her neck, she hissed into Rootpaw’s face. “ThunderClan cats can catch their own prey, thank you very much!”
Rootpaw jerked backward, his eyes wide with distress. “I—I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean to say you couldn’t.”
Bristlepaw instantly felt guilty when she saw how much she had upset the younger apprentice. She was trying to find the right words to apologize when the voice of Tigerstar rang out from the branches of the Great Oak.
“Cats of all Clans, it’s time for the Gathering to begin!”
Bristlepaw glanced up at his powerful tabby figure poised on a branch, and when she turned back again, she saw that Rootpaw wasn’t by her side any longer. She spotted him scurrying into a group of SkyClan cats, including the two apprentices who had been with him beside the lake.
It wasn’t my fault, she tried to tell herself, though she couldn’t wipe out her feelings of guilt. He shouldn’t have said something so mouse-brained. And he’s still hanging out with those two useless lumps of fur!
Rootpaw dropped the vole at her paws. “Bristlepaw,” he began, “I’ve brought you this vole to say thank you for saving me when I was drowning. You were so brave and helpful—and so was ThunderClan while I recovered here in your camp. I wanted to repay that debt by bringing you this prey.”
As he finished speaking, Rootpaw realized that he had sounded far too formal, as if he had been making an announcement at a Gathering. I meant to sound friendly, and I completely messed up!
Even worse, he saw that Bristlepaw looked embarrassed. She would not meet his gaze as she licked furiously at her chest fur. “There’s no need,” she mewed. “It’s nice of you, but I can’t—”
She broke off at a tiny sound from the ThunderClan cats who surrounded the group. She glanced around at her Clanmates. They were all eyeing the vole hungrily, as if every cat wanted to snatch it up and devour it.
“Thank you, Rootpaw,” she began again. “I can catch my own prey, but the ThunderClan elders will be grateful to share this vole. It’s a really good one.”
Rootpaw struggled again with feelings of dismay. He had wanted Bristlepaw herself to eat his vole. But he could see that her pride wouldn’t let her do that. He dipped his head. “Thank you, Bristlepaw,” he meowed. “I’ll never forget what you did for me.”
[...]
While Dewspring said a formal good-bye to Bramblestar, Rootpaw turned to Bristlepaw. “It was good to see you again,” he mewed, scuffling his forepaws awkwardly on the ground. “Maybe we’ll meet again at the next Gathering.”
“Maybe,” Bristlepaw responded; she sounded distant, and she didn’t say another word while she stood watching Rootpaw and his Clanmates make their final good-byes and leave.
As he finished speaking, Rootpaw realized that he had sounded far too formal, as if he had been making an announcement at a Gathering. I meant to sound friendly, and I completely messed up!
Even worse, he saw that Bristlepaw looked embarrassed. She would not meet his gaze as she licked furiously at her chest fur. “There’s no need,” she mewed. “It’s nice of you, but I can’t—”
She broke off at a tiny sound from the ThunderClan cats who surrounded the group. She glanced around at her Clanmates. They were all eyeing the vole hungrily, as if every cat wanted to snatch it up and devour it.
“Thank you, Rootpaw,” she began again. “I can catch my own prey, but the ThunderClan elders will be grateful to share this vole. It’s a really good one.”
Rootpaw struggled again with feelings of dismay. He had wanted Bristlepaw herself to eat his vole. But he could see that her pride wouldn’t let her do that. He dipped his head. “Thank you, Bristlepaw,” he meowed. “I’ll never forget what you did for me.”
[...]
While Dewspring said a formal good-bye to Bramblestar, Rootpaw turned to Bristlepaw. “It was good to see you again,” he mewed, scuffling his forepaws awkwardly on the ground. “Maybe we’ll meet again at the next Gathering.”
“Maybe,” Bristlepaw responded; she sounded distant, and she didn’t say another word while she stood watching Rootpaw and his Clanmates make their final good-byes and leave.
From her ears to the tips of her claws, Bristlepaw felt hot with embarrassment as she stood watching Rootpaw and the other SkyClan cats leave the camp.
Why does Rootpaw keep showing off to me? she asked herself. And why did he bring me prey? She was worried that he thought she couldn’t catch fresh-kill for herself. Did every cat know that hunting had been giving her trouble? Maybe news of her assessment had spread to all the Clans, so now she was known as a failed warrior who needed help all the time.
With a growl of annoyance and frustration she grabbed the vole and carried it over to the elders’ den.
She found Cloudtail and Brightheart drowsily curled up together, while Graystripe and Brackenfur were talking quietly, side by side in their mossy nests. All four cats looked up as Bristlepaw approached and dropped the vole in front of them.
“Is that for us?” Brackenfur asked.
“Wow, great catch, Bristlepaw.”
“It is, but I didn’t catch it.” Bristlepaw couldn’t bear to tell the elders where the vole had really come from, but she didn’t want to lie about it.
“Thanks for bringing it, anyway,” Graystripe mewed, stretching out his neck to give the vole a good, deep sniff.
“You’re welcome,” Bristlepaw responded as she began backing out of the den. The sooner the wretched thing is eaten and I can forget about it, the better. “Enjoy.”
Why does Rootpaw keep showing off to me? she asked herself. And why did he bring me prey? She was worried that he thought she couldn’t catch fresh-kill for herself. Did every cat know that hunting had been giving her trouble? Maybe news of her assessment had spread to all the Clans, so now she was known as a failed warrior who needed help all the time.
With a growl of annoyance and frustration she grabbed the vole and carried it over to the elders’ den.
She found Cloudtail and Brightheart drowsily curled up together, while Graystripe and Brackenfur were talking quietly, side by side in their mossy nests. All four cats looked up as Bristlepaw approached and dropped the vole in front of them.
“Is that for us?” Brackenfur asked.
“Wow, great catch, Bristlepaw.”
“It is, but I didn’t catch it.” Bristlepaw couldn’t bear to tell the elders where the vole had really come from, but she didn’t want to lie about it.
“Thanks for bringing it, anyway,” Graystripe mewed, stretching out his neck to give the vole a good, deep sniff.
“You’re welcome,” Bristlepaw responded as she began backing out of the den. The sooner the wretched thing is eaten and I can forget about it, the better. “Enjoy.”
Rootpaw turned to see Bristlepaw standing nearby, at the edge of the group of ThunderClan cats. It was the first time they had met since the embarrassing incident with the vole, and Rootpaw wasn’t sure how he should behave around her. He was aware of Needlepaw watching him with a teasing look in her eyes, but he ignored her with a twitch of his tail and padded over to join the ThunderClan apprentice.
Then he noticed that there was something different about Bristlepaw: a sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. I hope it’s not because she feels sorry for me.
“Hi, Bristlepaw,” he meowed.
Bristlepaw took a pace forward that brought her to his side. “It’s Bristlefrost,” she told him. “I’m a warrior now.”
“Hey, that’s great!” Rootpaw was pleased for her, but even more confused. If she’s just been made a warrior, why doesn’t she look happy? “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Rootpaw. I wanted to see you,” Bristlefrost went on, “because I need to tell you how sorry I am for the way I behaved when you brought me the vole. I was rude and ungrateful.”
Rootpaw dipped his head. “Don’t worry about it,” he mewed. “I know it was stupid, and I shouldn’t have done it.”
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Bristlefrost insisted. “You did a kind thing for me, and I treated you horribly. Please forgive me, Rootpaw.”
“Of course I do!” Rootpaw replied, happiness spurting up inside him. But the feeling quickly died as he saw how sad Bristlefrost looked. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. “You look a little down.”
Bristlefrost hesitated, staring down at her paws. “Things haven’t been going the way I hoped since I became a warrior,” she admitted eventually.
“What do you mean?” Rootpaw asked.
“Oh… This leaf-bare is hard on every cat, and I don’t feel I’ve done enough to help my Clan. Right now I’m feeling kind of useless.”
Rootpaw could understand that, but all the same he didn’t feel it was enough to explain the sorrow in Bristlefrost’s eyes. Whatever was on her mind, for now at least she was keeping it to herself.
“But you’re one of the greatest cats I’ve ever met,” Rootpaw protested, even though he knew the praise might make her squirm. I still feel the same about her, even after that stupid episode with the vole. “You saved my life when my own Clanmates were too scared even to try. If it weren’t for you, I’d be at the bottom of the lake right now, frozen solid like the medicine cats say the Moonpool is. And you came to check on me every day while I was recovering.”
Bristlefrost shrugged; she looked a little embarrassed, but not, Rootpaw thought, angry with him. “Any cat would have done that,” she meowed. “But what have I done since?”
“No warrior can do much while this leaf-bare lasts,” Rootpaw stated firmly. “And once it’s over, you’ll be one of the warriors who gets your Clan back on its paws. I’m sure of it.”
Bristlefrost looked up; her eyes glowed, making Rootpaw’s heart flutter weirdly in his chest. For a moment he felt that there was more than gratitude in her gaze.
“Bristlefrost—” he began.
[...]
Rootpaw could hear the grumbles of Spotfur and Stemleaf. His own paws trembled with indecision. Does Tree have a point? Is this right?
But then he saw Bristlefrost stroll past him, following Violetshine. She glanced at Rootpaw and winked.
Without another thought, he fell into step behind the ThunderClan warrior.
I’m in.
Then he noticed that there was something different about Bristlepaw: a sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. I hope it’s not because she feels sorry for me.
“Hi, Bristlepaw,” he meowed.
Bristlepaw took a pace forward that brought her to his side. “It’s Bristlefrost,” she told him. “I’m a warrior now.”
“Hey, that’s great!” Rootpaw was pleased for her, but even more confused. If she’s just been made a warrior, why doesn’t she look happy? “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Rootpaw. I wanted to see you,” Bristlefrost went on, “because I need to tell you how sorry I am for the way I behaved when you brought me the vole. I was rude and ungrateful.”
Rootpaw dipped his head. “Don’t worry about it,” he mewed. “I know it was stupid, and I shouldn’t have done it.”
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Bristlefrost insisted. “You did a kind thing for me, and I treated you horribly. Please forgive me, Rootpaw.”
“Of course I do!” Rootpaw replied, happiness spurting up inside him. But the feeling quickly died as he saw how sad Bristlefrost looked. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. “You look a little down.”
Bristlefrost hesitated, staring down at her paws. “Things haven’t been going the way I hoped since I became a warrior,” she admitted eventually.
“What do you mean?” Rootpaw asked.
“Oh… This leaf-bare is hard on every cat, and I don’t feel I’ve done enough to help my Clan. Right now I’m feeling kind of useless.”
Rootpaw could understand that, but all the same he didn’t feel it was enough to explain the sorrow in Bristlefrost’s eyes. Whatever was on her mind, for now at least she was keeping it to herself.
“But you’re one of the greatest cats I’ve ever met,” Rootpaw protested, even though he knew the praise might make her squirm. I still feel the same about her, even after that stupid episode with the vole. “You saved my life when my own Clanmates were too scared even to try. If it weren’t for you, I’d be at the bottom of the lake right now, frozen solid like the medicine cats say the Moonpool is. And you came to check on me every day while I was recovering.”
Bristlefrost shrugged; she looked a little embarrassed, but not, Rootpaw thought, angry with him. “Any cat would have done that,” she meowed. “But what have I done since?”
“No warrior can do much while this leaf-bare lasts,” Rootpaw stated firmly. “And once it’s over, you’ll be one of the warriors who gets your Clan back on its paws. I’m sure of it.”
Bristlefrost looked up; her eyes glowed, making Rootpaw’s heart flutter weirdly in his chest. For a moment he felt that there was more than gratitude in her gaze.
“Bristlefrost—” he began.
[...]
Rootpaw could hear the grumbles of Spotfur and Stemleaf. His own paws trembled with indecision. Does Tree have a point? Is this right?
But then he saw Bristlefrost stroll past him, following Violetshine. She glanced at Rootpaw and winked.
Without another thought, he fell into step behind the ThunderClan warrior.
I’m in.
TST:
“Hey, Rootpaw.” Bristlefrost’s friendly mew made him jump. She had reached him already.
“Hi, Bristlefrost,” he mewed quickly. “How’s ThunderClan?”
“Good, I guess.” She blinked at him. “How’s your training going?” She tipped her head to one side kindly, as though asking a kit if they liked playing moss-ball.
“Fine.” Rootpaw fluffed out his fur. “I’ll probably be assessed soon.”
“Really?” she looked surprised. “I thought you’d be training for moons yet.”
“It might be any day.” Rootpaw’s pelt ruffled hotly along his spine. Did she think he was too young to become a warrior, or just mouse-brained?
She shifted her paws. “I mean,” she corrected herself, suddenly selfconscious, “it seems so quick. I feel like I’ve only just gotten my warrior name.”
“Maybe other Clans train their apprentices differently,” he suggested. “But in SkyClan you don’t have to be an apprentice to learn. Warriors learn new skills all the time.”
“I guess.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “Like, the other day, Blossomfall taught me how to track birds from the forest floor. I’d never tried it before. Have you?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she began to explain. “You have to choose a bird and keep your eye on it. You can’t stop watching for a moment. One blink and you could lose it among the leaves.”
Rootpaw guessed she was just trying to be nice, but he didn’t like being told something he knew already. “We track birds a lot in SkyClan.”
“Hi, Bristlefrost,” he mewed quickly. “How’s ThunderClan?”
“Good, I guess.” She blinked at him. “How’s your training going?” She tipped her head to one side kindly, as though asking a kit if they liked playing moss-ball.
“Fine.” Rootpaw fluffed out his fur. “I’ll probably be assessed soon.”
“Really?” she looked surprised. “I thought you’d be training for moons yet.”
“It might be any day.” Rootpaw’s pelt ruffled hotly along his spine. Did she think he was too young to become a warrior, or just mouse-brained?
She shifted her paws. “I mean,” she corrected herself, suddenly selfconscious, “it seems so quick. I feel like I’ve only just gotten my warrior name.”
“Maybe other Clans train their apprentices differently,” he suggested. “But in SkyClan you don’t have to be an apprentice to learn. Warriors learn new skills all the time.”
“I guess.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “Like, the other day, Blossomfall taught me how to track birds from the forest floor. I’d never tried it before. Have you?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she began to explain. “You have to choose a bird and keep your eye on it. You can’t stop watching for a moment. One blink and you could lose it among the leaves.”
Rootpaw guessed she was just trying to be nice, but he didn’t like being told something he knew already. “We track birds a lot in SkyClan.”
Bristlefrost followed Molewhisker and Finleap as her Clanmates escorted Rootpaw toward camp. Her pelt rippled uneasily along her spine. She didn’t want to walk too close to the SkyClan apprentice in case they thought she’d had something to do with his sudden appearance on ThunderClan territory. Why in StarClan had he come? It had been uncomfortable enough last time, when Leafstar had allowed him to bring her prey as thanks for saving him from the lake. Bristlefrost had hoped that would be the last time he’d do anything so mouse-brained, but clearly his crush on her was worse than she’d thought. Her ears twitched self-consciously. She liked him, he was nice enough, but they were from different Clans. And he was only an apprentice. She could never have any special feelings for him.
[...]
Molewhisker padded forward and stood beside the young tom. “He’s just making up stories to explain why he’s here.” He eyed Bramblestar nervously. The ThunderClan leader looked ready to fight. “It’s probably the same reason he came last time. Every cat knows he has a crush on Bristlefrost. He probably just wanted to see her.”
Shame seared Bristlefrost’s pelt. “That’s not true!” she meowed hotly.
Molewhisker stared at the SkyClan apprentice encouragingly. “Even if Bristlefrost knew nothing about it, you know what young cats are like when they like some cat. They act first and think later.”
Bramblestar’s hackles lowered a little. “Is it true?” he asked Rootpaw. “Did you come to see Bristlefrost?” Rootpaw blinked at him as though he were staring into the eyes of a Thunderpath monster.
“Y-yes,” he stammered. “That’s it. I just wanted to say hi to Bristlefrost.”
Bristlefrost stiffened with rage as her Clanmates’ gaze focused on her. She could see Finleap’s whiskers trembling with amusement. Bristlefrost felt so humiliated that she wanted to hide in her den. She glared at Rootpaw. Why did he have to embarrass her like this, and in front of her leader? Did he think a stunt like this would make her like him? Did he have bees in his brain?
[...]
Bristlefrost stared at him. “So you didn’t come here to see me?”
“No,” he mewed, his gaze still distracted.
Bristlefrost tried to ignore the disappointment tugging in her belly. I don’t care, she told herself. I’m glad. And yet it had been reassuring after Stemleaf’s rejection to think that some cat liked her, even if it was a harebrained apprentice from another Clan.
[...]
Molewhisker padded forward and stood beside the young tom. “He’s just making up stories to explain why he’s here.” He eyed Bramblestar nervously. The ThunderClan leader looked ready to fight. “It’s probably the same reason he came last time. Every cat knows he has a crush on Bristlefrost. He probably just wanted to see her.”
Shame seared Bristlefrost’s pelt. “That’s not true!” she meowed hotly.
Molewhisker stared at the SkyClan apprentice encouragingly. “Even if Bristlefrost knew nothing about it, you know what young cats are like when they like some cat. They act first and think later.”
Bramblestar’s hackles lowered a little. “Is it true?” he asked Rootpaw. “Did you come to see Bristlefrost?” Rootpaw blinked at him as though he were staring into the eyes of a Thunderpath monster.
“Y-yes,” he stammered. “That’s it. I just wanted to say hi to Bristlefrost.”
Bristlefrost stiffened with rage as her Clanmates’ gaze focused on her. She could see Finleap’s whiskers trembling with amusement. Bristlefrost felt so humiliated that she wanted to hide in her den. She glared at Rootpaw. Why did he have to embarrass her like this, and in front of her leader? Did he think a stunt like this would make her like him? Did he have bees in his brain?
[...]
Bristlefrost stared at him. “So you didn’t come here to see me?”
“No,” he mewed, his gaze still distracted.
Bristlefrost tried to ignore the disappointment tugging in her belly. I don’t care, she told herself. I’m glad. And yet it had been reassuring after Stemleaf’s rejection to think that some cat liked her, even if it was a harebrained apprentice from another Clan.
“I hope he does it soon,” Bristlefrost told him. “It’s awful back at camp. Every cat’s scared and there are so many rules and punishments.” She stared at him desperately. “We have to do something.”
“We will.” Rootpaw touched his muzzle to her cheek.
She pressed against it for a moment, relieved to have a friend she could trust. “I’m going to talk to Squirrelflight,” she told him. “She needs to know what’s happening in ThunderClan. But I won’t tell Bramblestar where she is.”
“We will.” Rootpaw touched his muzzle to her cheek.
She pressed against it for a moment, relieved to have a friend she could trust. “I’m going to talk to Squirrelflight,” she told him. “She needs to know what’s happening in ThunderClan. But I won’t tell Bramblestar where she is.”
I searched through VoS, but besides the love confession itself, there aren't really any moments between them that aren't exclusive to the plot.
So yeah, there we go. Thoughts?