At Peace

Frostfire was feeling a bit more hopeful now than he had felt for a while.  He strolled down one of the many LeafClan trails.  It was early morning and only the dawn patrols were in the woods with him.  He had gone walking to think, to find his thoughts.  Mallowstripe seemed to be losing her enthusiasm for this project of hers, her rebellion against Sparklestar. Frostfire had decided that he would pretend to remain with the rebels for the time being, he would watch and listen and do as they asked to a point.  It left a bit of a bitter taste in his mouth, he who was so used to being honest with the world.  He would be a watcher and try to divert the most dangerous of possible courses.  This decision had given him peace. He had realized that for the moment his presence with the rebels did not mean much.
  This choice had given him a sense of calm and peace.  He had regained his center and could move onwards not stuck in the past, not filled with sadness, or anger, or even regret. 
  The red tom hopped over a fallen log with a graceful bound and began to run slowly down the trail.  The feeling of the air brushing past his pelt felt glorious and slightly cool as it ran across his fur.  The day was already heating up and LeafClan camp would be an oven come midday, something he did not look forward to.  Sometimes the stone would become so hot as to burn his paw pads.  He kept running down the path thinking for a time of nothing save the pounding of his paws and the obstacles that he dodged with ease.  He trotted to a halt and sinking his claws into the ancient bark scrabbled his way up the trunk of an elderly maple tree, feeling the strange and different pull of muscles as he did so.  Climbing was not something he was skilled at despite his attempts to change this.  He practiced and practiced, he knew from the tales the elders told that one of LeafClans greatest strengths was the trees.  The trees provided highways allowing LeafClaners to travel farther and faster than invaders would manage on the ground.  They gave LeafClan the high ground from which to attack or to retreat to and he was determined to do his best to master this skill.  He had on occasion seen his deputy Shiningheart make huge leaps from tree to tree, the golden she-cat sometimes seemed to be part bird to him and far more agile than her size would suggest.  He tried to remember how she had done it closing his eyes and remembering.  He looked around quickly and selected a branch about two fox lengths away from the tip of his branch.  Taking a deep breath he started to run along his branch before he could change his mind.  He could feel the branch bouncing underneath him, and then all of a sudden a crack! He leapt for the next branch feeling the one he had been on falling away under his hind paws.  He reached for the branch in front of him and managed to grab a hold of it just barely.  It was not nearly as sturdy as it had appeared and began to bend downwards twisting so that he found himself upside down hanging from what was now the underside of the branch. The bushes around him rustled and he winced wondering what patrols attention he had caught.  When he saw a dark fawn colored head peering at him curiously he relaxed a little.  For a moment he had worried that Viperstrike might see his most recent folly.  Not that he thought that the she-cat would truly hold it against him.  Tease him however, yes he could see that, and it was his own fault for ending up hanging from the underside of a branch like a silly squirrely.
  “Hey Loudspirit!” he meowed warmly.  “Could you maybe help me down? I was testing something and it went a little wrong.” He meowed. 
  “Sure little buddy, whatever I can do to help.” Chirped Loudspirit cheerfully.  “Just tell me what to do.”
  Frostfire opened his mouth to begin telling Loudspirit his plans for how to get him down when another fawn colored head pushed through the bushes.  He blushed, he should have known his friend was on a patrol.  “A little wrong, how little?” asked Viperstrike as she came into view.  She paused on catching sight of him and laughed, he liked it when she laughed, but this was not what he had been hoping for.  “That looks like more than a little wrong Frosty.  What were you doing? Pretending to be a squirrel?”  she asked one eyebrow raised.
 “Uh, um, well.” He meowed chuckling slightly. “Well you know how good Shiningheart is at climbing?”
  “Yeah, she’s done things I’ve never seen anyone do. . “ She started to laugh. “Wait, you tried one of her stunts didn’t you?”
  “Dude, not a good idea little brother.” Chirped Loudspirit happily. “You know you have trouble even with basic climbing Frostfire.”
  “I know, I know. But I’ll never get better if I don’t try.” He said as he hung upside down. “Now will you guys help me?”
  “Sure little guy, just tell us what to do.” Said Loudspirit. He was far smaller than his friend, but the habit had been set when they were young.
  “Hey speak for yourself Loudspirit, I think watching this should be quite interesting.” She said sitting down to watch. If she had thought her friend was in real danger she would have helped him, but since nothing looked like it would be hurt save his pride she wasn’t too worried for him. Besides, Loudspirit was here for him.  He’d be fine.
 “So, what do you want me to do?” Loudspirit said.
  “Can you get a hold of the branch I’m on? Maybe pull it down towards the ground?” Suggested Frostfire. 
  “I think I can, good thing you didn’t try this higher up.” Said Loudspirit good naturedly. 
  “Yeah, at least I thought that far ahead.” Frostfire meowed as Loudspirit gauged the distance. 
  “I’m glad friend.” And with that Loudspirit leaped for the branch and caught hold of it with his front paws.  It dipped down even further under their combined weight and started to crack loudly. 
  “Now or never buddy.” Chirped Loudspirit, letting go of the branch and dropping to the ground. “Don’t you dare land on me either. Your way too big for those piggy back rides I used to give you.”
  “I wouldn’t Loudspirit.” Laughed Frostfire. “Your mate would kill me if I hurt you.” He meowed dropping down beside his friend.  He looked up and shivered. The branch was hanging from a thing thread of bark, but was not falling on them.
  “Wait, he used to give you piggyback rides?” Teased Viperstrike. “Aren’t those only for tiny kits?”
  “Nope, he was still doing it when he was almost as big as me.” Meowed Loudspirit cheerfully. 
  “Oh really? This I must hear.” She meowed with a chuckle.
  “Oh, um.” Frostfire blushed.  “Okay, yeah, I did. What can I say.” He meowed shrugging sheepishly.
  “Are there any other things like that between you two?” Viperstrike meowed mischievously. 
  “Oh yeah! There was this one time. . . . “
Frostfire could do little but tag along as Loudspirit cheerfully recited some of the more embarrassing moments of his early apprenticeship and Kithood, and poured it into the ear of the girl he was trying to impress. He sighed, well she would have found out about it sooner or later, he would not have hid it from he, and well at least it was coming from Loudspirit so she’d get as honest an account from him as she would from himself.