While she had to wait a little longer than she wanted in order to test her idea out, Sablerose figured that there was likely not an issue with spending time with Finchnose at the same time. Sure, she would have to wait until the night of the crescent moon, but there were other things to try at that time and other things to do. She couldn't just drop her responsibilities, no matter how heavy her soul felt at times. Nobody else in the Clan knew about anything that she was experiencing, and that was how she wanted to keep it.

The sun was bright and a beacon for all things well in the world, shimmering lightly to the ground below. It warmed the packed earth, and it warmed the pelts of those who milled the camp. Sablerose pressed closer to Finchnose, who had settled down beside her upon noting her presence in the camp.

"Isn't it nice?" Finchnose mumbled softly, and a spark of fondness lit underneath her pelt as she tipped her skull to press against her own.

"What's nice?"

There was silence before Finchnose meowed gently, "The sun."

"Oh, of course," she agreed, her head tipping slightly. "As bright as your eyes. And my pelt." She was aware of the comfort it cast upon the camp, though it didn't seem to matter much, for few were awake to witness it. Save for the few cats that milled about, obviously, but besides that, it was just them, and that was what she was happy about.

Finchnose's leafy hues sparked with warmth, a giggle lifting itself from her lips at the joke offered forward. While it had already drifted away from Sablerose's skull, Finchnose flickered her tail against her mate's muzzle, and she scrunched her features as she reared backward, swatting playfully at her.

She knew it was wrong to keep the she-cat to herself. And in a way, she didn't mean to and she didn't want to. She wanted to ensure that she spent as much time with Finchnose as she possibly could before she was torn away from her.

A stray breeze around her picked up speed and tossed her fur around briefly, causing her to shiver for a second, dipping her head down. Finchnose batted at her ears in return, yet all Sablerose did was snicker softly.

There was a call from across the camp.

"What's that on your head?"

A tuxedo she-cat bounced across the camp with a curious gleam in her eyes. Her daffodil-hued gaze was shiny and bright in the morning light, and she lifted a paw to jab up at Sablerose's skull. A chill ran down her spine and she jerked backward. The marking isn't gone.

Not many cats mentioned it anymore. Everyone who did just found that she evaded and ignored all of the questions, acting innocent with a sharp blaze raring beneath the surface of her pelt. Finchnose knew that saying anything about it would end in frustrations, so she didn't, and Sablerose was grateful for this. But what she didn't expect was an apprentice questioning her about it.

"Meadowpaw! What're you doing?"

A thinner, taller dark-furred tom stalked over behind the she-cat, and this was a cat that Sablerose recognized. The stubbed tail and the bronze eyes told her that this tom was Cavepaw, apprenticed to Soottalon.

"What's what, Meadowpaw?" Sablerose asked, tipping her skull.

"You know, the little moon thing on her forehead. What is that?"

Cavepaw pushed past her and squinted up at her. Finchnose flinched and peered, confused, at the two apprentices. "Excuse me, what're you-"

"Get away from me," snapped the she-cat, jerking back from the two prying apprentices. Truth shone in her words as she spat out, "I don't want you prying into my life? I'm just trying to enjoy some time with my mate."

Cavepaw reared back, his expression darkening. "We just had a question for you! I didn't realize we weren't allowed to speak to you."

Meadowpaw's eyes were wide and filled with a brimming of tears. Really? While Sablerose originally hadn't been sure who this was, it was clear enough now. She was that whiny apprentice from one of the most recent promotions.

"I didn't say you weren't allowed, I just don't want you coming over here and ruining my time with Finchnose." She tipped her skull to press her muzzle comfortingly into the she-cat's scruff, who mumbled something inaudible.

"We were just asking a question! Can't you answer it?" Cavepaw's ears twitched with frustration.

Sablerose's mouth opened to speak, but something interrupted her. Rather someone.

"What's going on over here?" A small peach-and-white she-cat, whose chin was tipped upward, observed the event and strolled over, peering down at the younger apprentices. This was the oldest apprentice of the Clan, Scorchpaw. She clearly had a complex about it. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Lynxsnout fueled it.

"Nothing's going on," Finchnose suggested after a moment, politely dipping her skull toward the approaching apprentice. "We're relaxing is all."

"Seemed like someone was a little bit upset," mentioned Scorchpaw, shooting a pitying look at Sablerose.

"Nothing is wrong." Her voice was sharp, carrying it like the edge of a sword, the finality of a knife. "I want you all to leave so myself and Finchnose can enjoy the rest of our morning without some meddling apprentices getting in our way."

"We didn't d-do anything!" squeaked Meadowpaw, "she's just being m-mean for no... no reason!"

"I'm not surprised," stated Scorchpaw, looking down at Sablerose. Irritation sparked hotly in her chest and she lifted herself to her paws, looming over the shorter and overall smaller apprentice.

In an instant, Finchnose had gotten up and laid her tail over Sablerose's shoulder, using a paw to lightly press down on her back, indicating that she should seat herself down.

Finchnose's warm breath stirred against her ear as she spoke. "Sit down, Sablerose. It's not worth it."

"But-"

"Sh," she murmured, and Sablerose sat down, her tail curling itself immediately around her paws as though to keep her further glued to the floor.

Scorchpaw snickered, rolling her eyes before lifting a paw and jabbing it at her forehead. "That's odd, don't you think so?"

"That's what we were trying to ask about," Cavepaw muttered, frustrated.

"I really don't know what you're referring to. Go run along, you three," Finchnose mewed, pressing closer to Sablerose. "Go and train with your mentors."

Scorchpaw narrowed her eyes briefly at the two before lifting her skull. "Hmph!" She spun on her paw, lifted her tail, and then pranced obnoxiously off, followed by a sniffling Meadowpaw and a still-bothered Cavepaw.

There was silence for a few moments, an overwhelming, pressing silence that Sablerose hadn't experienced in a very long time. And then it faded when Finchnose purred a few words.

"Sometimes I think it would do you better to stay inside all day. Then you'd never have to deal with anyone else."

Sablerose chuckled quietly. "And then I could spend more time with you."

"You'd get bothered with me, and then I'd have to calm you down again."

That was why she loved her. There were other reasons, ones that might've made more sense to an onlooker. But this one was important; Finchnose was quieter than she was, kinder too, more observant. She wasn't as easily frustrated and she knew when things were wrong. Like a flower that bloomed so swiftly in newleaf, it never faded nor wilted, even in the face of harsh rains or particularly hot sun.

Finchnose seemingly could detect every emotion that she was experiencing. She could pick out the feelings that hid beneath others' masks or the ones that gleamed obviously in her eyes. And with such knowledge, she calmed the cat easily, with words that allowed her pelt to tingle warmly. She'd be reminded of how lucky she was to have someone like Finchnose and the irritation would fade. The anger would fade. The frustration would fade. It would all fade until the light of love glimmered in her tawny eyes.

"Never change," she echoed words spoken only a bit ago.

"Wasn't part of the plan," Finchnose stated drowsily, lulled to tranquility by the sun that gleamed above their skulls. She laid her head on Sablerose's shoulder, a small purr lifting from her lips.

"Good," Sablerose mumbled, nuzzling her after a second, blinking slowly as she watched her mate slowly slip further and further toward a pleasant slumber.

Her breathing grew relaxed before hitching slightly as Sablerose accidentally shifted her position.

"Sh, sh," Sablerose hummed, "sleep, Finchnose. It's just me."

A tiny, fond purr sounded in her ears.

"I love you."

"I love you," came the mumble of a reply, muffled in her fur, but that didn't matter. It was clear that the intent was there, and that was what made it worth it. What made her sacrifice worth it.

I'm sorry.

Written by Lamb

Edited by Lilli