The dawn rose high, spreading the warmth of a new day as cats rose and padded off to the fresh kill pile, kits were wailing for their mothers and warriors all emerged, ready to make a patrol.
Scorchfang didn't get an ounce of sleep, not after what happened so when Sedgeskip came up to him with a vole, he couldn't stop his grogginess.

"Oh my Starclan, are you alright?" she mewed softly "You look like you saw a ghost!" she exclaimed, her tail waving around curiously.
Scorchfang groaned as he gratefully chewed the vole "I feel like I did..I sa-" he cut himself off when he saw Wrenflight emerge from the Warriors den, Morningcreek close behind him.
He shared a small look with Sedgeskip as they both fought their fear scent down, they didn't want to appear as weak when the two warriors padded up to them.

"Good morning you two." Morningcreek purred, her voice rolling off her tongue in an alluring way. Scorchfang grit his teeth, fighting a stoic expression. She was good at persuasion, he could already tell.
"Good morning Scorchfang." Wrenflight purred, smiling towards the tom. He finally glanced over, "Oh.. Sedgeskip." His smile fell away, and the new warrior looked insulted.
She opened her mouth until Morningcreek glanced her way, and the new warrior shut her mouth quickly. "You guys came back late into my vigil."

"Yes, but you were gone for half of it, weren't you?" Morningcreek asked, "Making poor Echosong swear into silence, though he never speaks anyway so you don't have to worry about him actually saying anything." She drawled, rolling her eyes, "He really doesn't match his name. Songs are to be spoken a lot, and yet he cannot even make himself echo."
"What about your name?" Scorchfang dared to asked, and the tall she-cat's gaze snapped to him in an instant.
"I was born when the sun touched the horizon, hence my name from my wretch of a mother." Morningcreek spat, her eyes narrowed, "I also look like the sunset as my stupid former Clanmates liked to say. The 'creek' part, I couldn't tell you what came to that traitor of a leader's mind." Her claws sank into the soil, until she took a breath and composed herself, "Though, I don't want to talk about me."
Wrenflight gently nuzzled her with his dark nose, his amber eyes reflecting concern for a brief moment before he covered it up, his eerie smile plastered on his face once again.
Scorchfang opened his maw a little, before nodding. "Right, well, at least there's a story behind your name.. Mine is just because--"

"I'm sorry honey," Morningcreek smiled warmly, "but I didn't ask."
Sedgeskip looked at Scorchfang from behind the two cats, her eyes wide with sympathy. I'm sorry, she mouthed, shrugging, Told you they're ruthless.
Scorchfang fought the urge to say anything back before reminding himself that Morningcreek and Wrenflight were looking at him.
"Didn't you hear my question?" Wrenflight asked, feigning hurt as he set a paw on his chest.
"I'm s-sorry, what?" Scorchfang stuttered, trying his best to look prepared.

"Are you enjoying your new Clan?" Wrenflight asked.

"My new Clan?" Scorchfang blinked, "We still don't know what ShadowClan will do.. After all, my apprentice is kind of a bird brain."
"Oh," Wrenflight frowned, before perking up, a smile on his face, "we won't let them have you back. After all," he winked, "I, and Morningcreek too, like you too much~."
Sedgeskip backed up, shrugging in sympathy and apologies before pivoting and leaving them to join a patrol. Scorchfang watched her leave, realizing he was now on his own. He felt the dread soak into his bones as he straightened up, hoping the cats didn't scent his uneasiness.
"Going somewhere?" Wrenflight asked, his amber eyes wandering over the tom.
"Um.. y-yes, to get some prey." Scorchfang hesitantly dipped his head, before creeping off. Wrenflight looked like he was saying some things to Morningcreek, his amber eyes alight with something that Scorchfang couldn't read.
We can't kill you just yet.
Whatever did they mean? What did they want with him? He felt uneasy and strangely cold, yet he couldn't show it. He looked up to the Tallrock to see Dawnstar talking with Rosedawn in hushed tones. Rosedawn's eyes alight with fire as her tail lashed about whilst Dawnstar looked quite calm answering in a hushed tone.
Digging around the pile he grasped himself a large hare as he felt the prickling stares of the two  warriors, turning to face them he forced himself to pad over to them. That is until a small kit about 2 moons old stumbled away to far from her mother, the little ball of fluff had crashed into Wrenflight's haunches.
The kit looked up with innocent eyes towards the massive warrior, Wrenflight looked down at the kit, his amber eyes flashing darkly before brightening "Hello little one~" he sang softly, leaning to face the kit.

"H-Hello! My name's Applekit!" the small kit chattered as she bounced about

"I'm Wrenflight." the lanky tom smiled showing his fangs.

Scorchfang watched them with horror in his eyes before he heard a squeal
"Applekit!" A terrified wail echoed in the camp making Scorchfang turn to the queen, her green eyes wide as she beckoned for her kit to return to her side. Applekit frowned as she whined.
"But mama Wrenflight is showing me how to fight!"
Wrenflight had a grin stretched on his face as he stared at the queen, who merely shrunk back, her eyes glossy as she watched her kit stay in close proximity with the mysterious warrior. No queen ever dared to approach the two cats even if they were starving, it was even a stretch for them to go near the two if their kits were starving.
"A-Alright s-sweetie.. When you're done.. Go see Rainypelt.."
"Oh.. I don't know why but okay mama!"
"You're such a good mother Sweetwing." Morningcreek smiled, "Wrenflight just wants a friend sometimes, and he gets along well with Applekit."
Sweetwing tried to smile, but it came off as a look of regret, "Right.." She merely turned away, whispering, hopefully, reassuring words to Applekit's foster brother, Sparrowkit.
Applekit snuggled up to Wrenflight, who only smiled as the small kit touched his paws, playing with his paw pads or climbing up is back. Scorchfang warily made his way over to the pair, the vole in his jaw.
"Hello honey~" Wrenflight chirped as he set his amber gaze on the tom
"H-hello..?"
Wrenflight hummed softly to himself until a yowl was heard.
"Wrenflight you mongrel get away from the prisoner!" A high pitched yowl tore at them as the deputy stormed up to them. "I'll take watch now so get your fuzzy butt outta here!" Rosedawn growled.
Wrenflight merely smiled at her.
Morningcreek stepped forward, an eerie smile occupying her facial features. "How about you, our oh-so-great deputy, leave. If it wasn't for my willingness to give it to you, I'd be where you are, but with much more power."
Rosedawn grimaced, her eyes narrowed, "I don't know what you're talking about, now, because I have the power and the rank, get out of my way and let me take watch."
"How about you go organize patrols?" Morningcreek muttered, her smile gone.
"Make me."
Morningcreek narrowed her eyes, "You challenged me. Never forget that."
Rosedawn's eyes widened in a flash as she realized what she did. Morningcreek's paw appeared in the blink of an eye, like a blur in the air, and slapped Rosedawn in the cheek. Rosedawn's head slowly moved back to look at Morningcreek, and she took a step back.
"Yeah.. He's fine with you two."
Morningcreek smiled, a wink directed in Rosedawn's direction, "You're very right, now, it looks like a few cats are due for an evening patrol."
Rosedawn nodded, slowly shuffling off, "Right, thanks for noticing that Morningcreek."
Morningcreek watched the deputy move off before turning, "Don't ever talk to Wrenflight like that again, got that?"
"Wouldn't dream of it." Rosedawn looked over her shoulder, frowning before continuing to walk off.
Wrenflight cooed to himself "Morningcreek is amazing.." he muttered as he curled his tail around himself, his eyes closing as he leaned closer to Scorchfang "Don't you think so?" he whispered.
Scorchfang jumped as he stammered "Y-yeah, that was impressive!" he mewed, his voice slightly cracking.

⚂⚁⚀

"You say that Morningcreek slapped Rosedawn?" Sedgeskip's head tilted, her eyes wide, "I mean, I'm not particularly surprised, but.. Wow."
"Are you impressed?"
"No..Just a little surprised, even if they are intimidating they never openly hurt a cat of this clan." Sedgeskip muttered keeping her head down as she bit into her thrush, the flesh satiating her appetite. "It's a little new."
"Like they're sparks of interest?"
Sedgeskip chuckled, "So you did listen to me."
"Every word..!" Scorchfang exclaimed, before quieting his voice quickly, "Those two are absolutely psychotic! I'm gonna die! We're all gonna die!"
"Chill out." Sedgeskip snorted, "I made it to warriorship, and hey, I think that if I tread lightly, I will actually make it to my first moon!"
"Yeah, but I don't like how Wrenflight has attached himself, and his amber gaze, on my presence." Scorchfang muttered ruefully.
"You'll get used to it. Wrenflight got bored of the last one." Sedgeskip shrugged, chewing as she spoke.
"What happened to the 'last one'..?"
"No cat knows." Sedgeskip chirped, and when she saw Scorchfang's horrified expression, she laughed, "We all think he ran away, and a lot of us don't blame him."
"Wait, him?"
"Yes, he's never looked at she-cats like he does toms." Sedgeskip purred, "It's kind of adorable, seeing how his attractions are different."
"What about Morningcreek? Is she different?"
"Morningcreek.. From what I know at least, Morningcreek doesn't find any cat attractive. From what many of the elders say, that remembered hearing of announcements at Gathering and such, apparently Morningcreek used to be a mother."
Scorchfang's eyes widened, "Used to be? She lost her kits?"
"No one knows how, and Morningcreek despises the subject. As far as I've seen, Morningcreek has closed off her heart, and any attraction to anyone, off from the world."
Scorchfang looked at his paws, which were stretched out in front of his chest. Just what dark secrets did Morningcreek and Wrenflight run from?