The killer in the mirror

His life hadn’t really been on the right track lately. He’d gotten into a big fight with Coalnose, especially after she named one of her kittens after him. He barely spent any time with his other friends either; they were all just so busy. Though he could count himself lucky that he succesfully mentored one apprentice into a warrior, because it gave him a little more spare energy and time for himself.

That was how he found himself strolling the territory. He’d already hunted that day; having caught a mouse and a shrew. Very little for at least half a day of hunting. But then again, the weather was getting colder still, making their prey burrow itself into their dens. But he did what he could for the day and gave Cloverpaw the afternoon off. His mind had been troubled and strolling through the forest alwayd did help him clear it. He could just take in the familiar scents and forget about everything that was troubling him as a Leaf-Fall sun glittered through the overgrowth.

It just so happened that he realised that he was walking along the Thunderpath when a monster rumbled past with a great ruckus. Ardentheart jumped up a little, fur spiked and eyes wide. He really should’ve kept track of where he’d been going. It was dangerous here and not just because of the monsters on the Thunderpath; The border between Thunderclan and Shadowclan was very close by. If he’d walked a little further he might have crossed it. But then he would’ve surely also bumped into the cat that was standing there. He really should stop meeting Shadowclan leaders right here, near the Thunderpath. Though to his defense, last time the leader was on Thunderclan territory and he’d been an apprentice.

The tabby warrior studied Acornstar in front of him. The leader looked a little more ragged than the last time he’d seen him and back then they’d been chased by dogs on Fourtrees. “Uhm, hi,” he greeted him a little awkwardly. He didn’t really know how to start a conversation here, really. Should he even start one?

Acornstar greeted him back, kindly enough, for a meeting at the border between their clans at least. He asked about him earning his warrior name and the young warrior nodded. “Yes. It’s Ardentheart now. And congratulation on making it to leader.” Was that the right thing to say? Or was it insensitive, because of the past leader? He still needed to learn how to not make conversation awkward, apparently. Ardentheart also really didn’t dare ask about his sort-of-friends-definitely-good-accuantainces in Shadowclan; Settleddust and Pepperpaw. Would she have recieved her warrior name by now? Or was she still an apprentice? Were they both alright? The last time he saw the both of them it had been when a dog had chased her across the Thunderpath into Thunderclan territory. He didn’t know if Acornstar knew about that, so he wisely kept his mouth shut.

dogs also seemed a reocurring thing with him and any Shadowclanner, apparently, even though they might not have always been real. A point Acornstar pointed out, not necisarrily in a joking manner, but it earned a chuckle from Ardentheart. “Yes, I’d rather not. I’ve seen way too many of those already,” he replied with a small smile. Being chased into a tree with the, then, deputy of Shadowclan had been the cherry on top of all of his adventures containing dogs. It wasn’t something he would soon forget but also not something he was eager to repeat.

Ardentheart knew he messed up with that congratulation on becomming a leader. Honestly, why would he say that. He was so dumb sometimes, never thinking about his words before they left his mouth. He could see the surprised hint on the other's face when he'd congratulated him, so it had probably been the wrong thing to say. But what else would you say? At least they could agree on the dogs. Though it wasn't a wonder that neither of them wanted to see any of those again and yet the Shadowclan leader admitted to there being way too many lately. Well then, he counted himself lucky to not have met any of those dogs. Maybe it was a Shadowclan problem more than a Thunderclan problem. Starclan knows Shadowclan had it the toughest out of all the clans lately. Ardentheart just nodded in what he hoped was a smart way, but the next question from the older tom took some careful thinking. He couldn't go telling about all of his clan's secrets now, could he? "Yeah, it's alright. I mean, apart from some annoying twolegs letting their dogs out in the woods," He added the last part with a halfhearted grin.

Acornstar seemed polite enough today, smiling slightly as he told him that it was good to hear and that he hoped they sould steer clear of the forest completly soon. Yeah, if only that were possible. They all knew to avoid them rather well in Thunderclan, but they also knew they would be a constant. They just lived near the twoleg place, and unlike Shadowclan, they had a solid forest ground. There probably was nothing wrong with the marshes if you grew up with them, but Ardentheart liked the tall trees and the sandy underground with its bushes and plants and herbs. “I think that’s a little too much wishful thinking,” he smiled ruefully. No, dogs would keep barging through all of their territories, but at least they knew how to stay safe when they were with twolegs. It was when the twolegs let them of their leash that they became rather dangerous to the cats in the forest.

Though, not having shared much of Thunderclan’s problems, he did genuinely want to know how Shadowclan was holding up. He didnt dare share much, since he didn’t know what his leader would want known and what not but Acornstar was a leader now. He could pick what he wanted others to know without needing to worry about getting reprimanded for it by, well, himself basically. Ardentheart didn’t dare put a paw in the wrong place really, since Coalnose had betrayed him and told Thornstar about his half-clan offspring in Windclan. He was lucky enough that the clan didn’t know about it, well the majority anyways. He’d told a select few he’d trusted, Coalnose had just overheard and had promised him to keep it secret. Well, so far for promises. It wouldn’t sit so sour with him hadn’t she named one of her children after him with the notion that he meant a great deal to her. If he really did, then she wouldn’t have Anyways, his mind was wandering off topic. He wanted to know about Shadowclan’s well-being. “But how’s all on your side?” Ardentheart asked kindly. It wasn’t like he was really out for information and it seemed like Acornstar was doing just fine.

Ardentheart nodded at the words the Shadowclan leader gave him as a reply. Yeah, Leafbare could be a harsh time which could even grasp it’s claws in the strongest, well-fed clan and make them hungry and tired. With the poisoned rabbits, prey was already less than it should be, so he hoped that wouldn’t bite Thunderclan too much in the arse. “I think none of the clans are looking forward to a harsh Leaf-bare this year. So much has happened already,” Ardentheart sighed. He didn’t need to be told that Shadowclan probably had it hardest, with the whole Bloodclan take-over that had happened, but that didn’t take away the problems the other clans, his own clan, also had. That wasn’t something you could outrun by climbing a tree and hiding in it.

Yeah, cats in control of the weather, that would be something. “Think of the mess it would be, though, if we had.” He said with a small smile. Everyone would want different weather. Sunny for some, a little colder for others. Herbs would need rain and sunlight, so it wouldn’t be midsummer if it were up to any of the Medicine Cats, he’d guess. Of course, the weather now was unpredictable too, but at least more predictable if they would be in charge of it. Yes, they had spells of sunny weather, rain or snow a few days later, but at least the temperatures didn’t hover too much.

The Shadowclan leader asked him what kind of weather he would like it to be, if he was in control of the weather. Well, he didn’t need to think long about that. “A sunny day in New-Leaf. I like the warmth, but I wouldn’t want it searing hot. Plus there’d be lots of prey. I like a good meal,” he told Acornstar good naturedly. Not that he was egotistical and taking more than his share in these times. Yet, he did miss a full belly and the rich, plentifull prey. “And how about you? I wouldn’t imagine you’d want it to rain all the time, considering you live in a marsh,” he joked. Though, he did mean it a little. Marshlands and rain? Yuck.

Ardentheart nodded. Though he couldn’t help but smile at the thought that, of course, a clanleader would think about the basic needs of survival. Even in such a weird conversation as this one. Honestly how had they even gotten to this point? “I mean, staying alive is one of our main objectives, yes.” It was a good natured joke, of course. Sometimes survival in the forest could be hard, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Even when faced with hardships and drama and all the other things in between. It was his home and it would always stay that way too.