Chapter Text
Leafpool exited the medicine den, scanning RiverClan camp. It was surrounded by reeds, acting as a both a protective barrier and a form of camouflage – had Mothwing not led her here, she would never have found the camp. She could hear the river on the other side of the reeds, quietly providing ambient noise. The rays of the Greenleaf sun, high in the sky, danced upon the sparkling stones and shells which decorated the roof of the nursey. The resulting reflections paraded across the camp.
She found herself staring in awe. The awe was soon followed by pangs of jealously – why couldn’t ThunderClan camp look like this?
“Like what you see?”
She turned around and standing there was Hawkfrost, a slight smile on his lips. The handsome RiverClan warrior was tall and lean with rippling muscle underneath his short fur. The most striking aspect of him was his eyes. Icy blue in colour, they held a friendly warmth.
Though it felt off somehow.
She pushed the thought aside, dipping her head in greeting, “um. . .h-hi, Hawkfrost. Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Hopefully he didn’t think she was staring.
“So, what brings you to RiverClan?”
“Oh, I was just asking your sister if she could spare some herbs. She’s busy for now though.”
Hawkfrost replied, “well, while you’re waiting, do you want to share some prey? RiverClan won’t mind.”
The offer took Leafpool by surprise. Again, she found herself examining the tom, hoping to find some hint of a hidden agenda. The medic had never forgotten the exchange between the tom and his sister that she overheard moons ago.
“Who do you think you are? Tigerstar?”
“There’s worse cats to imitate.”
Leafpool found nothing except a warm gaze and an inviting smile. The warmth in his eyes was such a stark contrast to their colour. She had never noticed how pretty they were. Realising that she had been staring, she promptly turned away and accepted the offer hesitantly, “th-that’d be nice.”
The RiverClan warrior’s smile transformed into a smug smirk. “Seems like the shells and stones aren’t the only thing you like the look of.” He purred as he walked past her and towards the fresh-kill pile.
The medic felt her face grow hot and embarrassment burn within her. Leafpool stammered, trying to provide an excuse but all that escaped her lips were half sentences.
Hawkfrost responded with an amused chuckle.
He was just teasing her, she knew that, but Leafpool couldn’t help but take note of the gleam in his eyes when he noticed her staring. The warrior didn’t think she was interested in him, did he? Of course not, Leafpool told herself, that was preposterous.
She sat down, watching as Hawkfrost retrieved a fish from RiverClan’s fresh-kill pile. He placed it in front of the medic, nudging it forwards with his nose. Leafpool took a nibble as he sat down besides her.
The taste was unlike the prey she was used to. It had a mild flavour, and the meat was tender. Leafpool chewed slowly.
“Different from what you ThunderClan cats are used to, right?” Hawkfrost mewed.
The medic nodded. It was nice that the tom had offered something to eat, though she didn’t think she liked it. The medic nudged the fish towards the warrior, “here.”
“Thanks, I’m not all that hungry though,” the warrior admitted, “how’ve you been though, Leafpool?”
“Oh, I’ve been fine. Just getting used to the new camp is all,” she started, “it’s just…so different from the old camp. Same with the territory, it’s a lot more hill-y than we’re used to.”
All four Clans had recently made an exodus from their old homes to the lake where they now reside. Twolegs had destroyed ThunderClan’s forest, ripping out trees from the ground with great and terrible monsters unlike anything Leafpool had seen before.
They all had to watch the devastation, powerless to stop it.
Leafpool suddenly felt Hawkfrost’s tail on her back. She tensed up, feeling her heart stop for a moment as found herself examining the tom once more only to find his reassuring gaze.
“Hey, don’t look so down,” he said softly, “this is a fresh start for everyone.”
She wanted to respond, but the words fell flat. This tom was just full of surprises, wasn’t he?
“Y-y’know, you’re a lot nicer than I thought you’d be.” She confessed.
“I just want to get to know you better is all.” Hawkfrost innocently responded, leaning a little forward.
Once again, the ThunderClan cat found herself taken aback by Hawkfrost. He seemed so unlike the cold, power-hungry cat she initially though he was. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge him. Leafpool found herself quickly growing flustered as she realised how close he was.
Yet she couldn’t pull herself away.
Leafpool was snapped out of her trance when she heard Mothwing calling on her. “Oh! Sorry, Hawkfrost but I gotta go now.”
The tom nodded, “see you around.”
The ThunderClan cat couldn’t help but feel pangs of disappointment as she stood up and walked off. She wanted to keep their conversation going, to find more out about the handsome tom. However, the herbs were ready, and she had a job to do.
Maybe she would see Hawkfrost again sometime soon. Leafpool looked over her shoulder as she left, watching as the tom flashed her a smirk.