Confrontation ~ Private

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(As the subject might have given it away, this is when Duskbreeze confronts Turtlestep about hanging around so much with Littleflower :3)

Duskbreeze closed her emerald eyes for a moment and took a deep, big breath.

Calm... Calm... Yes... Calm...

Then her eyes flew open as she realized what a funny picture she must have made. The tips of her ears burned with embarrassment. She had been preparing for this moment for what felt like seasons and as she half marched, half stalked into the warriors' den, she suddenly felt out of place and awkward. There was a nervous smile in place on her face, she wasn't quite sure why, as she found her way to Turtlestep's nest, purely by scent. Surprised by her skill, she looked up, finding herself face to face to the handsome white tom. She suddenly realized she had broad shoulders and well-muscled hind legs. He looked like a completely different cat to when they were apprentices. 

"Why have you been hanging around so much with Littleflower?" she blurted out, amazed by how easily the words came out. The expression on her face was hard to read. 


Turtlestep

[Turtlestep]

Turtlestep stood from his nest, the one nearest to Littleflower's, arching his back in a stretch and widening his maw in a yawn that almost seemed to unhinge his jaws. He blinked large, dusty green eyes before turning towards the entrance. The small male nearly jumped back in surprise as he came face to face with Duskbreeze. He flicked his tail, sending a glare in her direction. "You startled me," he shook out his pelt, bending his neck to give his chest fur a few licks. At her question, he paused.

He had started developing feelings for Littleflower, as small as they were. But that wasn't why he was hanging around her. He enjoyed her company, and she had always been fun to converse with. "Why does it matter to you?" He asked, pushing past her towards the entrance. "I didn't think you cared about either of us."

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Duskbreeze stopped herself from returning the glare. She was feeling a whirlwind of emotions right now, and it took great effort not to blurt them all out. She noticed that his nest was near Littleflower, and that just strengthened her feelings, like a wind pushing a fire through a forest. 
"It does matter to me." she meowed, keeping her voice polite. She stood in front of him, blocking his exit. "Just because I do one wrong thing, you suddenly think I don't care about you guys." Duskbreeze thrust her muzzle into his face, her green gaze finding his. "That's not true, and I know you know that." She sent him the glare she had been holding back all this time.
"If you really think I don't care, you don't know me as well as I'd thought." She dug her claws into the ground as she said this. "As I hoped."
She had been denying this the whole time, but it was true, she had developed stronger feelings for Turtlestep, and it seemed he wasn't keen to return them.

[Turtlestep]

Turtlestep gave a warning growl, a look of irritation and frustration crossing his features. After a moment of her talking about this and that, he found that her face was uncomfortably close to his, although he didn't move. Instead, he narrowed his dusty green eyes, the ones that had become steely and cold. "That's not true, and I know you know that." He watched her for a moment. "Then perhaps you don't know me as you thought you did," He answered simply, turning his back to her.

"Perhaps you only did one thing wrong, but that's what matters the most during a friendship. Staying together." He looked over his shoulder. "Hell, you didn't even say goodbye," he hissed. "You didn't tell us anything. You left us in the dark. What friend does that?" He shook his head. When she spoke again, he shrugged. "Or, perhaps I know you better then you know yourself." He padded towards the entrance. If she wanted an answer from him, she'd have to do better then that.

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Duskbreeze snorted, half in contempt and half in irritation. Those dusty dark green eyes, the ones she knew so well were now steely and icy cold.
"True friendship can't break no matter what." she retorted, fighting the urge to claw him to pieces. "No matter what the distance. It might be bent, but never truly broken." She kept her voice even and but her gaze was coldly polite.
"I didn't know I was going to be made a warrior." she meowed, although a pang of regret found her.

"Hell, you didn't even say goodbye," Guilt flashed in her gaze. "A foolish friend." she replied to his question, although she knew it was rhetoric, glancing at her paws. "Sure, be mad at me. But it won't solve a thing, and you know that. Littleflower knows that too. She may be annoyed, but at least she isn't mad at me, like some cat is." Her eyes searched his. "Maybe you aren't as smart as I thought." she added. "And maybe you do." she responded, flicking her tail. She curled into her nest, slipping into the land of dreams. 

[Turtlestep]

Turtlestep growled in frustration. "Littleflower," He snorted. "If you're so green with jealousy, why do you care what she thinks?" He turned around, shaking his head. "Yes. It's obvious. You're jealous." He sighed. "You're not very good at hiding your emotions," It was a wonder he hadn't realized she liked him. "Maybe your not as smart as I though." He shrugged, flicking his tail.

"Think what you like. I could care less," He turned away as she curled up and tried to sleep. "What I wonder is why your so jealous. If your jealous because I'm closer friends with her than with you, well, you brought that upon yourself." He turned.

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Duskbreeze was slightly taken aback as Turtlestep revealed he knew she was jealous. Was it really that obvious? She hated herself for being jealous, it was so childish and stupid, yet she couldn't help it. She tried to stop it everyday, but it seemed to come naturally to her, almost. She wondered briefly if Turtlestep also knew she had a crush on him. She snorted, more to herself. Why was she so smitten with this tom?

Duskbreeze wrapped her tail around her body, trying to ignore his presence. It seemed he didn't know the true reason, the cause for her jealousy. True, it was partly because Turtlestep was quickly becoming closer friends with Littleflower, but also because she guessed he had feelings for her, the feelings she had for him. 
"'Night." she muttered, drifting back into her slumber. 

[Turtlestep]

Turtlestep rolled his eyes. "Night." He didn't bother saying anything, but instead left the warrior's den. As he did as an apprentice, the male usually slept outside. He remembered when he had first found out Duskbreeze was a warrior. It had been a night much like this one, except he hadn't been nearly as lonely. For a moment he wondered what it would have been like if he had just forgiven her and let it go. He couldn't imagine that. He settled down in the same dip under the same cloud pine branch, resting his head on his paws as he gazed at the moon. I wonder if Littleflower will join me. She knows I don't sleep in the den, and I'm sure she knows where to find me.

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A quiet sigh escaped Duskbreeze as Turtlestep exited. That familiar green gaze had been so unfamiliar all of a sudden, like she was meeting him for the first time. Her head was down, but she imagined he was rolling his eyes in the silence. He was probably intending to sleep outside, again. She wondered briefly whether Littleflower knew of the tom's sleeping habits.
She probably does, she thought. After all, they are close friends.

She wondered what Turtlestep's thoughts were, and had been recently. He was probably gazing at the moon. Only yesterday it had been a half moon, and now it was starting to wane its way to claw-moon. Duskbreeze snorted to herself. Littleflower would probably be joining Turtlestep if she knew.
Not for the first time, she started to feel very alone, despite all the faces around her.