Where Have You Been? (Mid)

[Midnight]

Crescentheart's ears still lay flat to her head. She shuddered before letting out mewing, "I'm done, Adderclaw. This is the second time you've left, and you refuse to tell me why. You and I are no longer mates." With a wave of her tail, the she-cat began padding off. She refused the urge to reverse what she said, to apologize, to make it all right and be with Adderclaw again, but how could she? What if he left again and continued to refuse to tell her? Crescentheart wouldn't deal with such drama, with her heart nearly breaking every time she thought her mate was dead, then learn that he was alive, yet at some place unknown to Crescentheart.

[kiba]

Adderclaw's ears perked. His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't believe what she just said. He stepped towards her and continued to watch her walk away. He bared his teeth and snarled at himself. He bounded after her and then past her. He stopped right in front of her, blocking her path. "Crescentheart, no! You can't do that! It's.... It's.... It's not fair," he replied, knowing he sounded like a kit.

[Midnight]

Crescentheart's widened, weary eyes flicked quickly away from Adderclaw when he blocked her path. She had a paw midair and turned her direction, going around him. "It's not right," Crescentheart began, standing still now, "It's not right for you to break my heart by leaving then refusing to tell me why you even left. Not to mention that you come back beat up. Why you don't fight with your Clanmates, I'll apparently never know." With that, she started again, this time picking up a fast pace, running at the strongest speed her legs would allow.

[kiba]

Adderclaw listened and turned when she passed him. He blinked and whimpered to himself as he watched her run off. He knew he would never catch her. He bounded towards the camp, trying to ignore the pain. He had to figure out to make this right. How he would make his mate love him again. He would figure this out. It would take time, but he would keep his family together.

[Midnight]

Sitting straight and tall outside the camp entrance, Lionpaw watched with narrowed, focused eyes as cat after cat passed him, heading into the camp. He stood up happily when he saw his father coming, "Hey, Adderclaw! Look, I'm guarding the camp outside all by myself!" The dark golden tabby waved his tail happily, trying to show off.

[kiba]

Adderclaw looked up. His ears and tail were drooping. "Oh yes... Very Good, Lionpaw. You're doing a great job," he mewed, forcing a smile. He licked his son on the cheek and purred lightly and sat down next to him. He didn't say anything, but he watched as cats walked by.

[Midnight]

Tipping his head in confusion, Adderclaw looked at his father, "Shouldn't you tell Flamestar that you're back? Oh, or, was she in the territory and you were able to tell her?" He was happy that his father seemed proud of him, though, and Lionpaw decided not to question him too much, but he did add one more question in, "Where's Crescentheart? She didn't want to come back to camp with you and announce you're being back? Or did she go hunting with Flamestar?"

[kiba]

Adderclaw shook his head. "Someone will tell Flamestar," he replied. He then looked at him suddenly and saddened a bit more. "Crescentheart and I aren't mates anymore. She told me while we were still in the forest. I'm guessing that she's just getting some time alone.... away from me," he replied. He then shook his head.

[Midnight]

Lionpaw gasped, stood, and arched his back, his long fur bristling. "Why? What did you do?" His big temper was beginning to take over. "You must've done something horrible, because I know my mother, and she cared about you as much as her kits, and that's more than any cat could ever truly know! She wouldn't have decided to no longer be mates with you without good reason, Adderclaw." The apprentice's eyes were filled with anger and hatred suddenly, and his tail lashed furiously. His claws sheathed and unsheathed uncontrollably into the dirt below him, and he looked rabid.

[kiba]

Adderclaw got to his paws as well, his own fur bristling. He bared his teeth, unsheathing his claws. "I know her just as well as you do, if not more! Don't you dare talk to me like that! I am a warrior and you are an apprentice. Show some respect," he snarled, green eyes blazing with fury. He lashed his tail. "I am your father, you will show respect and you will not ask me what I have done. Things like this just happen! I love your mother! She's the one ripping our family apart," he snapped.

((What if Crescentheart came in on this?))

[Midnight]

(Good idea. :D XD)

"You're calling yourself a warrior? You've been away for StarClan knows how long!" Lionpaw hissed. Yup, his temper was all that was left of Lionpaw then. He showed no fear, recklessness that someday could hurt him. "I'm more of a warrior right now than you'll ever be! Get out of MidnightClan's territory! Get! Go, you mange-pelt! You hurt Crescentheart! You're not welcome here!"

"Lionpaw!" Crescentheart called, bounding over to her son. She stood by his side, almost smaller than him, due to him being such a large cat, and glared at Adderclaw, "Lionpaw, don't listen to him. He's being a secretive liar, and he's not worth talking to anymore. Now, go."

"N..No... I won't walk away from this." Lionpaw said. "I won't walk away when he has the chance of attacking you."

Crescentheart's tail tip flicked, Protective. Just like his father... was. Just like his father was.

[kiba]

Adderclaw snarled loudly at his son. He then looked as Crescentheart came up. Pain filled his eyes at what she said and then he looked back at Lionpaw. "Hurting her? You honestly think I would hurt her? I would never be able to hurt her," he snapped. He then looked back at the black she-cat. "I can see what you really think of me now, though. That's okay.... No... No it's not. but I can't change your thoughts," he replied.

He then hissed at them both. "Let me tell you what I think of you both. Lionpaw, you are going to be a fantastic warrior one day. Not like me. I am nothing. Crescentheart, we grew up together and we were best friends. I loved you then and I love you now. You deserve better so go find better. I guess I'll go find someone else," he snapped.

[Midnight]

"Liar!" Lionpaw sneered, "Liar, liar, liar!" He spit at his father, continuing his kit-like sneering, mocking, things of the like.

"Out of all you just said, you're right: You are nothing. Stop trying to gain favor back, though, got it? I'm tempted to tell Flamestar that you're back, but ask her to increase patrols to keep you out." Crescentheart said, sitting down. She could fight like this all day, and she knew very well that her son could, too.

[kiba]

Adderclaw flinched at what Crescentheart said. He forced back a whimper and looked from his son to the love of his life. He looked back and forth. "Fine. I'll leave. My family hates me. Good. Less I have to worry about then. I'm tired of trying to be a good cat. I'm not. Good bye," he replied. He turned and bounded back towards the territory line. He bared his teeth and picked up speed until he was at a full sprint. He exited the territory and continued on.

[Midnight]

Lionpaw snickered, "Now he's trying the guilt trip!"

Crescentheart rolled her eyes at Adderclaw and nodded at what Lionpaw said, "Keep guarding the camp and be especially wary and careful for the next few moons, okay? I'm going to tell Flamestar what happened." With that, the warrior padded into camp and headed for the leader's den.