[spade]

So many emotions had cascaded through her from the moment her back hit the Thunderwillow until now, laying right by Buckstar. It was weird, still thinking of him as Buckstar when he was in reality the size of an apprentice. A smile graced her face at the thought. Perhaps that meant they would be on an even playing field with play fighting. Endless amounts of getting to do the mentor-apprentice bonding that she had been denied back when she was living.

All seemed peaceful and right in the world, and Applepaw barely felt the grief at her death. It didn't matter now, she wasn't alone.

But at the sound of Rainywhisker's voice, and in return Buckstar's rebuttal, the fragile moment she thought they all were having was quickly shattered. Scrambling to her paws, her pelt fluffed up as her eyes went wide. Ears folding back against her head, she stared at the two toms. They were... fighting? About things in the past?? They were all dead! Did it really matter who was responsible or how it happened? At least they were all together!

Clan politics weren't her strong suit. Applepaw had really only been focused on training to be the best warrior ThunderClan had ever seen, and after that the best leader. Her hopes had included one day following in Buckstar's and Eveningmist's pawsteps; taking the reigns of ThunderClan and continuing the legacy left behind. Sure, it had been derailed, but did she blame any of that on anything other than just simple bad luck? Absolutely not.

Her fur grew hot with anger, spilling over into her normally upbeat and happy green eyes. This was ridiculous. Two idiot toms arguing over something that could not be changed now, no matter how hard either of them tried.

"Will you two just... shut up???"

Wow. Was that... her? Fur spiked up and standing out from behind Buckstar to where both toms could see her. Rage boiled in her gaze as she glared at them both. Were they unruly kits? "You two were Clanmates! You relied on each other. You fought for each other. Rainywhisker, Buckstar did the best he could with what he was left with, and if you ask me he did a good job. No cat is perfect, and no cat can ever see what the future will hold. And Buckstar," she gulped, turning to her mentor, "Rainywhisker stepped up into a position that he was not required to, in order to help you." She was trembling from all the yelling, and quite frankly exhausting, but wouldn't stop until this was resolved.

Sucking in a breath, Applepaw fought to lie her fur flat, trying to regain her composure. "Both of you have made mistakes. Both of you have let the other down, sure. But why... out of all times now fight about it? Stars, you two sound like squabbling kits!" Her throat felt raw. Never in her life had she yelled liked that. It exhausted her.

Staggering away to the stream behind them, the young molly collapsed down by it to lap up a few droplets. Her muscles still trembled a bit. She didn't know what else to say or do and for now, she rested her head on the ground.

// @implimm @Papaya