[Hexict]

@Skybird™

The tuxedo tom flicked his tail as he patrolled the territory along with his clan-mate, Skybird. Lately, he's been dealing with the death of his first mate. Even though it was a couple moons ago, and the two had been separated for many moons before that, she still had a place in his heart, and if she hadn't pushed him away so much he thought that they would've been mates again by the time she had passed from disease. He felt strange about her death though. It was saddening, yes, yet he realized how much his love for her a dulled over the moons since he had left her and since she had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.

He realized how dark his next thought may sound: her death seemed to have released him. He has been haunted by their relationship and leaving her and had been unable to love another cat. He hadn't even loved Shrew despite taking her on as his mate. And he hadn't wanted their kits at all, but what was she to do when she kept surprising him?

The tom had left her.

Iceclaw finally felt like he could love again now that Eversong was dead. She still remained in his heart, but not as a barricade that prevented another love from entering his heart, but rather like a simple old flame. The tom would move on from her, like she had moved on from him. He'd miss her forever, but he could love someone else now. Maybe even more than he had loved Eversong....

It didn't make total sense, but to him it did.

"Where should we head?" He called out to Skybird, turning to lay his ice blue orbs on the molly as they padded the territory. He was cautious around the other clans now. Every clan seemed to have a new leader, and he wasn't sure how they were going to lead and whether or not they would dare to step paw in Shadowclan territory. Iceclaw would fight anyone who attempted it. He still felt like he had to prove himself due to his past mistake of leaving the clans. But that was fine, his loyalty was to Shadowclan anyway, and he would continue to try and protect his clan.