Again and Again - TSS SRP Part 2: Believing

Instructions

Part 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1238395125/ A rustle in the undergrowth pulled Fire-Lilypaw from her thoughts, turning her head as Epi emerged from the treeline and stepped into the clearing with that same warm, bright smile as always. One that always chased away the cold and gloom after her worst days… …Though it didn’t really have that effect tonight. “Ah, firelight!” Epi purred as he bounded over. “I have *great* news!” “Yeah?” Fire-Lilypaw responded flatly. “Yes! So, I *know* that you said that you couldn’t fly in the waking world, HOWEVER, what if we tried to-” “I already learned to fly.” Fire-Lilypaw’s blunt response visually caught the seacat off-guard, Fire-Lilypaw watched as he paused, staggering dumbfounded. “I-.. Really? You did?? But you said-.. When did-” “About a moon ago.” “A moon-...” Epi blinked, his brow furrowed. “But last time we spoke you still-...” The seacat went silent, as if mentally calculating the days and doing the math, before a look of realization dawned upon him. “Has it..- Stars, has it really been a moon since we’ve last spoken?” “Yeah.” Flily scoffed lamely, turning her back to the seacat. “Probably longer, honestly. You don’t really come around as much as you used to, y’know.” “I… I’m sorry, firelight. It.. It seems I just.. Lost track of time, I suppose.” “Whatever.” Fire-Lily huffed, ears pinning back. “Not like I care.” A tense silence befell over the both of them for several long moments, before Fire-Lilypaw heard the rustle of grass as Epi drew closer to her. “...Fire-Lilypaw.. Are.. Are you alright-?” Flily felt a paw rest on her shoulder, and without thinking she slapped it away with a wing. “I’m FINE!” She growled, whipping her head around to glare and bare her teeth at the seacat, but paused and faltered slightly as he reeled back, a look of shock and mild hurt on his face. “..I’m fine.” She repeated, turning away again. “I’m just.. I'm a bit tense right now.” “...What.. What happened?” Fire-Lilypaw went silent, for a moment debating not telling him… But then again, how could she not? She told Epi *everything*. It’s how it was, it’s how it had been since she was a young kit. “..Wlil-... Water-Lilypaw and I got into a fight.” “What-?!” “We’re not friends anymore.” “Oh…” Epi fell silent, and Fire-Lilypaw felt him tentatively lay his paw on her shoulder again, though this time she didn’t slap it away. “I’m.. I’m so sorry, firelight.” Fire-Lilypaw sighed, gritting her teeth as she ignored the sting in the corners of her eyes. “It’s fine.” She growled. “It’s not like I didn’t already know something like this was gonna happen. I don’t need them anyways…” A beat of silence. “..And they’ll be a lot better off without me too.” “Oh.. Oh Fire-Lilypaw, you know that’s not true.” Epi murmured. “Yes, it is.” Flily snapped lightly, pulling away from Epi’s paw. “Now he doesn’t have to pretend to want to be around me anymore.” “Pretend-? No, no firelight no.” The seacat murmured, wandering around till he was standing in front of the apprentice, though Fire-Lilypaw turned her head to refuse and meet his eyes. “Water-Lilypaw was not ‘pretending’ to want to be around you.” “You don’t know that.” “I. **Do** know that.” Epi said, and with a sigh tilted Fire-Lily’s head towards him with a paw under her chin, earning another growl from the apprentice as she violently yanked her face away.* “Oh yeah, *sure* you do.” She hissed. “Ol’ reliable Epi, the seacat who *just knows everything*, doesn’t he?” Fire-Lilypaw gave a mocking sneer that made Epi recoil, though there was something more broken in her eyes than angry. “You know *so much* about my life, don’t you? The cat who despite *not even being real* still forgets to see me for nights or even a moon at a time! Don’t lie to me, Epi. Not when not even *you* don’t want to be around me either.” “What-?!” Epi yelped, looking almost panicked. “No! No no Fire-Lilypaw that’s not true!” “Yes, it is!” “It is **not**! I haven’t been- I..” Eli’s voice cracked and the seacat looked near on the verge of tears. “Oh Firelight, *please* forgive me. It’s not you, it’s *never* you! I’ve just been.. Busy.” Fire-Lilypaw scoffed. “Busy.” She repeated flatly. “Yes. I have been. I’ve been..” Epi frowned, his gaze cast downward as if mentally debating, and the. Coming to a decision with a sigh. “I fear I have not been entirely honest with you.” He sighed, running a paw over his braid of long fur that draped over his shoulder, pausing at the fire-colored flower that was held in the knot. Fire-Lilypaw was never good at her flowers and plants, not with her mother being so adamantly against ever stepping near the medicine den, so Fire-Lilypaw had yet to figure out what kind of flower it was. Not that she.. Really cared. Epi just started wearing it one day, and she never questioned it.