Firestar x Smudge

THAT MORNING, FIRESTAR HAD FOUND SOMETHING HE BELIEVED HE HAD LOST LONG AGO.

His collar, the one he had worn when he first entered ThunderClan, had been buried near the leader’s den.

Firestar paused for a moment, thoughtful. There was something tender about remembering the days when he still wore it. Even so, he did not dwell on it and decided to cover it with dirt again.

The leader, who had experienced so much over the years, had been especially pensive and heavy hearted in recent days. He had received particular news that had left him deeply unsettled for quite some time.

Sandstorm was expecting kits.

As he continued pushing dirt over the collar, images of the night they had gone to see SkyClan surrounded him. He remembered the moment he had grown intimate with the warrior. She was a beautiful cat with a strong and steady spirit. Yet when he visited her a few days later and noticed the swell of her belly, he realized she had known exactly what she wanted.

Firestar, however, did not know how to face it.

Until that moment, he had not truly understood that this was how kits were conceived.

It was obvious that something had happened, but he had not expected to become a father like this.

Sandstorm had not acted with ill intent. That night, when they were close, she had made sure to tell him she wanted a litter with him. Firestar had said yes, but he had not imagined it would be so immediate.

For a moment he had even thought it might have something to do with StarClan. Now he simply felt like a fool.

The camp was quiet at that hour. It was night, after all.

He had not been able to sleep for quite some time. The news had shaken him too deeply.

His paws were dirty. He had been walking for a while, then began digging near his den.

He caught sight of the collar again.

It did not seem completely broken. The tip was still visible.

And on its tag, a particular name he remembered well was still there:

Rusty.

He let out a soft sigh.

I should not be thinking about this. I should be more worried about my kits, he told himself, even as his paws remained restless.

He did not know whom to turn to for advice.

He wished he could sleep, perhaps speak with Bluestar, or even with Spottedleaf, though he had already agreed he would no longer seek her out in such ways.

He felt alone.

He was responsible for leading a Clan, and soon he would have to take on the role of father as well.

He was not ready.

His paws pushed more dirt forward and his muzzle tightened.

He glanced around and sighed.

At that moment, Firestar was not entirely in his right mind.

And so, without anyone noticing, the leader of ThunderClan slipped out of the territory, carrying the unearthed collar in his jaws.

He needed a moment of peace, a chance to reflect.

There was only one cat he could speak to, the only one close to him whom he trusted with his fears and knew could truly help him, the only mother in his family.

His sister, Princess.

Firestar began running toward the Twoleg fence. He noticed the air was unusually warm. Despite the night, he felt slightly short of breath and was sweating heavily.

Though the sky was draped in a beautiful veil of stars, the night seemed unable to offer the cool wind he needed to calm his mind.

At last, after walking a while longer, Firestar reached his destination. His sister’s house stood before him.

His paws shifted restlessly, and he released a long sigh.

He set the collar down for a moment. He had brought it with him because he needed to, perhaps, give it to her. In truth, he had not thought it through. He only knew he did not want it with him anymore.

He did not want it close.

He stepped nearer to the fence, picked the collar back up, and leapt onto it. He looked toward his sister’s house. All the lights were off.

He walked carefully, balancing along the fence, when he heard a meow.

“Hey.”

Behind him, a familiar voice made him freeze for a moment.

It sounded as if it were calling out to him.

Or rather, it sounded worried.

Smudge.

Firestar blinked as he turned to face him. The night seemed to grow still. The entire street fell silent, and finally Firestar walked toward him. He studied him carefully, and Smudge tilted his head.

“Why are you here? I am glad to see you again, but I can tell from your eyes and your… strange expression that something is wrong, Firestar.”

Firestar swallowed and lowered his head.

He did not know what to say to his old friend either.

But he knew he could trust him.

He set the collar down near him and gave a small laugh.

An awkward laugh.

“I… I actually needed to see Princess for a moment.”

“She must be asleep. She usually goes to bed early. And I thought you would be too.”

“I cannot sleep. There is something I urgently need to talk to Princess about. Do you think she would be upset if I woke her?”

Smudge let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.

“Probably not, but you should come back tomorrow. In the end, I do not think she would like you visiting at this hour.”

“Why? What do you mean?”

Smudge walked closer to him, near the fence, and smiled.

“She’s in there with her new mate.”

“N new mate?”

Smudge smiled and nodded again.

Firestar lowered his gaze, then shook his head.

“That sounds good, I suppose. I think I’m happy for her.”

“You should be. You might become an uncle again. Maybe she’ll send you another one of her kits. By the way, how’s that little one she gave you?”

“Him? Oh, he’s fine, nothing to worry about.”

Smudge seemed amused by the questions he was throwing at his friend.

They both settled on the fence and spent a few minutes there. The sky remained dark, and Firestar still carried the same heaviness as before.

Smudge noticed his mood and finally let out a long sigh before giving him a light tap on the chest with his paw.

“So… if there’s no issue, you can tell me what’s wrong, you know. That collar looked familiar to me, by the way. Why don’t you try it on? I bet it still fits.”

“I… I just came to leave it with my sister.”

“Come on, your neck’s still pretty slim. You’ve got a lot of fur, sure, but I know you. You probably still sleep poorly, so it’s not like you’ve filled out much.”

“I don’t need to.”

But Smudge did not listen. He quickly grabbed the collar and slipped it onto Firestar, who let out a small growl. They both tumbled off the fence onto the Twoleg lawn, rolling a bit before laughing.

When they stood up again, Firestar growled once more.

“I told you I didn’t want it on!”

Smudge had managed to fasten the collar around his neck.

“But it looks good on you. And besides, if you’re in Twoleg territory, it’s better to have it than not, right? Some strange Twolegs might show up later and try to take you. Apparently, not long after you left, humans started taking both dogs and cats without collars.”

Firestar blinked.

“Are you serious? That’s dangerous.”

“Yeah… but at least it’s not my problem.”

Firestar glanced sideways at his friend.

“Your collar’s pretty worn. And you look thinner.”

“Age… you’ll understand someday, old friend.”

Firestar stared at him for a moment longer, then ended up laughing with him.

They both fell silent.

Firestar felt a little better, though he still did not quite know what to think. Everything inside him felt tight.

Smudge gave him a gentle pat on the cheek.

“Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on? From one kittypet to another. That’s what they call us, right?”

“T-that’s a term they use in the Clans. It’s not really an insult… I think.”

Smudge raised an eyebrow.

Firestar grew thoughtful and flicked his ears. He remembered the times he had been called that and finally let his ears droop.

“Oh… maybe it is. They used it on me a lot.”

Smudge just grinned and stuck out his tongue at him. Firestar laughed softly, sitting more comfortably and releasing a long sigh before looking at his friend.

His eyes were tired, and Smudge noticed that with concern. Then Firestar spoke.

“I… I’m going to be a father, Smudge.”

Smudge fell silent. His ears took a moment to perk up, as if the words needed time to sink in. Then his whiskers twitched, his tail stiffened, and his mouth fell open in shock.

“You’re what?!”

“Yeah…”

“W wait, wait. Do you even know how that works? Has anyone explained it to you? Or are you adopting a kitten? Or… are Clan she cats really that bold that they just…?”

“Don’t start thinking anything indecent about the Clan she cats!” Firestar snapped.

Smudge swallowed and nodded quickly.

Firestar sighed, smoothed his fur, and shook his head.

“I… I have a mate. Her name is Sandstorm. You’d like her. But we… were intimate not long ago, after a long journey, and she ended up expecting kits.”

“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?”

“It’s not!”

“What?!”

“I can barely handle being leader of my Clan. I’m scared, Smudge. I really am.”

“O-okay, I get it. I understand why you’re scared, easy… Well, when you put it that way, I guess you’ve got a point. But being a father isn’t a bad thing, I think.”

“… Are you one?”

Smudge swallowed. His eyes seemed to narrow slightly, then he looked away and laughed, a bit awkwardly.

“It’s… something like that. Let’s just say… I think so, but nothing’s certain. There are some pretty she cats around these streets and, well… some of their kits might be mine, others maybe not. I don’t really know.”

Firestar did not know how to respond. He simply gave him a look that said he would not judge without enough information, then let out a long sigh before flopping onto the grass, staring at the sky with his paws stretched out to the sides.

Smudge quickly did the same.

“Fatherhood can be complicated, but I think it’s harder for the she cats. I’ve seen strays give birth. The kits are pretty cute. I like seeing new life in the world. At least I try to help, I give those she cats some of the food my owners give me now and then. Though at this point, I doubt many of them want to see me anymore. I think once I was even seeing two sisters without the other finding out for quite a while.”

Smudge showed him a scar along his right side. Firestar winced, then laughed softly.

“I can’t believe you’re such a casanova.”

“Well, maybe you would’ve been too if you’d stayed here.”

Firestar laughed quietly. But then his ears drooped as he thought of Sandstorm, then of Spottedleaf… and he felt a faint blush warm his fur.

“Maybe… I’ve done something similar before…”

“What do you mean?” Smudge asked, clearly curious.

Firestar did not answer right away. He stayed silent for a while before speaking.

“Well… honestly, it’s been a mess. There’s been a lot on my mind these past moons, and after the last thing I had to do, traveling far away and coming back again… my paws are exhausted. But I still have to keep watch over my Clan, protect it, make sure everything is in order. I’m tired most of the time, but I don’t want to show it.”

Smudge remained quiet, then reached a paw toward him.

“Hey… I think there’s something you could do if you can’t handle all that.”

Firestar blinked at the gesture and noticed Smudge pointing at his collar.

“You could… move in with me, if you want. There’s some space in my bed, or I can get another one. I think my owners have an old one stored somewhere.”

Firestar blinked again and flicked his tail.

“I don’t want to be a housecat again. That’s not what I truly want. And I already told you, I’m going to be a father.”

“Yeah, but not every cat can carry that much weight and responsibility all at once. We all have limits, Firestar. Once we figure out where that limit is, there’s nothing wrong with looking for other options.”

Firestar was about to speak, but the words would not come. What his friend said sounded reasonable. And there was genuine concern in his eyes.

Firestar lowered his ears and looked down at his paws.

Sandstorm’s smile came to mind.

Would she miss him if he left?

The question crossed his mind.

Smudge gave him a light lick on the cheek.

“Look, your Clan is asleep tonight, right?”

“Except for a couple on guard duty, I think so.”

“Does anyone know you came here?”

“No. No one.”

Smudge smiled and gestured toward his house, padding in that direction with energy.

“Then here’s what I suggest.”

He swished his tail and, with a wide grin, motioned for Firestar to follow.

“Tonight, you’re more than welcome in my owners’ house. Let yourself sleep here again, somewhere comfortable, with food and water guaranteed, and most of all, with friends. I don’t hold any grudges against you, and I’m sure Princess doesn’t either. Besides, if you stay the night, you can talk to her tomorrow nearby. She usually comes to visit me. It would be funny to see the look on her face when she finds you here, don’t you think?”

Firestar opened his mouth, considering his reply, but the plan did sound clever.

He flicked his ears and finally let out a long sigh.

“I think… maybe. But I’m not completely sure.”

Smudge stepped closer and touched his nose to Firestar’s.

“I know you’ve got a lot on your mind, but I don’t think you want to face your mate right now, do you? I know that look, a tom who’s worried and scared after getting a she cat pregnant. I’ve been there too.”

Firestar looked away.

“You need a break from all of it. Just one night. I promise everything will be fine.”

Firestar stayed quiet, but after a long and hesitant pause, he nodded.

Smudge beamed and led him toward the entrance of his owners’ den.

“Then follow me. The window’s always open.”

Firestar followed his friend inside. Smudge seemed genuinely happy, glancing back to make sure Firestar was still behind him.

He truly enjoyed having his friend back, even if only for a while.

Firestar sensed that feeling and smiled, warmth stirring in his chest. It relaxed him a little, and he finally thought:

Well, just this once. It shouldn’t be a problem…

In the end, I do need somewhere to rest now and then.

The collar felt uncomfortable, slightly tight around his neck. But that would not be much trouble. He would just take it off later, he told himself.

Carefully, he climbed through the window Smudge had just used. The inside of the house was dark, though a table lamp was still on. It helped him see a little better, though he hardly needed it. His night vision worked well in places like this.

When Smudge guided him to a bowl of water so he could refresh himself, Firestar drank deeply. His throat was dry, and without meaning to, he even dipped part of his face into it before pulling back, panting softly.

The water was incredible.

“It’s tap water. I guess it’s different from what you drink,” Smudge commented.

“It’s… sweeter. Different, but I like it. Wow, I’d forgotten it could taste this good. The water in my Clan is pretty plain compared to this.”

“Maybe it’s because yours has bugs in it.”

Firestar blinked. He had never really thought about that.

Then his friend led him to a bowl piled high with food. There were even pieces of fish and meat mixed in.

“My owners usually leave their leftovers here. Lately they stopped giving me those dry pellets they always used to, and now they leave proper food, like a buffet. Look, we’ve got everything.”

Firestar stared in surprise. Yet there were so many scents that they overwhelmed him. He had grown used to eating fresh prey he hunted himself. Having it served again in a dish felt… different.

Wait a moment, Firestar told himself.

Then he looked up.

It was a ceiling.

But he wanted to see the sky.

Would StarClan be angry… about all of this? He was no longer just any cat, he was a Clan leader. And he had even allowed himself to wear the collar again.

Bluestar would surely be watching him from above.

He tensed at once. He would probably receive a harsh scolding when he returned home to his Clan.

Smudge licked his cheek and told him to snap out of it, he seemed lost in a trance.

“I was just thinking about… the food. It’s good.”

“Well… we do have the occasional sneaky mouse around here, but try not to break anything if you decide to hunt it. My owners don’t like it when I do that.”

Understandable, Firestar thought, nodding.

Smudge carefully padded to the side and burrowed into a large, comfortable cat bed. Firestar approached curiously and felt, for the first time in a long while, something truly soft beneath his paws. When he finally lay down, his fur shivered and his body fully relaxed against it.

It was warm and comfortable.

He even made a small expression of pleasure that he did not notice himself, but Smudge certainly did.

Smudge stretched out on the bed and rolled slightly to one side.

“Comfortable, right?” the black and white tom said, watching his friend nod.

Smudge remained quiet for a while, observing Firestar as he rolled all over the bed, leaving it heavily scented with forest smells and, above all, covered in orange fur.

“You’re shedding, friend.”

“R-really? Um… sorry…” Firestar murmured, completely relaxed.

Smudge chuckled and stretched as he stood, allowing Firestar to settle himself again with another roll. Then he tilted his head thoughtfully.

Sitting in front of him, he looked at him directly and asked,

“So, what’s this she cat you’re with like?”

“Well… she can be pretty fierce, but she’s also beautiful and gentle in her own way. Her name is Sandstorm. She’s a good cat. At first we didn’t get along very well, but after a certain event she started staying close to me. I… think it took me a while to realize that she actually liked me.”

“Really?” Smudge looked stunned.

Firestar nodded, placing a paw against his chest.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’m very good at love or romance. I… kept finding myself meeting with another she cat. There was a very pretty cat in the Clan… and after she died, I ended up dreaming about her again and again. Almost every time I slept, she was there. We would talk, play, and she gave me so much attention. She was the most beautiful cat I had ever seen. Her name was Spottedleaf…”

Smudge noticed how his friend’s exhausted gaze turned dreamy. He was so relaxed now that he was spilling everything on his mind.

“Firestar…” Smudge murmured.

But Firestar kept talking, eyes half closed as he yawned.

“With Spottedleaf… I shared beautiful moments. When I slept, she would come to me and… I think she stole a kiss or two. It felt so nice to be with her. I think she liked me, but I didn’t understand her flirting. Now that I understand those things better, I think maybe I hurt her by not noticing certain feelings. I told myself I had to stop seeing her as a possible mate, mostly because she was older than me and I was so inexperienced when it came to love.”

Firestar sighed.

“I think that upset Sandstorm when she found out. She had liked me for a long time too.”

Smudge lowered his ears and moved closer, licking one of Firestar’s ears. Firestar continued.

“They both truly liked me… but I had to choose between them. In the end, Spottedleaf understood and let me be with Sandstorm… but… I still don’t know if it was the right choice.”

“What…?”

“Yes, I know… but listen. It’s strange. I… I kept thinking that maybe I could be with both of them for a while. Now I feel like a loser for thinking that way. I’d never thought like that before, but I didn’t want to lose Spottedleaf either. She was there for me for so long, even when I was an apprentice. I was furious when she died, and she helped me for moons and moons after that… and I never managed to repay her kindness. Maybe she wanted me to do something, but I never dared to. And then I had to break things off with her…” He said that last part in a tone that even confused himself. “I do love Sandstorm too, but for a time I considered talking to both of them about it. And now that Sandstorm is expecting kits… I… I don’t know what to do with these conflicting feelings anymore.”

Smudge saw the orange tom starting to spiral, so he acted quickly.

He lay on top of his friend and wrapped his paws around him.

“I’m listening.”

“It’s not that I’m not happy about my future kits, but… when I think that this is one more reason I can’t let go of Spottedleaf, I feel even more guilty, especially thinking about how she must have felt. I feel foolish… so foolish. And on top of that I’m a leader, and soon I’ll be a father. I’m not ready. I shouldn’t have been chosen as Clan leader!”

At that moment, Firestar felt a sudden knock against his head. Smudge had firmly pressed his forehead against his.

Firestar let out a small groan and saw Smudge staring at him seriously.

“You’re not a fool. You think you are because you’re acting like one. I know you, Firestar.”

Smudge took a steady breath and looked him straight in the eyes.

“You’re playing dumb.”

Firestar fell silent and growled.

“I’m not playing dumb! I truly don’t know what to do in my situation. And while we’re at it, I think I was a fool for driving you out of the Clan once, back when you wanted to join. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. You… wanted to join so you wouldn’t lose my friendship, right? And even so, I turned a blind eye.”

Smudge noticed the guilt in his friend’s eyes.

Firestar was hurting.

Smudge let out a long sigh and shook his head.

“No. Well… sort of. I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to join ThunderClan back then because I wanted to be with my friend, but not for the reason you think.”

“Then…?”

Smudge seemed reluctant to answer, but Firestar looked at him more seriously.

“Please. Tell me.”

Smudge stepped away and shook his head again.

“No. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

But when Smudge turned his back, Firestar grabbed him by the collar and pushed him onto the bed. Smudge gasped and growled, but Firestar held the collar carefully so he would not hurt himself. The bed was soft enough to cushion the fall.

“Tell me, please. I won’t let myself be a fool again and hurt someone I care about just because I failed to understand them.”

“Firestar…”

Smudge went quiet for a moment and finally lowered his gaze.

Firestar released him, but this time he positioned himself over him, paws braced on either side of Smudge as he stared down at him. Their collars brushed briefly.

“Why did you come to see me in the forest back then? Explain it to me.”

“It’ll only make things worse if I tell you.”

“It’ll be worse if you don’t! Come on, say it.”

Smudge growled and kicked him in the stomach, but Firestar held his ground.

“Tch… you’ve got solid muscles, I’ll give you that.”

Firestar did not respond.

Smudge looked away and, squeezing his eyes shut, sighed.

“Back then… you… I liked you.”

A heavy silence filled the bed.

A faint blush spread across the black and white kittypet’s face.

Firestar, for his part, said nothing.

Smudge kept his eyes closed, bracing himself for annoyance in his friend’s voice. Maybe a complaint, a joke, or outright rejection. But nothing came. Only silence.

For a moment he wondered if Firestar was still on top of him, but when he opened his eyes, he saw his friend’s face.

Firestar looked worn down.

Smudge did not know what to do with that. He no longer seemed angry, only… tired.

He swallowed, thinking he should say something, but Firestar let out a long sigh and lowered his head until it rested against Smudge’s chest.

Smudge jolted and, flushed, grabbed his head with both paws to push him back.

“W-what’s wrong with you? Are you okay? I was just joking…”

“Yeah… as if that’s something you can joke about so easily.”

Firestar’s reply completely dismantled Smudge’s attempt to soften the moment.

Smudge flushed even more and looked away.

What was Firestar thinking now? His paws did not know where to rest, having his friend over him was already tense enough, especially here, at this hour of the night.

“F-Firestar… could you give me a little space, please? I can explain, just don’t get mad at me…”

Firestar immediately got up and looked him in the eyes.

“I’m not mad, idiot…”

Smudge made a confused face. Firestar’s eyes were tired, his expression drained, as if he desperately needed sleep.

And yet Smudge could see the stubborn determination in his gaze to stay awake.

What had shifted so suddenly? Just moments ago he had looked ready to fall asleep.

Smudge lowered his head slightly, uneasy, and held his friend’s gaze.

Firestar spoke first.

“I didn’t know… that you liked me.”

Smudge flushed deeper and covered part of his face with his paws.

“It was just a joke…”

“Your face says otherwise.”

“L-let’s just go to sleep. Get that nonsense out of your head once and for all. I told you, that was in the past…”

Smudge turned onto his side, giving him his back, muttering under his breath.

But he clearly heard what Firestar murmured softly.

“If I had known earlier… maybe I would have stayed… instead of going to the forest…”

Smudge’s ears shot upright. He spun around, eyes wide.

“W-what did you say?”

Firestar swallowed and closed his mouth. He realized he had spoken aloud.

They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds until Smudge stood up, his tail now fluffed.

“Say it again.”

“Say what?”

“What you said just now. About the forest.”

Firestar swallowed again, visibly uncomfortable.

Smudge let out a low growl, then took a deep breath to steady himself. He stepped closer to the orange tom and stopped right in front of him, face to face.

“Are you telling me… that if I had said something, you would have stayed with me and not gone to the forest?”

“What exactly do you mean by… ‘with me’?” Firestar asked, flicking his ears anxiously.

“I mean staying here as friends, idiot!”

“Y you didn’t say that a moment ago…”

“Forget what I said.”

“You said you liked me.”

“Yes! I did! So what?”

“Then… eventually… you would have wanted to be more than my friend…”

Smudge swallowed. They held each other’s gaze a moment longer before Firestar continued.

“When I left, it wasn’t because I hated any of you, including Princess. I just… thought it would be interesting to see something beyond this place. I was getting tired of a routine life, the same thing every day. And other cats in the neighborhood kept disappearing, I think because they were taken to the cutter… But really, I was waiting for something exciting to happen. I wanted… a change.”

Smudge stayed quiet for a moment, then sighed and lowered his gaze.

“Hey… don’t pin this on me now. Look, you’re going to be a father.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“You can’t forget that. I won’t let you. Just forget what I said, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“But I’m not… uncomfortable.”

Smudge looked up and they held each other’s gaze.

“I’m not uncomfortable,” Firestar repeated.

Smudge flicked his tail.

Silence settled over the room. The faint scurrying of a mouse came from the kitchen, and Smudge turned his head toward the sound.

“Hey, look… a mouse.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“A moment ago I told you if you wanted to catch one…”

“Shut up.”

Firestar placed a paw on the black and white tom’s chest and pushed him back onto the bed. Then he settled on top of him.

Smudge fell back and, after a second, opened his eyes to find his friend’s tired face resting against his chest.

It felt warm having Firestar’s fur pressed to his, but the look in Firestar’s eyes revealed deep exhaustion.

Smudge lowered his ears and gently stroked his head with his paws.

“Is… the Clan that hard?”

“I’ve died once… and come back… so yes. It is. I’ve watched dozens of cats die, even friends and those I cared about…”

Smudge felt Firestar’s head sink further into his chest. Tears began to spill from the leader’s eyes, and his paws trembled.

Soon his whole body was shaking, tears soaking into Smudge’s fur.

“Many times I couldn’t save someone who needed me. Mentors of mine have died, and I… couldn’t do anything to save them. I could only stand there and watch them fade. I felt weak, like I was useless. But… what if I wasn’t? I’ve judged myself for not stepping away from being a warrior and training as a medicine cat instead. Yellowfang was so skilled. Maybe I should have been her apprentice. At least then… I might have saved one or two cats who meant everything to me…”

Firestar buried his face even deeper against him. Smudge wrapped his paws around him, swallowing hard, unsure what to say. He did not know this Yellowfang, but he could feel his friend’s pain.

“And now… I’m afraid of losing more. I’m not a good leader. I don’t even see myself as one. I’ve had to make choices I wasn’t sure about. And now that Sandstorm is going to be a mother… I… I don’t want to think about what could happen to her.”

“What do you mean…? You’re talking like you’ve seen someone… die that way…”

“Because I have! Silverstream was beautiful. She was a friend’s mate. She died giving birth. And I don’t want that to happen to Sandstorm. Damn it, I feel like a complete idiot!”

Smudge gave a low growl and cupped his friend’s head, forcing him to look at him face to face.

“You’re not!”

“I am…!”

Smudge pulled him closer against his neck and began to purr softly.

“Blaming yourself for every death in the past won’t save the lives that are at risk now, okay?”

Firestar was still crying, but his breathing slowly steadied.

Smudge continued.

“First of all, I have no right to hold anything against you. I wasn’t angry when you left for the forest. I respected your choice, and I already told you why I came to see you back then. I don’t regret having feelings for you. I don’t regret letting you go, because I knew you were happy. But seeing you like this… even I feel like an idiot. Still, there’s one thing I’m completely sure of.”

“W-what is it…?”

Firestar slowly lifted his head. Their noses brushed.

“You love the forest.”

The tears in the ThunderClan leader’s eyes gradually stopped. His exhausted gaze settled on Smudge’s.

“You’re stubborn. I’ve known you since we were kits. I knew you must have suffered, but I never imagined it was this much. I don’t fully understand the medicine cat thing… I get the general idea. Princess mentioned something once when she wandered near there, don’t criticize her, it was just that once. What I mean is…”

Smudge’s own eyes began to fill with tears. Firestar widened his as he realized his friend was crying too.

They both closed their eyes as their noses touched again.

“If you were carrying that much fear and pain… you only had to come tell me. I would have taken care of you no matter what… you idiot.”

Something tightened in Firestar’s chest and throat. He could not help laughing softly through his tears.

They stayed like that for a while, their breathing rising and falling together, until the minutes passed and they both calmed down.

Smudge was the one who spoke again.

“Now… things can’t be undone. No matter how good that collar looks on you, and even if you know… my secret, I can’t let you start getting foolish ideas. You belong to the forest. You live there because you chose it, because you loved it. You made that decision and now… you’re going to be a father. Just because I might be a lousy one doesn’t mean you have to be.”

Smudge flicked his ears and gave a faint laugh.

“Besides, the she cats around here aren’t bad at all. And you chose to be faithful to… Sandstorm, was it? So you’ve already made your choice.”

“I truly don’t want anything to happen to Sandstorm… When I remember Spottedleaf alive, the first thing that comes to mind is her body. I saw her dead. It wasn’t long after I joined the Clan that she was killed while I wasn’t there. My fear is that something like that could happen to anyone in my Clan.”

“Then… I guess you already know what you’re going to do, don’t you?”

Firestar looked into Smudge’s eyes. He stayed that way for a moment, then finally lowered his head.

“Does… the collar look good on me…?”

“Firestar…”

Smudge hugged him a little tighter, but fell into thought.

He had seen the look in Firestar’s eyes just now.

They were clear eyes that said only one thing:

Please, let me come back.

But Smudge could not allow it. As much as, deep down, he wished his friend would stay and things could go back to how they were… or even become something more, he could not let Firestar turn into an irresponsible cat.

He had to help him change and grow.

He had to… let him go.

Smudge gently eased Firestar away and finally stood up.

“Your collar really does look wonderful on you, but you can’t stay here.”

“Yeah…”

Firestar lowered his head, then glanced toward the window.

Smudge watched him carefully. Before he could do something impulsive, because he could see the doubt in his eyes, Smudge caught his tail with a paw and stepped closer from behind, giving his neck a soft lick.

“But I told you, if you stay the night, nothing bad will happen. Besides, Princess will be happy to see you.”

Firestar turned to look at him for a moment. They stayed silent. Then Firestar looked back at the window, still uncertain.

Finally, he turned toward his friend and lay down on the bed again. He avoided the spot where his tears had fallen, it was still damp.

Smudge tried to nudge him toward it, but neither of them wanted to lie on the wet patch. They began lightly shoving each other between soft laughs until they both sighed, and Smudge ended up settling in the dry spot.

Firestar stayed thoughtful for a moment, then smiled.

But Smudge had already closed his eyes and yawned, getting comfortable.

“I own this bed. In the end, I get the warm spot.”

He had not counted on Firestar’s ingenuity.

The ginger tom shifted and climbed on top of him again, placing one paw on either side of Smudge and resting over him, pressing lightly and brushing his nose against his.

Smudge’s eyes went wide.

“W-what are you doing…?”

Firestar smiled and closed his eyes, wrapping his paws around him.

“Getting back at you for not giving me the warm side of the bed.”

Then he opened his mouth and licked from Smudge’s neck to his cheek, moving higher toward his ear. He pulled back with a mischievous smile.

Smudge began to stammer, flushed, his head and tail twitching.

“H-hey…”

“If you won’t give me the warm spot, I’ll have to take more drastic measures…”

Smudge’s fur puffed up as Firestar’s tongue traced his neck again, slow and teasing.

He started panting nervously. He knew his friend was taking advantage of the secret he had confessed. Firestar now knew he liked him…

Smudge blushed deeper and let out a small whimper before pressing his forepaws against his orange friend’s muzzle.

“Hey… about what I told you… why do you assume I’d be… the one underneath and you’d be on top…?”

Firestar licked his lips and grinned.

“Because you look pretty cute down there. And because I can also do this.”

Firestar gently nipped at his neck again. Smudge let out a clear gasp, and Firestar pressed closer, leaving him flustered.

“F-Firestar, please… what do you think you’re doing…?”

“Smudge…”

Smudge flushed intensely. His friend’s voice had dropped, rougher now.

When Firestar looked at him, there was something unmistakable in his expression, the look of a cat who needed to release all the tension he had been carrying.

Smudge’s face burned.

Everything that had happened seemed to have awakened something instinctive in Firestar. With how close they had been, it had likely stirred something that perhaps should not have been stirred in the ThunderClan leader.

Firestar’s sharp gaze was intense, and he kept leaning closer.

Smudge felt a bit of drool at the corner of his mouth. He tried to calm himself any way he could, thinking about Firestar’s Clan responsibilities. He could not allow something like this to truly happen.

He had to be brave.

He had to refuse him.

He had to…

“Smudge… please…”

Smudge fell silent.

Firestar spoke again, their muzzles so close that his voice came out low and soft.

“You promised… you’d help me if all this ever went beyond my limits… didn’t you? So… please… help me…”

Smudge stared at him and swallowed.

His tail flicked, brushing against Firestar’s.

He stayed completely silent… then finally squeezed his eyes shut and gave a shy nod.

“You better not… tell anyone… idiot…”

Firestar parted his mouth and shifted, settling more firmly on top of Smudge as he pressed his lips to his.

Smudge twined his tail with Firestar’s, and they held each other close.

He began kissing his friend back, feeling Firestar’s breath grow heavier within the kiss. It made him shy, but he let the ThunderClan leader take the lead that way.

Their tails curled tighter together.

Smudge let out a soft moan, though he was not sure if Firestar heard it, it was probably lost in the kiss. He could not help letting out more quiet sounds as his friend devoured him with kisses.

A shiver ran through his entire body.

His friend truly needed him, and he was keeping his promise. He had not argued or resisted… so he was not doing anything wrong.

He was just supporting him… as a friend, right?

Smudge squeezed his eyes shut. He should not get the wrong idea.

He was only… being a good friend.

That was all.

“Smudge… I really… need you.”

Smudge opened his eyes slightly. Firestar pulled away from his lips, a thin strand of saliva connecting them before it broke.

The leader gently stroked one of Smudge’s hind legs and lifted it slightly, tracing it with a slow lick.

Smudge took a while to respond, his paws shifting nervously.

“D-Don’t say things like that, Firestar, p please…”

“I am the leader of ThunderClan… I’m serious.”

Firestar leaned closer again, gripping Smudge’s paws firmly as he closed the distance between them.

His breath left Smudge speechless, dizzy.

“Before, I pushed you away because I was afraid Bluestar or someone else would be upset with me… but now…”

He twined his tail more tightly with Smudge’s.

“I am the leader of ThunderClan. Like you said, I belong to the forest and to the Clan… but now the Clan also belongs to me.”

Smudge tried to speak, but Firestar silenced him with another warm kiss. Their teeth brushed softly, and the movement of their tongues left him even more dazed.

After a couple of minutes, Firestar pulled back and, with a serious look, spoke.

“I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, ask you… to stand at my side. In my Clan. As my deputy.”

He lowered his gaze and slowly took Smudge’s old collar between his fangs.

“And I will make up… for every lost moon.”

Smudge panted, closing his eyes. Firestar stroked his chin.

“I… swear it.”

“The Clan will give you freedom, companionship, and you’ll eat better food than what you have here…”

“The water here is better,” Smudge shot back.

Firestar smiled and gently tugged on his collar.

“Better than… my lips?”

“N Now you’re just teasing me!”

Firestar chuckled softly.

“You still haven’t answered.”

Smudge growled… and ended up letting out an unintended moan at the touch that made him shiver.

“I… might need to taste them more often to be sure.”

Firestar tugged lightly at his tail again and smiled.

“So… what do you say?”

Smudge squeezed his eyes shut and thought carefully.

That was a solution he had not considered.

In fact… it was rather clever.

Firestar was the leader of his Clan. He could afford certain decisions. Smudge could stay by his side. Firestar would still have his family… and no one would suspect anything.

Firestar began to release the collar and lowered his ears.

“I… truly need my dear Smudge at my side…”

Smudge blinked and, with a serious yet flushed expression, nodded.

“This collar was old anyway… so… tear it apart!”

Firestar smiled and, without hesitation, pressed a paw against the collar and pulled hard.

It tightened and strained. Smudge squeezed his eyes shut.

And finally, with a small clink…

The collar snapped.

Firestar stumbled back slightly from the force, taking a few seconds to react. But Smudge did not lag behind. He lunged forward and, with a decisive yank, tore off Firestar’s collar as well.

Firestar blinked and purred, licking his lips before reclaiming the advantage. His moons in ThunderClan had made him stronger, and it did not take much to regain control of their position.

Carefully, he turned Smudge over until they were as they had been at the start.

He twined his tail with Smudge’s again.

But this time Smudge took the initiative, claiming his friend’s lips with determination.

Firestar returned the kiss, firm and heated, as they clung to each other with no intention of pulling away.

But Smudge, who had always imagined this moment… knew he had to do something first, even though he felt nervous just suggesting it.

It was not until he felt a growing heat that he quickly meowed, breathless.

“W-Wait… stop, stop, just a moment… please…”

Firestar pulled back at once and blinked.

“D Did I hurt you…?”

“No, it’s just… it’s my first time being the one underneath. I… ah… I don’t like having to say it, but… well… I’m going to take care of that first, you know.”

Firestar tilted his head.

Smudge narrowed his eyes, hoping his friend would understand the hint and adjust, but it was clear he had no idea. He was simply following his instincts.

So Smudge blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Your… night with Sandstorm… was it quick?”

“I think so… I just took her.”

Smudge narrowed his eyes further and swallowed.

That could only mean one thing.

Firestar truly had a talent for looking innocent when it came to tender matters.

Because he clearly did not know what oral pleasure was.

Smudge sighed and licked his lips.

“Before you… take me, I need to do something first. I’ll prepare you. She cats can… be naturally wetter, but I’m male.”

“So… should I get wet in your water bowl?”

“What? That’s gross, of course not!” Smudge could not help laughing at his friend’s comment.

In the blink of an eye, Firestar noticed Smudge slowly moving closer and lowering himself.

His eyes widened when he saw Smudge, flushed, part his mouth and begin to lick him shyly.

“I’m just going to… do what’s called giving you oral. I’ll make you wet with my tongue… and suck.”

“I-Is it… safe? I-I mean, we have barbs… it never even crossed my mind because of that…”

Smudge swallowed at the mention of the barbs… but nodded.

If he wanted to continue, he had to prepare him properly.

“I’m sure. Leave it to me. It won’t hurt, I promise.”

Firestar did not fully understand what his friend was about to do, but it was clear from his expression that all he needed to do was trust him.

After all, even if he lacked experience, Smudge seemed more certain.

Smudge, however, had never done anything like this before.

It was his first time, and having him so close made him extremely nervous. He had always been happy spending time with Firestar back when he was still Rusty, but now the closeness felt different. Much more intimate.

Even so, he would not let that ruin the moment.

Bravely, he closed his eyes and began carefully. Firestar let out a gasp at the contact.

Smudge kept a steady, cautious rhythm. The taste caught him off guard, but it did not make him pull away.

To his relief, it was not unpleasant.

He parted his mouth a little more and began to suck with greater determination. A soft moan slipped from him when he brushed against the barbs, but he knew it would not be too bad.

He remembered that other she cats had not complained when they had done the same for him.

He started licking in slow circles and Firestar took his head between his paws, panting.

Smudge swallowed as the taste grew stronger, but he shut his eyes firmly and continued.

His lips clung tighter. Firestar could not hold back a gasp. His hind legs trembled slightly and his breathing turned heavier.

Seeing the focused expression on Smudge’s face only aroused him more.

Firestar gasped and gave a small thrust forward, startling Smudge and making him pull back slightly, saliva slipping from his mouth.

Firestar tried to retreat, nervous, but Smudge quickly held him in place.

“I… I’ve got this. You don’t need to worry.”

Firestar was about to speak, but a moan cut him off.

Smudge resumed with more firmness, sliding lower before moving slowly back up again. When he reached the tip, he pressed a soft kiss there, as if kissing his lips.

His own body reacted intensely, and flushed, he touched himself with one paw while continuing.

Firestar squeezed his eyes shut and once again rested his paws on Smudge’s head.

Smudge let out a small growl.

“I told you, I’ve got this…”

He flushed even deeper and glanced aside, visibly nervous.

“I It just feels really good… really,” he murmured, his voice trembling.

Firestar tilted his head slightly and smiled softly.

“I’m glad… that you like it. Honestly, the taste isn’t bad at all… I could even get used to it.”

Those words seemed to ignite something deeper in Firestar. His cock throbbed hard and a hot stream of pre cum spilled directly onto Smudge’s muzzle. The housecat tried to pull back for a second, but his tongue was already there, licking on instinct.

The thick, salty fluid slid down his throat and Smudge swallowed without meaning to. The taste was stronger than before, but not unpleasant. He kept swallowing as Firestar began to move his hips more decisively, pushing against his mouth with slow but firm thrusts.

Smudge felt the heat radiating from his friend’s body. Firestar’s reddish fur seemed to burn. The ThunderClan leader’s hips sped up. Each thrust went deeper, more demanding.

Smudge took it with half lidded eyes, his ears pressed flat from the intensity. Firestar’s balls struck rhythmically against his chin, creating a steady, wet sound that filled the den.

Firestar panted heavily, whiskers trembling. His thrusts grew wilder, nearly desperate. He used Smudge’s head for leverage, gripping it with his forepaws as he pushed all the way in.

The housecat’s lips stretched around the hot thickness. Smudge’s saliva eased the motion, allowing the cock to slide almost fully out before plunging back in sharply. Each withdrawal left it gleaming and pulsing, only to drive back inside, the balls slapping against his muzzle again and again.

Smudge tried to speak, but only managed a muffled moan. His mouth was completely full. Firestar’s cock swelled slightly, thicker at the base. The tip brushed the back of his throat and Smudge’s eyes watered.

His yellow eyes grew wet, yet the heat rising through his own body was impossible to ignore. Firestar’s strong, musky scent surrounded him. His own cock throbbed hard against the bedding. He began rubbing against the soft fabric, hips moving in small, needy motions while he continued taking the thrusts.

Smudge’s fur clung to his skin with sweat. His tail lifted and swayed in the air, exposing his pink entrance almost unconsciously. The movement was inviting, though Firestar, lost in his own pleasure, could not see it from where he was.

Smudge wondered where this bold side of him had come from. He briefly remembered the she cats he used to see on the rooftops of Twolegplace, flicking their tails that same way to entice him. For a fleeting moment he thought about them, about the litters he might have left behind. Being a father was not something he desired. He pushed the thought aside. This was not the moment.

Firestar growled and quickened even more. His thrusts turned erratic, deep, almost brutal. Smudge tightened his lips around the base, taking as much as he could. Suddenly, the leader’s body tensed completely.

A long moan tore from his throat and his cock pulsed violently inside Smudge’s mouth. Hot, thick spurts flooded his palate, one after another without pause. Smudge swallowed with difficulty, his throat working visibly as he tried not to choke. Semen overflowed from the corners of his mouth, dripping onto the bedding.

Firestar gave one last deep thrust and then slowly pulled out. The member slid free with a wet sound. Smudge exhaled sharply, panting. A thin string of semen and saliva hung from his chin before dropping onto the fabric. He coughed lightly, but raised a paw to stop Firestar, who was already leaning down in concern.

Smudge swallowed what little remained in his mouth, licking his lips clean. Then he lifted his gaze. His yellow eyes shone, flushed and bright, with an expression that almost seemed to draw little hearts in their depths.

Firestar blinked, embarrassed, and looked away for a moment. But he could not resist. He leaned down and kissed him again, slow and deep. Their tongues met, sharing the salty taste that still lingered.

“A-Are you okay?” Firestar asked, his voice rough.

Smudge did not answer with words. He moved closer, licked Firestar’s neck tenderly, and twined his tail with the other tom’s. He inhaled his scent deeply, as if trying to memorize it. Then, without warning, he kissed him again, sweet and playful.

Firestar shivered. Smudge seized the moment. With one forepaw, he began stroking Firestar’s still sensitive cock, moving up and down in slow but firm motions. His paw quickly grew slick with the remnants of semen and saliva. Smudge lifted his damp toes to Firestar’s lips and brushed them gently against them, sharing the taste.

Firestar tried to resist for a second, but Smudge purred mischievously.

“Come on… you started this~” he whispered with a teasing smile.

Firestar swallowed. His green eyes darkened with desire. At last he gave in. He opened his mouth and let Smudge press the remaining semen past his lips. The taste was strong, warm, familiar now. As they kissed, Smudge quickened the motion of his paw. He slid up to the tip, squeezed the swollen head gently, then stroked back down to the base with steady pressure. Firestar’s cock throbbed hard under his touch, even more intensely than Smudge’s own.

Firestar gasped against Smudge’s mouth. His hips moved on their own, seeking more friction. Smudge did not slow down. He stroked him with precision, shifting pressure and speed. The den filled with broken pants, the wet sound of paw against heated flesh, and the low rumble of purrs vibrating in both their chests.

Smudge pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. His paw never stopped moving.

Firestar trembled, already close again. His claws dug into the bedding and his tail lashed sharply.

Smudge smiled, satisfied, and continued stroking him mercilessly, determined to drive him over the edge once more.

Firestar broke the kiss with a ragged gasp and, without giving Smudge time to react, gently pushed him back onto the bedding. He covered him with his body and devoured him with kisses. They kissed desperately, like starving cats who had finally found food after moons of hunger. Their tongues tangled urgently, teeth brushing lips, deep purrs rumbling through their chests.

Firestar adjusted his position. He rolled Smudge onto his back and settled above him, aligning their bodies. He began rubbing their hard cocks together, moving his hips in slow but steady circles. The heat of the friction made them both gasp.

Smudge let out a long, deep moan as he felt Firestar’s thickness against his own. The leader’s cock was noticeably larger, heavier. That only aroused him more. His own member throbbed hard, releasing a thin line of pre cum that mixed with Firestar’s.

Smudge had not thought much about it before, but now, comparing them so closely, he wondered whether all of that would truly fit inside him. It was his first time. A knot of shyness formed in his stomach, though Firestar seemed completely certain of what he wanted.

Firestar leaned down and kissed him again, deep and possessive. Then he lowered his hips until the tip of his cock brushed along Smudge’s inner thighs.

“I can’t wait any longer… I really… need this,” Firestar moaned, his voice rough and heated.

Smudge suddenly grew nervous. He felt Firestar’s soft paw pads caressing his hind legs, gently spreading them apart. His heart pounded.

Suddenly, Smudge placed his forepaws against Firestar’s muzzle, stopping him.

Firestar blinked in confusion and looked up into his friend’s yellow eyes.

“And now what?”

“I I’m just… really nervous,” Smudge admitted quietly.

“Oh… it’s okay, maybe I’m going too far…”

“No, it’s not that. You don’t need to worry. It’s just that… I think there’s actually… something else missing.”

“Really? Well, if that’s the case, just tell me. If I need to return the favor, I think I could… try.”

He said it with a hint of uncertainty, glancing at Smudge’s erect cock.

Smudge quickly shook his head from side to side and crossed his forepaws over his chest in an X.

“That’s not what I mean. I meant that… you should lick me somewhere else first, lower.”

Slowly, Smudge lifted his hind legs and exposed his rear to Firestar. The leader tilted his head, confused at first.

Firestar lowered his gaze with deliberate slowness. Smudge’s anus appeared pink and delicate, slightly tightened by nervous tension, yet already warm and glistening with the arousal his body could not hide.

A moist sheen covered the wrinkled skin, inviting and treacherous at once, revealing how much he desired this despite the lingering modesty that still gripped him. The musky scent rose in soft waves, sweet and salty at the same time, enveloping the leader’s senses completely.

Smudge felt the heat rush up to his ears. The fur along his belly bristled. He was showing his most intimate part, his most vulnerable place, to his best friend. To the cat he had believed lost forever many moons ago. And now that same friend, leader of an entire Clan, surrounded by beautiful she cats and bound to an official mate everyone respected, had his muzzle only inches from his exposed haunches. His heart pounded so loudly he feared the sound would fill the entire den.

A small spurt of semen slipped from his erect cock out of pure nerves. The warm liquid splashed against his belly fur and dripped downward, leaving a sticky trail along his abdomen. Smudge tried to close his hind legs at once, but before he could react, Firestar’s muzzle had already buried itself between his haunches with calm determination.

Firestar murmured against the sensitive skin. “I actually think I can handle this. You smell pretty good.” His rough voice vibrated directly over the tight ring, sending a shiver down Smudge’s spine.

Smudge flushed even more deeply. A burning heat spread from the base of his tail to the tips of his ears. He felt Firestar’s forepaws firmly but carefully parting his haunches, opening him completely without haste. A warm, rough tongue touched the wrinkled skin for the first time.

One slow, lingering lick traveled from the base of the perineum upward, leaving behind a glossy trail of saliva that cooled as it met the air. He repeated the motion again and again. Each pass grew more confident, more insistent. The tip of his tongue pressed directly at the center, tracing small circles around the ring before sliding upward again with deliberate slowness.

Smudge squeezed his eyes shut. High, shaky moans slipped from him, small cries that sounded almost like a frightened kit at first. Gradually the sounds changed. The cries deepened into low, heavy purrs thick with pleasure. His tail lifted involuntarily, exposing him even more to the exploring tongue.

Firestar panted against his heated skin. He spread the haunches wider, opening the pink ring until the damp interior became visible. Carefully, he pushed the tip of his tongue inside.

Smudge let out a startled moan. The warm, wet intrusion made his back arch sharply. He bit down on his lower lip, trying to contain the sound, but another cry escaped anyway.

It felt incredible. Firestar’s tongue was rough along the surface yet soft and hot as it slid inside. At first it entered only a little, exploring patiently, savoring every involuntary contraction. Smudge felt himself gradually yielding, the tight muscles loosening around the warm intrusion.

Firestar’s muzzle was completely soaked. The remnants of semen from earlier mixed with his saliva, creating a thick, warm slickness that eased each movement. He used it to his advantage. He licked with longer, deeper strokes, pushing more tongue inside each time. The tip pressed against the inner walls, rubbing in slow circles, opening the channel with almost torturous patience. Smudge’s moans grew hotter, more desperate. His cock throbbed against his belly, spurting short bursts of pre cum that stained the bedding beneath him.

For a fleeting moment Firestar feared the volume of those cries might carry beyond the den. The wind brought distant echoes of patrols moving somewhere far off. Then he forgot everything. His own cock pulsed with painful urgency, the swollen tip red and leaking steadily. It urged him to thrust in at once, to fill him completely. But he resisted. The scent of Smudge’s body was intoxicating, musky and sweet, faintly salted by sweat and fluids. He had never done this before. For a second he thought of Sandstorm, wondering whether she would enjoy the same exploring tongue. He shook his head sharply.

He did not want to think about anyone else. Only his friend.

Smudge could not guess Firestar’s thoughts, but those burning green eyes fixed solely on him made it clear that this night belonged to the two of them alone. No one else mattered in that moment.

Firestar spread his haunches even farther, until the muscles trembled from the strain. He licked from top to bottom once more, coating every sensitive fold. Then he pushed his tongue in with firm intent, reaching as far as he could. Smudge instinctively clenched around it, the ring tightening strongly. Firestar shuddered at the warm pressure enveloping him. He drooled more, letting saliva drip along the perineum and mingle with the fluids already flowing freely.

He thrust his tongue deeper once again. Smudge released a long, high moan that echoed through the den. Firestar held his haunches apart at their widest, opening him until the pink entrance stood fully dilated, glossy and pulsing with each rapid beat of Smudge’s heart.

Smudge gasped hard, his chest rising and falling quickly. Firestar finally pulled back. His tongue slipped out with a soft, wet sound. He spat directly over the open entrance, thick saliva falling in a warm stream that slid easily inside. Before Smudge could say anything, Firestar positioned himself over him swiftly.

Firestar captured his lips in a fierce, almost wild kiss. Their tongues tangled with an urgency that bordered on desperation, as if the entire world might collapse if they parted even for a second. The salty, heated taste of Smudge still lingered in the leader’s mouth, a forbidden and intoxicating flavor that Smudge sampled without hesitation, licking eagerly at every trace he found. Their bodies pressed together again, reddish fur against black, hard cocks brushing in an electric friction that made them both tremble.

He wrapped his hind legs around Smudge’s, holding him firmly. With restrained strength that made his muscles quiver, he rubbed the swollen tip against the already prepared and glistening entrance. Without a word, silencing him with hot, sensual kisses that tasted of sweat and raw desire, he began to push.

Smudge felt the tip enter for the first time.

The world narrowed to that single instant. The thick, heated head pressed against the pink ring, opening it with inexorable slowness. It was not only pressure, it was a deep invasion, a slow fire forcing its way through muscles that had never known such stretching.

It burned.

It seared like red hot iron against living flesh.

The ring tightened in an instinctive spasm, trying to reject what was entering, yet at the same time yielding, unable to resist the relentless force claiming it. Every millimeter was exquisite torment. Sensitive skin stretched to its limit, prominent veins dragged along the inner walls with a rough, pulsing friction that sent jolts of pain and pleasure straight to his core.

Smudge squeezed his eyes shut. Tears slipped free without restraint. His entire body trembled, claws digging into the bedding until the fabric tore. Drool spilled from his mouth, his tongue hanging loose as a raw, animal groan escaped his throat. The burning spread like sweet poison through his insides, igniting every exposed nerve, making him clench involuntarily around the intruder in trembling waves. He felt every detail, the textured skin, the heat radiating like living metal, the steady pulse beating inside him like a second heart. It was too big, too thick, too real. And yet beneath the sharp pain, an overwhelming pleasure grew, dark and voracious, forcing him to arch his back and lift his hips in an instinctive motion of surrender.

Firestar pulled just barely from his lips. His warm breath brushed Smudge’s ear as he whispered in a rough, trembling voice, “Please, just a little more, and I will stop.”

Smudge nodded slowly, eyes still closed, tears sliding down his muzzle. He trusted his friend completely. He knew he could believe his words, even when his body screamed that it was too much.

Firestar pushed a little farther.

The shaft sank halfway inside. The passage opened with a low, wet sound, the inner muscles yielding under the relentless pressure. Smudge trembled violently, growling between pain and pleasure that were beginning to fuse into something impossible to separate. The inner fire spread deeper, reaching places never touched before. He felt the prominent veins rubbing along his walls, each one like a cord of heat marking him from within. The stretched ring tightened desperately around the thick base, squeezing with such intensity that Firestar gasped and grew even hotter.

Firestar stopped there, allowing his friend to adjust. The shaft throbbed inside Smudge, pulsing with a life of its own, sending waves of heat through his belly and spine. The pain was still there, raw and sharp, but it was already dissolving into a dark pleasure that made him purr despite the tears.

During that pause, Firestar began to stroke his fur with unexpected tenderness. He licked his neck slowly and affectionately, leaving damp trails that cooled overheated skin. He placed soft kisses along his throat and returned to his lips again and again, as if trying to erase the pain with every touch.

Smudge did not know what to think, except that he was enjoying this more than anything he had ever felt before. It amazed him how easily Firestar could set him ablaze with nothing but touch and kisses. His own cock remained hard, throbbing against his belly, leaking slow streams of pre cum that mixed with sweat.

Smudge tightened slightly around Firestar’s shaft, feeling it swell even more inside him. A shy, almost pleading moan slipped from him.

“I think you can… push a little more now, please.”

Firestar nodded silently. His green eyes burned with fierce, nearly possessive intensity. He pushed again, inch by inch, opening the hot, tight passage further. Smudge felt the fullness claim him completely, felt the thick base finally brush against the stretched ring. The burning transformed into overwhelming fullness, into a pleasure so intense it stole his breath. His inner muscles contracted around the invading length, gripping it tightly as if he never wanted to let go.

Firestar gasped against his neck. He began to move slowly, short thrusts that made Smudge cry out louder each time. The pain had almost completely vanished, replaced by a dark ecstasy that consumed him from within. He felt every pulse of the cock inside him, every brush of the barbs against his sensitive walls. It was a brutal and perfect union, an act that bound them beyond flesh.

Smudge clung to him with all four paws. His claws sank into the leader’s thick reddish fur, unintentionally tearing small tufts free as his entire body tightened around the length filling him.

Firestar gradually picked up speed, his hips finding a rhythm that seemed to take on a life of its own. Pleasure built in heavy, powerful waves, like ink spreading through dark water, dragging Smudge into a deep abyss he had no desire to escape.

Smudge trembled beneath him. He squeezed his eyes shut, damp lashes clinging to his skin. Firestar tilted his head and gently licked over his closed eyelids, tasting the salty tears gathered there. Then he moved down to his lips and kissed him in a slow, comforting way, almost tender amid all the intensity.

“If it hurts, I can pull out.”

“I-I can handle it… just keep going, ignore my faces if I make them…”

Firestar let out a low, rough laugh that vibrated against Smudge’s muzzle. He licked his cheeks with long, warm strokes, wiping away the damp trails before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, a stark contrast to the thick heat buried inside him.

“I would never ignore the part I love most about your face.”

Smudge flushed so deeply he felt suffocating heat rush up his ears, as if invisible smoke might curl from them. He lifted his hind legs higher, opening himself completely, exposing everything that remained to be claimed.

Firestar seized the moment.

He thrust deeper, slow but relentless. The length sank almost to the base. Smudge let out a long, loud moan that echoed through the den. It was big, too big. He felt the barbs dragging along his inner walls with every movement, scratching just enough to send sparks of aching pleasure through him, forcing his back to arch.

It held him perfectly. The stretched ring closed around the base like a hot, wet fist, squeezing every prominent vein, every pulse beating inside. Smudge shut his eyes tightly. Drool slipped freely from his mouth, his tongue hanging out as the last of the initial pain dissolved completely. What remained was pure, overwhelming pleasure, a torrent that stole his breath and made him purr between moans.

Firestar truly began to move. Slow thrusts at first, deep, measuring every reaction of the body beneath him. He kissed whatever he could reach, neck, shoulders, heaving chest, leaving damp trails that glistened against black fur. He thought of nothing else. He let himself be carried away entirely.

He was buried to the hilt inside his best friend, the same one he had known back when he lived as a kittypet in a Twoleg house, sleeping on soft beds and eating dry food. Everything he had said that night was true. He truly wanted him by his side. He truly needed him. More than anything. More than anyone.

Even if one day he became a father, even if the clan claimed him with responsibilities heavy as stones, in that moment he could not imagine a single day without being able to rely on him.

Firestar growled low and deep. He caught Smudge by the scruff with his teeth, not hard enough to wound, but enough to hold him in place against the rumpled bedding.

Smudge whimpered like a helpless kitten, the high, trembling sound slipping from his throat as his body surrendered completely.

Firestar began to move harder. The thrusts turned brutal, animal. Smudge’s hips bounced with each impact, soft flesh striking the leader’s muscular hips in a steady, wet rhythm that filled the den.

“A-ahh… more… harder… please.”

Smudge did not even realize he was already moaning like a queen in full heat, voice broken and pleading, hips lifting to meet every thrust. Firestar obeyed. He drove into him with even more force, his entire body tense and slick with sweat. At last he pushed fully inside in one deep motion. The base struck against the stretched ring with a dull sound. He bit down more firmly on Smudge’s neck, teeth marking the skin without breaking it.

The thrusts quickened into a frantic pace. Adrenaline surged through him, his heartbeat pounding in his ears like war drums. The sensation was harsh and perfect at once, the tight heat wrapped around him, the rough friction of inner walls against his swollen length, the way Smudge clenched around him with every withdrawal and push.

Firestar huffed, eyes squeezed shut, his strong body moving with a power he had never unleashed before. He was releasing all the stress he had carried for countless moons, every worry about the clan, every anxiety that had kept him awake in the leader’s den. He did not want it anymore. Not in that moment.

He only wanted to keep leaning on his friend. The cat who endured everything for him, who opened both body and soul without hesitation. He wanted him at his side as a friend, as a lover, as everything.

Smudge cried out his name between broken gasps. His forepaws clung to Firestar’s back, claws leaving red trails beneath the fur. Pleasure consumed him in ever rising waves. He felt Firestar’s cock throbbing inside him, swelling even more with every thrust, brushing sensitive spots that made stars burst behind his tightly shut eyelids. His hole clenched in involuntary spasms, gripping hard around the base as if it never wanted to let him go.

Firestar growled against his neck. He sped up even more. The sound of their bodies colliding turned steady, wet, obscene. Smudge trembled beneath him, fur soaked with sweat, tail thrashing wildly in the air. Pleasure dragged him toward the edge, relentless, dark, inevitable.

Firestar drove forward one last time with all his strength, hips slamming against Smudge’s rear in a brutal impact that reverberated through both their bodies. His length buried itself completely, the thick base pressing against the stretched pink ring, forcing it wide while the barbs scraped along the inner walls with rough friction that sent waves of liquid fire through Smudge’s veins.

Firestar stayed there, trembling, his member pulsing violently inside the tight channel, swelling even more as if it meant to claim every inch. The heat was suffocating, the fullness overwhelming. Smudge felt the tip pressing so deep it stole his breath, his inner muscles spasming helplessly around the invasion.

A long, broken moan tore from Smudge’s throat, animal and raw. Pleasure struck him like burning lightning, racing up his spine and flooding his limbs, making his own length throb fiercely against Firestar’s sweat slick belly. It swelled to its limit, red and sensitive, rubbing against reddish fur with every shudder, spilling hot beads of precum that mixed with their sweat. He would not last much longer. The climax coiled in his stomach like an inevitable storm, every pulse inside him pushing him closer to the brink.

His abdomen tightened with pure, savage pleasure.

Firestar gasped by his ear, voice rough and strained from the effort driving him to his limit.

“Smudge… please… stay with me. Be… mine!”

The words vibrated through Smudge’s fur, heavy with desperate possession that only intensified the heat between them.

Smudge’s eyes flew open, yellow pupils blown wide, cheeks flushed beneath dark fur. He deliberately rolled his hips, squeezing and lifting them so the length sank fully to the base again, his ring clamping down around the pulsing thickness. A long moan spilled from him, turning into a deep purr as his entire body shook. He finally nodded, head tipping back against the sticky bedding.

He was drenched in sweat, fur plastered to his skin in damp clumps, but his gaze burned with genuine determination, blazing as fiercely as the fire in his belly. It was a heat like that of a queen in full heat longing for the beast that would claim her day and night, primitive and devouring. And yet he knew that beast was his best friend, the cat he loved from the bottom of his heart, with a loyalty that went beyond clans and collars.

“I-I accept…!”

The word came out in a breathless whisper, but it was enough to break the dam. Smudge came then, spilling against the bedding as his orgasm detonated inside him like a burst of white heat. Several powerful jets shot from his swollen length, soaking the fabric in thick, hot streaks that spread across the rumpled surface. His cock throbbed with every release, spasming so intensely it left him breathless, pleasure arching his back as his claws dug deeper into Firestar’s shoulders.

Firestar let out a loud growl, a guttural sound rumbling through his chest like distant thunder. He climaxed as well, but deep inside Smudge, his length swelling to its fullest before releasing heavy, burning pulses that flooded the tight channel. Smudge felt each surge fill him, striking his inner walls with scorching pressure that left him overwhelmingly hot, as if liquid fire spread through his core.

The heat was overpowering, almost suffocating, making his body clench around the member in involuntary waves, milking every drop. Some overflowed and trickled down the outside of his thighs, sliding along sensitive skin and leaving sticky trails that cooled in the air, but most remained inside, thick and warm, easing the lingering burn with its heavy heat. And knowing he had drawn that release from his friend felt incredible, an intimate triumph that filled him with a purring pride.

It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever known, a climax that pushed beyond physical limits until his muscles trembled on the edge of collapse, the pleasure so raw and vivid it left him gasping, tongue hanging from his mouth.

As if he could read his deepest thoughts in the middle of their shared ecstasy, Firestar pulled his muzzle away from Smudge’s neck, where he had been holding him between his teeth, leaving a pink mark beneath the fur. He gently cupped his friend’s face, soft paw pads brushing against trembling whiskers, and kissed him again, deep and unhurried, their tongues tangling in a wet, salty rhythm. He pressed closer, their bodies melding until not a single inch remained between them, reddish fur clinging to black in a sweaty tangle.

They rolled together like two completely wild cats, no collars tying them to the Twoleg world, tumbling across the bedding in a chaos of paws and intertwined tails. They made an absolute mess of the cat bed, already sticky with fluids, the fabric stained with semen, saliva, and sweat spreading in uneven patches.

They rolled from side to side, shifting positions without pause or order, Firestar on top one moment and Smudge twisting to press himself against the leader the next. Firestar kept thrusting through the last waves of his climax, his still pulsing length releasing the final thick spurts that overflowed and trailed down Smudge’s thighs, the inner channel stretched and overheated, filled to the brim in a way that left him swollen and satisfied.

Smudge ended up spilling another jet of semen onto the bedding during the chaos, his member rubbing against Firestar’s belly, and he let out a long, shaky sigh when Firestar finally finished, the leader’s body at last going slack.

They lay still for a moment, Firestar’s chest rising and falling against Smudge’s in synchronized breaths. Firestar collapsed on top of him, exhausted, his comforting weight pressing Smudge into the bedding. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, blown pupils reflecting shared fatigue, their eyelids heavy as if pleasure had drained every last bit of strength from them. Both were still hard, faint pulses lingering from the climax, though their backs arched from sheer exhaustion, muscles trembling from being pushed to the edge.

For Firestar it felt even stronger. A lingering warmth coursed through his body, a fading fire running through his veins followed by an intense shiver that rippled his fur from tail to ears.

A strong gust of wind swept through the open window, lifting his fur further, bringing a cool breath that contrasted sharply with the heat of their bodies. He let out a long, hoarse breath and slowly withdrew from Smudge, his length sliding free with a soft, wet sound, a thin strand stretching between them before breaking. A nervous moan slipped from his throat as he fell to the side of the bed, still sensitive and throbbing.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling of the house, the familiar beams lit by the dim night glow.

But something inside him had shifted.

His whole body felt lighter, as if an invisible mountain had been lifted from his shoulders. The constant pressure that had followed him for days, the tension that kept him alert and restless, was simply gone. Dissolved in the pleasure and connection they had just shared.

Smudge still lay on the bed, hind legs spread in complete exhaustion, tongue out as he panted, trying to steady himself after being pushed so close to his limits.

“A-are you okay… Firestar?”

Firestar swallowed with difficulty, muzzle dry from exertion, blushing all the way to his ears as he nodded slowly.

“Y-yeah…”

But he was better than okay. He felt restored. Renewed. It was incredible.

Smudge watched him move closer again and stretched his forelegs out, ready to pull him in if he wanted another round. Firestar clearly seemed tempted, but he restrained himself. Instead, he sat beside him and let his still sensitive length brush against Smudge’s face. Smudge gave a soft laugh and began to lick it gently, tracing slow circles with his tongue and sucking with warm enthusiasm.

Firestar glanced out the window.

He could see several houses, all lit from within. Possibly many cats still living inside them. After BloodClan, he knew there was danger in the streets as well. He had not fully grasped how large that danger was until now.

With a clearer mind, even as he tried to steady himself while his best friend’s muzzle worked at him again, he realized he was making the right decision. The Clan would accept it. In the end, he was the leader.

And leaving Smudge in that house, where some rogue might one day come, troubled him deeply. It would be better to bring him into the Clan. That would be the perfect excuse.

But when he looked down at Smudge’s eyes, how devotedly he continued, Firestar let out a long, slightly nervous sigh. After thinking it over, he simply smiled.

He did not yet know what excuse he would give, but he was certain of one thing. He truly wanted his friend by his side.

Firestar gently pulled away. Smudge blinked.

“E-everything okay…?”

Instead of answering directly, Firestar helped him up carefully. With a fond look, he wrapped him in an embrace and pressed a passionate kiss to his neck, leaving a visible mark beneath the fur.

Smudge purred, letting out a heated little sound.

“A-are you marking me now…?” he joked, though the answer that followed left him blushing from paws to ears.

“In fact… yes.”

Firestar slowly pulled back and looked him in the eyes.

Smudge blushed even more, unsure of what to say. When he tried to look away, Firestar gently made sure he looked back at him.

Firestar’s gaze was fixed on him, eyes radiating honesty and, above all, love.

Smudge pressed himself against him. In the end, they tumbled down onto the floor. They laughed softly, but stayed wrapped around each other.

Between soft kisses and gentle licks, both cats eventually drifted off to sleep.

They spoke a little about what would happen once morning arrived… but perhaps that would be a different matter.

After all, what truly mattered, what mattered most in that moment, was that neither of them wanted to let go.

***

Hours passed. The city began to glow with the first rays of sunlight, a pale blue sky slowly filling with clouds.

The forest welcomed a warm, inviting sun, while inside a cozy Twoleg house next to Smudge’s, a rather beautiful she-cat stepped out after spending the night with her new mate.

Princess had woken up and, carrying a mouse she had caught the night before, thought Smudge might like to share it.

She crossed over to his house and noticed the window was open.

She leapt up, smiling as she reached the sill and hopped inside.

“Smudge! You sleepyhead, do you feel like sharing this mouse wi…?”

She had not expected him to have company.

An orange tom was lying on top of him, traces of semen visible around them.

Princess froze in shock.

Just then, a familiar yawn sounded.

“Is it… morning already?”

Firestar lifted his head and turned back. He had heard someone arrive.

Smudge blinked awake as well, giving a soft groan before feeling the warm fur of his best friend against him.

Both were still very sleepy.

But they clearly heard the she-cat’s confused shout.

“W-What were you two… doing like that? F-Firestar, when did you even get here… and why are you… and he…? Huh…?”

Their eyes went wide. They had forgotten that detail, that she would come to visit early.

Firestar pulled slightly away from Smudge, knowing nervously that whatever happened next would bring trouble.

Smudge thought the same, though his nerves were far more obvious on his face. He also looked embarrassed, but Firestar stepped in front of him.

Firestar met his sister’s gaze… and lowered his ears when she marched up to them and bit at his ears, demanding answers.

Firestar had already resolved his own struggles… but perhaps now he would have to face many more.

Whatever came next, and glancing at Smudge as his accomplice, he was certain of one thing.

From today on, and always… he would have the support of the kindest cat he knew.

And he would make sure to care for him and protect him above all else.

That was his decision as a best friend, as the leader of ThunderClan…

And now, as a lover.