[in my] h o m e, my lighthouse

[(aurora) of the problematique]

solstice

&

glacier

<sub>Solsticesong's long-jowled jaw rested upon her furry paws. The mainly-white and black female's hair rose and fluttered down with each deep breath she took, the gray hairs layered in between quaking like a butterfly's kiss. Her tail flicked back and forth, metronome-like, as the she-cat laid upon a large rock at EclipseClan's entrance. She awaited Fernpelt anxiously but she tried not to show it visually.

The large female lifted her head and stared out in the dimly-lit outdoors that surrounded her home, guarding and protecting it from outsiders. A blade of grass whirled around as she nibbled on it pensively, wondering when her clanmates would arrive. She would guard EclipseClan diligently until they arrived and if they didn't, she would lead her Clan until a new leader was chosen by StarClan.

Solsticesong's harks lifted as the sound of playing and romping around reached them. She smiled kindly to herself, glad to see that at least some of her Clanmates were in good spirits.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

His eyes, like burning crystals, flicked around as the large tuxedo tom padded towards the camp entrance, his tail curled around his back left paw, like it normally was when hunting or in the territory that surrounded EclipseClan's camp.

Glacierfrost padded into camp, his eyes spotting Solsticsong, a rare, but soft smile was on his face as he padded towards his friend, dropping one of the mice he had brought in from his solo hunting. His eyes locked onto the she-cat, easily figuring out her mood.

"They'll be back, Solsticsong. Don't worry about the Clan. I know what Fernpelt told you, but you have to belive that they'll return in one piece" He mewed, pushing the larger of the mice towards her. "Come now. Eat something and stop making me worry"

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Solsticesong rose onto all fours, shaking her fur before leaping down onto the ground. She smiled at Glacierfrost with a kind thank you for the food, bending down and clasping the mouse in her maw. She crunched down a few times before swallowing her food whole. She licked her broad paw and ran it across her muzzle to groom herself before facing her friend.

"I know," she said softly. "But it still gets me a bit anxious."

She sat down next to the rock, bathing in the warm sun. Her tail curled around her feathery paws as she looked upward, mentally swimming in the sky. She sighed slightly.

"How's the prey running, my friend?" she asked, the deputy-like attitude falling on her.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

The tom sighed as he settled down, biting into the mouse and finishing it in three gulps. After, Glacierfrost streached out, letting the sun soak into his black splotches. Along sigh came from the tuxedo tom.

His ears flicked towards the she-cat while she spoke. "Have some faith in Amytheststar and Fernpelt. They'll return safe and unharmed" He mewed gently.

With a shrug, the tom got up, shaking his pelt out and thrashing his tail back and forth. "There was much out there. My mind just wans't on the hunt."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"I have faith."

Solsticesong brought her head down, crossing hazel blades with Glacierfrost's. She was silent for a moment, contemplating what all to say. She brought a hollow smile to her face.

"My apprentice should do fine," she said, half-thinking, half-out loud. She wondered what was going on with Maplepool. The large female turned her smile from the ground to her friend, thinking about how odd he was, that he changed whenever he was around her.

"I don't get too much time to talk to you, Glacierfrost. We're either both busy or one of us is off doing something when the other is free. How have you been?" She knew nothing of the tom's love life or friendship besides her own with him.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

"Good. Never loose faith. If you did, you'd be dead."

Glacierfrost's eyes locked with Solsticesong's for a moment, watching as the hollow smile crossed her face. His head cocked to the side.

The tom smiled at her words, a small laugh coming from him. "Of course she should. Maplepool was trained by one of the best warriors in the clan." He mewed, a small grin upon his face.

Glacierfrost yawned, rolling onto his back before coming back to his stomach. "I've atcually been busy. Being stuck in camp doesn't fit me" He mewed. "Oh. I heard about my sister, you remember her apprentice-ship here, right? Anyways, Strawberrystripe has had kits. Three beautiful kits. I heard from her mate about them. Tyrantkit, Kingkit and Crimsonkit" He mewed, his eyes glowing softly.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Solsticesong laughed out loud at the compliment. "Right," she said, ears bending back. She shrugged. "I suppose so."

She looked over at Glacierfrost with a small laugh. "Your sister, eh?" Solsticesong's eyes twinkled. "What names." She chuckled at this. "Well, tell her...congratulations if you hear about her again." She wasn't the biggest fan of Strawberrystripe since she left EclipseClan back during her apprenticeship, but she really didn't worry about the issue.

"Fernpelt and Beaconsong have been mates for a few moons now," she remarked, "so I'll have to patrol for kittens to hide under my pelt soon enough." The femme smiled softly, standing on her toes to shake her heavy belly fur.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

Glacierfrost cocked a brow. "Do you doubt me, Solsticesong?" He asked, hiding a smile at the she-cat.


"I will. Hopefully I'll hear from Floatingcloud agian" He mewed, flicking his tail back and forth.

He chuckled softly. "Of course. Fernpelt will turn to you to hide kits if they come. What will happen if you have a litter of your own?" He asked light-heartedly.

How come he had to hide it under his pelt? It wasn't that we was neverous about losing his only friend, he just wasn't ready to tell her the truth. To tell her he didn't just like her as a friend. She was the only cat that had welcomed him into the Clan when he was dropped off his his brother and sister. He let and puff of air back before letting his gaze slid towards the she-cat.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"I doubt your lady skills, yes, but nothing more," Solsticesong joked, grinning over at her friend. She laughed more so when he commented about Fernpelt and then the she-cat's own kits.

The fae shook her head. "No, my love is to EclipseClan and my kits are my Clanmates. Someone's got to take care of you hooligans when the leader isn't here. You think that's the Clan Fairy or something?" she chuckled, bumping shoulders with Glacierfrost.

"But seriously, I don't plan on having my own litter. I've got too many things to take care besides a clutch of kittens running around my paws." She shrugged. "What about you? You're not going to have your siblings talk about their nieces and nephews?"</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

Glacierfrost chuckled softly, nudging her shoulder back. "Who you calling a hooligan? Of course, not me. I already know that" He mewed, gently biting her ear playfully. "A Clan Fairy? Isn't that nothing but a kit's tail?" He asked, cocking his head. Being born a loner with only his mother, he had not heard of many kit stories.

The male shrugged, rolling his large shoulders. "No cat would like to have kits with me. I'm too......quiet around others. Your the only one I've opened to" He mewed truthfully..

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Solsticesong laughed and playfully batted Glacierfrost away when he nibbled her ear. "No, it's just something I made up," she chuckled, pressing her head against his shoulder and pushing him away.

She shifted her weight onto her hindlegs, sighing and lifting up her head. "I think I come off too strong on others. Excitable, passionate about what I do, sarcastic." She shrugged and turned her head to Glacierfrost. "Personally, I think you're a nice guy. You should have no problems getting a she-cat unless she's all about talking the entire time."</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx_Glacierfrost

Glacierfrost cocked his head, looking at the she-cat funny. After a moment he shook his head. Unprepared from her pushing him, the large tom fell over, rolling onto his back and looking up at Solsticesong. "Thanks a bunch. Just what I was afraid of. You becoming stronger then me" He mewed with a smirk, pawing at her face like a kit.

The tuxedo colored cat shurgged as she rolled back over onto his stomach. Cats just don't you know you as well as I do. Once you get to know someone, you might open up to them, like I can to you" He mewed, standing up and shaking the dirt out of his pelt. "I can't open up to some cats. They all think i'll leave, like my brother and sister did. No one wants a mate with that type of family."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Haha, I've always been stronger than you, my friend," she grinned, coming to her feet and tackling the tom playfully. She attempted to pin him down with a 'fierce' meow.

She smiled as she looked at Glacierfrost. "I suppose you're right. It seems like the only cats who understand me are Fernpelt and you." She shrugged at his next sentence. "I think you've proved yourself to be loyal. The cats who don't trust you are just insecure." She twitched her ear. "And you shouldn't worry about them."</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

A growl came from the tom as he allowed her to pin him down, wrapping his tail around the she-cat's back leg as he pulled her off. "Yes, and I have been the one with the tricks up my fur" He mewed as he pinned the she-cat down.

"Fernpelt understands you. You understamd her. You can talk to her about anything, things that you can't allow yourself to tell me" He mewed, slipping off the she-cat and sitting down beside her, licking his paw and dragging it over his face. "Some cats still have doubts about me. I wish they wouldn't." He mewed, sighing

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Solsticesong grinned impishly. "Of course, of course," the she-cat said, grooming herself after Glacierfrost had pinned her but let her back onto her paws. She turned to her friend and sighed.

"My friendship with Fernpelt...," she began. "We're like sisters, something we both never had." She touched noses with Glacierfrost. "And you're the brother I regained." She was referring to Tippedpaw and Ringedpaw. Ringedpaw had been killed by Tippedpaw, who then left camp. She sidled up next to Glacierfrost and rested her head on his shoulder.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

He smile, then slowly, it faded off his face as he heard the she-cat sigh. A small chuckle came from the tom at her comment.

"If you wanted a sister, you can take Strawberrystripe" He mewed, letting the laugh die down before he felt Solsticesong's nose touch his. He rested his head on the she-cat's, curling his tail around her body, licking her ear gently. "Yes. I will always be the brother you can always confide in. If your hurt, i'll be right there totake my anger out on who ever hurt my 'sister'"

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Hah! I don't think so," the she-cat said gruffly, raising one muscular brow before melting against him with a tired sigh.

"Thanks."

Solsticesong mewed gratefully, her fluffy tail resting on his as she laid her head on her paws with a large yawn. She nestled against her fur. "I...love you," she said softly, resting her head against his.</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

The tom chuckled, licking the she-cat's ears. "Aw, you know you want her as a sister." He mewed with a smile.

"Anytime."

His heart nearly stopped as he felt her pelt agianst his, lowering himself down, Glacierfrost pressed his fur agianst his. Her words spread warmth through him. "You....you love me?" He asked, his eyes lighting up as he looked at her. "I didn't think you did. Solsticesong, I have loved you for so long."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Solsticesong smiled faintly. "Of course I did, you mousebrain," she said, nuzzling the tomcat affectionately. "I love you." The large female purred in contentment, licking Glacierfrost's chops.

The shaggy-haired she-cat lifted herself up and shook off her pelt. "I should go take a nap. I've been on watch for a day." She flashed a smooth smile towards her mate, brushing her broom-like tail across his flank.

"I'll see you later, my little protector."</sub>

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

xx__Glacierfrost

"What a mousebrain I am" Glacierfrost mewed, stand up as she did and licking her ear tenderly. "I love you more then any cat could"

The tom sighed from relief as she commented about being awake. "Took you awhile to decide that. I'll keep watch over camp for now. You need rest." He mewed, flicking her nose with his tail.

"Sleep well, my fragile angel"