She didn't know the proper place for an initiate at an event like this. Far from the center, she suspected, and perhaps she shouldn't have come at all, but how could see resist? In the end the lean cream she-cat found herself at the fridges of the crowd, grateful for once that she was tall enough to look over the heads of some of the cats and strain to make out Lionpride. It was quiet even here at the back. The Priestess could command respect from her cats in spite of her madness, or perhaps because of it; if this was her old home there would be soft bored chatter between the young warriors shifting impatiently as they waited for the ceremony to end, making soft jibes under their breath. Her home was far away now, though.

Aconite let out a breath as the cats began to disperse again. She fidgeted as she waited for her chance to slip through the crowd and catch sight of the new warrior, but he was gone now, and as she glanced about she failed to find him. She stifled her disappointment as she stepped back, biting her lip. Well, he'd want to be with his family now anyway, she could always congratulate him later. There would always be time.

She sighed as she gave up her search. She turned just in time to spot Lionpride and leaned into his touch with a warm purr. "Lionpride! Congratulations on your new name, it really suits you," she told her. Her own name was still taking some time to get used to, even if it was just a shorter version of what it had always been, and she just hoped the next one wasn't terrible. If there was a next one - sometimes she still fretted if her faith would be strong enough, and dreaded the day she'd be tested, but she kept that to herself. She didn't want to worry him unnecessarily, the young warrior had enough on his mind already.

Her head tilted as he stumbled over his words. "Of course," she murmured, dipping her head slightly. Something was wrong but she wasn't sure what it was. If she wasn't supposed to be here surely he wouldn't have greeted her so warmly? "Lead the way."

Aconite gave him careful, subtle glances as they walked, seeing his nerves and feeling the fur on her spine begin to lift uneasily as well. Whatever had him this on edge couldn't be good. She was only just getting to know this clan and still found many of their ways strange, but not enough to react like this. What had happened that she missed? She turned the last few days over in mind, searching for anything that made sense, but there was nothing to explain the tension in his stance. He'd been busy preparing to be a warrior and she'd been busy working with the Senators, learning about the rivalry between the gods. She hadn't been close enough to see the small changes happen then, but she saw their effect now.

She knew the path back home, and it made her uneasy to be headed along it. Her fears were confirmed when he finally spoke. Aconite bit her lip as she looked away from him, hiding her pain as best she could from him, though no doubt she could see the tightening of her eyes as she fought off a wave of grief. She'd known this day would come, that he'd send her back and forget about her, and had even prepared for it, though she was given to hope she might stay. Now, though, it was all happening wrong. He was sending her away but he seemed sorry for it; he wasn't tired of her, he was concerned about her.

"I'm older than you are," she reminded him softly. "I can look after myself."

She raised her baby blue gaze to hold his, her heart breaking to see him cry. He was terrified for reasons she couldn't understand, but that didn't give her the courage to leave. She'd faced worse, including the earthquake she once thought destroyed her clan. Whatever was left now, they could face it. "I'm not leaving without you," she murmured gently, with no room for disagreement. "If it's so dangerous I need to leave then you should, too. I don't want you getting hurt."

He was all she had now. She needed him to be safe.

I love you. Oh how her heart smoldered at those words, the heat in her chest almost unbearable within her. She wanted to focus on his words, but it echoed deep inside her, a resounding drum that overwhelmed her ears. I love you. How long had she wanted to tell him that? How many times had she come close, only to give up in fear he didn't feel the same? She was older than him, maybe not by much, but older; and she was an outsider, just a stray hunter that had been lucky enough to run into him and have her life changed forever. He had no reason to feel the same, and sometimes she had feared he didn't, only when they were together could she feel the bond between them, too strong to doubt. I love you.

She wanted to cry. How could she leave now? She couldn't, she couldn't leave him, not now. Like a splash of cold water upon her face, she was finally dragged out of her trance when the realization slowly sunk in that his life was under attack. "She tried to kill you?" Aconite whispered, and now there was a quaver in her voice. She had seen the Priestess fight, had seen her execute cats, and she was terrified in her very bones of facing that. But still she hesitated. "I can't leave you in danger. I'll help you get the others out. You're right, I'm just an initiate. She won't look twice at me. And if she does, I'll just run, okay? I'm quick. Let me help."

She'd already heard more than enough, but Foxstar couldn't help but lean in to listen further as they continued to dig their graves deeper. Ah, tragic love. How it made her sick. The thoughts formed in her mind quickly, a plan to make Littlebird suffer for the treason of the son she'd raise. They would pay. But for now, her ears twitched, and she stayed put. The more they spoke, the better.