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clangenrising · 28 days ago

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Month 20 - Leaffall

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“Are you sure you’re alright?” Goldenstar asked again, leaning in to speak privately with Scorchplume. Trailing behind Schmidt and his brother, they skirted the edge of a narrow parking lot crowded with cars under flickering yellow lamp light.

“I’m fine,” Scorch forced out through her teeth, trying not to gag and hoping that didn’t come across. “I promise.”

“Alright,” Goldenstar said slowly, clearly unconvinced. Scorch was too busy trying to see through the closing tunnel of her vision. She took a slow breath to try and calm herself but that only made it worse. The smell - his smell, that fucking oats and honey smell - was all encompassing and she had to fight her own body not to start hyperventilating.

She tried to focus on her whiskers, on what they could feel was around her - Goldenstar close to her left side but not touching her - thank fuck - and empty air on her right - but she couldn’t help but panic, convinced he was about to come out of nowhere and put his fucking nose in her scruff and-

“Now we climb,” Schmidt said and Scorch blinked to find them standing at the base of a tall building with rows of balconies hanging out over a sparse, yellow lawn. Beside them stood a towering pine tree nearly as tall as the building itself. After a moment to let the Clan cats gape, Schmidt slipped into the shelter of the tree’s branches and Scorch could finally breathe.

She blinked in relief, panting gratefully as the smell of pine needles and long-passed dogs and city air. It was like a vice had released her chest. She looked down at her paws and took a deep slow breath to steady herself.

“Miss Scorch?” a voice from just outside her whiskers made her snap to attention and she wheeled around to find Westen tilting his head worriedly at her.

“What is it?” she snipped, regretting the hostility the moment it escaped her.

“You just seem… unwell,” he said. “Is there anythin’ I can do for ya?”

“I’m quite alright,” she said, straightening her posture with an exhale and trying to lay her fur flat. “Thank you, though.”

“‘Course, ma’am,” he said in a tone that was painfully honest. “If'n you need anythin’ at all, you just let me know, alright?”

Scorch pulled a tight smile over her lips and said, “I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Wes smiled and dipped his head and she turned back to the pine tree. Everyone but her and Wes had already started the ascent and she almost wished she could stay here and toy with Wes for the entire evening instead of joining Schmidt on the balcony above.

She couldn’t though. She took a deep breath, savoring the smell of it, and stepped into the pitch black space inside the pine’s heavy branches. She could taste the barest traces of that sickening smell on the air and, as she started to climb, she tried to drill her own mind into obedience.

He’s dead. You saw him die. Stop being a stupid panicky baby already! It’s just a smell. You’re being irrational. You’re better than this!

After some climbing, she reached a point where Songdust was waiting for her in the branches.

“They all jumped to the, uh, balcony here,” said the elder.

“Thanks,” Scorch puffed, realizing she likely would have missed it if someone hadn’t been there. She carefully ventured out onto the limb which bowed and swayed slightly under her weight. Careful pawstep after pawstep, she moved to the edge of the branch and out into the night air again. The oats and honey smell hit her and she had to sink her claws into the bark to avoid swooning straight off the branch.

Stupid, she thought harshly and forced herself to leap the short distance from the branch to the stone of the balcony just ahead, slipping easily between the bars of the railing. Trying to breathe without tasting the scent, she surveyed the area.

It was a small space, several tail-lengths across, slightly less deep than it was wide. The concrete had been covered with a piece of spare carpeting that looked like it might have been white once. A pair of wrought iron chairs sat off to one side and a cluster of potted plants crowded the corner near the sliding glass door which had been cracked open just wide enough for a cat to pass through.

Goldenstar, Orangestar, and Coyotechaser had settled next to the base of one chair, all looking around at what was surely a strange space to them, and Schmidt was seated neatly by the door next to a plump little black tom with white paws and flecks of blue in his dark brown eyes. A second later, Songdust and Wes joined them on the balcony, both of them lingering near the edge to keep watch.

Scorch padded over to the chairs and hopped up on top of one hoping the height advantage would not only give her a more authoritative bargaining position but possibly part the brain fog closing in around her.

“This is amazing,” Coyotechaser said conversationally. “I had no idea twolegs built their nests on cliffs like birds.”

“Two legs?” the new kittypet mumbled under his breath in confusion.

Schmidt said, “Oh, no, this isn’t a cliff. The Folk built this whole structure.”

“Are you serious?” Orangestar gaped. “That’s incredible!”

“They are, aren’t they,” purred the new cat, puffing proudly.

Scorch was working terribly hard to stay present. Smiling, she crooned, “Schmidt, you haven’t introduced us to your little friend here.” As she had expected, Schmidt paled as if he had kicked litter directly in their faces. Served him right for smelling how he did.

“Oh, my,” he said quickly, “Please, forgive my rudeness, ladies. This is Admiral. He was kind enough to let us use his balcony for the evenin’.”

Admiral smiled a wide, toothy smile and said, “It’s my pleasure! Anything to help cats come together. Everyone is so divided these days, don’t you agree?”

“Definitely,” she purred, fighting the urge to roll her eyes so hard they disappeared into her head.

“Exactly,” Orangestar said sincerely. “We should be working together to defeat a common enemy, not squabbling over petty disputes.”

“Oh,” Admiral said in a voice far too high to be genuine. “That’s… that’s certainly, um…”

“Incoming,” Songdust interjected. She and Wes took a step back from the railing and the rest of the group held their breath. Scorch shut her eyes wishing she could will her peripheral vision back into existence.

A beat later heavy paws hit the concrete and she was forced to open her eyes. A cinnamon tuxedo with sizable stud jowls and a splotch of ruddy fur in the middle of his white muzzle lifted his head to squint at her, showing off his mint green bell collar. Rudy had always been a stocky cat but he had put on a few impressive pounds since she had last seen him and she raised her brows back at him, hoping she was projecting an air of superiority recognizing superiority and not one of queasiness.

Rudy broke her gaze first and said, “Schmidt.”

“Rudy,” Schmidt smiled nervously. “Thank you for joining us.”

A grey lynx point tom and a white splashed brown tabby tom with a notched ear quickly joined them on the balcony. The new cats shifted uneasily. They eyed Songdust and Wes with suspicion and Rudy flicked his gaze over Goldenstar and her “advisors” coldly.

“I didn’t realize this was gonna be such a big shindig,” he said, “I woulda brought more guests.”

It was time for Scorch to focus up.

Glancing out over the city as an excuse to take a deep breath of fresh air, she said, “Traveling in the city is dangerous for Goldenstar and she needed to take extra precautions to ensure that she returns home safely.” Looking back at him, she added, “It was important to her to attend this meeting in person, as a show of good faith.”

“Do you always do her talking for her?” Rudy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Scorch smiled. “She has asked me to be her voice in this meeting seeing as I am also Exalted and thus will better be able to handle negotiations.”

“Right,” Rudy studied Goldenstar with narrowed eyes.

“She speaks the truth,” Goldenstar said, sitting tall but relaxed. “For today, Scorch’s word is my word. Shall we get started?” If Scorch wasn’t struggling to breathe she might have grinned the proudest grin. Goldenstar was learning. Rudy stared at her for another moment before jerking his chin in Schmidt’s direction which was as good as a “yes.”

“Wonderful,” said Admiral. “As the arbitrator of this discussion, there are a few things to go over before we begin properly. Firstly, this meeting will remain peaceful. Any fighting or even shouting will be punished by my Folk.” He twitched his tail towards the muted sound of a picture box that filtered through the open crack of the sliding door.

“Secondly, I want everyone to enter this discussion in good faith. Let’s not lie to each other or treat the other parties as inherently untrustworthy. And thirdly, there will be no interrupting or talking over each other. If more than one person wants to speak, I will decide who gets to go first. Okay? Okay. With that all said and agreed to, I’m going to give the floor to Schmidt to start.”

Schmidt nodded gratefully and said, “Thank you kindly, Admiral. I think everyone here appreciates brevity so I’ll get right to it. Sardine is a tyrant and he needs to go. Myself and a collection of like minded cats, both Exalted and Chaff, have been tryin’ to sort out the best way to replace him and we’ve decided you’re the most qualified cat in the city for the job. We want to back your claim for Speaker in exchange for equal representation in the leadership, meanin’ for each cat you appoint, we get to appoint one as well.”

Rudy scoffed. “I don’t need your help, Schmidt. I’m going to be Speaker and there’s nothing Sardine can do to stop me, the coward.” At this, he turned his head to face the long drop from the balcony and disrespectfully spat. Admiral rumbled in displeasure.

“Perhaps,” Scorch said, focusing the dark tunnel of her vision on Rudy, “but with our help you can end this succession crisis quickly and decisively. As I understand it, Sardine carries out a raid on your people at least once a week, correct?”

“And what do you and your savages get out of it?” asked Rudy. “The firstborn kit of every litter?” The cats he had brought with him seemed to find this humorous but Admiral lashed his tail in warning.

“I’ll remind you of the second rule, Rudy,” he said, sounding to Scorch like a man who knew he was quite small and unimportant but was desperate to be respected.

“It’s a genuine, good faith question,” Rudy said, straining believability.

“Goldenstar and her warriors request a truce agreement,” said Scorchplume. “Within the terms of this agreement, hunting within Clan territory would cease and any acts of aggression between city cats and Clan cats would be punishable offenses on both sides. In exchange, Goldenstar would pledge combat support to the Skyraiders in any fight with Sardine’s forces and would… even be willing to share their ancestral hunting techniques with the city.”

She swallowed and pushed through the rolling nausea in her belly, grateful that she had managed to remember everything they had discussed even in her current state. Goldenstar’s ear twitched back at Scorch with worry but she otherwise kept her composure.

“‘Ancestral hunting techniques’,” Rudy scoffed. “You mean magic mumbo-jumbo?”

Scorch laughed. “I assure you, I do not.”

“We’ve already started employin’ these techniques with some of the Chaff,” said Schmidt. “They’re designed to ensure that prey lasts until next year which will help keep everyone fed. That’s important to you, isn’t it?”

“Well, then we already have the techniques and we don’t have to pay for them,” smirked Rudy.

Scorchplume felt the conversation slipping out of her hands and she couldn’t open her mouth for fear of being sick.

Schmidt frowned. “It’s not just the hunting techniques-”

“And like I already told you,” Rudy growled, “I don’t need your help with Sardine. I’m not gonna trim my own whiskers for help I don’t even need. We’re done here.” He and his friends stood up and turned away and everyone else on the balcony inhaled tensely.

Scorch tried to think but the wind had changed and all she could smell was oats and honey and sweat and sex and him and-

“Scorch?” Goldenstar’s voice felt distant. When had she shut her eyes? She looked up, found herself huddled on the chair, only able to peek out through one eye. “Scorch, what’s wrong?”

Not now! she wanted to hiss, he’s getting away!

Thankfully, Songdust stepped in between Rudy and the pine tree. Rudy growled lowly, his fur starting to bristle.

“Out of my way,” he said, stepping aggressively forward.

“You don’t want our help because you think you're stronger than us, right?” challenged Songdust. “Well I’d say you’re not.”

“Really?” Rudy laughed. “A skinny little thing like you thinks she can take me in a fight?” He glanced back at his companions who found the situation equally laughable. Schmidt looked as if he might faint.

“I do,” Songdust’s lip curled for the briefest of moments, “so here’s a new idea: You and I go down to the grass and have it out. First one to pin is the victor. If I win, you accept our terms and we help you fight Sardine. You win-”

“I win,” he interrupted, “and you return Mystique’s kits.”

“She doesn’t want them,” Goldenstar cut in.

“I don’t care,” said Rudy, lifting his head boldly. “Those kits belong in the city, not starving in some hole in the ground like mice.”

Scorchplume swallowed and managed to straighten her posture as she said, “Deal.”

“What?” Orangestar’s gaze snapped to her. Coyotechaser was glaring. Goldenstar looked hurt but kept silent.

“Great,” Rudy smiled like setting concrete. “Let’s do this.” He turned to smile at Songdust and she nodded, turning to head down the pine tree. Rudy and his gang followed. Wes gave the rest of them a quick look of unease before he went after them.

The moment he was gone, everyone rounded on her.

“Scorchplume, why did you do that?!” Goldenstar gaped, horrified. Scorch was busy trying not to puke.

“That wasn’t your choice to make!” hissed Coyotechaser, spine arching.

Scorch bristled and snapped back, “Actually, I think you’ll find it was. Goldenstar is in charge and she gave me the authority to negotiate on her behalf - on the Clans’ behalf.” She leapt down from her perch on the chair and shoved her nose into Coyotechaser’s space. “If you don’t like my choices you shouldn’t have agreed to this meeting in the first place. Excuse me.”

Moving quickly, she stormed over to the edge of the balcony and took a moment to steady herself before leaping. Her stomach flipped and she gagged hard as she nearly missed the branch in her shaky state but she managed to scramble to safety and start descending the tree.

Immediately, the shame set in and the fear followed close behind.

Why had she done that? Now that she could breathe again, she felt intensely stupid. Why was a smell all it took to send her flying off the handle like that? What punishments had she just incurred? Goldenstar, she might be able to win back, but the other Clans? They already saw her as an insidious infiltrator, a devious manipulator trying to make a power grab. She had played directly into their expectations. How could she win them back now?

Why was she trying? She realized, suddenly, that there was nothing holding her in this situation. She had done it all to herself. If she wanted, she could leave, run into the desert or back to the city she’d been born in. What was stopping her?

Goldenstar.

The thought of leaving her hurt like a rotten tooth and Scorch nearly broke down sobbing right then and there. She paused on the lowest branches of the pine tree and took slow deep breaths as she tried to blink the tears away. Get it together! she berated herself, You’re being a fucking child. What is WRONG with you?!

Outside, on the lawn, she could hear Wes talking. “I want a clean fight, you two. No blood, no outside interventions. First one to pin takes it.”

“I still think we should use claws,” Rudy said.

“Fine with me,” said Songdust, “just no death blows.”

“Sure,” Rudy said, “but if you try and pull something I won’t hold back.”

“Right back at you,” growled Songdust.

“Easy now,” Wes warned. “No one’s gonna try anythin’. Fight starts on three. One…”

With one more slow exhale, Scorch collected herself and slank out to watch the fight.

“Two…” Wes glanced at her as she arrived but Songdust and Rudy stayed focused on each other, their stances shifting slightly in response to the others movements. “Three!”

The combatants collided in a hissing, spitting frenzy of claws. Somewhere inside the building, a dog started baying loudly. They traded blows back and forth, swatting the other’s paws away and then trying to get in a hit of their own, moving so fast Scorch couldn’t tell who was hurting who.

Songdust hopped back first, bouncing lightly on her toes, a red streak in her thick, white cheek fur. Rudy let her go and dropped into a deep crouch, keeping his bulk low where it would be hard to topple him. Songdust stayed arched up high. Scorch guessed she was attempting to preserve her agility, which was her biggest advantage over him. Absently, Scorch realized that she hadn’t known those kinds of things two years ago.

Songdust was creeping sideways at a snail's pace, her face giving nothing away. Rudy watched her as if scowling hard enough would let him read her mind. Songdust feinted in then danced back, then in again, closer this time. Rudy growled and swiped a warning at her.

“Come on, Rudy!” cheered one of his friends, “Pin ‘er already!”

Rudy’s tail lashed back and forth. When Songdust came in again, he lunged for her with claws extended and she barely managed to lift her hind legs over his head in time, twisting around to lash at his haunches. He rolled over his shoulder and onto his back to kick at her and she went for the pin. Scorch held her breath.

They struggled with each other in a way that was hard to see, growling, and then Rudy gave a hard kick with both legs and Songdust went flipping over him and onto her own back. He twisted to his feet and lunged but she was already rolling away and they both stopped to catch their breath.

“You’re not bad,” Rudy panted, smiling through bloody teeth.

“Thanks,” smirked Songdust breathily.

At this point, Orangestar joined Scorch and Wes at the bottom of the tree, asking, “How’s it going so far?”

“Pretty evenly back and forth,” mumbled Wes. “She’s doin’ better than I would have thought.”

“She’s got a lot of experience,” Orangestar whispered back.

Songdust darted in again and swiped her claws over Rudy’s nose. He smacked her hard over the head and she rolled with the hit, grunting in pain. Scorch winced. Rudy pursued her, slamming his heavy paws down on her belly and she squirmed, flailing her limbs wildly to hit back at him. Wes grimaced.

“One…” he began to count.

Songdust cursed and curled around Rudy’s paws as they pinned her down.

“Two…”

At the last second, Songdust delivered a series of rabbit kicks to Rudy’s jaw that sent him reeling with a pained hiss. She whirled onto her feet as he staggered and launched herself at his head with a flying leap. She landed on his shoulders, her paws wrapped around his neck, and then pulled him close as she tumbled over him, tipping so that her momentum carried them both crashing to the ground.

Rudy hacked roughly but Songdust kept her paws tightly around his windpipe as they wrestled on the ground. Scorch swallowed, allowing hope to lift in her stomach despite her better judgment.

“Does that count as a pin?” Orangestar leaned forward, tail tip twitching.

“I can’t tell,” Wes hissed under his breath. “They’re moving too much, I don’t think it counts.”

“Come on, Rudy!” his friends cheered desperately.

The fighting cats rolled over the brittle grass in relative silence until Rudy choked out, “E-enough!” and Wes shouted, “That’s surrender! Songdust wins!” Scorch let out a shaky breath, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.

The cats broke apart immediately and Rudy’s friends crowded close to check on him while he coughed and gasped for air, blinking as if his vision had started to go dark. He glared up at Songdust through one eye, teeth bared as he panted, but she just nodded to him.

“Good fight,” she said, the blood in her fur starting to dry and clump together.

After a long beat, Rudy laughed. “Yeah, you too, wild cat. Where’d you learn a move like that?”

“Mystique taught me,” said Songdust with a smug, toothy grin.

“No shit,” said Rudy.

The pine needles rustled behind them and Goldenstar and Coyotechaser emerged looking frantic.

“Who won?” Goldenstar asked, eyes darting from cat to cat.

“Songdust,” Orangestar said and both newcomers sighed in relief. Scorch saw Goldenstar’s eyes moving towards her next and she quickly turned away to approach Songdust before she could get caught in an unpleasant conversation.

“Well done,” she praised, feeling put together again. “I knew you had it in you.” The lie came easily.

“Thanks, Scorchplume,” Songdust purred, casually butting their heads together. “I appreciate your confidence in me.”

“So,” said Scorch, turning her attention on Rudy, “it seems we’ll be working together from now on.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he twitched an ear and swiped his tongue over his bloody, broken gums. “I’m a cat of my word. Don’t get too happy about it.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Scorch smiled. She had nearly ruined everything with that gamble. She wasn’t about to let herself relax any time soon.

“We’ll stay in contact through Schmidt,” Goldenstar said, coming up beside her. “When you’re ready to take on Sardine, we’ll be there.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he grunted, straightening up to get some of his dignity back.

Goldenstar smiled her classic, fearless smile and Scorch felt sick again. “I’d expect no less.” Turning to Scorch, she added, “Now, let’s go home,” in a tone that told Scorch she was going to have a rough night avoiding Goldenstar’s sympathies.

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clangenrising · 14 days ago

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Month 20 - Leaffall

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“Your warriors are out of control,” Coyotechaser had hissed to Goldenstar as Scorch disappeared down the pine tree. “I know that you’re in some kind of relationship with Scorchplume but she has no right to talk to me that way.”

“I know,” Goldenstar had done her best to convey just how confused and apologetic she was feeling. “I don’t know what’s going on with her right now, she’s not herself.”

“She’s not the only one,” Orangestar had said. “What was Songdust thinking?!”

“That she could beat him,” Coyotechaser had snapped. “She’s not the one who put Clanborn kits on the line.”

That hadn’t been the entirety of their conversation -- they had argued about the alliance and her position as the face of it for a while longer, eventually agreeing that she could remain ‘in charge’ so long as Scorchplume was no longer involved in negotiations -- but it was the first part of the conversation that had stuck with Goldenstar as they returned home. Even returning to see Luna and Floodstrike sleeping soundly together under the bench hadn’t distracted her for long.

Scorch was acting distant, hanging back and avoiding eye contact and responding in polite little phrases with absolutely no vulnerability behind them. Goldenstar felt like they had somehow gone straight back to the way things had been when Scorch had first arrived and she had no idea what had caused it. Well, she could guess that Scorch’s outburst was the cause but she had no idea what the cause of the outburst was and she knew that there was absolutely no way she was going to get any straight answers with other cats around.

They talked plans with Schmidt and Wes in Luna’s garden for a bit then headed back in the pitch black that the tiny whisker of moonlight did nothing to banish. They said goodbye to Orangestar after crossing the thunderpath and, shortly after, Goldenstar reached out to lay her tail on Scorch’s shoulder to stop her.

“Scorch, can we talk?” she asked.

Scorch cast the briefest of glances her way and said, “Of course, Goldenstar,” with practiced carefulness.

Floodstrike glanced between them, his big ears fwipping back against his head. “I’ll see you back at camp,” he said quickly and then resumed walking. Coyotechaser narrowed her eyes at Goldenstar for a moment before she followed after him.

Goldenstar and Scorch stood there quietly for a few unbearable seconds until it seemed like the others were out of earshot. Scorch wouldn’t look at her and that was shredding Goldenstar’s heart into pieces.

“Scorch,” she said gently, “I’m not mad at you, okay? I’m just worried.”

“About what?” asked Scorch with a guarded laugh. “Goldie, I’m fine.”

“Stop that,” Goldenstar begged. “I know you’re not.” Scorch sighed harshly through her nose and rolled her eyes which made Goldenstar’s hackles rise instinctively. She pressed, “You don’t have to pretend with me, Scorch, you know that! I love you, I’m not gonna be upset if you’re struggling with something!”

“Who says I’m struggling with something?” Scorch asked snappishly.

“You looked like you were going to be sick!” Goldenstar protested. “You could barely speak! That’s not normal, Scorch! I just wanna help you!”

Scorch rounded on her, making eye contact at last, and hissed, “Yeah, well, maybe I don’t want your help!” Goldenstar flinched but Scorch continued, “Did you ever think of that? Has it ever occurred to you that maybe people don’t want to put up with you playing savior all of the time?!”

Goldenstar’s throat felt like it was full of something like mud. “You’re just saying that,” she said, trying to remain kind.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Scorch laughed, her voice harsh and jagged like a wound, “I forgot that you know me so well! Silly me, I guess I’m wrong about how I feel and I should just let you tell me what to think from now on.”

“Scorch, stop it,” Goldenstar said, firmer than before. She felt like she was going to cry. “Why are you trying to hurt me?”

Scorch screamed through her teeth in frustration, ripping up a chunk of grass with her claws. “You stop! Stop trying to fucking diagnose me! I am so fucking sick of your radical kindness!” She was crying too, ginger tail bushed up behind her in an arc. “I was doing just fine on my own before you started trying to get into my head!”

“Get into your-” Goldenstar was baffled, her ears briefly lifting up from their position flat against her skull. “Scorch, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking,” Scorch’s voice peaked hysterically as she started to pace, “about how you wormed your way into my head and broke me! I- I used to be able to do these things, constantly even, and now just being around Schmidt’s stupid oat and honey smell has me wanting to turn myself inside out like a fucking child!” She gasped for air, stopping to furiously paw the tears from her eyes and all Goldenstar wanted to do was wrap her up in a purring embrace even though she knew that was the last thing Scorch would want right now.

Maybe her kindness was suffocating…

“I… Scorch, I’m sorry,” she said and she meant it. “I know that’s probably really scary to-”

“You’re doing it again!” Scorch shouted. “You’re trying to figure me out like I’m a sad little puzzle! But I’m not, alright?! Stop thinking you can fix me!” Her blue eyes glistened furiously and Goldenstar couldn’t help but feel like a thousand hateful suns had been turned on her.

“Okay,” Goldenstar said quickly, ducking as she took a submissive step backwards, “okay. I’m sorry. I’ll-” She swallowed, let out a shaky breath, and finished, “I’ll go.” Shutting her mouth would be the best thing she could do. Scorch’s breath fogged in front of her face as she stared Goldenstar down, her lip trembling. Was that regret?

No, Goldenstar stopped herself, you’re doing it again.

She turned away, tried to calm herself, and started back towards camp. She felt like all her ribs had been pushed into the flesh of her chest, like she could drown in the tide of sorrow rising behind her eyes.

She nearly flinched when Scorch called out, “I’ll be back before dawn. Don’t wait up.” She nodded, a broken sob escaping under her breath, and kept walking as quickly as she could. She needed to be back in camp now, somewhere there were people who could console her. The night suddenly felt cold and foreboding, the lack of a moon like a dark omen hanging above her head. If Scorch had been trying to hurt her, she had succeeded. Like the fool she was, Goldenstar genuinely hoped that Scorch was happy.

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