[Charmer]

Originally Posted by The Cannibal

Grousestar knew well of the older toms temper, but in the moment, he didn't care. If Shinefang had lashed out, had he even made a move to, it would have only further degraded their relationship and further pushed his distrust. In this time, it was good for the medicine cat to hold enough strength to not outright cuff the leader, even if he was wrong.
The words that were first spoken made the leaders fur bristle along his spine, ready to further iterate the point where the medicine cat had betrayed him, which was a deliberate breaking of the code. But he paused before he could get the words out, not quite expecting what next came out of the other tom's mouth. His fur laid smooth for the most part and his aggression melded away. It was an apology... Not a half-hearted quick one, but one that actually.. It somehow reached him, even in this state.
It wasn't enough to mend the gap between them, but something to help the wound heal so that possibly... Possibly they could reform that trust. Glancing to the ground, the leader sat back down, shoulders sagging again. It was confusing and frustrating to go through so many emotions and still not be clear on where you stand. He wished for clarity and peace of mind.. But this was better than his blind anger and mistrust.
"I... I don't think I can forgive you yet.. No, not yet Shinefang." There was a slight pause as the leader searched for the words. "Even in Auroraflame's passing I haven't found myself able to fully forgive her.. But.. I'm glad that you understand that.. That things might not be the same. Some cats blow this off as.. As nothing. Perhaps even as a good thing.. It's nice to know that someone understands what.. What it's done to me. Or at least taken a moment to.. Explain. At least I know, for you, it wasn't about trust on my part, but the other leaders. And I see that now, well, with Blazingstar anyways. It was a mistake. I accept that. I was.. I was too desperate to pick an ally, planning for the future, to fully weigh the consequences." Grousestar stopped himself, shaking his head. "I'm rambling. What was it that.. You came in here for?" His gaze finally lifted back to the face of Shinefang, anger gone, but a whirlwind of other emotions clear as day.

Like frost on a newleaf morning, Shinefang watched as the Grousestar's cold rage began to thaw before his eye. At the leader's admission that he could not forgive the betrayal yet, Shinefang only gave a deep nod. "Trust is earned, not given. You want more time and that's only fair. Each of us did what we felt we had to do for our clan. Nothing more. Nothing less." Then Grousestar looked Shinefang in the eye, and the younger cat looked more clear-headed than he had in half a moon. It warmed the old tom's heart to see life back in the leader again, that ease of mind that was what told the old tom his clan was in capable paws. Shinefang nudged the chamomile he'd brought a little closer. "Thought you could use something to ease your worry a little. No one saw me bring it in. That's it." With that as his only explanation, Shinefang stood and began to walk back toward the den's exit.