Curses and Wishes

[{.dancer.}]

((This takes place right after Foxstar has stalked into the forest in "An Old Beginning..."))
Foxstar had been angry when he had left Nightshade. The ice had gone, leaving only a raging fire, a volcano of fury. But that had faded as his paws had traveled over the ground.
Finally, he stopped. He wasn't tired, but his rage had subsided. Now was the time for thought, for reflection.
"Listen here, kit. Mayhap, that is no word. You don't even know how to talk. You try to make phrases that sound wise, but it just proves that you are a kit. Fire and Ice. I know Fire and Ice. I'm showing Fire at this very moment. I showed Ice when I was being annoyed by you earlier. I showed Fire in battle, I showed Ice when I killed my enemies. Don't you go talking about Fire and Ice."
He remembered Nightshade's words as clearly as if they had just been said.
Fire and ice. They were two conflicting emotions, two conflicting things, but when they danced together, mayhem followed.
Foxstar closed his eyes. Maybe Nightshade does know fire and ice. He probably does. In fact, we could probably learn from each other if Nightshade didn't have such a condescending attitude. After all, Arcticfeather has taught me and I her.
The thought of Arcticfeather roused a memory. A memory of a warm greenleaf afternoon.
"Foxheart, do you know why fire and ice go together?" Arcticfeather had asked.
"Without ice, fire is worthless," he had replied, quoting one of his mate's favorite sayings. "But without fire, is ice not worthless? You can have all the calm, cold focus in the world, but unless that mixes with rage or hate, it's worth less. Not completely worthless, but worth less."
Arcticfeather had blinked, surprised. "We all can learn new things if we listen and observe. Yes, Foxheart, ice needs to mingle with fire to have the most effect. I did not realize this before, but now I know, and now I can use that."
The memory was strong. He had been taught to remember important things.
Nightshade... does he know that fire and ice must always go together? The thought came, and Foxstar smiled at it. From his speech, no. He says that he used fire and ice seperately. But at once? Never did he mention that.
Foxstar stood, and stretched. And his comment on my use of "mayhap" instead of "maybe" wasn't very well-thought. He uses "shigta". What kind of a word is shigta?
He smiled as he padded onwards.