little bird | 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰

chapter 1

The aureolin sun rose into the sky, the herald of a new day. Another chance to prove worth, to do something useful. Another morning, another day. Another day, another day.

Golden rays beamed onto a white pelt, which rippled slightly in the gentle, warm wind. Birds chirped in the forests outside, while the sounds of apprentices tussling could be heard from the other side of the camp.

Frostwillow yawned, blinking her pale, sage-green eyes slowly as they adjusted to the light. She didn't particularly like the dawn. She preferred evenings, of course, when the sun was setting and the sky was strewn with scattering hues of violet and gold-orange.

Yet she of all cats knew her responsibilities. Sleep was important, yes, but of course her agenda for the day easily outranked personal comfort any time.

She stood up slowly, arching her spine as she leaned back for a good stretch. The white she-cat swept her gaze around the warrior's den — only a few cats were left, basking in the flickering sunlight. Ambermoth had left already, Frostwillow noticed with a familiar twinge of not quite annoyance. Even after all this time, even with a sweet, wonderful cat like Ambermoth... she still couldn't resist the annoyance that someone had managed to do something earlier or better than her.

I should go find her, Frostwillow thought as she fixed her nest, making it nice and neat. Maybe we could go on a hunting patrol together.

A hunting patrol with Ambermoth. That would be an excellent way to spend the morning.

Frostwillow flicked her ears back as she stepped out of the den. The leaves of a tree above her brushed against her head, swaying in the sweet, comforting breeze. The sky was a brilliant azure blue, a few wispy clouds sliced by the wind as the sun blazed through it all.

"You're up," a voice commented. Frostwillow turned, her gaze meeting a pair of dark yellow eyes. It was Asterflight, the deputy of LuneClan. The one who accidentally made my parents hate me. Whatever. Also the one who accepted Ambermoth into the Clan... I shouldn't hold grudges. "Did you have a good rest?"

Frostwillow nodded. "Yes, you could say that. Have you seen Ambermoth?"

Asterflight glanced around. "I don't know — she might be somewhere around camp. I haven't sent her on a patrol yet, that's for sure."

"Oh. Alright, thank you." she dipped her head to the dark ginger tom, her heart skipping happily for just a beat. She hasn't left yet.

"You could ask Whitebird," Asterflight mewed, yawning. He flicked his ears back. "Maybe she's seen her."

"I will, thanks."

Asterflight flicked his tail in a way of saying "Alright, now go away." She smiled back politely, almost nervous, and turned to head for the medicine cat den.

I'm Frostwillow. I live in LuneClan, the most formidable and well-disciplined Clan in the forest. I am not nervous about striking a conversation with Ambermoth.

By StarClan, I'm being such an idiot.

As she padded to the camp entrance, she spotted two apprentices scuffling in front of their den — one a white-and-brown tom and the other a striped calico she-cat. Their identical, bright yellow eyes were narrowed on each other as they feinted, dodged, and tried to gain the upper paw in the heat of the mock battle as their parents called out suggestions and instructions with amusement in their eyes.

Frostwillow watched, almost wistfully, at the bond the apprentices shared with their parents. The father's eyes locked onto hers, the same gold eyes of both the kits, and he blinked at her, neither friendly nor hostile. More of a question. If you want this so badly, why hasn't it happened yet?