Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 13 ]

Frecklesky trotted briskly across the marsh, her eyes and ears intent on her surroundings as dragonflies buzzed around her head. She edged nearer to the thunderpath, around the twolegplace border where she'd encountered Rachel the first time. She hoped that the kittypet had the same thought in mind, as she wasn't specific to where along the thunderpath they'd meet.

She sank into the tall cordgrass beside a flat-faced rock, unwilling to sit on top of it in order to keep away from unwanted attention. She rolled to her side, exposing her belly to the warm sunlight as the glowing ball of light dipped closer to the horizon. She'd wait, and if there was no sign of Rachel by sunset, she would go out and search.

Or... she would just give up and go home.

It felt like a lifetime had passed when the sky finally turned pink. She heaved back to her paws and lifted her head slightly above the tall grass, peering anxiously to the thunderpath.

A smudge of black appeared from the depths of the forest, and her heart caught in her throat. A pink bow dangled from the cat's neck, and she glanced left, then right, and bolted across the hard black surface.

Frecklesky stood as tall as she could, a purr racing from her throat. "Thunderpath, you're here!"

Rachel's paws touched grass, and she crashed into the tall warrior, ducking her head in embarrassment and scrambling away. "Sorry, hi," she stumbled, flicking her tail. "My housefolk tried to lock me in tonight. How are you?"

"I'm doing great," Frecklesky purred, her eyes stuck to Rachel's golden gaze. "How about you?"

Rachel twisted her neck around and smoothed a patch of ruffled fur on her back. "I'm doing just fine. What's that on your nose?" She turned back around and leaned forward, brushing her nose curiously against Frecklesky's.

Blood roared in the tortoiseshell's ears as she felt the world reel to a stop. Rachel's touch was just as gentle as before, but so careful that she hardly felt it. Soft, curious, and the look in her eyes...

"I said, what's on your nose?" Rachel repeated, stepping back with a slight frown.

Frecklesky shook out her pelt. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's cobweb."

Rachel quirked a brow, circling around the large warrior. "You have a lot of cobwebs. Do you need help cleaning them off?"

"Clean them off? No, they're for my injuries," Frecklesky laughed.

"Injuries?" Rachel's eyes widened, and she sat down in front of Frecklesky. "Are they from the battle yesterday?"

Frecklesky nodded. "Yes, but I didn't get too hurt. See?" She gave her pelt a vigorous shake. The wounds on her shoulder jarred, but she kept her face placid with a smile.

"Wow," Rachel breathed. "I can't stand even the smallest of scratches. A squirrel once gave me a good clawing," she ignored Frecklesky's bewildered look, and stretched forward a paw. A few tiny lines without hair stretched across the dorsal of her paw. "I cried for hours. My housefolk weren't pleased at all, and took me straight to the vet." Her whiskers twitched with laughter, and she tilted her head slightly to view Frecklesky's reaction. "Did you know that they have rather sharp teeth? The squirrels, I mean. I don't know how sharp people teeth are."

The big warrior chuckled softly.  "No, I didn't."

Rachel nodded briskly. "I didn't know that, either. But look over here," she rolled onto her belly, her paws curled up in the most adorable manner. In her armpit was what once was a nasty gash, healed into a bit of a messy scar. "While I was trying to swat it away, it bit me of all things! Goodness, it hurt so bad," she giggled, rolling back to her paws.

Frecklesky smiled softly down at Rachel. "You're a fragile one, aren't you?" She mewed in a hushed tone, her eyelids drooping slightly.

Rachel bristled, pulling away for a moment. "I suppose I am. It must sound ridiculous, doesn't it? Being attacked by a squirrel of all things. I bet you really think I'm a soft-hearted kittypet."

Frecklesky nodded, but quickly caught herself and stopped. "It's not that ridiculous," she reassured. "It's... cute. And... I'm sorry for the other day. I don't know much about you, it isn't my right to assume you're living a comfortable life," she hesitated, her voice rough as she struggled to form words. "You're really interesting, Rachel. I'd like to get to know you more."

Rachel's golden eyes flickered with an emotion Frecklesky couldn't quite place, and she shuffled slightly closer to the large warrior, allowing their sides to touch. "Thank you," she murmured. "I think I'd like to get to know you, too."

Her soft, thin fur sank into Frecklesky's pelt. It felt as though a cyclone of butterflies were wreaking havoc in the tortoiseshell's stomach, swirling in an endless fluttering mass.

Silence clung tightly to the air for a few minutes, Rachel's eyes trained on the horizon. The honey of her gaze was washed amber from the glows of the setting sun, reflecting its gorgeous light.

"Isn't the sunset pretty?" Rachel whispered, her voice taut with wonder.

Frecklesky nodded, tearing her eyes away from the beautiful she-cat to stare at the horizon. Highlighted in its gorgeous glows was the marsh and its life, the tall cordgrass and cattails glowing red in the evening light.

"It really brings our territory to life," Frecklesky breathed.

Rachel cast her a sideways glance. "Our territory?"

Frecklesky nodded slowly, then caught herself. "The territory of my Clan and I," she clarified, her words slightly choked.

"I see," Rachel sounded slightly crestfallen, and she knelt down in the grass, tucking her paws beneath herself and wrapping her tail around her side.

"I'd love for you to visit more often," Frecklesky mewed suddenly. "This is nice. You're nice."

Rachel blinked over at the warrior. "Sure, I can visit more. You're nice, too. For a marsh cat."

Frecklesky smiled as embarrassment burned at her face. "I don't think I've told you my name yet."

"You're right, you haven't. What do I call you?"

"Frecklesky."

"Frecklesky..." her name sounded enchanted on Rachel's tongue, and Frecklesky swallowed the butterflies that threatened to escape her chest. "That's a pretty name. Reminds me of the sunset."

Frecklesky felt warmth flood over her paws. On the horizon, the sun sank lower and lower, glowing gently on freckled clouds.