Frecklesky loves to fight and defend her Clan, but has a habit of keeping others at a tail's length.
When she meets a pretty kittypet on enemy territory, can she continue being loyal to her Clan, or will she sacrifice what little she has for a stra...
Rachel laughed under the glittering moonlight. Her voice was full of joy and warmth, sending Frecklesky's heart aflutter.
It had been a few moons since the two started seeing each other. Frecklesky dedicated hours of her evening to spending time with the kittypet, and she loved every moment of it.
"So, tell me again," Rachel purred, her pelt brushing against Frecklesky's from where they laid in the tall grass. "You have deadcats watching you from the sky?"
"Well, yeah," Frecklesky blinked, embarrassed. With how Rachel put it, the thought of ancestors in the stars really did sound silly. But StarClan was real. It had to be. It's where her mother had gone, where her father had gone. And Fallowstep visited them at the Moonstone every half-moon. "Every time a warrior dies, you can find a new star in the sky. From there, they watch us and make sure we obey the Warrior Code as we continue on in the living world without them."
Rachel sighed, reaching a paw high as if she could touch the stars. "It sounds lonely, doesn't it? Watching the living world, when you know you can't reach it again."
Frecklesky thought for a moment. "I don't think it's that lonely. I'm sure our ancestors are happy to see us succeeding."
"Maybe, but if I were in StarClan, I don't think I'd want to watch." Rachel pulled her paw back to her chest, her eyelashes fluttering.
Frecklesky's stomach churned. She'd love Rachel to join her in StarClan one day, but she wasn't a Clan cat. Where would she go as a kittypet? Would she just disappear? End up in the Dark Forest?"
"What's the matter?" Rachel mewed, rolling around to face Frecklesky.
Frecklesky stared up at the winking stars for a heartbeat and pushed those thoughts deep down. "It's nothing," she promised. "I'm just thinking."
"Mmm," Rachel hummed in acknowledgement, scooting closer to the tortoiseshell warrior. "Well, stop thinking whatever that is. I don't like seeing you sad."
A small smile graced Frecklesky's lips, and she leaned forward to give Rachel a gentle rasp across the cheek. "Okay, I'll stop. But only for you, Thunderpath."
Rachel snorted and rolled back to her paws, giving her pelt a brisk shake as her ears twitched around uncomfortably. "You know I hate when you call me that. It's Rachel. Not Thunderpath."
"Awe, but your reaction is so cute," Frecklesky argued, rising back to her feet, "Thunderpath."
Rachel let out an angry yowl, launching at Frecklesky. Frecklesky mrrow'ed in surprise, allowing Rachel to tackle her to the ground, even though she was truly too heavy for the small kittypet to jostle. They rolled around in the marshy earth, mud and debris staining their pelts brown until finally, Frecklesky wrapped her paws around Rachel's back and hugged her tightly to her chest.
Rachel squirmed, pressing her paws deep into Frecklesky's pelt as she tried to push away. "Let me go, you big oaf!"
"No, I don't think I will," Frecklesky mumbled, burying her muzzle into Rachel's scruff.
Rachel stopped squirming and huffed, resting her chin on Frecklesky's chest. They sat like there for ages, until finally, she shifted again. "I should go now. It's getting late."
Frecklesky sighed and relented, dropping her paws. Rachel smiled and wriggled free, shaking her pelt as she stood back to her feet. Frecklesky joined her, watching dazedly as Rachel situated her bow nicely again.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" Rachel mewed, glancing happily over her shoulders.
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, flea-pelt." Rachel waved her tail in farewell before disappearing across the thunderpath.
Frecklesky's whiskers twitched in amusement as she longingly stared after the kittypet, and she turned to make her way back to camp.
❀
My attempt at a smooth time skip—what do you guys think? Is it too abrupt? Too confusing? Is something else the matter with it, or did I get it just right?
Additionally, the final cover art is complete! Huge thanks to ashlilycats on Instagram for such a beautiful piece. I'm absolutely in love with it!
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Anyways, don't forget to vote and provide constructive criticism! That way, I know exactly what to improve on once this story gets out of its rough draft state.
