Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 19 ]

Frecklesky buried the scrap of strange fur just outside of the camp entrance, hiding it messily from her Clanmates' unseeing eyes. She loved the gift, she really did, but it wouldn't do to be seen with it. Especially by Dewfrost, who would go mad with excitement to find some dirt on her.

With a heavy sigh, she pushed through the buckthorn barrier, her mud-stained pelt catching on small thorns. She shook out her pelt as she pushed inside, spraying small scraps of dirt onto the sentry, Dustnose. She padded silently across the clearing where she deposited the small rabbit she'd caught, which had been hiding cozily under some chokeberry before it met its demise.

Fallowstep slipped forward from the darkness of her den and indicated to Frecklesky with a flick of her tail. Frecklesky pricked her ears and padded quietly over.

"What is it?" She mewed softly.

"Can you go herb-collecting with me?" Fallowstep asked nervously, pawing at the ground as she glanced to and fro. "Larkstar doesn't want me leaving without a warrior."

Frecklesky quirked a brow. "At night? You never go out at night," she commented.

"Yeah, well I thought that maybe it would be easier to find some herbs under the moonlight..." she mumbled.

Frecklesky sighed, her eyes drawing to the warrior's den where her thistledown-lined nest sang a sweet tune. She was exhausted; it had been a long day, waking up for the dawn patrol, hunting, seeing Rachel that evening, and catching that rabbit. Even though it had been sleeping under a bush, it still took effort to creep up on.

She parted her mouth to reject the request, but her words faltered on her tongue as she considered that this was her sister asking for help. Not Heronwing, and not some random warrior.

"Does this have to do with the talk you wanted earlier?" She asked, watching her sister carefully from the corner of her eye.

Fallowstep allowed the tiniest of nods, and Frecklesky felt a sigh rising into her chest.

"Fine, I'll go herb collecting with you," she relented, giving her sister a hard look. "But only this once. Next time you want to go out so late, you're getting Dewfrost instead."

Fallowstep grinned, brushing lightly past her sister. "He isn't that bad, you know."

"Did you seriously just say that?" Frecklesky scoffed as the two left the camp, Fallowstep giving Dustnose a polite nod on their way out.

Fallowstep shrugged, and instead picked up to a bound, racing across the terrain. Frecklesky growled her annoyance and took off in pursuit, her steps weighted from the heavy mud that tugged her pelt down.

It wasn't long until Fallowstep pulled to a stop, crouching in the tall grass to catch her breath. Frecklesky slowly trotted up to her, already exhausted and unwilling to run. Her brow knitted as she saw the frown across her sister's face. Fallowstep's head was turned away.

"What's the matter?" Frecklesky asked cautiously, settling down beside her sister.

"Don't meet her again."

Frecklesky's mouth went dry as Fallowstep slowly turned her head, meeting her eyes to hers.

"What do you mean?" Frecklesky asked stiffly, letting her tail swish slowly back and forth as unease prickled at her spine.

"I mean what I said. Don't meet that kittypet again," Fallowstep meowed, raising her head.

Frecklesky bristled. "What kittypet?"

"Frecklesky, you know what kittypet I'm talking about!" Fallowstep snapped, her fury so uncharacteristically strong that Frecklesky gaped for a moment.

She shook out her pelt and stood angrily to her feet instead, swallowing her shock into fury. "Why should I?"

"StarClan has sent me a warning, Frecklesky. This isn't good for you. You need to stop," Fallowstep hissed, her green eyes smoldering with fear.

Frecklesky's hackles lowered, and she said more softly now, "I'm perfectly happy, Fallowstep. Rachel makes me happy. I can't stop seeing her."

Fallowstep stared at Frecklesky for a moment, hurt flashing in her eyes. "That is your dcision then, Frecklesky," she mewed softly. "And I... I won't tell anyone about it, even though you're breaking the warrior code." She swallowed, struggling with each word as she spoke. "You're still my sister. StarClan will be the ones who judge you."

Frecklesky's stomach coiled, and an inkling of relief pooled in her heart. "Thank you," she murmured.

Fallowstep shook her head quietly and pushed away from her sister, upset shining in her eyes. "Go back to camp, would you? I can gather herbs on my own."

"But didn't you say—"

"I said go back to camp, Frecklesky," Fallowstep hissed through gritted teeth. Her expression softened. "Please."

Frecklesky's tail fell at the hurt in Fallowstep's voice. How could her sister possibly be so upset? Wasn't she proud of her for finding happiness?

"Okay," Frecklesky bowed her head. "Be safe, please."

Fallowstep didn't reply, and the sisters parted ways.