Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 27 ]

The sights, scents, and sounds of the twolegplace were frighteningly different from anything Frecklesky had ever heard before. It was much worse than being in ThunderClan's woods, constantly assaulting her senses.

She felt blind and helpless, her claws pricking slightly against the hard concrete ground, while her pelt bristled as she braced herself for the worst to come. Rachel, however, was taking it in stride. But what else did Frecklesky expect? She had mastered the twolegplace just as Frecklesky had done with the swamp and the night. She belonged there with every essence of who she was, and the realization struck a painful chord in the warrior's heart.

Rachel's pace slowed as the two stepped into a neatly manicured garden, damp from the previous day's melted snow as the strange fluorescent lights emphasized the kittypet's pink collar and brightened her golden eyes.

"This is my home," she mewed, her voice so soft that Frecklesky could hardly pick it up.

Frecklesky swallowed uneasily as they trod across the yard, a sickly quiet weighing over them like storm clouds waiting to break. Rachel reached the border of the large twoleg nest, and gathering her haunches, she leapt upon a windowsill.

Frecklesky cautiously joined her. Beyond the glistening transparent wall, a fireplace crackled among red bricks. Three twolegs sat around it, chattering their delight with steaming hot containers clasped between their paws. A fir tree sat a few tail-lengths away from them, lit by strings of tiny golden orbs.

Rachel meowed and pawed at the window. Frecklesky shot her a look of alarm and ducked, but the twolegs didn't acknowledge them except for the smallest, who looked over for only a heartbeat before turning its eyes back to the fire. Rachel pointedly glanced at Frecklesky, dropped from the windowsill, and padded to the front entrance. She clawed at it.

"They've locked me out." Rachel's ears drooped slightly as she stopped. "They won't let me in for another few days."

"I thought they wanted you inside," Frecklesky's voice was cautious.

Rachel stepped away. "They did, but if they can't get me inside, they'll lock me out for days. The same goes if they can get me in." She shook her head quietly. "I don't understand them."

"Where do you stay while you're shut out?"

"Here and there," Rachel shrugged. "It depends on what I can find. Found a neat burrow last time." Silence reigned before she continued, "honestly, I don't think I'll be coming back. I need a reliable source of warmth and food, and my housefolk won't provide that. Frecklesky..." she turned her eyes carefully to the warrior's. "I think I'm going to become a wanderer. Officially. I want to explore the world, be wild, but I don't know if I can."

"I'm sure you'll—"

"Frecklesky," Rachel interrupted, her voice tender. "Will you come with me? Regardless of how often I'm outside, I don't know how to hunt, I don't know the best places to sleep, and I certainly can't fight, even if I wanted to." She flexed her claws—and for the first time, Frecklesky realized she didn't have any on her front paws.

"Rachel..."

"Please," she mewed softly. "Frecklesky, I'd do anything for you to stay with me. I... I care about you, a lot. I look forward to our visits more than I've ever looked forward to anything. And frankly... I think... I think I love you."

Frecklesky's world came to a sudden halt, lurching under her paws as shock consumed her in a wave. "You... love me?"

Rachel was quiet, looking away with her ears flattened painfully against her skull. Her eyes glittered in shame. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"No, Rachel, don't be sorry," Frecklesky brushed forward and swept her close with her tail, burying her muzzle deep into Rachel's thin pelt. "I-I think I love you, too."

A soft sob broke from Rachel's chest. "You do?"

"Of course I do."

Rachel twisted her neck around to stare Frecklesky in the eyes, her eyes soft with endearment.

Frecklesky shook her head to clear it. "But I don't think I can go with you." Rachel's hopeful stare fell, and Frecklesky winced at the sight. "Instead, I can try to find you a place in ShadowClan. With me and my sister. You can learn the ways of a warrior—you don't have to fight, you can hunt," she added quickly as she noticed the hesitation in Rachel's eyes.

Rachel paused to think for a moment. "Okay," she agreed. "If that's what you want, then I'll be a warrior with you."

Frecklesky beamed, her paws spurring with excitement. "Great, that's great! I can't wait, Rachel, I really can't."

Rachel smiled in return, leaning forward and tenderly touching her nose to Frecklesky's cheek, warming the warrior's heart like a gently burning fire.

"I can't wait, either."