Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 30 ]

"No, no, no!" Frecklesky darted around Rachel's side, her movements stiff and sore as she placed her paws on the she-cat's haunches, manually shifting them more tightly beneath her body. "You need to bunch them together, not just push them together."

Rachel groaned in annoyance, her ears flicking around rapidly. "What's the difference? I've never done this in my life!"

Frecklesky huffed. "Well, sorry I'm such a terrible teacher. I just want you to be able to hunt for yourself in case I can't catch anything one of these days."

Her paws crunched in the fresh layer of snow as she padded around Rachel, facing the beautiful she-cat. Rachel turned her gaze away, muzzle downturned in a frown and her ears flat. Her tail twitched unhappily.

"Okay, we can be done for now," Frecklesky relented, leaning forward and giving the she-cat a gentle lick across the cheek.

Rachel's frown ebbed and she nodded in acceptance. "Thanks." She nuzzled Frecklesky's chin in return, before padding absently along the thunderpath.

Frecklesky chased after her until she fell into step with the she-cat, allowing their flanks to brush. Her wounds had healed well, scarring noticeably and leaving bare patches along her thick pelt. Where her fur was lacking, Rachel's brushed against, providing warmth even against the cold night air.

Above their heads, a few clouds covered the spaces in between stars and occasionally hid the snow under darkness as the moon ducked away.

"So... have you gotten me into the Clan yet?" Rachel asked carefully, glancing bashfully to the large warrior.

Frecklesky sighed. "No, not yet. I still haven't gotten the confidence to ask."

Rachel came to a sudden stop. "You? Not having the confidence?" Her neck bristled slightly.

"I'm sorry," Frecklesky mewed quickly. "I'll do it sooner, I promise."

Rachel typically wasn't so pushy about such matters, and Frecklesky could feel a newfound concern blossoming in her chest as she closely studied the former kittypet's expression. Rachel's soft face was drawn tight as she stared at the the fluttering grass ahead of them.

Rachel's mouth twisted, and she sighed breezily. "Yeah. Okay. That's fine." She lifted a paw to continue their walk, but she stopped and quickly tucked it back to her chest. She sat down and turning her eyes to the forest. "Please make it happen sooner, though," she murmured quietly, her voice tugging at Frecklesky's heartstrings. "I'm sorry for pressing so hard, but even though I have a den and a nest, it's cold out there. It's lonely. It's... frightening. Those forest cats... they're passing nearer and nearer every day. I think they're onto me, Frecklesky."

Frecklesky sat down, brushing up behind the she-cat. She twined her tail gently around Rachel's, resting her chin on her dark forehead. "All right. I'll bring it up to Larkstar in the next few days, okay?"

Rachel turned her gleaming eyes upwards, looking into Frecklesky's green gaze. "You'd really do that for me?"

Frecklesky smiled. "Of course. Anything for you, Thunderpath." Her heart caught in her chest as the words flooded from her lips.

"Oh, you flea-pelt," Rachel sighed. "You never stop, do you?"

"Why would I?"

"I don't know, maybe because it annoys me?"

Frecklesky faltered for a heartbeat before she caught the teasing gleam in Rachel's eye. She thrummed in amusement. "I'd never stop."

Rachel pulled away from Frecklesky with a grin, playfully dropping to a crouch. "Oh, you," she purred gleefully. "I suppose I'll have to make you stop!"

The dark she-cat lunged at Frecklesky, and the big warrior reared to her hind legs with a roar of laughter. She twisted around, pinning Rachel to the snow between her paws. She bashfully touched her nose to Rachel's.

"You were saying?" She purred smugly.

"I was saying you smell like dirt," Rachel teased, lifting her paws and pushing them against Frecklesky's chest. Obediently, the warrior allowed the she-cat to push her away. "I love you," Rachel commented softly as she drew a paw over her ears.

Frecklesky beamed, staring at the beautiful cat's dark fur as it shone under the moonlight, stirring beneath a gentle, leaf-bare breeze. "I love you too, Rachel."

Rachel smiled, and padding along, she tipped her nose to the air. "Oh!" She exclaimed, an eager gleam to her eyes as she darted off into the marsh.

Frecklesky took off in hot pursuit, excitement tingling in her paws as she trailed the dark she-cat through the tall cordgrass. Rachel slowed to a stalk after a few heartbeats, flicking her tail softly in a signal for silence—something Frecklesky had taught her. It warmed the warrior's heart.

Creeping closer to the former kittypet, Frecklesky leaned above her shoulder, peering through the bramble bushes that Rachel was poking her nose through.

"Look at what I found," Rachel whispered.

Frecklesky followed her gaze. Beyond the bush nestled a rabbit with a litter of young around her, sheltered by thorns on all ends. The warrior blinked in surprise. Why aren't they in their burrow? They'll feed the Clan well, for sure.

"It's a cute little family," Rachel purred softly, her voice quiet enough to not disturb them.

Frecklesky glanced over. "They're just food."

Rachel scowled. "You're such a savage," she hissed teasingly. "No, we shouldn't eat these. They only have one mother and they're struggling enough as it is." Her eyes softened with warmth. "I'd like my own kits one day, you know."

Frecklesky flinched. "You would?" Her mind scrambled. I can't provide those to you, she wanted to say, knowing that as two she-cats, such a thing wasn't possible. Her heart plummeted. Does she plan on leaving me for a tom?

Rachel nodded eagerly. "Yes. I'm sure we can find some motherless kits in the city. Strays are common, you know." She glanced at Frecklesky with a smile.

The rabbit beyond her jerked it's head up at her voice, and nudging it's kits awake, the posse scrambled away.

"Oh," relief poured over the tortoiseshell like a fresh bath of mud. She smiled. "That sounds great. I think I'd like to have kits too, someday."

Rachel leaned over and nuzzled Frecklesky's chin. "Good," she purred. "You'd make a great mother."

Frecklesky smiled, her heart racing in her ears. "So would you."

❀

The night passed by slowly as the two spent every moment together, dancing across the snow and daydreaming about the future. At last, as Frecklesky lingered in the marsh, she watched Rachel disappear into the woods across the thunderpath—the road, as she called it—flicking her dark tail one more time before she was consumed by the shadows of the forest.

The warrior watched for heartbeats longer before she turned and began the trek back to camp. Her thoughts spun in circles... how could she get Rachel into the Clan? Should she just ask Larkstar directly? She sighed, turning her eyes to the stars as her heart spun around in a breathtaking rhythm.

"Please, StarClan, guide my paws," she muttered, scuffing her feet against the snow.