Warriors: Frecklesky's Heart

[ 34 ]

Frecklesky's paws worked voraciously, knitting reeds and cordgrass together to reinforce the nursery walls. Her ears periodically flicked to the camp entrance, impatient for Larkstar's return.

Firewatcher chuckled from off to the side.

"What?" Frecklesky hissed, her eyes darting back to the tom.

He shrugged amiably. "I've never seen you work so hard in your life," he replied simply.

The tortoiseshell bristled. "Well, I'm simply trying something different," she replied curtly, snipping off the end with her teeth.

Firewatcher's whiskers quivered in amusement. "If you say so," he mewed, before continuing to work in silence.

Frecklesky's thoughts roamed constantly. Would Larkstar decide to accept Rachel? What if she rejected her? Her heart flipped and flopped in a terrible rhythm, and she nearly jumped out of her fur when somebody finally called out to her, "Are you ready to head out?"

Frecklesky whirled around. Larkstar stood mere tail-lengths away, her gray and white fur neatly groomed, and her silver eyes crinkled in a relaxed smile.

"Y-Yeah, I'm ready." Frecklesky flicked her whiskers, sensing Firewatcher's eyes burning into the back of her neck.

"Then let's go."

Firewatcher gazed after them as Frecklesky raced after Larkstar. The two pushed into the marsh, dead silence greeting their ears and a searing cold gnawing into Frecklesky's bones. Her paws trembled with every step; she hadn't been so nervous in her life, but the anticipation of Larkstar meeting Rachel drove her mind to a craze.

Her pace slowed down as they grew nearer to the thunderpath, the putrid odor overwhelming her nostrils in its familiarity. She bounded ahead of Larkstar, casting back an awkward grin in response to the leader's amused stare.

She trotted along, nearing the boulder and leaping on top of it. Her ears flicked towards ThunderClan territory. It was time to wait, especially since the sun was still high in the sky.

Larkstar joined Frecklesky on the boulder, short in contrast to the tall she-cat. Her silver eyes scanned the horizon, patient and wise far beyond her years.

Finally, Frecklesky spotted movement in the brush beyond, her heart picking up in excitement. It fell, however, as she found herself staring at a ThunderClan patrol.

Brackenclaw, a dark tabby tom, had a chaffinch dangling from his jaws, and he glanced from one side to the next before racing across the thunderpath. He approached the two she-cats slowly, his head lowered politely.

"A delivery," the tom grunted, placing the bird on the ground. "As was agreed."

Larkstar's whiskers flicked. "Thank you. You may leave now."

Brackenclaw nodded and raced back across, joining Hazeleyes and Swiftpaw before the patrol disappeared back into the trees. Frecklesky fidgeted, an impatience beginning to grow in her chest, even though sunset was still a fair ways away.

It felt like seasons had passed when finally, sunset and long shadows began to bathe the marsh. Rachel's head poked out from the underbrush, cautiously surveying the thunderpath before she darted across. Frecklesky's heart soared as she spotted a small mouse dangling from Rachel's jaws. She did it! She stood taller, her tail flicking eagerly. She could feel Larkstar's amused gaze.

Rachel's paws landed in the mud, and she beamed up at Larkstar. She placed the mouse carefully on drier ground. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she mewed gently, her voice as light as daisies. "You must be Larkstar, correct?"

Larkstar nodded slowly. "That's correct. And you're Rachel?"

"Yes," she smiled softly, anxiety shimmering in her eyes.

Larkstar nodded slowly. "What has interested you in becoming a warrior?"

Rachel cast a nervous glance to Frecklesky, then back to Larkstar. "I've already left my housefolk, so what's better than joining the Clan of the cat I love?"

"How can you prove your worth to my Clan?"

"I will hunt and provide, as any other cat does."

Larkstar hummed in thought. "And if you prove to be too soft for Clan life?"

Rachel froze, her stare fiery and silent. At last, she said, "I won't."

"That's all I needed to hear. Frecklesky, let's go." Larkstar stood abruptly to her paws, leaped from the boulder, grabbed the chaffinch, and began padding away.

Frecklesky's heart crashed to the floor. "L-Let's go?" She spluttered, dropping from the boulder with a terrified glance back to Rachel. "What about Rachel?"

"I'll let her know my opinion tomorrow," she replied curtly. "For now, I need some time to my thoughts."

"Can't I tell her that?" Frecklesky pressed, glancing back to Rachel's horrified face.

Larkstar flicked her tail. "Fine. Go on ahead and let her know what's going on."

Nodding urgently, Frecklesky fell away from the leader and raced back to Rachel. She pressed her muzzle to Rachel's cheek. The kittypet trembled under her touch.

"Hey, don't cry," Frecklesky urged softly as Rachel's tears wet her muzzle. "It's all right, she still needs to make a decision."

Rachel sniffled, rubbing a paw across her eyes. "She does?"

"Yes," Frecklesky promised, "she does. Do you understand? Nothing's been decided yet."

Rachel nodded stiffly.

"She'll have her answer by tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be okay, I'll let you know then, alright?"

Rachel breathed a rattly sigh. "Okay. Yeah, that's okay." She shook out her breath and steeled her expression. "Thank you. I think I'll head back for now."

"All right." Frecklesky watched her lovingly. "Be safe."

"You, too," the she-cat tossed over her shoulder, racing back across the asphalt and into the forest beyond.

Frecklesky sighed longingly. If only she knew what the future would hold.

If only Rachel could finally come home with her.