Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 20 ✧ ꧂

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Sunny wandered out from Stoneteller's cave, and looked around aimlessly.

Now what? what do i even do?

Sunny sat down, his eyes unfocused, his tail twitching pointlessly beside him. He looked hollowly down at his paws. He noticed the tiny pale hairs, sprouting from just above his claws for the first time. He raised a paw, looking closely at his claws. He had never taken the time to look at his own body in this way. I don't know how long I'll have left to look at things anymore. He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. Willow would be back soon, he knew, and he knew he couldn't tell her. She would refuse to leave the cave and try to protect him. As much as he wanted to confide in her, and cry and scream and try to save himself, he knew that wasn't supposed to happen. It was his destiny. His stomach crawled as he imagined dying. He flattened his ears as he imaged Willow watching him die. A rock landed in his stomach. He wouldn't let her see the end of him. And he would save her. No matter what it takes.

''Sunny? What're you doing? In... Stonetellers cave?'' She tilted her head as he looked up at her stuffy face. He ignored the question.

''Willow, what's wrong?'' He asked, a concerned tone edging his voice. ''Oh, I um... a friend... he died...'' her eyes darted from him to the floor in a frenzied manner. Her tailpipe flickered, and her voice shook.

''Oh Willow.'' He pressed against her roughly, making her sit down. ''Im so sorry.'' He closed his eyes, thanking the stars that now there was a reason for his eyes to sting. he drew back.

''What was his name?'' He asked gently, his eyes squinting and sore. He smiled softly at her.

''Branch.'' She sniffed.

''Branch from Fallen tree.''

''You sound like a good friend.'' He tried to ignore the sting of sadness that she had never told him of her life before meeting him. He sighed and looked around, the dipping sun catching his eye. One less day to spend with Willow. He thought bitterly.

''It's getting dark. We should get some rest.'' He gently guided her over to the beds, and curled down around her, pushing his nose into her neck fur. He felt Willow shift.

''We'll leave tomorrow. I need to leave.'' Sunny flinched. He screamed inside. He wanted to say, can't we stay a bit longer? Don't make me leave! Willow please, I don't want to die. I want to live! With you! He shrank back. ''Okay.'' He said stiffly, his throat tied and wavering.

''Night Sunny. Sleep well.'' Two sapphire orbs distracted him, and he shifted his gaze towards the eyes gazing at him from her cave. A faint misty pelt loomed behind the two sad, expressionless eyes. He nodded slightly. I won't tell her. I won't change anything. I'll let myself die. He turned away, pressed into Willow's back, calmed by the continuous rise and fall of her body. He didn't look back to Stoneteller's gaze, but felt it watch him for a minute, before his pelt cooled and he knew, for that moment, he was there with Willow. And that's all he wanted.