𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 (𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘒 2) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 2

The crickets chirped loudly as the night settled. The clear skies were filled with tiny dots of stars twinkling above the pale blue house. Sunflower was infatuated to the outer world for some reason. He wished his father wouldn't be overbearing to him sometimes. He couldn't be allowed outside under any circumstances, and that aggravated him just a tiny bit.

He swiveled around to see his friend Lee, sleeping on his own bed. His parents were sleeping upstairs to keep his little sister company. He had the house all to himself.

Sunflower got off the window ledge and padded to the door where a tiny door was on the bottom.

The forbidden door. My papa doesn't even let me go through it.

He looked peeped at the ginger tom sleeping. He was hoping that Lee didn't catch him sneaking out again.

Sunflower took off running, exiting out of the cat door. Without looking where he headed, he immediately slipped on the dirt and fell all the way to the bottom of the steep hill. "Uff!" The tom grunted, roughly falling onto his belly and mildly hurting his lower jaw.

"That- hurt-... ugh-!" Sunflower moved his body, the pain numbing as it comes and go. All it resulted was some dirt staining his shiny pelt. He quickly shakes it off and keeps on running. He missed the cool air and the serenity of the quiet forest. He missed stargazing out in the woods. He never knew why his father didn't trust him to be out all by himself. Maybe it was a safety thing, but there was more to it than he thought.

When he sat down in front of the large monster behind him that the two-legs owned, he noticed a cat sitting on the roof of the shed. He noticed how awfully similar he appeared in the tom's eyes. 

"Peter?" Sunflower muttered. The gray tom huffed, letting out a sudden chuckle. "I'm surprised you remember, kid."

That's when he knew it was the same tom with his raspy, casual voice. "No dirt!" Sunflower jumped up and started to climb on the two parked monsters, and up to the roof of the shed. "I thought you disappeared forever!" He paced in front of him. Sunflower was excited to see the tom that saved him. Peter paused. He was forgetting that Sunflower didn't see him with those cats. "I... uh..." He looked away. "I died."

The black tom's face instantly turned into shock. "What?" He responded, tilting his head. It pained the gray tabby to tell the truth. "I died while saving you, kid. It didn't end well with me." He shook his head slowly. It made Sunflower realize that he wasn't speaking to a hero, but he was also speaking to a ghost. He didn't know how to act; death was always a terrifying thing in his eyes. "Don't pay too much attention." Peter nudged the small tom. "You can always look through the silver lining. I'll still be here, but just not much, kid."

Sunflower frowned, turning his head. "You're completely normal with that? With the fact that you look like you just got fed to a dog?" He responded, scowling at the tall tabby. "Hey, hey! The dog part did happen. But I want to at least see you since you're the last cat I've ever seen." He spoke in a stern voice. "Maybe you'll be fine with a ghost friend, eh?" He gently nudged Sunflower's shoulder, but that didn't really budge him as much.

"You'll probably be the only friend I have that's way beyond my papa's standards." Sunflower's eyes had a hint of sorrow. Peter looked at the small tom. "You don't have any friends? Your elders are kind of strict." The gray tabby looked almost concerned for him. "Lee's probably the only friend he'll let me have." Sunflower looked at the sky. "But sometimes it's kind of... boring in that house."

"Hm." Peter looked at the sky. "It's too much to keep your son in the house all the time. There's lots of stuff out there that you haven't seen."

Sunflower glanced at him, vaguely moving his head. "What have you've seen?" He asked, his ears perked up out of interest.  "I came from a land of wild cats." The ghostly tom said, he sits down besides Sunflower.  "There were four large clans that live individually in their own right, in their own territories. They're unique and wild. But they're not THAT friendly to outsiders. Look at the forest territories."

Sunflower moved closer to the tom, and his large pupils stared at him like an apprentice to a mentor. "What were the names? How did they live?" He questioned. The tabby cat purred in amusement. His muzzle brushed the black tom's ears to comfort him. "They were named after their founders, and their traits were easily recognizable. BlazeClan for their courage, TerraClan for their loyalty, BreezeClan for their strength. And the best for last, WaveClan for their intelligence... which doesn't fit with me but I'm here for my clan anyways." 

The black tom snorted in laughter. "Oh really? What's it like being part of WaveClan? Or any of the clans?" Peter's face changed slightly. "It isn't all sunshine and rainbows when joining clans, you'll either find a friend, a mate, or foe. You just never know. Although, clan life... isn't entirely bad. Some may not be fit for the lifestyle and the specific rules you're forced to follow."

"Sounds like my dad." He remarked, rolling his eyes. "He always told me about outsiders sharpening their claws with hare skulls. Doesn't that sound weird when you think about it?" He glances at Peter, but also just now noticing his star mark on his forehead. The tabby stopped, finding hesitancy to say something to that idea. "I- mean... he isn't entirely wrong. But he makes us seem like were rabid."

"Exactly!" Sunflower mewed in agreement. "I'm not a kit anymore. I can hunt my own mouse; I can do anything!" His delivery made him seem somewhat spoiled in Peter's eyes, but it was humorous. "Now, now. You aren't invincible, but you're quite stubborn. Do you really think you can take on the wilderness, kid?" He teased. It made Sunflower angrier; he had a pouty-like face. Though, he couldn't deny about him not being fully born in the wilderness. "Not... really." He muttered.

"Hm." Peter hummed. "I could maybe let you explore with me tomorrow night, I'll make sure to bring you back before sun high, how does that sound?" 

Sunflower's eyes grew wide. "Really? You're going to take me out?"

"Mhm." The gray tabby nodded in approvement. "But I don't want any Softpaw shenanigans from you. These cats are super important, especially the leaders... the spirits, even though they accept someone like you, it all goes by first appearance." The tom warned. "You got that? Kid?"

Sunflower's yellow eyes had that innocence to it. Though, for some reason he felt unsure if he wants to accept. Did he really belong in the forest? He's too socially awkward to meet with new cats besides his own crew back in the house. How will he survive? He could feel his heart pump a little just from being around with too many cats. 

"Okay." The black tom reluctantly accepted. "Same place?" 

"Same place." Peter said. "I'll see you." 

Sunflower purred at him, watching the ghost fade off from existence. He then went back to the house into the open window. But he did feel as if there was something or someone watching him from afar.