Scorchflower was burning up with anger. At Larch's cruel execution, at what Pigeonpelt had done, at this fucking clan. She spat, and as the sky began to darken, Scorchflower quickly padded over to the slaves' den. "Dapple." she meowed. "Come with me." Dapple tried not to show her happiness and relief as she followed the ginger tabby out of camp. Scorchflower brought her to the same place as before, and the two headed for a sheltered spot beneath a spruce tree, where there was no snow. Scorchflower sat down, and Dapple curled up beside her, the tortoiseshell's thin pelt doing little to shield her from the cold. "I'm sorry about Larch..." Scorchflower meowed softly. Dapple shut her eyes.
"I don't want to think about Larch." she replied, shuddering. Scorchflower's ears flattened slightly, and she licked Dapple's shoulder.
"I apologize." she meowed. They were silent for a few minutes. "Dapple? Do you remember how to hunt?" Dapple's ears perked up.
"I- I used to be able to hunt. But now... No, I don't remember. It's been so long since I've been free..." she murmured. Her eyes were full of longing. Scorchflower rose to her paws, giving Dapple a push.
"Well, then I'll teach you."
"But what would be the point? I'll never get to hunt again."
"You will. One day, we'll be free. This clan will be defeated. I'm sure of it. Now, are you ready?" To be honest, Dapple wasn't ready. But she would try anyway. Scorchflower led her into the woods, where she began to show her how to hunt again. As Dapple watched her, she felt herself beginning to remember what it was like, to run through the forest, chasing birds and catching mice, happy at home. Dapple smiled for the first time in a while, and after copying Scorchflower's movements, she took a stab at hunting. She didn't catch anything, but came close. Scorchflower had caught a mouse and a squirrel, and gave them both to her. Dapple thanked her before eagerly wolfing down the meal. Scorchflower purred softly, and licked Dapple's ear.
"Come on, now. Let's head back to the spruce. It's getting cold." The ginger tabby lead the way, and once they arrived, slipped under the spruce's drooping branches. Dapple followed, giving a contended sigh as she curled up beside her, safe from the wind and snow, but most importantly, safe from Matingclan. It was dawn before they woke, and even though it was obvious that neither party want to leave, they had to.
"Thank you so much, Scorchflower, you've done so much for me, I don't know why but just thank you, thank you..."
Scorchflower licked Dapple's cheek.
"I'm sorry for letting you suffer for so long. I'm making a plan. We're going to get out of here for good, along with the other slaves."
