post script // a warriors novel

mini-chapter > too little, too late

i stuck my nose into his fluffy fur. "my little poppy. it is nice to see you."

his fluffy tail curled over me. so safe it was here with him, with my lion. i was his little poppy. and i was so happy like this.

"my big lion, how dearly i have missed you. i want to be a rogue with you so bad, but.. clan-life.. it's.." i sighed. i am disappointing my love.

my lion pushed my face up with his long tail. "never doubt yourself. we are together forever. i understand if you don't want to leave this life yet. but when you are.. i'm fully ready to spend the rest of my life with you," my big lion purred, as he inched closer to me.

the moment was bittersweet though, as a patrol of cats burst through some ferns, yowling at our closeness. quick as a flash, we hushed into the moss pile. but it was too late. a pearly white she-cat stuck her paws into the moss, tearing it like the night she split the clans. pearlwish! i yowled in my head. i sunk my teeth into the familiar white paw, as it yowled and scurried away from the moss.

my big lion faced me. "i will step out. you sneak out without them knowing, and i will pretend i was just huddling against moss. you go back to camp, pretend you were in the nursery all day. pretend you're expecting."

i purred quietly so the patrol couldn't hear. "i love you, my lion. good-bye."

my lion burst out of the moss pile, awkwardly gazing at the patrol. pearlwish stepped up. "where is my sister?!" she yowled. the yellow fluffy tom shrugged. "i wish i knew. i want to see her so badly. i come here sometimes to huddle against the moss, to pretend it's her.." my lion trailed off sadly. does he mean that? or was that made up? i shook my head, and sneakily escaped the abandoned den.

i gazed over my shoulder. the patrol had left, and my lion was staring after me. i flicked my tail sadly. we'd see each other again later.