Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Twenty-Five

Time seemed to pass slowly after Duskstar visited their camp two moons ago, new cats coming and going as they sheltered among the quaint group of warriors. Owlflight stood near the tree arc now, saying goodbye to a young kittypet named Aqua, who sheltered with them during a brief rainstorm.

"Thank you again, Owlflight! You and your cats have been so kind, it really changes my opinion about Clan cats!" She purred. Owlflight smiled, touching the she cats ear in a friendly goodbye, not having the heart to tell the cat that this wasn't even a proper Clan even if they mostly behaved like one. As the she cat left, Owlflight felt a wave of sadness wash over her.

"Do you miss it?" A voice asked with a sudden meow behind her. Owlflight spun with a fright, narrowing her eyes, pelt flushed with heat as she spotted Rowanoak padding to her.

"You scared me," she said with soft accusation, but smiled with a soft sigh, "Miss what?"

Over the last two moons, she and Rowanoak have been working together to help better fortify the camp, and set up roles. They, She often mused, acted like deputies where her brother and Ravenleaf tended to share more leadership among the group. Working with Rowanoak so closely made her guilty that she'd ever been so short-tempered with him, though the constant nicknames he gave her still infuriated her at times.

She was glad, though, that he was actually a kind and caring tom under the thick layers of arrogance and ego. It made her—

"Owlflight... Bunny," his voice was a teasing song as Owlflight snapped out of her thoughts, trance broken. She looked up to see his playful smirk and felt her whole pelt burn like fire.

"What?" She asked breathlessly, her mossy gaze wide. Rowanoak sauntered towards her, his muscles rippling under his coat and Owlflight found herself lost in her mind once more. He pressed against her side, and her heart hammered wildly in her chest at the sudden proximity.

"Distracted today, are we Bunny?" He bit out with a teasing lilt. And instantly, Owlflight found herself turning her ever so slightly to glare at him.

"Don't call me bunny," she growled, moving do to playfully whacking his face with her tail. Rowanoak pressed into her once more, leaning into her touch, and immediately banishing the she cat's irritation.

"If you want to look, then look. I'm all yours, Owlflight, I'm just waiting for you to realize it too." His gaze was warm and full of a promise that took her breath away. Owlflight felt a swarm of fireflies in her chest— it made her pelt burn and heart sing and mind float.

"Rowanoak..." Her gaze was full of wonder before she remembered why he was there. "What was the question?" She prompted.

The silver-ginger tabby guffawed, earning a few looks from passing campmates, who seemed to smile knowingly at them, bringing further warmth to Owlflight.

"Wow, Bunny, you really never let things go," he purred, "I had asked if you missed it, being in a Clan, that is." His gaze was sincere and curious. Owlflight blinked, and remembered that she'd just said goodbye to Aqua, the kittypet, who had called this group a Clan.

"I do, all the time. But StarClan sent me here and," she met his gaze with a grin, "And it hasn't been all bad, even with this one tom. He refuses to get my name right And is quite annoying!" Something flashed in Rowanoak's eyes that sent a thrill through the young she cat. He began moving forward, a playful bit of stalking in his gait.

"Is that so?" He asked, proceeding forward as the she cat moved backward, nimbly.

"It is so," she said with a playful, false innocence. Rowanoak smirked, each step of his advance resulting in a step of retreat for Owlflight. Excitement fluttering through her at the budding game.

"And what do you think of this tom?" He asked, taking a playful leap at her. She let out a breathless giggle as she sprung back. At some point, they managed to wiggle out of camp, and they found themselves in the wood surrounding camp.

"I think," Owlflight said in response, "That he is a very arrogant and overconfident, stubborn tom." She said with amusement as he narrowed his eyes.

"Oh? Do you think he's handsome?" He asked, moving a bit quicker in his advance, a challenge in his eyes. Owlflight smiled playfully.

"Depends," she said sweetly, "Do hedgehogs fly?" And immediately she turned to run, giggling as she heard his paw steps thunder behind her as their chase begun. She easily made her way through the undergrowth, and she thanked her ThunderClan kin for that ability, also thanking the WindClan ancestors for her speed. She, however, forgot one small detail. Rowanoak grew up in these woods that are still largely unknown to her.

Owlflight found herself facing two options. Climb the steep, rocky slope out of the little ravine he chased her into, or face the toms playful vengeance.

She found herself turning just in time to catch the tom running at her, letting herself go limp as he playfully tackled her back, pulling laughter from both of them. She lay on her back, gazing up at Rowanoak. He had on paw pinning her down, the other supporting his weight was placed gently beside her head.

"I'm sorry, Bunny, I'm not sure I heard your last answer right," he said breathlessly, "You know, Bunny fits you more and more every day. You run fast!" Owlflight burst into laughter.

"I was raised on an open moor, I had to run fast if I was to catch anything. Believe it or not, I was actually the slowest cat in WindClan," she added. Rowanoak widened his eyes.

"Huh. Remind me never to challenge any of your siblings to a race. If I can't outrun you, I'm hopeless!" Owlflight rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"Hmm.. you're a lot more handsome when you're not the best at everything," she said softly. Her heart was still racing, but it was now for reasons far different from their run through the woods.

Honestly, if Rowanoak kept staring at her like that, Owlflight was convinced her heart would stop entirely one day. And she'd happily let it. At least should would die knowing every beat of her heart was well spent loving the tom before her.

And when Rowanoak smiled, and gently leaned down to lick her muzzle, Owlflight was sure her heart skipped a beat.