Stars Without Borders

21

Even after Softpaw woke and the frost had died away, she was stuck in the medicine cat den. Leafpool had given her a firm scolding as if she were speaking to her kit and Jaypaw hadn't kept his eyes off of her unless Leafpool sent him out for herbs. To say Softpaw was bored was beyond an understatement. She felt as though she was falling behind and that her clan couldn't count on her for anything but another hungry mouth to feed. When the news about the competition between the clans surfaced, every-cat buzzed with excitement, but Softpaw wasn't allowed to join and her paw was still wrapped in herbs. She could tell everyone was trying to avoid Jaypaw, but it'd do them no good, he was blind not deaf. She watched as Leafpool and Jaypaw wrapped more herbs incase anyone got hurt and the sudden thought of sneaking out flashed across her mind.

"Don't even think about it." Jaypaw's meow sent a flash of frustration through her pelt and she growled lowly before laying her head down to rest.
. . . . .
When Softpaw woke everyone seemed to have left the camp. Carefully she unwrapped her paw and wandered out of camp and off to the ShadowClan border. She remembered when she first came into ThunderClan territory, Leafpool had said she had to have ran through ShadowClan territory to get there, so to get back to the Twolegs she's have to go back the way she came. The smell of pine was strong and the grass seemed to be covered in endless pine needles that pricked lightly at Softpaw's paws. Her heart was heavy as she hurried through the territory careful of her paw. She wondered if her mom were still there or if she had died without her kits. Her mother's lightly spotted coat flickered through her mind as she wandered until she reached a fence. A twoleg fence. Leaping up, she scrambled onto the fence and almost leaped back as she caught sight of dark red fur in front of her.

"Well hello there wild cat!" The small tom purred his greeting flicking his ears to her as she scrambled backwards on the fence.

"H-hi!" She meowed her ears down with embarrassment.

"The name's Law! Nice to meet you..?"

"Softpaw."

"That's an odd name." The cat tilted his head as he moved closer narrowing his eyes causing Softpaw's pelt to burn.

"Well my name used to be Teacup."

"I like Softpaw better! It makes for a much interesting name." The tom went back to purring causing Softpaw to relax. "Did you know you have a heart shape on your head? Like the hearts the housefolk put around on Valentine's day! Not the actual heart, shape, thing." Law started meowing quickly and Softpaw watched him confused until he stopped and looked at her. "What are you doing here anyways? Wild cat?"

"I.. I'm not sure I belong out there.. in the woods." She meowed quietly looking at her paws causing law to purr once more.

"Well until then stick with me wild cat!"