CHASE

Chapter 20

Chase had felt strange lately, like she no longer had a place to call home. The den she shared with her family had felt unwelcoming for some time now, but she had been avoiding Yew as well, especially after her argument with Whorl. She felt it was best to stay away, in case Whorl did want to make a move on Yew. It rubbed her fur the wrong way, though she wasn't sure why. All she knew was that it was probably better she stayed away from Yew for some time so that her feelings could return to what they once were. They were bothering her lately. She could barely understand what she was thinking.

Meanwhile, her visits with Moonkit had been odd. The kit was not always wandering in the territory at the times Chase asked to meet her. She had been stood up twice now. Moonkit simply claimed she would forget, but Chase had picked up an odd scent on her lately. Then again, it might have just been FoxClan scent. Chase had trouble distinguishing the scents between cats. Perhaps Moonkit's companions just had a slightly different scent.

On a cool autumn day, however, Moonkit was in the same place she normally met Chase, which relieved her some. She had been lonely not visiting Yew for several sunrises. He had not made an effort to ask why she was avoiding him though, so she assumed he cared little about her absence. She was glad to see her friend again.

"I'm so glad you're here today," Chase said happily as she looked down at Moonkit.

The kit herself seemed more joyous lately. Her eyes sparkled a bit more, and she always flashed her pearl teeth in a smile at Chase whenever she came by. Chase had never seen the kit appear this lively.

"You've looked a lot happier lately," Chase noted. "Is it because your apprentice ceremony is soon?"

Moonkit nodded her head, then began to snicker.

"What else is it?" Chase wondered.

"I met someone," Moonkit said, letting out a girlish giggle that did not seem to suit her at all.

"What do you mean?" Chase wondered. "You've made some new friends back in your clan?"

"I met a rogue," Moonkit snickered. "He's very handsome, and he's going to help me."

"Help you with what?" Chase asked.

Moonkit glanced up, her eyes suddenly taking on a reddish gleam. It was gone in an instant, but Chase had sworn she'd seen scarlet in those normally bright green eyes,

"Nothing important."

"But...is that...is that allowed?" Chase wondered. She still knew little about clan policy, but it seemed that the cats usually liked to keep to themselves in their own clans.

"We're not mates, silly," Moonkit teased. "But maybe one day..."

Chase felt uncomfortable with this topic. Even she could tell that Moonkit was too young for romance. She felt it was better Moonkit focus on her training.

"But how did you meet him? How old is he?" Chase wondered.

"His name is Fang. He's a full-grown tom with brown fur and dark brown stripes. We met while I was in the woods one day," Moonkit explained.

Chase shuffled her paws. That didn't seem right.

"I would...be careful," Chase warned.

Moonkit rolled her eyes. Chase felt annoyed by the action. Moonkit did not usually give her this type of attitude.

"It's not dangerous. What would you know about love? You said you didn't like that fox your sister did."

"I guess I did say that," Chase admitted, her mouth feeling dry. Who was she to judge Moonkit's love life? After all, she could barely admit to herself that she--