Loyalty truly is a funny thing. You think your heart is anchored to the ground, but in truth, loyalty is a flitting lie befit for only the naive who believe it. There is no loyalty, just trust in yourself, and love. But as I tried desperately to talk myself out of what I was planning to do, my eyes raked the camp for my anchor. Though unlike every other time, every cat... every den... and every small quirk I had buried myself under... just seemed regular. They weren't my lifeline any longer.
This truly did scare me. I'd relied on them so much, ever since I was a kit! But now, my heart tugged me in another direction as I gazed longingly at the distant mountains, in which I knew I would be welcome. With a heavy heart, I tore my eyes from my home and lifted a trembling paw. This is it, the Clan seemed to warn, if you step, you can't go back.
I swallowed, slamming the paw down with an excess of willpower. Trying to ignore the looks and the cats around me, I pushed off at a sprint, but surprisingly, I didn't cry as I raced to the mountains. I didn't cry as the terrain changed below me, nor as I broke out of the trees. I din't cry as my legs started aching, nor when I saw her perfect face. I slowed to a walk, heart pulsing as I strode toward her, with her deep, sparkling evergreen eyes that kept coming closer and closer until my face was buried in her shoulder in a hug.
You know what? I said to the Clan on impulse as I licked her cheek, I don't want to go back. I never did look behind me, and I'm regretting that choice to this very day.