Title: Bear Cats
Author: RoslinTheWerewolf
Summary: How far you run doesn't matter; the past has a way of catching up.
Chapter: 1. Prologue
Word Count: 414
Author's Note: Woah! This is new, for sure. I've never really been the type to write a Warriors story, but I've had this little 'what-if' stuck in my mind for a while now. More or less, this is a 'what-if Squirrelflight and Leafpool hadn't stayed in Thunder Clan after their little secret had been spilled?' and I'm just going to see what I can type up. Should be interesting to see how this turns out! ;D Reviews keep me motivated to write!
There's a steady hum of frogs in the boggy marshes by the time the ginger tabby inches out from her haven between the reeds. A moon, heavy and round as an owl's eye, hangs low in the Summer night, brought out in the absence of the sun. Its shine will do nothing to conceal neither the fleeing tabby nor her dappled sister hanging back in the cover a tail length behind her. Squirrelflight moves into the open, her gleaming eyes sweeping the hillside, ignoring her instinct to find the pair's next hiding spot.
"Anything?" Leafpool's hiss sounds behind her as her nose parts the reeds. She's exhausted from running on what little energy she and Squirrelflight have. Neither has been able to sleep and she knows her sister is just as tired as she is, but the nagging fear of being caught on the border gives them the energy they need to go on.
"No," she replies slowly, taking another step down the slope towards the glittering lake. It's not a bad night to travel or, in their case, flee like two dogs with their tails tucked beneath their legs. If nobody catches them, they're likely to make it out and across the Horse Place before dawn. It's a relief to finally be out of Shadow Clan territory. "I don't think we'll be caught if we are quick and can make it to the lake. No one will bother us there."
"I hate this..."
"I know," she says, nuzzling the dappled ear gently. "It's the only thing we can do, though. You saw how they looked at us. The best thing we can do is run."
Leafpool joins her in the light. They have both been rejected tonight, left with little else to do but run and, perhaps, start over somewhere new. To go back, to attempt to live amongst their clan mates would be too awkward and would hurt too many. They have to leave.
Squirrelflight has always had a sense for her thoughts, so it's not surprise when she washes her tongue over the former medicine cat's ear, a weak purr rumbling in her throat. "We're together in this, you know."
Bathed in moonlight, she nods glumly, trying to push back the nauseating realization that they have abandoned their clan in their cowardice and shame.
"Well then, let's go."
Needing no other prompting, Leafpool pads silently after her sister to a future not even Star Clan would give her clues to.
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