Flight
Prologue:
Breeze padded out into the moonlit clearing, her stomach swollen with kits. Her whiskers twitched nervously.
She and her mate, Brackenstar, met every night. The big dark ginger and brown tabby tom said he was ShadowClan's leader numerous times, which had only made Breeze like him more, drawing the black and white she-cat in closer to him. She knew that it shouldn't have happened, but Brackenstar didn't seem bothered by it at all, why, he was thrilled when Breeze told him the big news. He often requested that she joined ShadowClan. He'd bring her gifts, tell her about the lifestyle of a ShadowClan cat to try to lure her in further under his spell. But even if Breeze could've joined ShadowClan, she wouldn't have. If any cat ever found out who she really was, what she really was, she might not even be considered a cat anymore.
The only reason Brackenstar hadn't found out about her secret yet was because it was dark out every time they met up. Even with his superior night vision he hadn't noticed yet. The she-cat was starting to wish that he had noticed her…appendages… But Breeze actually liked her extensions. They helped her keep out of the clan cats' sight and away from predators. They also came in handy for catching birds and squirrels.
The black and white cat inhaled deeply and sat down. Tonight she was going to break away from Brackenstar. He would never meet his kits.
She had hesitated in coming back out of fear that Brackenstar would reject her rejection and force her to come to ShadowClan's camp to kit, then just simply be thrown back into the world away from the forest.
If any of the kits were born with her gift they wouldn't last long. She'd learned many things from Brackenstar, but the fact that warriors didn't like differences was a glaring fact in every story he told her. If I must show him what I am to make him leave me alone, then I will. Breeze told herself.
Breeze had run through many scenarios of this night in her head of how this night could go, and what she could do to get out from under Brackenstar's paw. She kept telling herself that leaving him and raising the kits far from the clans was for the greater good, but she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that Brackenstar wouldn't see it that way. Breeze had already talked about leaving before she was expecting his kits, and he didn't like it at all. She shifted her paws uncomfortably and sat in silence for a few moments longer.
"Breeze? You here?" A familiar meow asked.
Trembling, Breeze wondered again if she was doing the right thing before responding. "Yeah, I'm here." She replied, her voice hoarse and barely audible.
She stepped out from the shade of the brush and revealed herself.
Brackenstar padded out into the clearing, his gaze serious. "Breeze, I have to talk to you about the kits."
"So do I." She mewed, looking at the ground.
A glimmer of hope flared in his amber gaze. "Our kits are going to be born any day now and for both your sake and for their sakes, I demand that you join ShadowClan. I have spoken to my warriors about your arrival and-"
"Brackenstar, I can't join ShadowClan." Breeze blurted, taking half a step back.
"Breeze, this isn't for you to decide anymore, you're coming to ShadowClan with me tonight." Brackenstar growled.
Hurt flashed in Breeze's gaze, "Brackenstar, I'm not what I appear to be, I'm not a normal cat-"
"You're just as normal as I am." He said confidently, his tail swishing with impatience.
"You don't understand." She whispered.
"What? What do I not understand, Breeze? Just what don't I understand?" The tom snapped, inching closer to her.
Breeze's blue eyes flooded with shame. She didn't say another word.
Here it goes.
Brackenstar's eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Breeze, the cat he'd come to love, extend a pair of black, feathered wings.