Faded Paw Prints
Prologue;;
The she-cat spun around, her eyes darting swiftly back and forth, side to side. She looked in front of her, to the shadows, to the world. Nothing. Nobody was here, he wasn't here. Her tail flicked impatiently, shortly followed by a heavy sigh. Where was he? She couldn't stay here forever. Usually, she was quite patient, understanding when times got slow and she just had to face that fact. But this was important, extremely important. And then she had smiled, knowing that she wasn't being impatient, but that he was late. Not slow, but late. That's alright, just fine. But how long exactly would it be okay? What if what she was trying to tell him postponed until it was too late? All too late?
Don't think those thoughts. Never do. Thoughts like those lead up to reality.
She was caught off guard when a voice had entered her mind, a bitter yet sweet tone, and she knew he was here, finally here.
"Crowfeather! Where in StarClan's name were you?!" The tabby spat out some words angrily, yet still kept her cool, just in case.
"It's nothing. I was just out on patrol," he had muttered back quietly.
"But you knew that we needed to talk. I told you at the gathering a few nights ago, remember?" She calmed down a bit, yet still a bit upset that he was late.
"I shouldn't be here, you know. Likewise with you, Leafpool. Now what do you want?" He really didn't bother to answer the she-cat's question, for her knew she already knew his answer. Yet she was still not satisfied.
"If you don't want to be here then why didn't you just say so in the beginning?"
"Not like I had a choice," Crowfeather replied softly, in a somewhat harsh tone.
Leafpool sighed, and looked up at the stars, or, star. There was only one star, just one. The moon was hidden behind a dark cloud. Shivers went through Leafpool, and she looked back to Crowfeather, her eyes showing some emotions that couldn't be triggered.
"Crowfeather... one kit... just one..."
"What are you talking about?"
"A kit with power and sadness..."
"Leafpool? Are you okay?" The gray tom was starting to get a bit worried, eyes starting to cloud with fear of what she may be telling him.
Leafpool had then shook her head lightly, a light breeze ruffling her fur.
"Not yet. No punishment yet. I have to go, Crowfeather, until next time..."
"...Wait. I came here just to be talked trash to, and not to know what real reason you wanted me here?"
She was already walking away, back to the tom, tail dragging, head in hanging low sadly.
"Leafpool! Hold on! Before you leave..." He then looked down at his paws, muttering some words that even he did not understand, and went on to say, "Nightcloud is my mate."
With those last words, he got up, shook his pelt, and started to walk off, not even glancing back to see Leafpool, head up, eyes swelling up with tears, chocking on her words she tried to call out, and crashing, collapsing on the ground crying silently, tears falling off her face almost every second, claws ripping out the earth beneath her.
She couldn't take it. Those words. For she would never forget her and Crowfeather, the past, their faded paw prints, side by side.
Tears are what came, every night, every time she thought of the past, every time she remembered those faded paw prints.
And then she remembered bleakly, that she was the past, and Nightcloud was the present.