hello guys! so yes, this is a new story. it came to me while I was reading some other fanfiction (and no i did not copy anyone's)

i really need feedback on this story, so if you think I should continue, tell me in the reviews! Thanks guys!

ɴᴏᴛᴇ: ɪ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏᴡɴ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀs

ᴋɪᴛ-ᴛᴀʟᴇs

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ: ʟᴏɴᴇʀs

The ginger tom slipped across the edge of the forest, the white patches that covered his paws shining yellow in the sunlight. His amber eyes were cast down, so the watching cats could not see the amber of his eyes. No one took notice of the rushing cat; no one really cared. His business was his own, and besides, after living and experiencing the uneventful life of a loner, who really wanted to know? It was probably not likely that the tom was meaning to do anything worth knowing about. Even the most alarming adventures of the most courageous of the congregation of loners was travelling for herbs, or going to the beautiful Silver Stone.

However, the truth of what really was going on with the tom was very opposite of what the loners thought. The tom was going on a wonderful adventure, or so he thought. As he winded through the tall birch trees that stretched high into the sky, and leapt over the tangled roots of the oaks, the excitement contained in his heart grew. By the time he veered to a stop in the glade, his smile was so wide it seemed as if it could cut his stretched face into half.

The glade he had stopped in was a pretty sight. Violets, a splash of deep purple against the rich green of grass, and the scatter of white daisies like flecks of the long-gone snow on the ground. The arching, pale branches of the willows that circled the glade cast shadows on the ground, and the soft rustle of leaves blowing in the wind was calming. A babbling brook was tucked away in one corner, flat rocks dotting the diameter, serving as stepping stones. A cluster of large, cracked boulders lay next to the brook, in the shine of the sun. The drooping willow branches just brushed the surface.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?"

The tom turned, and spotted a wiry brown she-cat standing just behind him, her skinny figure clearly outlined in the sunlight, giving her fur a honey brown look.

"It is indeed, Amaya," the tom dipped his head towards the she-cat. "I can see why you chose this place. It's magical."

"I'm glad you approve of my choice," Amaya joked. "I wouldn't want to see you grumpy, old friend."

The tom padded forward, and rested his head on hers. "It's good to see you, Amaya. It has been too long since we last saw each other."

The she-cat purred, and pushed her muzzle into her friend's shoulder. "Oh, Reid, Reid, Reid, Reid."

The two stayed in that position for a while, lavishing in each other's presence. It had been moons and moons since Amaya had left the forest in search of adventure, and the time had finally come that Reid's best friend was to return. They had promised each other on the night Amaya left that in exactly six moons, they would wait for each other in the very place they said goodbye – the glade.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Reid pulled away from Amaya, startled. He glanced at Amaya, and was surprised to see that she was laughing. A thin grey tabby emerged from the bushes, and he padded towards Amaya, his tail snaking over her shoulders. Reid tried not to hiss at the gesture, and instead met the tom's friendly but challenging gaze with expressionless. Amaya pressed closer to the unfamiliar tom, purring loudly. Reid felt a little bit disappointed as the tom shot Amaya a loving look.

"Reid, I forgot to mention Ash!" The grey tom dipped his head at Reid. "I met Ash when I was just left the forest. He decided to join me, and the rest is history." Amaya flicked her tail at her belly, which – Reid had just realized – was swelling slightly.
"Hello Reid," Ash meowed cheerfully. "I have heard a lot about you from Amaya. I have looked forward to meeting you, judging from all the wonderful things I have heard."

"Err, hello, Ash," Reid meowed in a casual tone, unsure of what to say. "I'm glad that you and Amaya, are, err, happy…I guess." He finished off lamely.

Amaya smiled, although she looked intrigued by Reid's sudden awkwardness. "Thank you very much, Reid. I hope you find happiness in a she-cat one day too."

A silence fell between them, with Reid's eyes fixed on his paws, and the couple's boring into his. Reid remembered the rest of the promise – Amaya had promised that they would leave the forest together after she arrived. She wanted to take Reid out of the boring confines of the forest, and into the limitless outside to experience the adrenaline of adventures, and the thrill of danger. Amaya's mother had described it so vividly, it was hard to forget. She had been on one too many adventures herself, and had enjoyed recounting them to the two (then) kits. Outgoing and fearless Amaya had been determined to find an adventure of her own, while the gentle and quiet Reid had preferred to hear the wonderful stories of courageous cats that faced the unknown.

He never really had the bravery to step out of his comfort zone and challenge himself. Most of the time, he was afraid to fail. But ever since Amaya left, he started to step out of his shell. For those six moons, he was no longer in the shadow of Amaya, no longer was he "second best to Amaya". He was now the only best, and was just starting to prove himself. As the six moons had drawn to a close, he had started to look forward to the journey that Amaya and he had planned, but with Ash here, Reid had retreated back into his shell again.

"Are you okay?" Amaya's voice reverberated in his ears.

"Yes, yes, I am," Reid muttered. "I need to go."

Reid blundered away, ignoring Amaya's cries for him to stop. Why would she want him there when she had Ash? Why would she want to go for a journey with the mouse-heart when she had a courageous, adventure-yearning tom right next to her? Reid stumbled through the forest, running away from the 'truth that he had conjured up in his head. He could here Amaya chasing after him, shouting for him to stop.

"Just stop!" he cried. "Just stop!"

There was a scuffle of leaves as Amaya slowed down. Reid felt a glimmer of disappointment that she had listened to him. He didn't look behind, but he knew that she was staring right at him. A tear slid down his cheek, and dripped onto the ground beneath him.

"I'm always here if you need me," came the soft call. "Reid, I'll be waiting."

ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ғɪɢᴜʀᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ, ʀᴇɪᴅ ɪs ᴛʜᴜɴᴅᴇʀ, ᴀᴍᴀʏᴀ ɪs ᴡɪɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsʜ ɪs ɢᴏʀsᴇ.

don't forget to leave feedback! this time, i really need it so i can see if i should continue this story or not. it is definitely my most complicated story yet, and i don't want to put in so much trouble if no one likes it.

cheerio guys!

-wyn/cloudy