One half-moon later
What was hauntingly terrifying about Briarpool was that when he thought nobody was watching him, he acted like the happiest tom in the world before realizing someone was watching him and would suddenly act sad. He wasn't just not upset that Hazelstripe was dead, he was happy.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
However some of the kittypets in our Clan have helped us come up with a plan to escape the wooden den with everyone in one piece. Cupcake and Ebony even came up with a great idea that we should treat the herd of cows in the way like a Thunderpath where several cats run at once when the coast was clear.
Me and Rabbitstar...well mostly me because he and Minty were still grieving, decided to act on this plan tomorrow. And soon I'd ask Chase and his five friends if they wanna come with us.
Me and Jaspershade were doing great, Rabbitstar and Minty were focusing on their two kits, and Marquis was still staying away from Fireflight. And in that moment I wondered how Jessie was doing...
Jessie's POV
I seemed to be the only one of my friends that wasn't really having issues, but I guess that's because I'm a asexual that isn't interested in mating or kits. Having a mate wasn't really interesting till I met Chase.
He had a cute way of talking and was really friendly and over the past half-moon we've stayed here we've grown to be best friends! My one big concern was if we became mates and he wanted to actually mate with me when I'm not interested in that kind of stuff. There were plenty of cats I liked who liked me but no mating was a deal breaker for them.
I wanted to confide in my first best friend Minty but her full attention was on Bellkit and Muffinkit. And Chase had become my best friend too, but telling him my feelings? What if no mating is a deal breaker for him? I'd be heartbroken.
I was sprawled on one of the flat branches near the roof of the den watching my Clanmates discussing strategy and the future when I saw Chase come into view and he stared right at me before leaping onto the flat branch.
"S'on your mind?" Chase asked facing me.
"Just wondering what's going to happen when Starlingmask leads us out of here." I said. "Will all of us even make it out alive? Where would we go next?...will you be with us?"
"I talked to the others and they all anticipate leaving this barn with your Clan except Shrimp." Chase sighed. "He's still heartbroken from losing Seraphina and he doesn't want to leave the lands where she died."
"So you're coming?" I asked hopefully.
"Yeah, but we need more time to convince Shrimp." Chase then tilted his head meaningfully. "May I ask you something?"
"Absolutely." I meowed.
"I thought since we've gotten to know each other pretty well that it'd be okay if I asked you to be my mate?" Chase whispered the last three words and smiled shyly.
"Yes!" I purred. "Of course, but I need to tell you something. I'm asexual and I-I...I hope this doesn't change anything."
"Really? I'm asexual too!" Chase's eyes lit up and he nuzzled me and I was shocked. It seemed StarClan and fate were on my side in this beautiful moment that I would always remember that me and Chase became mates.
Starlingmask's POV
Chase had told me earlier that he and his friends could go with us and that they just had to talk to Shrimp. And me, Chase, and Rabbitstar had agreed that before the sun sets we'd leave. Rabbitstar left to go see his family in the left side of the den when my Mom came up to me.
"Hey sweetie, can I talk to you for a second?" Mom asked. "Right outside the den?"
"Of course." I followed my Mom and we sat outside the den entrance. "What is it?"
"I just learned that some of the cats are expecting kits and that it's important to make sure that the cows don't kill them." Mom explained. "For one, Kellymist told me she was expecting Blueberrypelt's kits."
"Huh, they did seem to have a connection as apprentices." I pointed out. "Anyone else?"
"Well that's what I wanted to talk to you privately for...I'm expecting kits again." Mom told me. My eyes widened and I could hardly believe it! I was going to have more siblings!
"That's amazing!" I purred. Even though it was possible that she was having this litter to compensate for the first one with Mallowpaw and Hazelstripe, at least it meant she had a second chance to start a family without her and Dad being apart.
Mom looked pleasantly surprised to hear my reaction and nuzzled my nose.
"Our Clan will make sure that you and Kellymist will stay safe. That I promise." I meowed happily. "Me and Rabbitstar are going to start planning on how we're going to do this and we'll be leaving soon."
A while later it was time: Jaspershade was in charge of leading the cows away to give us an opening and we planned to leave in groups with me, Rabbitstar, Minty, Priscilla, and Briarpool going last with the kits in our jaws except me since I was leading the group.
Everyone had left the den and it seemed to be a success. I finally lead the group out and it was going perfect till I saw Briarpool looking around frantically with no kit in his mouth. Oh no.
"Where's Bellkit?!" Briarpool hissed wide-eyed. Minty looked at Briarpool angrily and slashed her claws down his shoulder.
"You idiot! You kit-murderer!" Minty snarled. "You let Bellkit into the field on purpose! I-"
"Mama!"
Minty looked to see Bellkit frozen in fear in the distance as a cow came charging. Everything that happened next flashed within a few seconds but it would forever be in my head.
Minty grabbed Bellkit in her jaws and the cow was about to kill them both when Rabbitstar shoved them out of the way. Then, the cow sent the sharp end of it's hoof right into Rabbitstar's chest sending him flying.
"RABBITSTAR!"
