Bonnie's tiny form slinked through the shadows, stalking an unwary mouse. Her young eyes were wide as she moved further into the barn. The air seemed still, but she was downwind on the gentle breeze that seeped through the cracks on the aged building. Her audience of one was watching attentively.
She lowered herself onto her haunches, crouching for the attack. And with silent grace, she sprang, catching the creature with her paws and killing it with one blow.
"Well done." Rose purred, approval in her gaze. "You're an excellent mouser, Bonnie."
"Thanks!" she chirped in reply, moving to rest in the coarse hay that littered the floor of the barn. She licked her ruffled chest fur as the long shadows of morning crept forward through the clouded glass of the upper window.
After a moment, Bonnie got to her feet on the hollow barn loft. With one mighty leap, she plunged to the dusty wooden floor below before trotting out into the daylight.
The scent of hare carried on the wind, and the calico she-kit looked out to the open moors. A strange sense of longing washed over her. She took a hesitant step forward, imagining herself running through the long grass, body streamlined as she dashed towards an indefinite goal.
"Little Bonnie's dreaming again." Dry leaves crunched under Arrow's paws as the barn cat approached. His mate, Brooke, was trailing behind, half hidden in the shadows.
Bonnie shifted her paws. The other cats either disapproved of or were amused by her yearning glances. Every time she took a step outside of the fenced-in grounds, she'd be scolded. "After all," Brooke had meowed, whiskers twitching, "Why would you want to leave the farm? Here, life is easy. You have all the mice you could ever want! Out there, you'll be constantly starving. Especially when winter comes around." She'd shuddered and shaken her head. "You're only four moons old. What do you know?" Her condescending voice lingered in the kitten's mind, even now that almost three moons had passed, and Bonnie lashed her spotted tail unhappily as the pair approached.
"You're such a silly little kit," Brooke gave the calico a friendly lick, and Bonnie's ears pricked in discomfort. The grass felt warm beneath the pads of her paws as she moved a few tail-lengths towards the ancient wooden fence, its rough planks scratching her pelt as she brushed against it. A rebellious thought swam through her mind, and she took a glance upwards, to the top of the wrecked fence and the open sky. Looking at the pair behind her, she made an impulse decision.
With tense muscles, Bonnie crouched for a moment. She made an impressive leap on light feet, a rush of adrenaline giving her momentary grace and balance. The latch of her collar jabbed her, a grim reminder.
"I'm going to go, just for a look." She felt brave and wild in that moment, silhouetted against the rising sun. She could hear Brooke and Arrow gasp and grimace, but she refused to look back. Just a look. Slow pawsteps getting faster, she stepped out into the golden light of spring. Hot sand burned at her paws.
And she ran. The farm grew further and further until it became just a dark shape on the horizon. At that moment, she felt like a new cat, wise and strong and fast. Bonnie had never loathed her easy life as a mouser, but it hadn't felt right. The cats were all decent, but they were more a collection of loners and misfits than any sort of group or family. She didn't really have anyone other than Rose. And to spend an easy, monotonous life catching mice alone, a life without a story to tell, a life that would, in the end, sum up to nothing...
Frankly, nothing sounded worse.
The sun passed behind a heavy blanket of grey clouds, casting Bonnie in shadows. Coming to a stop, she stood very still and scanned her surroundings. Heather and sweet grass rustled as a breath of wind whisked through the darkened field, and a skylark chirped overhead. A sea of lavender and navy stretched in all directions.
A bundle of white fur dashed past her, pursuing a panic-stricken rabbit. She spun around to face the strange cat, but she had taken off like a rocket, leaving Bonnie behind. But curiosity spurred her on, and Bonnie found she still had a bit of energy left.
The snowy she-cat had turned around, now coming from the other direction after the trembling animal. Her eyes were narrowed and focused. But as the rabbit passed Bonnie, her instincts kicked in. Lowering herself on her haunches, she sprang as it neared her, cutting it off like she'd done so many times with the barn mice.
Proudly, she got to her feet, relinquishing her catch to the cat that had been chasing it. But she didn't look grateful, rather, she looked angry. A furious hiss escaped from her muzzle. "Hey! What are you doing on WindClan territory?" The strange cat's hackles had risen, but her fear-scent was thick.
"WindClan?" Bonnie took a step back, confused. The other cat did a double take. "You haven't heard of WindClan? Really, you have to have known some stories," she hissed it as if in disbelief, and the calico flattened her ears, embarrassed and offended.
"No. I live on the farm." She flicked her tail towards the path she'd just taken, working hard to keep her voice steady. Her pride would not allow her to cower before this cat, a kitten barely older then she was.
The white cat's tense muscles relaxed, the frightening look in her yellow eyes fading. "You hunt really well for a barn cat. I'm Lightpaw." She began to lick her right forepaw, wincing a bit. "I stepped on a stone." Lightpaw added, noticing Bonnie's gaze. "Don't worry, though. Swiftwing will treat it. He's our medicine cat."
Bonnie felt a bit ignorant in that moment, but refused to show it. She wanted to know more about the life Lightpaw lived.
"What is WindClan?" Her whiskers twitched curiously. Another chilling breeze rushed past the pair, flurrying the clan cat's fur rather unceremoniously, but her eyes gleamed.
"We're the moor cats. We're the fastest of the clans! There are- were- five- RiverClan, the swimming," Lightpaw shuddered at the thought, "river cats, ShadowClan, the sneaky marsh cats, ThunderClan the strong forest cats, SkyClan, the... other strong forest cats, and us. SkyClan's gone now…" Her voice trailed off and her milky tail waved uncomfortably. "ThunderClan attacked SkyClan and took over. They broke the warrior code- I guess you don't know what that is."
Bonnie listened attentively, ears pointed. Lightpaw hesitated a moment before continuing on. "We also have clan leaders, warriors and a medicine cat!" She shook her tousled coat, replacing her former somberness with a spirited enthusiasm.
"Are you a warrior?" Bonnie meowed curiously. The she-cat purred. "I wish! I just became an apprentice a moon ago. But my mentor, Pebblewhisker, is the deputy, and he's really great- deputies are second in command, by the way." She began to amble forward, but winced and began to lick her paw again. "Yowch. Anyways, it was great meeting you," she paused expectantly.
"Bonnie." She meowed warmly. Lightpaw looked at her thoughtfully. "I wish you were in our clan, Bonnie. You're much nicer than the other mouse-brained apprentices. And also a good hunter, even if you are a kittypet."
Bonnie didn't understand half the words Lightpaw was saying, but felt a rush of pride nonetheless. A question floated through her mind. It was probably ridiculous, but… she looked at the muscular pelt of the small, skinny she-cat. She wasn't quite as plump and healthy as the cats Bonnie knew, but she looked much happier.
"Do you think I could join WindClan?" She meowed hesitantly. Lightpaw froze mid-step, turning to look at the tiny calico. Bonnie was undersized, and her violet collar clung to the fur on her neck. But she was also strong and fast, and had proved her hunting skill. Lightpaw was uncertain. "It's happened before, once or twice- a kittypet joining the clan. I mean, Firestar himself was a kittypet. But it's Cloudstar's choice, not mine. I'll have to ask her."
Bonnie purred, blinking in surprise. She'd expected outright rejection. She stood up on the sand, now chilled under the overcast sky.
Lightpaw spent one last contemplating moment before catching Bonnie's forest-green gaze. "Meet me by the farm tomorrow at sunhigh and I'll tell you what she says. You can take it as an exchange for catching the rabbit." She picked up the lifeless bundle, and dipped her head in farewell.
A strange sense of purpose settled over Bonnie. She took in a breath of fresh air, fur caught up in the wind. A streak of light peeked through the clouds, creating a bright pool of golden grass around her, and making her coat gleam. And then she knew.
Whatever happened, this was where she was meant to be.
