Runningshadow glanced at Petalfoot longingly. He looked so sad. Addertail died a few days ago of a snake bite. Runningshadow wished to comfort him, but he seemed cold and distant. Petalfoot had Whiteglance to comfort him, and vice versa. No doubt Flowheart was with Blacknight. She's been mooning over him for such a long time. Runningshadow was snapped out of thought by Petalfoot's approach. But he only walked right by her. "Wait, Petalfoot."
Petalfoot stopped and turned around. "Y-yes?"
"Are you okay?" Runningshadow asked worriedly.
Petalfoot sighed. "To be completely honest… I really don't feel okay…" He sat down and stared at his paws.
Runningshadow sat down next to him. "I remember, after my mother died, I didn't eat or drink or barely move for two days." She looked away, slightly embarrassed. "It's probably nothing like what you're going through."
"Nothing like it, you had a worse time than I'm having." Petalfoot shook his head. "Let's hunt. I don't want to talk about dead cats." Petalfoot got up and beckoned Runningshadow with his tail. Runningshadow smiled somewhat. She was glad Petalfoot had started to turn for the better.
Runningshadow felt a spark in her body. What was this sensation? She shook off her pelt and focused on the task at hand. "So where shall we hunt?" Runningshadow asked Petalfoot.
Petalfoot shrugged. "Dunno, I guess if we smell some prey we can go after it."
Runningshadow tasted the air. "Mouse? No… squirrel." She stalked forward and followed the scent of the prey. Her eyes caught the blur of gray as it whisked through the bushes and up a tree. Runningshadow followed it up, scaling the tree skillfully and silently. She hauled herself onto a branch just above the squirrel, completely oblivious of the fact it's about to become fresh-kill. I got this… Runningshadow thought.
Runningshadow leaped down and landed squat on the squirrel. She leaned down and snapped its neck. Petalfoot called up the tree: "Nicely done!" Runningshadow picked up the squirrel and nodded down to him. She clawed her way down the tree and landed nest to Petalfoot. Her paws worked at the soil and she buried the fresh-kill.
"Thanks," Runningshadow swept the ground with her tail. "Your turn." Did Petalfoot just roll his eyes? He walked off, sniffing the air. Petalfoot pricked his ears. A rabbit ran past. Runningshadow jumped infront of the rabbit's path and hissed. The rabbit scrambled to a stop and turned around right towards Petalfoot. Petalfoot lunged forward and bit the rabbit's neck. The rabbit struggled but became limp. "Nice," Runningshadow dug up her squirrel and before picking it up she told Petalfoot: "Let's go back to camp."
Runningshadow set her squirrel down on the fresh-kill pile. Flowheart walked towards her with a smiling face. "Runningshadow, I need to tell you something."
"Okay, sure what is it?" Runningshadow walked away from the fresh-kill pile.
"Shh, not here. Follow me." Flowheart led Runningshadow from the camp to a secluded place where no cat will hear.
"Is something wrong? Are you okay?" Runningshadow sat down and curled her tail around her paws. "I'm listening."
"I'm better than okay! Everything is fine!" Flowheart smiled brightly. "You're the first one to know about this. Are you ready to hear my words?" Runningshadow nodded her head. "Good. Blacknight loves me, and I love him."
Runningshadow opened her mouth wide to gasp, but nothing went in or out. "So does that mean…"
"Exactly that, we're mates!" Flowheart's tail waved happily in the air.
"It's about time! How long did it take for one of you to break the ice?" Runningshadow grinned. "Oh, I'm so happy for you!" She nuzzled her sister.
"But the real question is," Flowheart smirked. "When is Petalfoot going to break the ice? I've seen how he stares at you."
Runningshadow's eyes widened. "What? He what?" She grew hot with embarrassment.
Flowheart nodded. "That's right. You have to tell me how it's going for you. But don't tell me now, I will give you time to think." She beckoned Runningshadow with her tail. "Let's go back to camp."
Runningshadow followed close behind her sister. She would stumble every so often; thinking of Petalfoot can be really distracting. Runningshadow shook her head. There were better times to think about such a subject.
Runningshadow lied in her nest. She noticed that Flowheart and Blacknight were sleeping together. Her eyes would trail off and somehow find Petalfoot. Runningshadow tucked her chin in and started to think. That sensation, that spark, grew into a small fire. That small fire would grow into a huge blaze. Yes, that fire was exactly what Flowheart was talking about. Runningshadow glanced at Petalfoot. He was awake. His eyes glowed in the soft light of the moon and stars. Runningshadow felt embarrassed and looked away, only to be looking at Petalfoot again a few seconds later. Was it love?
