The orange and white tom emerged from the narrow cat sized door onto the concrete balcony, shaking out his fluffy pelt and sitting down. His ear flicked as he ran his tongue over his white paw before running it over his ear, his tail tip drummed softly against the concrete.
He was content enough to be back at the cat shelter, he supposed. It was his third time coming back though…..or was it his fourth? He let out a tired sigh. He hoped to be 'adopted' sometime soon… by humans who would actually keep him. His ear flicked sharply at the dismissive thought. 'Commitment' wasn't something humans were good at. The tom sighed once more, looking at the ground with large, pale green eyes as he pulled his tail tightly around his paws. It wasn't in his nature to let small, insignificant things like that bother him, but for some reason, it was all he could think about.
"It sounds like the Twolegs don't appreciate you." A voice said, making ZZ jump. He spun around, eyes widened slightly as a large, sleek-furred, slender, black tom stepped from the shadows, orange eyes gleaming. The orange and white tom blinked hard in disbelief, he would've thought the large tom was made of shadows had it not been for his white forepaw and chest.
Shadow cat or not, ZZ found himself taking a cautious step back. He inwardly shivered as he noticed the sleek, smooth muscles shifting under the stranger's pelt. ZZ ears flattened as the tom sat, tail neatly wrapped around his paws.
"Don't worry," The tom said, a hint of amusement in his voice, "I won't hurt you. In fact, I'm here to help you."
The fluffy, handsome tom's pale green eyes brightened with interest, "Are you a wildcat?" He asked, excitement making his pelt prickle.
The large, black tom chuckled, eyes gleaming. This tom reminded him of an eager, over sized kit.
"Indeed I am. There are two large groups, along with various loners and rouges. I'm from PineClan. Would you like to join us?
"Really?" ZZ asked cheerfully before he calmed slightly, eyes narrowing, "Why?"
The dark tom chuckled at his skepticism. This cat was smart and he'd make a good warrior!
He let the smallest smirk cross his muzzle, "It's simple, really." He began, "You need a permanent home away from the Twolegs and….."
"What are Twolegs?" ZZ found himself asking.
"Twolegs are what wildcats call humans." He explained.
ZZ tilted his head, a life in the wild…with no hu-Twolegs that'd get his hopes up, only to disappoint him? It sounded challenging, but somehow he knew it would work out.
"I'll join you!" He said cheerfully, eyes bright and tail swaying. A nervous excitement filled him from the tips of his claws to the tip of his tail. He felt his sheathed claws tingle in his paws.
The forest, and PineClan's territory, were more beautiful than ZZ ever imagined. Trees towered far above his head, mostly oak and pine, with the occasional fragrant cedar or mysterious looking willow. Stars dotted the dark sky, glittering like far away shreds of ice.
"Wow," The fluffy orange and white tom breathed in awe, "it's beautiful out here."
'And I live here now.' He felt a shudder run through him at the startling realization. The tom beside him watched as he gazed around the forest in awe and wonder.
They pushed through the bramble tunnel guarding the camp and ZZ stopped as he saw a stone den, its entrance covered by a curtain of moss. The orange and white tom relaxed, letting out a breath as the dark tom loosely wrapped his tail around his back. They walked to the den and ZZ blinked upon stepping inside, letting his eyes adjust to the dimness as the damp, rich smell of earth hit him.
"Greetings Shadowflash," A soft, but powerful voice said and it was only then he noticed they were sitting in front a large, slender, sliver she-cat. She had gray streaks on her lower back. Her tail had gray streaks on the end and was neatly wrapped over her gray paws. "Who do we have here?"
Her dark blue eyes flickered over to the orange and white tom, gleaming warmly in the dim light.
"This is ZZ. He'd like to join our Clan." Shadowflash explained.
"Nice to meet you ZZ. I'mWillowstar, the leader ofPineClan." The she-cat greeted, not noticing her Deputy look at him strangely as if her world had been shaken to its very core.
Willowstar stood up, tail swaying softly, "Would you be willing to take on a new name? It'll help you fit in better with the Clan."
ZZ looked at Willowstar and blinked before nodding.
"Yes!" He answered, surprised at how confident he sounded. The she-cat gave him a small, warm smile.
"Excellent! I'll announce your arrival to the Clan shortly. Meanwhile, I'm sure Shadowflash will be happy to show you around."
The toms nodded as they turned and exited the den. Willowstar glanced at Deputy, the slender, dark gray she-cat's eyes were wide with disbelief and she was stiff.
"Lightningstream," Willowstar said, a slight hiss in her voice, eyes narrowed, "what's wrong with you?"
The dark, almost black she-cat blinked her wide silver-blue eyes as if breaking from a trance.
"T-That cat," She whispered as tears came to her eyes, "h-he reminds me of Flamekit."
Willowstar ears flattened as she thought, she knew her best friend's first born kit had disappeared seasons ago. This couldn't be the same cat….right?