100 Tales 58
True Friends
Lilypaw hurried out of the camp. Tonight was the night that she would leave to go on that important mission with her friends!
She snuck quietly out of the thorn barrier; the guard was patrolling the camp walls, at the top, so she skirted the camp walls quickly and quietly, and when she finally got out of the camp she breathed a sigh of relief.
She got only a few fox-lengths into the forest before she heard a noise.
Suddenly, a tom she liked, Streampaw, emerged out of the bushes a few fox-lengths from her and began to pad towards the camp entrance. He must have scented her, because he suddenly looked in her direction and let out a purr.
"Hi!" he meowed. "Out midnight hunting?"
"Uhh...." Lilypaw wasn't quite sure what to say. I can't tell him about my mission.... can I?! "Streampaw, I have to tell you something."
He frowned. "Are you sure? Can't it wait until morning?"
"No, Streampaw, I...." Lilypaw whispered. Her voice shook. Then, she got it under control, and she went on, more steadily. "Streampaw, I have to leave. I'm going on a mission with some other cats from some other Clans in a different forest, and I have to go tonight. I can't bring you with me, understand? It's so heartbreaking but I've already met these cats in dreams and I've just gotta do it!" Her voice rose to a wail on the last sentence. "We have to save the Clans!"
Streampaw drew his tail around her shoulders. "I'll always wait for you," he promised. "I wish that I could come with you, but.... I understand that this is something that just you and your friends need to do. Alone."
"Without you," Lilypaw whispered, staring at the ground.
Streampaw nudged her. "It'll be okay. I'll wait for you."
"Forever?" She stared up at him hopefully.
"Forever and for always," he promised her. Lilypaw stared at him as he walked back into his camp; his silver fur illuminated a pale blue in the moonlight.