100 Tales 76
But It's Not Like That
"Do you want to hunt with me, Icepaw?" Nightpaw, a tom that was my friend in my Clan, offered to me early one morning.
"Uhmm—sure," I stammered. "I mean, it's not like I have any other superbly-important things to do, this morning…."
"Great!" he exclaimed. "Let's go."
Out in the forest, he sat me in a clearing. It was a sheltered glade, surrounded by ferns and long grasses, and nobody except us would ever know that we had been there. There was no other cat scent in it at all, for that matter….
"I have a confession to make about you, Icepaw," he began, with a shaky, deep breath, and a worried, nervous smile.
"Yes?" I looked at him, and cocked my head expectantly.
"I love you, Icepaw."
"But…."
"I want you to be my mate, my precious little Icepaw. We've been friends for far too long. Will you be my mate?"
"B-But—" I finally blurted out; then stopped. Nightpaw misjudged what I was going to say, and he laid his tail gently over my mouth.
"Shhhh," he murmured gently. "It's all right, m'dear. You don't have to worry…. The Clan won't mind, I'm sure."
"But…. I have something to say," I blurted out guiltily. "I…. I don't like you like that, Nightpaw. I'm sorry, but it's not like that."
Nightpaw laughed. "I'm sure you're just teasing, you—"
"No." I stood firm. "I do not like you like that, Nightpaw. I don't want to be your mate. I just want to remain friends. I'm sorry," I murmured gently.
"I—It's okay." He looked distraught, just standing there. He pulled himself away from me. "Of—Of course. I was just kidding, you know."
"No, you weren't kidding. I know that." I looked him in the eyes. "But…. And it breaks my heart to say this, but…. I am in love with Redpaw, Nightpaw; not you."
He walked miserably away. "But I thought…."
"I'm sorry, Nightpaw," I repeated after him. "But it's not like that."