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Post by Mosspool on Jul 3, 2018 11:10:07 GMT -5
Story
Prologue
A she-cat huddled on the ground, her white and grey patched fur sullied with thick mud. She trembled, daring to lift her head just enough to see the star-speckled cat standing over her. As the starry figure glared down at her, contempt brimming in its eyes, she coughed, spitting out blood.
A grey tabby barrelled through the crowd, shoving Clanmates and onlookers aside. She pushed her way to the front and bent over the muddy she-cat. Before she could speak to her mentor, the StarClan cat stepped in between them.
βYou should not be getting involved in this, Mistpaw,β he snarled.
Mistpaw opened her mouth but after taking one look at her mentorβs face, she promptly shut it.
Another StarClan cat padded closer. βCalm down, Heronclaw,β she said. βDonβt you forget that this brave apprentice helped save the clans.β
βI know that, Pebbletail.β He didn't budge.
Pebbletail lashed her tail. βLet her say goodbye to her mentor.β
Heronclaw said nothing but he rolled his eyes as he moved out of the apprenticeβs way.
The grey and white she-cat wearily lifted her head to stare at Mistpaw.
Mistpaw stroked her mentorβs face gently with her paw. βShh, itβs going to be okay.β
The she-cat shook her head. βDonβt worry about me. Youβre going to be an amazing warrior one day. Take care of your mother for me,β she murmured.
Mistpawβs voice broke as she tried to respond. βYouβre not going to die, Cloud-β
Her mentor cut her off. βItβs already been decided, Mistpaw. I broke the code.β
βNo!β Mistpaw looked at Pebbletail, her eyes wide.
The StarClan cat nodded sadly. Even Heronclaw looked a bit guilty.
βItβs time,β Pebbletail whispered, drawing Mistpaw away from the she-cat on the ground.
She couldnβt bear to look as she heard the screeches of agony coming from the cat who was once her mentor. She knew what they were doing of course, a ceremony called The Unbinding, during which StarClan destroyed not just the body, but the spirit of the victim. It was a ceremony reserved only for those who had almost destroyed the Clans, which though she did not mean to, Mistpawβs mentor almost did.
Finally, the air was silent. Mistpaw stood still, her eyes clenched shut, claws digging into the earth.
βTalonstrike, Darkflower, Mistpaw, please step forward,β Heronclaw called.
Mistpaw managed to stumble up to where the StarClan cats stood. βThese three cats have displayed tremendous courage, when no one else could. It is because of them that the clans are still around. But we nearly lost everything today. We have decided that we are going to appoint guardians for the clans. They will look over the clans and protect them. Talonstrike, Darkflower, and Mistpaw, we have chosen you for this honor,β Heronclaw declared.
Pebbletail continued, βYou will be the Immortals, unable to die until the clans themselves do so. We need your bravery and dedication for moons to come. But first, we have a warrior to make. Mistpaw, step forward.β
Mistpaw tottered towards the starry she-cat.
βDo you, Mistpaw, promise to protect the clans as long as you live.β
The apprentice hesitated. βI do,β she said finally.
βStarClan thanks you for your courage and heart. We name you-β Mistpaw cut her off. βMistcloud. Iβd like to be called Mistcloud.β
The fur up Heronclawβs spine bristled, but Pebbletail simply nodded.
βMistcloud.β
Between the distraught at her mentorβs death, and the uneasy feeling lingering in her stomach after learning of her fate, Mistcloud couldnβt shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong. And if something was wrong, it would be her, stuck dealing with it for the rest of her days.
Chapter One The door wouldnβt budge. As much as Mockingbird hit her soft, white paw against it, it stayed firmly locked in place. She let out a piercing meow, hoping that despite the glass door, her owners would be able to hear her. She narrowed her amber eyes, examining the handle of the door. Sheβd seen her owners use it countless times, and for them it always looked so simple. They just grabbed the shiny metal bit with their strange hairless paws, and turned it. She should be able to do the same. Mockingbird crouched down, wriggling her hindquarters as she got into position. With a yowl, she leaped at the door. Extending her claws, she tried to wrap her paw around the metal handle. The slim piece of metal dipped slightly, but wouldnβt turn all the way. She dropped to the floor and sighed, frustrated. The sandy brown cat paced back and forth in the door, trying to think of a better option. Her claws clicked against the floor, a steady tapping noise and she walked to and fro. Mockingbird raised her head and glanced outside. During the couple of minutes during which she had been pacing, the sky had darkened from its usual bright blue, to a soft, stormy grey. She narrowed her eyes, studying the dark clouds that hung overhead. They had appeared so suddenly. An angry rumble filled the air. Thunder. Mockingbird, having changed her mind about going out, with no desire to get stuck in a storm, wandered into the other room. She leaped up onto the couch and settled down, resting her head on her paws. She had started dozing off when a loud clap of thunder made her jump. A bright light filled the room as lightning quickly followed. Mockingbird leaped off of the couch and cautiously moved towards the door. Her eyes widened as she saw the massive amounts of scarlet leaves swirling around outside. The branches of the tree in the yard thrashed violently, the tree looked like it was close to being uprooted. The plastic chairs perched on the lawn were gone in the blink of an eye, Mockingbird couldnβt even tell where they had went. The noise was almost deafening, a deadly combo of both thunder and wind. The room was continuously filled with bright flashes, the lightning striking swiftly. The soft, rosy glow of the lamp began to flicker, and after just a few moments it sputtered out. It had gotten so dark outside that the room was plunged into darkness. Mockingbird let out a whimper as she let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She crept behind the leg of a nearby chair, crouching low to the ground. She shut her eyes tight, wishing that her owners would come comfort her. But as she thought about it, she realized that she hadnβt seen them all day. They had fed her this morning but had been missing since. Mockingbird had assumed that they were simply laying in bed, but maybe as she had been devouring her food, they had left. The brown she-cat pawed at her ears as the noise from outside became almost unbearable. She huddled against the ground, eyes closed, paralyzed in fear. Her heart was pounding rapidly. She had never seen anything like this before. All of a sudden a loud cracking noise split the air. Sharp bursts of pain spread across Mockingbirdβs body. She opened her eyes to see shards of glass littering the floor, and as she drew her gaze across her pelt, she noticed scarlet red staining her soft fur. She lay there trembling. Iβll just wait for my owners, she thought, theyβll know what to do. There was one time, a few months ago, when she was still a kitten, when she had gone outside and got scratched by some thorns. Compared to the the glass still stuck in her fur, it had been nothing, but her owner had scooped her up, washed her wounds and hugged her, comforting her until they got to the strange person dressed in white. A strange, cold liquid was rubbed into her scratches, but within a day she was back to chasing her toys around the house. Now, Mockingbird felt like she was dying. She pulled herself into a standing position as her mind whirled, trying to figure out what to do. She didnβt know how to get to the person who had healed her last time, all she remembered was going in a bright red metal thing, wrapped up in a soft, white blanket. She closed her eyes again. Somehow she dozed off, her mind a kaleidoscope of red, white, and thorns. βHello?β a deep voice woke her up. She mumbled, βWhoβs there?β, her voice blurred by sleep. βWhat happened here?β She blinked her eyes sleepily as an orange tom approached. All she could do was stare as he exclaimed, βOh my StarClan!β
Chapter TwoThe scene in front of him brought him back to moons ago. The same acrid scent of blood tingeing the air. The same blurry-eyed terrified look on the cat lying in front of him. The same panic rendering him frozen.
Fox stared at the pale brown cat lying in front of him. His yellow eyes were wide and his mind was blank, as he watched blood oozing onto the floor of the twoleg den. He knew he had to help her. But after muttering a few words upon entering the den, he was struck by horror.
Fox wasnβt sure what led him to the little den on the edge of the forest. He had been out hunting when all of a sudden the storm had started. The rabbit he was chasing dashed into the cover of a holly bush, leaving him alone with the wind ruffling his russet fur.
He knew that there was an old burrow just outside the twoleg den, but from where he was, it was a bit far. Still, Fox found his pawsteps leading him to the burrow. He narrowed his eyes against the gusts and crouching low to the earth, crept towards the shelter.
As he sat waiting in the burrow, a loud crash rose above the howling of the wind. When the storm finally died down, Fox emerged and shook his fur out. Though he knew that he should be heading back to his den, to find something to soothe his rumbling belly, he was intrigued by what had caused the noise he heard before.
Cautiously, he tiptoed towards the twoleg den, sniffing the air in case something was lurking around the corner. But all he could smell was leaves until he got just outside the den and the strong scent of blood assaulted his nostrils.
At first he wasnβt sure if he should go in. He couldnβt handle blood well especially after Kestrelβ¦ he pushed the thought from his mind. If someone was hurt, he had to help them. Heβd regret it if he didnβt.
So here he found himself standing amongst the shattered glass, the shards slightly pricking his paws. As soon as the words left his mouth, he was useless.
It was something that his sister used to say. He didnβt really know what it meant, but it felt right for the situation. The she-cat in front of him lay limply, her blood staining the strange fluffy sand underneath his paws. Fox tried to step forward to help her. No matter how hard he tried, he felt like his limbs were blocks of ice.
His nose twitched as a familiar scent filled the air. His long orange fur fluttered in the slight breeze that was created around him. As a soft voice murmured in his ear, he felt his heart soar in joy. He hadnβt heard her voice in moons.
βHelp her. You have to help her.β
Then she was gone. Fox took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. She was right, he had to do something. He had to push past this fear.
He slowly lifted his massive paw up, taking a cautious step forward. As he put it down, he winced at the feeling of the warm blood soaking into his toes.
βYou can do this,β he mumbled to himself.
As he reached the injured catβs side, he drew a sharp intake of breath as he realized that close up she looked even more like Kestrel. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and gazed at her, trying to decide what to do.
The she-cat stirred and met his gaze. Her amber eyes were blurry.
βUpstairs,β she rasped. βBandages.β
Fox had no clue what a bandage was. But he still bounded up the stair furry logs. When he reached the top, he was faced with three sort-of caves. He ran into the one immediately in front of him and began looking around.
There was a smooth rock at the edge of the cave and he leaped on top to get a better view. There wasnβt much in there. A shallow pool, free of any water sat in one corner. Next to the rock he stood on was an oddly shaped white rock. And that was it.
As Fox went to leave, he bumped into something that almost felt like a bunch of reeds weaved together. He stuck his nose inside, sniffing around. A long, soft leaf lay on top of the pile. It reminded him a bit of the cobwebs his mother would put on him when he had played too rough and ended up with scratches lacing his pelt.
He grasped it in his jaws and dragged in out of the small cave. As he headed down the weird logs, he tripped and the massive leaf tumbled down towards the floor. He picked himself up, shaking his fur and chased after it.
Fox pulled it behind him, dashing towards the injured she-cat. He laid the leaf on her back and gently lifting her up by her scruff, wrapped it around her body. The leaf seemed to stop the bleeding, despite the fact that he could see little drops of blood seeping through.
He didnβt know what else to do to help so he just sat there, pressed up against her back, giving her all the warmth that he could. Her ragged breathing grew steadier and steadier. After what felt like forever, he felt her stirring. He stood up and arched his back, stretching his sore muscles.
βHello?β she murmured sleepily.
Fox moved to sit in front of her.
βHi,β he said. βHow are you feeling?β
She pulled herself into a sitting position, sniffing at the wrapping around her torso. βIβm in pain,β she admitted. βBut at least I donβt feel like Iβm going to die anymore.β Her voice was surprisingly upbeat.
βThatβs good,β Fox replied, stifling a laugh.
βThank you for saving me,β the she-cat said. βIβm Mockingbird, by the way.β
Fox ducked his head. βNo problem. And Iβm Fox.β
βHow did you end up here?β Mockingbird asked.
Fox answered, βI was hunting nearby and I heard a crash. I came to make sure no one was hurt.β
βItβs a good thing you did,β she declared. βI mean, my owners would have come home eventually, but I was worried they wouldnβt come in time.β
Fox felt a pang of pity for the kittypet. He couldnβt imagine having to rely on anyone else for his survival, especially one from another species.
βHow long have they been gone?β he questioned.
She thought about it for a moment. βA while,β she confessed. βBut Iβm sure theyβll be back soon.β
βIβve never seen a storm like this before,β Fox said. βNo one should be alone right now in case it happens again. Do you want me to stay with you?β
Mockingbird shook her head. βMy owners would freak out if they found anyone else here when they get home.β
Fox sighed. βYou should come with me then. I know of a safe place just a couple momentβs walk away from here. What would happen if your wounds open up again while youβre alone?β he stated.
βT-thatβs not going to happen,β she stammered.
Foxβs voice softened. βYou never know. Just be careful, okay?β
He turned to walk away but stopped at the sound of Mockingbirdβs voice.
She staggered to her paws. Fox moved to stand next to her in case she needed something to steady herself on.
βI want to come,β she said. βAs long as we keep checking to see if my owners are back.β
Fox nodded. βDeal,β he agreed, pushing away the sinking feeling in his chest that Mockingbirdβs owners wouldnβt come back.
Mockingbird leaned against him as they stumbled out of the den. The two of them slowly but surely made their way towards the burrow. The ground was littered with broken twigs and when Fox glanced up above him, he could see that the trees had been badly damaged.
A cool breeze still hung in the air. Leaves spun lazily down from the trees. Despite the chaos that had occurred earlier, Fox couldnβt help but feel relaxed. His favourite time of year was always when the leaves fall, just before it was about to get cold. They reached the burrow after a few minutes. Fox paused at the entrance, sniffing the air. Though he was just there earlier that day, something felt different.
βGet behind me,β he hissed to Mockingbird.
She shuffled into place behind him without a word.
βWhoβs there?β a voice called out from the burrow.
Fox relaxed a little bit as he realized that it was another cat hiding inside, not a fox or a badger.
βHello?β His voice was cautious.
A grey she-cat emerged from the darkness, her green eyes narrowed. Her lips parted in a snarl and she unsheathed her claws.
βGet back or else!β Chapter Three βWeβre not here to hurt you,β Fox protested. βWeβre just looking for a safe place to rest.β
The grey cat narrowed her eyes but relaxed a little.
βWere you stuck in the storm too?β she asked.
Fox nodded. βYeah, I actually hid here,β he said.
She peered around him to look at Mockingbird. βWhat about you?β she questioned. βYou look like youβve been through a lot.β
Mockingbird stepped out from behind him. βYeah, the door in my ownerβs den broke. I got hit with the glass.β
The she-cat smirked a little but Mockingbird didnβt appear to notice. βYouβre a kittypet?β she inquired.
Mockingbird shrugged. βIs that what you call a house-cat?β
Fox cut in. βYes, she is a kittypet,β he said.
βMy nameβs Mockingbird,β the sandy cat introduced herself.
βWillow,β the grey cat said curtly, turning her gaze to Fox.
He responded, βIβm Fox.β
At this point, Willow finally put away her claws. βIβm sorry,β she apologized. βI thought you were one of them.β
βOne of who?β Fox questioned.
βYou donβt think that that storm was natural, do you?β she asked.
He frowned. βWhat do you mean?β
Willow sat down and lifted one of her white paws to smooth down her whiskers. βHavenβt you heard the rumours?β
βWhat rumours?β Mockingbird piped up.
Willow settled down, tucking her paws under herself to get comfortable. βIβve heard that the world is ending. That the legendary Immortals have decided that theyβre done protecting the forest and are going to destroy it.β
Foxβs mind felt fuzzy. How could they do this? The Immortals were supposed to be heroes. He remembered his mother telling him about them before the sickness got her. He always thought it would be amazing to live forever and have mystical powers.
βWho are the Immortals?β Mockingbird asked.
Willow glanced at Fox. βWord really doesnβt get around in the Twolegplace,β she said.
Fox cut in. βHave you heard about the clans that live in the forest?β he inquired.
The kittypet shook her head.
βThereβs three groups of cats that live nearby, each with their own territory. A long time ago, one cat from each clan saved the clans from a horrible threat. To reward them, StarClan, who are the ghosts of their ancestors, granted them immortality and powers so that they can forever protect the clans,β he explained.
Mockingbirdβs jaw dropped. Fox stared at her, wondering if she believed him. It was something hard to wrap your mind around. The first time he heard about the Immortals and StarClan, he hadnβt believed it either until his mother convinced him otherwise. Then when he had seen one of the immortals, Talon, rescue a clan cat from a raging river, he idolized them even more.
Willow snorted. βI didnβt believe it either at first. But itβs true.β
βSo, now these heroes are trying to kill everyone?β Mockingbird squeaked. βThat makes no sense.β
Willow replied, βEven heroes can go rotten.β
βWeβre all gonna die then!β Mockingbird cried. βWhat are we going to do?β
Fox opened his mouth but before he could speak, Willow cut him off.
βYouβll be fine in your warm little den,β she sneered.
Again, Fox tried to step in but this time, it was Mockingbird that cut him off.
βI got hurt in my own den. I donβt want my owners getting hurt. I donβt want anyone else getting hurt. Iβm not cruel, unlike you,β she said, a hint of a snarl in her voice.
As much as Fox admired the young kittypet for standing up for herself, he couldnβt help but feel a pang of hurt as yet again, she reminded him of Kestrel.
Willow looked taken aback. βWell, what do you suggest we do then?β she asked. βOne kittypet canβt save the world.β
Mockingbird thought about it for a moment. βWe can warn the others. If everyone leaves, then the Immortals wonβt have anyone to hurt.β
The other she-cat looked dubious but Fox spoke up before she protested again.
βI think thatβs a good idea. Iβll help you,β he said.
He wasnβt quite sure why he had volunteered. But what else are you supposed to do when youβre faced with impending doom? He could just run far away from the forest, to somewhere where the Immortals would never go. But guilt hung heavily in his stomach at the thought of that. Kestrel had called him her hero when they were kits. He failed at being one once. He couldnβt fail again.
Mockingbird blinked happily. βWhat about you, Willow?β she questioned. βDo you want to help?β
Fox knew she would say no. Though he had only known for a just a few moments, he got the feeling that Willow wasnβt the most selfless cat in the forest.
βWhy not?β Willow finally responded. βI donβt have anything else to do and not dying sounds great.β
The slight hint of sarcasm in her tone made Fox sigh. He wasnβt sure if heβd be able to deal with her attitude for the whole day.
He piped up. βWhat about your owners?β he asked.
Fox saw a weird look in her eyes but he tried to ignore it. It was probably just nerves.
βWeβll just come back and check on them later!β she exclaimed, putting on a bright tone.
He looked her in the eyes. βAre you sure?β
βYes,β she said firmly.
βAre your wounds okay?β he asked.
She nodded. βIβll be fine.β
Willow paced forward. βSo, whatβs the plan?β
Mockingbird was silent.
Fox could tell that Willow was about to launch into another snarky remark. He quickly racked his brain, trying to think of what they could do. Talking to the clans would be a bad idea. As soon as they stepped over the border, they were as good as dead. And trying to get to the camp to talk to the leaders? That was an impossible task.
βLetβs talk to the rogues first,β he suggested. βWeβll just walk and see who we come across and warn them.β
Mockingbird shook her head. βWhy donβt we go to the clans first? We should warn as many cats as we can.β
Willow glanced over at Fox. βTheyβre incredibly hostile to anyone who doesnβt belong in their ranks. Theyβd shred your fluffy tail as soon as they saw you,β she said.
Mockingbird shrunk back, her eyes wide. Fox suppressed a sigh. He appreciated the fact that Willow was being cautious but trying to terrify her new companion was a bit too much for him.
βCalm down,β he told Mockingbird, before turning to Willow. βThey would not shred her.β
Willow smirked, tilting her head. βYou never know.β
Fox lashed his tail. βLetβs get moving and see if we can find anyone else,β he said. βAre you okay to walk, Mockingbird?β
The small she-cat nodded. βYeah I think so, as long as we donβt go too fast,β she responded, gingerly pressed her injured leg against the ground.
βOkay, letβs go!β Willow exclaimed, sauntering away.
Fox followed slowly, staying close to Mockingbird in case she needed help. But to his surprise, the kittypet kept up fairly well, though there was a constant grimace on her face.
βHave you always lived with your owners?β he asked her while they walked.
She shook her head. βI remember when I was a kitten, being somewhere else with a bunch of other cats. We were all separated though, into metal cages.β
βCages?β questioned Fox.
βTheyβre these things made of metal that keep you trapped inside.β She continued, βAnyways, one day my owners came and they looked at all the kittens and picked me to take to their den with them.β
Fox was quiet for a moment. Kittypet life seemed so strange. βDo you have any family? Do you remember your mother?β he asked.
Mockingbird sighed. βNo, I only have my owners. I donβt remember anything before the cage, I must have been too little. I donβt think I had a mother though, I remember the people who worked at the cat center feeding me with a bottle.β
Fox felt the urge to ask what a bottle was but pushed it away. Theyβd be here all day if he stopped to ask what every Twoleg word was. βIβm sorry that you never knew her,β was all that he said.
Mockingbird shrugged. βItβs not like I miss her. I have my owners,β she said, her voice breaking a little as she mentioned her owners.
Before Fox could figure out what to say to comfort her, Willow dashed back towards them.
βThereβs something wrong in that clearing behind the bushes there,β she hissed, her voice low.
βWhatβs wrong?β Mockingbird asked.
Willow glared at her. βBe quiet and stay hidden,β she snarled.
Mockingbird slunk away towards a nearby holly bush, her head hanging. She huddled inside, her yellow eyes glowing.
βWillow!β Fox snapped. βSheβs had her life turned around in the last day. Can you at least try to be nice?β
βI am!β Willow protested. βIβm trying to keep her alive. Youβll understand once you look into that clearing.β
βFine,β Fox huffed, stalking forward. Treading lightly on his paws, he peeked into the clearing.
A chill ran up his spine once he saw what Willow had been talking about. An orangish-pink she-cat sat hunched over in the center of the clearing. A jet black cat stalked around her, a sadistic grin stretched across her face. Just above the orange cat hovered a dark grey cloud. Rain was pouring our from the bottom for the cloud, pummeling the she-cat below.
The soaking wet cat shivered. She inched her paw forward as if she was going to try to run but a bolt of lightning shot out from above her, just narrowly avoiding her paw. She jerked backwards and the black she-cat let out a laugh. It was Dark Flower, Fox realized.
His heart pounding, Fox turned to Willow to discuss what they could do. It felt like a stone had dropped into his stomach when he realized she was gone.
All of a sudden, a yowl filled the air and he saw Willow hurl herself into the clearing.
βMousedung!β he swore under his breath.
He knew he should go help her. He didnβt know Willow very well, but no matter how good of a fighter she was, there was no way she was surviving a battle against one of the Immortals. But as Fox tried to gather up the courage to sprint down there, his limbs seized up. He couldnβt do it.
Willow flung herself onto Dark Flowerβs back sinking her teeth into the black catβs ear. With a howl, Dark Flower shook her off, sending Willow sprawling onto the ground. Her concentration had been broken though, and the cloud above the other she-cat had vanished. The orangish she-cat jumped into battle next to Willow, the two of them slashing at Dark Flowerβs flank, side by side.
Dark Flower dodged away and spun around, her head tilted towards the sky. Lightning bolts slashed down, trying to strike the paws of her two opponents. Willow nimbly hopped around the clearing avoiding them.
With a growl, Dark Flower sprung at Willow, bowling her over. The gray she-cat flipped the Immortal onto her back and slashed at her stomach. Dark Flower screeched and drew her claws across Willowβs face.
Willow fell backward, shaking her head, sending blood splattering into the dirt. Dark Flower stood for a moment watching her.
βThis is not the end of this,β she snarled. A gust of wind descended from the sky and picked up the Immortal carrying her far away to safety.
Willow padded over to the other she-cat and the two of them climbed back up towards where Fox was waiting. Hearing the sounds of the battle cease, Mockingbird slipped out from under the bush and slowly walked over to meet Willow.
βIβm sorry I snapped at you,β Willow apologized. βI just didnβt want you to get hurt.β
Mockingbird ducked her head down. βItβs okay.β
The she-cat that Willow had saved shuffled her paws against the dirt. βThank you for helping me,β she said.
βNo problem,β Willow responded with a grin. βIt was nice to use my fighting muscles again.β
Fox rolled his eyes. βYou could have gotten yourself killed,β he said.
βBut I didnβt,β Willow reminded him. She turned to the orange cat. βIβm Willow, whatβs your name?β
The other cat hesitated for a moment. βIβm Bright,β she said.
βIβm Fox and this is Mockingbird,β Fox introduced themselves, gesturing with his tail.
Bright dipped her head towards them. βThank you again for saving me, but I should be going.β
βWait!β Fox exclaimed. βWhat if Dark Flower comes back. Itβs safer to be in a group.β
βIβm more of a loner,β Bright muttered.
Fox sat down next to her. βNone of us knew each other yesterday. We just banded together cause itβs our best chance of surviving if we come across an Immortal. Please stay.β
Bright thought it over for a moment. βFine,β she said finally. βBut once thereβs even the slightest sign that I would be safe on my own, Iβm leaving.β
βOkay,β Fox replied, nodding his head. βLetβs find someplace to sleep for the night.β
Willow took the lead, heading deeper into the forest. Soon an abandoned burrow presented itself, so they curled up inside. Willow and Bright didnβt take long to fall asleep but Fox just lied there awake with his thoughts. Mockingbird twitched in her sleep, letting out a faint whimper.
Fox sighed. A few days ago, he never would have imagined himself in this situation. But despite the danger, he didnβt hate being with a group. It reminded him of long ago with his family. Finally, darkness overtook his vision and he drifted off into sleep.
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