M I D N I G H T
Her lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen but she knew that she could not stop running. If she let up, for even a moment, it could mean her life. Her muscles ached from exhaustion, the effort it took to keep sprinting, and the fresh lacerations that curved around her body. She was sure that she was leaving a heavy trail of blood behind her, which only served to keep her pursuers on her tail. She felt like she just barely managed to escape the assault from the group of rogues that ambushed her in the first place, how was she supposed to fend them off now, when she was wounded and alone?
I can't think about that, Midnight chastised herself. If she allowed herself to panic, she would slip up and it would cost her dearly. If there was anything she learned from Kass, it was important to always keep a level head in dire situations. First, she needed to lose her trackers. She had fled far from the city and now she had no clue where she was. The territory she wove through was unfamiliar, but the paths were oddly shaped before her as though they had already been cleared by thousands of pawprints before her time. It was almost like the way to freedom was right ahead, so close she could taste it.
Don't get impatient. Stay calm, she reminded herself again. The scent of water was nearby. If she was lucky, maybe she could hop into the brooks to wash away her scent and the stench of blood. If she could do that, then she could surely lose the rogues on her tail.
For once in her pitiful life, the heavens blessed her. Coming into view was a spacious stream, the water wasn't too aggressive and she would be able to dip in and soak her pelt with the smells of the surrounding area. Midnight stepped into the water quickly, holding her breath and ducking her head under the surface to ensure that her entire body was soaked before she burst back out into the open and fled into the undergrowth. Doing her best to even her breathing back out and hide her presence, the black feline slipped under a dense bush and waited.
The sound of pawsteps in a hurry approached and she stilled, her muscles tense and ready to flee if she had to but they kept going and went straight past her. It seemed as though her pursuers had missed her. She was free. Quietly exhaling the breath she had been holding, Midnight came out from hiding and double checked her surroundings. I've come a long way from the city... She thought, surveying the open space and the bright light that sunbathed the clearing. There was nothing so beautiful where she came from but she couldn't stop to admire the view. She needed to make sure that she kept moving, or the rogues might double back and find her again.
However, the moment she took another step forward, her vision swam. Midnight gritted her teeth, understanding immediately that she had lost too much blood and had over-exhausted herself. She cursed openly into the air and then lost consciousness.
Solarpaw
Skyclan Apprentice
His chest was rising and falling quickly, Solarpaw’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment as he was looking in the direction of Midnight’s attackers. Two felines were looking around for her until before giving up on this area and moving to another part of the territory. Letting out a sigh of relief, Solarpaw’s gaze went towards Midnight before a smirk escaped the corner of his lips.. Oh, this black molly was a feisty one! The ginger and black tabby tom always wanted a best friend that was very sassy! Solarpaw closed his eyes for a moment with a huge smile on his face “Hey! That’s no way to start an introduction to your new best friend.” Solarpaw said, his voice was calm but cheerful. The large Maine Coon was smarter than he let others think, which benefited him.
Making his way out of the twisted roots of the tree, Solarpaw grunted softly before shaking his fur and looking back at Midnight with a toothy grin “Ah come on, I’m not going to do anything. I got better morals than that.” Solarpaw said, a cheeky grin appeared on his face and winked at the molly. Noticing the unamused look on the black molly’s face, he rolled his eyes playfully “Fine, I’ll tell you.” He said before sitting down, his expression was relaxed and a lazy grin formed on his lips “My name is Solarpaw, I live around here in the forest with my home.. Skyclan, which you’re in right now.” The orange and black tabby tom said, arching an eyebrow before looking towards the direction of where Midnight’s enemies went towards.
“So why were they chasing you?” He questioned, giving her a look. The large Maine Coon slowly made his way towards the smaller black molly. “Can you walk? You got anywhere to go?” Solarpaw questioned before noticing the alarmed look on her face. If Midnight had a home, she certainly wasn’t anywhere near it. Lowering himself, Solarpaw beckoned his head towards his back “Come on, you won’t be able to outrun them if they return. We’ll find a place for you to rest at.”
Solarpaw
Skyclan Apprentice
Patience, it was something that Solarpaw had lacked since becoming an apprentice. Letting out a soft hum, the black and ginger tabby was striding through the forests, his turquoise eyes were narrowed slightly. It had been two days since his naming ceremony, and Solarpaw hadn’t caught his first fish yet. Letting out a soft snort for a moment, the tall Maine Coon couldn’t forget Magmapaw boosting about the fish that she had caught yesterday. Why couldn’t he find a fish? New Leaf had finally arrived! Shouldn’t the fish be out by now? His mentor explained that time and patience was important, but he wanted to show that he was capable of being a suitable warrior of Skyclan, to make his parents proud of him!
Hence the reason why Solarpaw had decided to leave camp for a bit to practice on his concentration and fishing skills. His parents and mentor wouldn’t notice his disappearance til they’re all woken up, but Solarpaw would be back at camp by then. Clicking his tongue for a moment, he noticed that a couple of twigs were snapped and there was some kind of disturbance along the path.. Solarpaw wasn’t quite sure what created the mess, but he was curious. Lowering himself for a moment, Solarpaw carefully made his way towards the direction of the brooks. The black and ginger tabby’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment as seeing a small blood trail and followed before noticing the crimson liquid trailing into the water.
A frown appeared on his lips, biting the inside of his cheek. It wasn’t until he suddenly saw a figure gasping for air once surfacing from the water that caused the Maine Coon to quickly look up towards her direction. Without hesiststing, the ginger and black tabby apprentice leaped into the waters and quickly followed her “Hey!” Solar called, watching her traveling to the shore. At first, the beautiful black molly was ignoring him and kept stumbling forward. It wasn’t until he saw Midnight’s eyes rolling at the back of her head and was about to collapse until Solarpaw moved forward and lowered himself as her chin hit his shoulder and the smaller molly slumped down.
“Hey, I’ve got you.” He said quietly, lowering himself for a moment while maneuvering to get the black molly on his back. It wasn’t until his ears perked up at the sound of shouting and pawsteps approaching, which caused Solarpaw to start running towards the opposite direction “What did you get yourself into, Troublemaker?” The black and ginger tabby said under his breath, grunting slightly as he leapt over a small log, thankful that Midnight didn’t fall off him. Looking around quickly, there was a tree that was nearby that was hollowed inside. Making his way towards the tree, the large Maine Coon squeezed inside. Lowering himself for a moment, Solarpaw was ready to roll the small molly onto the ground if he had to spring into action.
His turquoise colored eyes narrowed slightly as he heard pawsteps approaching, praying to Starclan and every ancestor around that they didn’t get caught. “Look, they went that way!” A voice said before Solarpaw let out a soft sigh of relief when listening to the pawsteps become distant as the rogues left the clearing