BUNNYSKIP
Bunnyskip had come here so much to meet Pagan that it felt like their secret spot, the place she could go to simply be herself with him. After having little luck convincing him to come back to Thunderclan with her to live their lives truthfully as not just clanmates, but as mates, she hadn't given up on him. Many cats would have turned tail and sought love elsewhere, but Bunnyskip couldn't turn her back on the way her head spun and her stomach flipped when she met him. Was this kind of feeling what had driven her mother seeking Kass and leaving their clan? Was this feeling what had sent Snarlingbadger on a rebound so quickly after her departure? She'd spent forever wondering, yet Bunnyskip couldn't forgive her parents for splitting apart their family just yet. Perhaps it's the familiarity of her forbidden lover that drove her seeking him out so consistently. She knew he'd come, he always did. It's like he could sense when she needed him.
It didn't help that tensions were beginning to rise in Thunderclan. After Firestar had asked for Hawkstar to share land for hunting, she could feel the pressure like a blanket across the camp. Her heart condition was beginning to bother her, the anxiety getting to her. She'd almost had an episode when Basilfang snapped at her for missing an easy mouse during a hunting patrol. Ever since Gravelpelt had finally returned too, she couldn't bear to see the tom sitting across the camp looking forlorn, seemingly wondering what had happened in Thunderclan during his absence. She'd even witnessed Lupinekit and Lynxkit fighting over a moss-ball. The tension in the camp, even among the nursery, was driving her crazy.
Bunnyskip sat beside the water, pressing her chin to her paws and swishing her tail around to cover her face. A deep sigh shook her shoulders, and she slowly dipped her front paw into the water, swilling it around beneath the surface and watching as the stars warped. She wondered if any cat had even noticed she was going out to visit Pagan. If any cat had realised she'd been seeing him for over a year now, or if they'd even realise if she left entirely.
Ever since her parents' split, she'd wondered if she had a place in Thunderclan at all. Her siblings and littermates were there, sure, but she knew they would cope without her. Bunnyskip couldn't help wanting to experience what it was like outside of the clans. She'd spent so long trying to convince Pagan to come and live with her, she was starting to realise that maybe she should be the one to make the sacrifice. She loved him with every bone in her body, she knew that deep down, her home was wherever he was.
BUNNYSKIP
Bunnyskip sighed softly, her tail curling over Pagan's flank as she wrapped herself up in his arms, pressing her nose into the thick fur around his neck as he pressed his face into her fur. Her eyes closed, and she remained silent for a moment, perfectly content for the world to just entirely consist of them and nothing else for those few moments.
"I know," She exhaled, "I just hope it doesn't come to battle." She pauses, listening as he continues, finding herself blushing at his words of devotion. She knew he was right, that she couldn't blame her mother and her sister, and yet, it didn't make it any easier to forgive them.
"It isn't their fault, I understand... I just wish I had more warning. It would have been easier with time to prepare." Her gaze softened as she pulled back enough to look at him, her gaze full of nothing but adoration for the charming tom. "You are so sweet, I would do the same..." Sensing he had something to say, she stopped, and tilted her head to allow him to speak.
Her eyes widened at his offer, an offer she knew that deep down she had always wanted. Especially with recent tensions, she'd been craving him deciding to finally ask her to go with him. Whilst when they'd first started seeing each other, she never would have agreed, Bunnyskip couldn't help but acknowledge that her prior hesitation was now all-but nonexistant. Before she could even stop herself, the words tumbled from her mouth,
"Oh, Pagan...It's what I've always wanted, I think I just needed something to finally convince me of the fact." She purred, pressing her nose to his, "Of course. I'll come with you. Let's run away together, and I'll be yours for as long as you'll have me." Her heart fluttered in her chest, with both the realisation of what leaving her clan would entail, as well as the excitement that coursed through her. Bunnyskip didn't have to worry about Thunderclan any more. All she had to worry about was the handsome tom in front of her, and their new life together.
Pagan
His gaze softened as the pale calico opened up to him, giving her ear a comforting lick. Using his paws to gently whip the tears from her eyes, the large tom cat was unsure how to comfort his small friend but he was still trying his best. Pagans gaze left Bunnyskip, his eyes staring off into the distant not at anything in particular just at the endless starry night sky. He wasn't as familiar with the bonds Bunnysky shared with her kin sure he loved his mother and brother and wept for the loss of his sister but at the end of the day he felt no chains binding him to be with them.
His large tufted ears flickering at the mention of war, “I’d be by your side in an instant should it come to that little Bunny.” His pale violet gaze returned to the small warrior, his forehead gently borrowing against her fur, inhaling her sweet scent. “Your sister and your mother both made their choices being led by their hearts, I can't say I blame them.” His whiskers twitching at his own words, “Because when I look at you I feel like I run to the end of the stars just to be by your side.”
He always hesitated to ask Bunnyskip to come with him, he couldn’t guarantee her safety, forest life was hard with or without a clan but with a clan there was safety in numbers, something he couldn't provide. Taking a deep breath and an even longer exhale followed, You can do it Pagan…
“You know, Thunderclan isn't the only option. I can't provide you much aside from a spot in my nest.” His yearning gaze unwavering.
BUNNYSKIP
On instinct, Bunnyskip buried her face in Pagan's fur, her tail curling around him as she leant her head up to meet him as he licked her cheek. Her amber eyes traveled across his face, taking in the features of the tom she'd missed so much. Her front paws wrapped around his neck, she draped herself across Pagan with a heavy sigh that rumbled from deep within her chest. He always knew her so well, he could just tell when she was feeling upset.
"Things are getting... difficult in Thunderclan lately." She sighed, "Ever since my mom and dad split up, it feels like Thunderclan has been getting worse to be in..." Curling around him even more, she felt tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"It's not a bad clan. Hawkstar is a good leader. I wanted to be there to be with my family, I wanted you to be there and meet my family, but... things are getting tense. Cats are starting to argue over the smallest things. I'm afraid it's going to come to war." Bunnyskip sighed again, her body suddenly feeling as if it weighed ten times more. "Appleblossom moved to Windclan, Peachblossom left chasing after Kass. Every few moons there's another thing that feels like it's pushing me away."
Bunnyskip looked at Pagan, deep into his eyes.
"I don't want to upset my littermates and my half siblings, but...Pagan, I don't feel like I belong in Thunderclan any more, and I don't know what to do." Bunnyskip felt hopeless. Was this how Appleblossom had felt when chasing love?
Pagan
He always tried to beat Bunnyskip to their secret nest but she always seemed to be stuck waiting on him. His group had constantly been breathing down his neck encouraging him to take a mate to pass down his strong genetics into their future generations making it harder and harder for him to leave unnoticed. Pagan would simply come up with a lame excuse and slip away, he wouldn't let them stop him from seeing Bunnyskip.
In his eyes only Bunnyskip existed, the moonlight perfectly enveloping the small feline as if it was a beacon letting him know where his mate was at all times. His large creamy gray fur entangled with hers as he slid next to her, his tail and paws engulfing her as he pulled her closer to him.
“My sweet bunny.”
His large muzzle gently nuzzled against her. His gaze studying her every feature, burning each new curl of her burn into his mind they met up as often as they could but it was never often enough. He gingerly rasp his tongue over her cheek fluff, “Why does my little bunny look so somber?”