xxxxusername;; hot-secondxxxxcat name;; Squirreltailxxxxgender;; Femalexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxprompt;; 499 / 500 wordsxxxxage;; 23 Moonsxxxxclan;; Hawthornclanxxxxrank;; WarriorxxxxxxxA yawn escaped the reddish she-cat and her ears swiveled backwards, stretching out comfortably in her bedding as she did every morning. Twisting her body around to rest on her other side, Squirreltail lay there for just a few more precious minutes in her self-created night before forcing her tired blue eyes to flutter open; however, something was... noticeably different.
xxxxxxxThe moonlit darkness flooding her surroundings coloured her in several shades of surprise and she flipped herself upright, the cool night breeze slithering in from the den’s opening and making itself known to her with a shiver sent down her spine.
Looking back down at the soft green clumps clinging to her forearms, she sighed. Their radiating warmth sure did their best to beckon her to slumber, but the prospect of sleep did not pull at her eyelids. Instead, she felt crisp and full of energy, and she thought perhaps a small walk around the territory was due.
xxxxxxxQuietly, she plucked herself from her bedding and gave her thick tufts a good shake, only meager amounts of green sticking to her coat as she slunk from the sleepy den, taking great care not to accidentally tap any of her denmates while striding across them.
xxxxxxxOutside of the warmth of the den, the chilled air gently toyed with her fur, the scent of fresh dew hanging heavy in the hushed breeze as it swirled upwards and out beyond the clan’s protective bramble walls. She stared upwards, watching as the gust pulled apart the leaves above before returning her eyes to the dreaming colony, her paws sticking to the damp grass beneath them for just a moment longer before finally tugging themselves forward in the direction of Hawthornclan’s well-trodden exit.
xxxxxxx“...you saying, Sagelight?”
xxxxxxxThe words shook the she-cat to her core and she froze mid-step, ears swiveling towards the sound. She discovered she’d barely made it past Hawthornstar’s den before the voice infiltrated her somber peace, her eyes gravitating towards it just in time to see the bristled tail of Sagelight slither its way into the den’s entrance.
xxxxxxx“...white kitten...Hawthornclan...hot fire!”
xxxxxxxSquirreltail's brow rose as she listened in, wondering exactly what was happening. Was… a prophecy being repeated? Hawthornstar wouldn’t confirm if he was prodded, she knew that. It was none of her business anyway, the she-cat added with a stern frown. In an instant, she scuttled forward, but couldn’t help thinking back to Sagelight’s muddy report. Wasn't Hawthornclan mentioned?
xxxxxxxThe she-cat’s belly twisted in knots as the worse thought came to mind. Her claws peeked out of her paws, nervously picking at the dirt while she walked.
xxxxxxxEventually, her gait slowly came to a close as the forest opened up around her, her eyes gingerly picking themselves up from off the ground and moving up to reflect the stars, breathing into them with a troubled air. Silverpelt blinked back at her just as softly, the galaxy itself seeming uncomfortable as it swished around restlessly within the blanket of the dark sky.