Username: Nedbit
Cat Name: Mapleclaw
Gender: Non-Binary (She/They)
Rank: Hunter > Browser
Clan: BarleyClanAge: 3 years old
Prompt:Info
957 words (including lyrics) | 4 Art Pieces | 3 Songs | Note: Italic lettering in the center is lyrics corresponding to the song being played! If It has a link, it's one of the art pieces that go along with the song!
"When people think of their favorite or most memorable day of their life, they may not think of what I do. But that's okay. Because even if my day involves revenge, grief, and a sorrow ending, this day changed my life..."
"For the better, or for the worse?"
I don't want to be afraid
The deeper that I go
She was here for a reason, caused this inferno for a reason.
He would pay for what he did to them. The years of being trapped in a cage with no key, a cave with no light. She would be free, and he would be dead. She wasn’t afraid to do this, Mapleclaw had been ready the day she discovered her old camp.
It takes my breath away
Soft hearts electric souls
Something within begged her to stop. They wouldn’t feel better after this, they'd feel grief. It would make things worse.
She couldn’t breathe, the smoke crawled up and down their throat like a lizard. They could barely even see the camp, much less the faint outline of her old clanmates.
Her old clanmates. Some were calling for help, some were cursing her. Mapleclaw bared no mind to it, the fire wasn’t as intense as she had intended, they would get out alive.
She cringed as a part of a den fell and collapsed onto a few of the elders trying to escape.
Sorry was not the word she could use, nor regretful. She had a fire in her heart, electricity in their soul, and a mission to fulfill,
no matter the cost.
There he was, finally, below their paws.
“You’re crazy! Absolutely mad!” he cried.
She would have laughed if she wasn't fueled with anger and vengeance.
“You ruined me.”They stepped closer to his scrunched form, claws slowly emerging from her snowy paws.
“I figured I’d return the favor.” You’re like an imprint
You’ve got fire up and down your cheeks
She smiled as tears slowly fell down her face. This was grief they were feeling.
Grief for her old clan mates that had helped her during their time in the clan.
Grief for all the nooks and crannies she hid in as a kit.
Grief for all the good memories.
They had been told she should get rid of the bad memories. Dispose of them,
burn them away.
But the problem with her bad memories was that they would never go away, no matter what she did.
Memories like this demanded true sacrifice.
Gold are your fingers
Leaving traces everywhere you go
Maybe they’ll know it was her, the cats that had escaped. What would they do when their leash is cut loose, with their leader gone? She shivered at the thought, their head starting to swarm with paranoia.
Unspeakable things would happen. She collapsed beside a tree, tending to her wounds beyond the raging fire.
Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
Mapleclaw ran towards the clearing near BarelyClan where she and Hakuna would meet so many times before. They yelled for him a few times towards the direction of the clan camp and patiently waited. The clan knew of them, and valued her as an outside alley, no matter how much they wanted her to join their clan. It had been a while since Mapleclaw visited though, so she was surprised at how fast Hakuna and his hedgehog buddy, Matata, emerged from the bushes, swiveling their heads to try and find the cat.
Once spotted, they ran towards each other, grateful to see one another after such a long, long time.
Hakuna laughed heartily at her story, both of their hearts warmed.
Mapleclaw gave a small smile, resting their head on their paws. It had been a long and tiring journey.
Noticing her fatigue, he pondered.
“So, where have you been all this time? Surely not on another one of your city journeys?” Mapleclaw paused for a second, a small smile still on her face.
How am I supposed to tell him…? They shook their head and looked up at him.
“I did some reliving of my past, with the old clan... It was a challenge but I worked through it.” Hakuna smiled widely at her, followed by Matata’s excited squeaking.
“Really? Mapleclaw, that is.. amazing! Does that mean you’ll be joining BarelyClan?” “Does that mean you’ll be joining BarelyClan?”She looked down as the question left his mouth.
Hakuna nodded slightly and relaxed a little, letting out a big sigh.
“You still have things to get done, don’t you?” Mapleclaw looked around the clearing they were situated in. At any moment, a cat she put in danger could come for her. They wouldn’t allow that harm to come to her or the cats they loved.
Mapleclaw looked back at Hakuna and Matata, nodding guiltily.
“Yeah. I have some unfinished business with a few cats from our old clan.” Hakuna cringed at the mention of his old clan. He didn’t like the cats from the clan one bit. They were obedient to their orders, strong followers of the code they were raised on.
“
Peace is strong, but violence is sweet” they’d say to the apprentices “
Don’t abandon a problem that you can solve with just the swipe of your claws.”
“I’ll be careful, I promise. I know what I’m doing.” Mapleclaw assured him, as they curled into one another once again.
So, kiss me once
Then, kiss me twice
Kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
