cac pride month - entries

[ilhdc7]

writing for briar & thistle
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[ilhdc7]

[1257/1500] Thistle purred deeply, the soft hands of her wealthy owner scratched at the base of her tail, just where she liked it. Her owner murmured some words but Thistle just ignored her, up-walkers were generally mouse-brained and didn’t know anything about surviving. But in all honesty, she didn’t either. She pulled away from her up-walker and shook her head, a small tinkling came from the collar around her neck that held a bell. The pink collar was always so tight around her neck and she hated it, but she had never been bothered enough to take it off. It was a nuisance, not a fun killer.

She delicately waltzed over to her food bowl a sat down, her back end lowering slowly. She saw her up-walker look at her and say something else. Thistle meowed and within minutes her bowl was filled with creamy, rich milk. She lapped it up, making sure not to spill the milk all over herself as well as the floor. She hated getting dirty, and it was always a pain to clean up.

She left the milk bowl, half full, knowing that her owner would leave it there for her for when she wanted more. Thistle moved her tail back and forth for a couple of seconds, before deciding to exit the house. She wanted to watch the birds. She could never catch any but had always entertained the thought of it. “Let’s see what Mr. Robin is up to today…”

--

Briar held her breath as she lay on the thick branch, tensing her back legs as she waited for the robin to settle down, and allow her a moment to jump and catch the bird. The bird looked away for just a moment, but Briar had her chance. She sprung forward with all of her might and caught the bird mid-flight. Her bag legs scrambled to grab hold of the branch, and her front legs clawed at the air with desperation. But she had already jumped into the air. She fell to the ground, robin squawking in her mouth as he tried to get away from her iron grip, but to no avail.

A small sound of laughter sounded behind the black tortoiseshell, her vivid green eyes turning to find the source of the sound. She narrowed her eyes on the stunning white cat, before she spoke she crunched down on the robin harder, making sure that it wouldn’t be able to fly away. She spat feathers out of her mouth before talking, “What?”

The white cat giggled, the bell around her collar tinkling at the movement of her head. Briar raised an eyebrow, realizing that she was staring at a kittypet, a way too friendly one at that. She scoffed to herself and turned to pick up the bird, “Kittypet.”

The white cat stopped laughing emidately, “Excuse me? What did you just say?”

Briar glared, “I called you a kittypet, kittypet.”

Thistle narrowed her eyes and stalked forward, though the angry look on her face just caused Briar to laugh, she muffled her mouth with her paw and watched as Thistle got closer. “Whatcha gonna do about it, kittypet.”

Briar halted. She cocked her head, then with confusion in her voice, she said, “Well, I actually don’t know. I just was coming over here to do,” She paused, “Well I don’t know.”

Briar threw her head back and laughed loudly, enjoying the cute confusion that swirled about Thistle, “Alright, alright, I’m Briar by the way.”

Thistle stared at her for a second before letting out a small laugh, “I’m Thistle.”

--

A few months had gone by, with Thistle sneaking out of her house more than she ever had before to talk to Briar. The green eyes that held so many emotions always calling her back to the she-cat. She poked her head through the cat door and ran out, excited to see Briar. She smiled as she thought of all the memories they had, good and bad. Most were of Briar trying to teach Thistle how to hunt, and Thistle just feeling bad about hunting the poor ‘Mr. Robin’, she ate whatever they caught though, liking the food better than her milk.

She saw Briar standing out underneath a street light and pranced forward, “How’s Mud? He seemed so off yesterday.”

Briar nodded, “Yeah, I noticed that too, but, whatever, nothing important. How was your silly up-walker?”

Thistle smiled, “As silly as ever.” There was a lull in the conversation, nothing they weren’t used to though, both of them enjoying the silence and the company. Thistle sighed and laid down, Briar curling up beside her.

Briar sighed also, “I’ve got something to tell you, it’s kinda important.”

Thistle opened her eyes wide, “Ok, yeah, what’s up?”

Briar rolled onto her back and looked up to the sky, trying to find the words. How on earth was she going to tell Thistle that she was leaving. And leaving for good? Life wasn’t fair. Her ancestors had come down to her and told her that she was needed in a clan far away, one that was up in the mountains. And that it was time for her to find a family and settle down. They wanted her to go to some clan that had a bunch of cats that would be hunting and providing for each other.

But the problem was that she didn’t want to leave Thistle. She didn’t want to leave her cute little blue and green-eyed companion that she enjoyed caring for and made her laugh like no other cat in the world. The she-cat that always made sure her fur was perfect and enjoyed grooming her to make her look good. The she cat that had listened and cared and who she fiercely loved. With all her heart.

“I had a dream. My ancestors, they came to me in a dream last night. Told me how to live my life. Told me I needed to go find some clan or something and live there. That I needed to protect Winterclan or something.” She paused, searching Thistle’s eyes for something, she didn’t know, “I’m going to go. I have to. I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

Thistle nodded, “So. You are leaving me.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

Briar sighed, “It seems so.”

There was a long pause, and the crickets could be heard from side of the road. Thistle closed her eyes tightly, “Well. Before you go, you just need to know that I love you. And you are always welcome in my yard. And to eat my robins.” Thistle turned away quickly and started to walk towards her yard. She was distancing herself physically as well as mentally.

Briar groaned and yelled at her as she was walking away, “That’s the problem! I love you too and I can’t leave without you! I won’t. I won’t. There’s no way I could find another cat that fits me as perfectly as you do.”

Thistle turned, “What? What do you mean? You love me?”

Briar twisted her claws into the ground, “Yes I love you! Come with me! I can take your collar off and we can be together!”

Thistle nodded, “OK. Ok. Yes. Let’s do this!”

Briar leaped forward and raked her claws on the dainty pink choker, cutting through the fabric easily. She was breathing hard, all the adrenaline running through her. “Let’s go!” She turned and sprinted towards the edge of town. Thistle laughed loudly and raced after her. They followed the stars. As well as their hearts.