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chapter one
. ༉‧₊˚✧ . ˚

"Where have you been?"

   A black-furred, lanky oriental tomcat stood face-to-face with a creamy-white, curly-furred tomcat with dull-yellow orbs. Though his eye color was dull, the oriental could still see the fire burning in his eyes.

   The black oriental stood at the edge of where the boulders stood to the entrance of the village camp with a single hare grasped between his jaws. The feline quickly lowered his head and dropped the piece of prey between his paws, then rose his head steadily. He should have stayed within the camp walls. "I-I was helping Tansycloud," he stammered quietly. His coal-black paws shuffled as he bowed his head, his ears flattening on top of his skull, making the appearance as if he had none. His pelt burned with a mixture of shame and embarrassment as a few looks glanced his way, glaring at the scene.

The curly-furred tomcat let out a small snort and swung his head to the side. The oriental noticed that his tail was beginning to lash to and fro behind his figure. He then looked down upon him, and even though the oriental wasn't making eye contact with him, he knew this corkscrew-furred feline was glaring down at him with anger. "I should just leave you," he growled lowly, "you never tell me where you're going, you never check up on me, and you're too busy with Tansycloud!"

   This made the black-pelted feline combatant's heart jump. He quickly looked up with his head still bowed and his body pressed close to the ground in a submissive-crouch position. No, he couldn't leave him! Not now. He only had a couple friends beside him. He loved him so much! He let out a small whimper. "Please don't, Woollysheep," he murmured quietly. The tomcat — known as Woollysheep — let out a small snort as he gazed deep into his hues.

   A few moments went past before the curly-furred tomcat rose his head and let out a small scoff. His eyes pierced down into the pelt of the black cat. "Next time tell me where you're going, Hemlockshade," he growled lowly. Hemlockshade quickly bobbed his head up and down, his eyes fixed upon the ground as his mate briskly trotted in the opposite direction, headed over to a pair of other tomcats. The feline slowly rose his head, his throat knotted up in a tight ball as tears threatened to spill, but squeezed his orbs shut for a few moments. He didn't want to lose him. He was the only one who seemed to love him besides his only two friends.

   "You okay?"

   Hemlockshade jumped at the familiar sound of his beloved friend and spun around. A medium-furred, brown tabby she-cat was standing above the timid, black feline with dull-amber colored orbs. They glinted with concern.

Hemlockshade blinked slowly as he stared up at the she-cat, his fur laying flat along his spine as his fear waved down. He bobbed his head up and down quickly, rising to his paws shakily. "Y-yeah," he murmured, his eyes glinting to where his mate was. He was speaking with some combatants, but his eyes were flickering to where a couple she-cats sat and were quietly munching on some prey. His eyes were focused on them like predator on prey. Hemlockshade's heart sank. I wish he would look at me like that.

The she-cat who stood in front of him spoke, making Hemlockshade's eyes glance to the she-cat. "Thanks for coming along for the sunhigh patrol," she meowed softly. She shook out her coat as if she was a canine, but gave her left paw a few licks and drew it over her ear.

   Hemlockshade didn't say anything. He only gave her a small bob of his head and broke his gaze away from her's, glancing to the side. His tail slowly drooped and his once decently-alright mood twisted into the emotion he felt most of the time: angst. "I . . . I'm going to take a s-stroll." Before his friend could say anything more, he turned and scrambled up the boulders, squeezing through the small tunnel that led out of the village camp. His claws extended as he climbed up the steep slope, his ears flattened to his skull as dirt pieces clung to his coat.

Squeezing out of the tunnel, the feline fled and quickly trotted into the depths of the forest, his scent trail marking his path as he scrambled away from the village camp. With his ears flattened to his skull, he made his way through the thick oaks and cedars, his throat burning with sadness. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he made a sharp left and headed towards a place that he new was safe for him.

   Within sight, he made his direction towards a small rock-like den. He was sure it was an old wolf den that had been abandon for many seasons, but then again, many animals could have lived there. It was hidden within some brambles and thickets, along with some moss and fallen logs. Placing a paw on one of the fallen tree logs, he gapped his mouth open and let scents flood through him. Only stale village cat scents waved over him along with the forest scents he was so familiar with. The jet-black tomcat perked his ears as he heard a twig snap behind him. Swinging his head towards the noise, his fur slowly stuck up and his tail began to lash. Eyes wide, he glanced around. "H-hello?"

   No answer.

   The oriental waited for a few heartbeats, his eyes darting from place to place. His fur was aligned along his spine in panic; had someone followed him? Fear crept its way into his body as terrible possibilities drifted into his mind. Was Woollysheep here? He would kill him if he knew that he was slipping about the territory. Even though it's not against the law, Woollysheep was very protective and was angered easily.

   As he stared off into the distance for a couple more heartbeats he slowly let his guard down as he didn't hear any more noises except the soft chirps of robins and cardinals. Swinging his head back to the rock-like den he stepped over the mossy log and crept nearer, his pawsteps as light as a feather. He entered cautiously, sticking his nose in first while his eyesight shifted against the dim lighting. He gapped his mouth open. No feline or predator scent, he thought to himself. A wave of relief washed over his small, lanky body. Stepping inside he noticed that there were dead leaves scattered among the floor of the den along with some moss. He could sleep here for the evening and go back at night and say he was practicing his hunting skills.

   Combatants were trained to protect the village, yes, but there isn't a law against combatants hunting. They were taught little skill in the technique but still knew some knowledge about hunting, just not a lot. Hemlockshade winced at the thought of his mate finding him in the woodlands. He brushed off the thought and crept into the den more, his eyes casted among the leaves. As he stepped around the leaves crunched underneath his paws which made him jump. The tomcat sighed.

   Laying in a corner he lay his head on his black paws, eyes glancing around the den. Cobwebs that held a black widow hung in the corner closest to the entrance of the den caught his eye. He stared at it, watching the spider closely as it wrapped its silk around a large horsefly. He shifted his body and rested his eyes, wanting to fall asleep. His stomach tumbled in protest but he wasn't in the mood to chow on prey. He wanted sleep.

* * *

   A scent wafted over the slumbering oriental gently, causing the feline to stir awake slowly. Fluttering his eyes open he rose his head and fluttered his oculars open, half awake and half sleep deprived. It took the long-limbed feline to realize who was standing in front of him.

   Hemlockshade scrambled to his paws with his fur standing along his spine. His yellow hues were wide with panic as Woollysheep stood in front of him, about two rabbit lengths away. He stood at the entrance of the den but something was off about him. The black feline's eyes trailed down to his mate's paws and narrowed his orbs in slightly confusion; his claws were sheathed?

   Looking back up at his love he didn't dare say anything first. He waited for the curly-furred combatant to speak. Instead, his mate slowly made his way over to him. Hemlockshade was frozen to the spot, his heart thumping faster than a rabbit on a chase. As he stood there Woollysheep slowly neared him and pressed his muzzle against his, nuzzling the oriental softly. Hemlockshade closed his eyes and breathed in his scent. Oh, how his scent dragged him into clouds farther than the eye could see.

   Hemlockshade swallowed something saliva as his heart thumped hard against his chest. "Y-you're not mad?" A purr rumbled within Woollysheep's throat which made Hemlockshade's heart skip a beat.

"No love," he murmured softly. Hemlockshade felt goosebumps along his flesh as his mate began to graze his tongue along his neck slowly and softly, intertwining his tail with the lanky oriental's. The black-coated combatant couldn't help but let out a soft, slow purr as his eyes rested in the moment. This was the only time Woollysheep made him feel wanted. He enjoyed feeling as if he belonged.

* * *

As the sun peaked against the horizon, spreading its rays along the woodland territory, Hemlockshade smiled. He slowly opened his eyes as he stretched out his limbs, purring as he did so. As he woke he slowly glanced around, noticing that Woollysheep wasn't in the den. Rising to his limbs he padded out of the den and looked around the woodlands. His smile faded into a small frown as he realized what another night had become: a one night stand.

Hemlockshade sat upon his haunches and exhaled a small sigh, a cloud of fog forming into the atmosphere but later disappearing a few heartbeats later. The only thing of Woollysheep's that was left was his aurora. His sweet, sweet aurora.

And maybe a few fur pieces from the night before.