Withered/Six

insert poem here lol

~

I sprint across camp, trying to lose Owlmoon as I snake between the small dens that circle the fresh-kill pile and High Rock.

Many cats are in the clearing, and I have to try not to crash into them.

I know that Owlmoon's having a hard time.

After all, I can hear her mutter her sorries and apologies to the cats as she runs after me.

It's not that I hate her. I really don't.

It's just that I'm scared.

Scared of hate.

Scared of anger.

Scared of rejection.

It's a silly thought, but I keep circling around the dens until I come to my own.

I walk inside and stop at my nest.

I flop down into the mossy softness and close my eyes, trying to catch my breath.

I've finally lost Owlmoon...

Footsteps.

I crouch backward as Owlmoon stops beside me.

"Autumnbreeze." she says simply.

"Are you sure you don't want to play Twister with Roseblossom and Applefrost?" I sound almost pleading.

In a way, I am.

I'm too cowardly to face the one fear that's been consuming me for so long:

A rejection of the friendship we've shared for many, many seasons.

"No, Autumnbreeze."

"Then why are you here?"

"To talk with you."

~

I'm taken aback.

Talk with me? Very new.

"Owlmoon... remember when we used to live outside of the Clan? The Wildflower and the High Tree." I whisper the end, trying to relive our memories.

"Yes... those were good times, weren't they? We used to play there. Pipes and Grass were there too."

We both dwell on the memories of my brother Grass, and her sister Piper.

"Owlmoon," I finally say. "I'm depressed. I'm unhappy. You spend all your time with Sweetfeather. Roseblossom spends all her time with Applefrost. Don't interrupt Owlmoon, you know very well that it's true."

But Owlmoon cuts me off anyway.

"We're waiting for you, Autumnbreeze."

I didn't expect that.