[What We Left at the Border] - Chapter 1

Instructions

This fanfic is heavily inspired by the 'Warriors Cats' book series by Erin Hunter, all OC's are mine, @MossyPawzz. Hope you enjoy! Chapter 1: It's a warm sunny day. Unlike the mood of the clan. A scrawny amber-furred tom shifts his paws back and forth across the soft moss below his feet, his pale blue eyes fixated on the quick shuffles. His ears perk up at the sound of the sleek crimson she-cat approaching. A slight nervous tremor jolts down his spine, although a faint warmth flutters in his chest at the sight of her. "Rubypelt..." Finchfur murmurs softly, his tail curling around his hind legs. He clears his throat, trying to strengthen his uneasy voice. "I... I didn't expect to run into you out here, is everything alright back at camp?" The she-cat shoots Finchfur a glaring look out of the corner of her eye, "Everything is just fine and dandy without YOU around." She snarks sarcastically. Rubypelt has never been kind, probably why the tom ended things with her in the first place. Although he still feels a longing for her. He always acts in everyone's best interest, but never really understands what his own best interest even is. "Come on weirdo," She hisses "You may get to slack off on your relationship, but not on your duties. The clan is hungry" Finchfur flinches mildly at the harshness in her tone, the tips of his ears flatten against his head. The familiar ache of longing still tugs at his chest. Even when she loses her temper, he can't help but remember the beautiful moments they once shared, moments he constantly wonders if he threw away too foolishly. "I wasn't slacking off Rubypelt..." he mumbles, as he continues to shuffle his paws. He swallows hard, forcing himself to match her pace. "I was just scanning the riverbank... But you're right, the Clan needs us." His eyes sparkle despite her bitterness. "Where do you want to hunt first?" "Welllll, the reed beds are usually chock full this time of year," she mumbles. "You'll help me out, won't you Finchy?" She pouts. She cradles his cheek in her left paw, A small smirk tugging at her lips. 'Finchy... It's been a while since she's called me that,' the tom mumbles to himself. It still sends a rush of warmth through his heart, even after all she's put him through... He knows he's letting his guard down, he knows how quickly she could revert back to her bitterness, but in this moment his survival instincts fade away completely. "I'll always help you-" he mumbles gently, "You know I can't say no to you..." He hesitates, leaning just a fraction of an inch into her touch before pulling away with an embarrassed twitch of his tail. "The reeds it is then... I'll take the lower bank to scare the water voles out towards you..." "And I'll take them down!" She growls confidently. "I always was a better hunter. That's how it always happens between us, I do the hard work and you take care of me, just like a good little boy~" She rubs her cheek against his side and perks up her ears before rushing off into the cattails to await her prey. The tom's fur stands on end, his throat tightens as a soft flush rises to his cheeks. "I work hard too!" he calls out after her, though the defensive mew is completely swallowed up by the rustling of the reeds. Shaking his head to clear the haze, the tom gangles over toward the muddy shoreline. He crouches low, his soft belly brushing the damp earth as he stalks through the shadows of the tall grass. "I'm ready!" Rubypelt calls out, Finchfur's ears perk up at her call, with a quick leap, the tom pounces at the creature, barely avoiding it, driving it right toward the patch of cattails where the she-cat waited. "Incoming!" he calls out, his voice cracking at the volume. He skids to a halt, watching to see her strike. Rubypelt pounces onto the vole breaking it's left hind leg, she snatches the small creature between her front paws and harshly throws it into the air, the vole's little paws flail hopelessly and it hits the ground with a thud. The She-cat fiercely sinks a bite into its neck. She tilts her chin upwards in victory as if mocking the poor creature, as a single drop of blood streams down her cheek. The Tom flinches away and flattens his ears back in fear. It's scary when she gets like this. "What did I say! Best hunter in all of Swiftclan!" She boasts, turning her gaze towards the tom. "Well?" She chuffs, "Aren't I great? I always knew there was a reason you kept coming back to me." She slowly stalks over to the Tom and gazes at him sharply. "We always made such a great team." Finchfur's ears flatten completely against his skull, his tail tucks tight against his body. The thought of the cruel display makes his stomach churn, a reminder of the sharp edge she has always carried. *Continues in the notes and credits*