Fallen Holly Leaves (Storm)

(*pats* I start school again tomorrow, too, but I’m only a sophomore in high school. I only just finished my homework today lol

I was thinking it took them maybe about a moon or so to get there. Because obviously they don’t know where they’re going and they have elders and kits)

(I don’t know, I don’t have my books with me anymore D: I had to go back to my college dorm, classes start tomorrow)

(Skip how much?)

(Yeah)

(Yeah, but just playing out the entire journey would be boring)

(I’m not sure, I guess the journey to the mountains would continue.)

(Now what?)

Fallen Leaves smiled over at Holly Leaves. As bad as his joints felt after not sleeping in a real nest the night before, having his mate by his side seemed to make everything hurt less.

Holly Leaves purred softly, walking close enough to her mate that their pelts brushed.

Fallen Leaves stood up and scooter away from Holly Leaves, but he pulled in right beside her as the traveling procession of cats began anew once more.

Holly Leaves curled into his side for a few moments before it was announced that they were leaving and she had to move back from him.

Fallen Leaves nodded, giving Holly Leaves a lick between the ears. “Never again,” he vowed, nearly overwhelmed by the feeling he had in his chest as he pressed close to her.

Holly Leaves nodded. “Just- please don’t ever avoid me again. If you’re mad at me, talk to me.”

Fallen Leaves nodded. “If you’re good with me,” The tom added, willing to forgive her for her choice.

Holly Leaves stepped back after a few seconds, clearing her throat a little in embarrassment. “Are we good?”

Fallen Leaves stiffened with surprise at first, not used to his mate acting so vulnerable. He quickly relaxed, however, and purred reassuringly as she rested her head against his chest.

Holly Leaves stepped forward and buried her face in his neck fur. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice muffled.

Fallen Leaves pinned his ears back and took a step back. “What you’re telling me does sound insane,” The tom mewled honestly, glancing at his mate. “But you clearly believe it with a lot of conviction, and I trust you more than any other cat I know, so…”

Holly Leaves looked startled and then disbelieving. “Really?” She asked skeptically. “Because you were calling me insane just a minute ago.”

Fallen Leaves pinned his ears back at his mate’s harsh language. After a moment of silence that seemed to drag on for seasons, The tom glanced up, and finally Mewed “I believe you, Holly Leaves…” he’d never heard such a bizarre story before, but the more he thought of it, the more it made sense. Plus, he was willing to believe that mice could fly if she told him so.

“Weren’t you listening to me?” Holly Leaves demanded. “I died. I fucking died and I woke up in the tunnels with no idea what was going on.”

“You can’t be from the future, Holly Leaves, You’re right here.” Fallen Leaves insisted, wondering if he should worry that she thought she was telling the truth when it was obviously a farfetched, inane fantasy she had concocted.

Holly Leaves pinned her ears back, unable to help the flash of hurt that went through her even though she had been expecting it. “I’m telling the truth!” She insisted.

Fallen Leaves seemed to listen attentively to Holly Leaves’ explanation of herself, and only blinked once she was done speaking. Once she was finished, though, The tom Mewed earnestly “Are you feeling alright, Holly Leaves? Maybe you need some herbs or something.”

Holly Leaves breathed in, then out, steeling herself in preparation both for telling him and his reaction. She thought it would probably be either anger or disbelief, or both; she doubted he would believe her but she’d already started. She couldn’t stop now. “I’m not from this time. Or world. This group was always going to leave the lake and head to the mountains, Fallen Leaves. One day we will become a Tribe, the Tribe of Rushing Water. And some day Clans will be founded and many generations after that they will come to the lake and I will be born. And I will live and then I will die.” She closed her eyes briefly. “But... this me in the future will be different, because for me, in my world, my past, you were dead.”