five. sunburned

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

He had never before imagined that running away would feel so freeing. His paws moved effortlessly and without the rule of his head. He dashed over the forest pathways that were once walked on by his ancestors. He flew from their restrain; kicking up mounds of dirt as he hurried on past.

He propelled against the earth with such force, he felt as though he were flying. He let his mother, his friends, and Pearfeather get lost behind as he left home. He would never think about them again. He hastened onwards; watching as the place he grew up in became a fleeting blur.

He moved swiftly through the ThunderClan forest, dashing past the heavy-rooted oaks and light green thicket. His heart thrummed in his chest like a pair of wings. This was the closest to flying he would ever be. The ginger tabby whirled down the main pathway, becoming a storm on four paws. Swiftshadow had never felt more alive. He howled wordlessly and pushed his legs to go faster.

"You there!" A deep shout erupted from beside him.

Swiftshadow took no note of it and let his legs gallop forth. He noticed in his peripheral vision that the forest had become slightly darker, though he figured a cloud had passed over the sun. He forced his legs to go onwards: there was no stopping now.

"Halt!" There was another command, this time, it sounded much closer.

"Stay there!"

"Get him!"

Suddenly, and with excruciating force, Swiftshadow was tackled to the ground. He tumbled over, rolling into a crumpled ball as he collided with the ground. He watched as his paws curled around him and then the world go black.

When he flattened along the ground, an agonized groan left his jaws and his head spun in a wild circle. Blurs ticked counterclockwise in his eyes and his head rattled like the end of a snake's tail.

From further away, he looked outward to see the fogged sight of three cats approaching. Or were there ten? The ginger tom blinked briskly, attempting to clear the gloom from his eyes. He groaned again as he stumbled back to his feet. "OW!" He cursed, feeling his head twinge. "What was that for?"

As the clouds drifted from his eyes, his company became much clearer. There were four cats; three warriors and an apprentice. They stood around the collapsed tom, pinning their eyes down on him. They encompassed him as though he were a piece of prey, something for them to hunt.

The group of unfamiliar warriors were darkly colored, much darker than any ThunderClan cat Swiftshadow had seen. They were larger too and they smelled like pine and hard work.

"Better question," A chocolate tabby grumbled, "What's ThunderClan scum doing on our territory?"

"Your territory?" Swiftshadow squeaked, glancing around rather swiftly. Then he realized: "Oh."

They were right. The whole forest had changed: light no longer dribbled through the wide, green oak leaves and scattered along the sandy ground. The crowd of cats were amidst huge pine trees; towers that stretched their limbs for heaven. There was barely any light; there was no crook or crevice for the sun to sneak through. The ground was moist and swamp-like. This was nothing like home.

The ginger tom cleared his throat, "I'm sorry," He mewed, bowing his pounding head to the ground. "I was only trying to get through."

"Get through to where?" Another ShadowClan tom spoke. He was shorter than the rest of them, though he appeared more hostile. A gaping scar rested across his face, starting at his left eye and trailing down to the right side of his jaw. Whatever had tried to kill him had failed.

Swiftshadow shivered when he studied the gray tom. "Uh- anywhere." He squeaked again, feeling the end of his coat begin to lift upwards in fright. "I'm just leaving home."

The apprentice piped in, "Are you allowed to do that?" He was asking his mentor, who was a mangy black and white-furred tom. In response, his mentor didn't speak but he shook his head.

"Oh, lucky us," The brown tabby grouched again, "We got ourselves a runner." His claws slithered out from their sockets, flashing amid Swiftshadow's eyes. His allies did the same and soon enough, the tom was trapped in a ring of savage cats.

Swiftshadow began to slowly back away, "No, no, no," He forced a kind laugh, hoping to befriend his way out of this situation. "I'm not abandoning my Clan- It was Mottlestar's orders."

The scarred cat snorted, "We all know Mottlestar isn't a real leader."

The apprentice chimed in with an amused grin, "He can't lead himself, let alone an entire Clan of cats."

Swiftshadow could feel fear sprouting inside his bones like weeds. It was rapidly growing, expanding into his insides and absorbing everything else. He watched as the gathering of ShadowClan enemies began to surround him; slowly and intoxicatingly. They stretched their long legs outwards, dropping their hungry bellies to the soil.

Swiftshadow stammered, his ginger fur was now a mass of shivering nerves. Words spewed out from his jaws: he'd say anything to escape. "I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. Please, take me to-"

"Shut him up." The dirt-furred tabby interrupted sharply.

In an instant, dark flashes swarmed above Swiftshadow, trapping him against the earth once again. He shrieked in pain, feeling the pinch of dagger-like claws invade his pelt. His head was slammed onto the ground with a heavy paw, it didn't take much to anchor him down.

The ThunderClan feline was captured on all sides and unable to fight for himself. He wasn't a fighter, he hadn't ever unsheathed his claws before. Blurs filled his eyes once again, his thoughts slowed, and he felt his heart speed in his chest- was this was death felt like?

"Hey!" A brave cry from far off resounded from the tall pines. "Stand back!"

All four ShadowClan toms withdrew immediately. Swiftshadow continued to lay at the center, burying his head in his paws. The patrol watched him eagerly, still standing in an entrapping circle, growling and huffing, trying to scare the ginger tom.

The voice made himself known, like a glow of light among the shade of the pines. But to Swiftshadow's covered eyes, he was just a voice. "What in StarClan is happening here?" He commanded, his eyes flashing between the shamed stares of other cats.

They kept their heads to the ground and persisted in silence.

"Answer me." The new tom's eyes turned to the brown striped tom. "Beetlethorn, I said-"

"I heard you," He snapped back, finally raising his eyes. "This sorry excuse-of-a warrior was found invading our territory."

The gray tom piped in lowly, "He's abandoning his Clan."

Slowly, and to much curiosity, Swiftshadow raised his paws from his eyes. He considered the new cat closely; shocked by his looks. Unlike his dull and shadowed-colored Clan mates, this tom was a brilliant golden hue. He was a trophy standing before them. His eyes were two shiny emeralds and his face was so much kinder. Despite his fur, his eyes, and his face, Swiftshadow couldn't help but fear: was he going to join in, too?

Ignoring what his Clanmates had informed him, the tom nudged Swiftshadow gently with his front paw, "Are you okay?" His voice had softened, he was no longer a commander of a battalion but a friend.

Swiftshadow cleared his throat, "Yeah- just a bit startled." He shuffled to his paws, nearly hobbling over like a newborn foal.

"I can understand." The tom politely dipped his head and gave room for Swiftshadow to stand. "You'll have to excuse my Clanmates, they mean well. And-" He twisted back to glare at them, "They will be heading back to camp now." Heeding his cue, the four cats marched off, mumbling curses as their fun for the day had been ruined.

Swiftshadow and the strange tom were left to themselves. They observed each other; two worlds (both unfamiliar to each) seemed to collide at the meeting of two eyes. They drank in each other, starved to know more but too stiff to ask.

The blond tom was the first to speak after their moment of silence. "I'm Sunstorm," He introduced casually, "I'm the deputy of ShadowClan."

Swiftshadow smiled, "Your name fits you well."

Sunstorm ruffled his yellow fur in amusement, "I get that a lot."

"Swiftshadow," He repeated his own name, "And I'm not running away, I've been exiled."

Sunstorm's plain expression now lifted in surprise. "You?" He held back his snicker. "What have you done?" He couldn't believe it. Based on what he had just witnessed, Swiftshadow was no murderer or villain. First of all, Sunstorm didn't see him fight back. Secondly, Swiftshadow moved like he didn't know his right paw from his left. He was harmless. What could he have done to have been exiled?

Swiftshadow shrugged, "I was too lazy."

Sunstorm frowned- something wasn't adding up. "Mottlestar exiled you because of...laziness?"

"That's correct."

"Well then, Swiftshadow," Sunstorm, seeming to drop the topic of conversation, circled around to face the dense pine forest. He glowed beneath it, "If you really must leave, let me escort you across. It will be safer that way." He straightened his muscular frame, the star-struck fur on his back rippling to reveal the strength beneath him. His smile shone dazzlingly- Swiftshadow couldn't believe how everything about this warrior was radiant. It was inspiring.

Swiftshadow felt warm inside, as though his heart had been basking under the sun and ended up getting sunburned. Perhaps all deputies weren't so bad after all. "I'd really appreciate that, Sunstorm."