~~~~

On the other side of the lake I knew

Small’hiss purred as she padded along the border of ThunderClan and the edge of the twolegplace, her tail waving.

Stood a girl I know it's true

She lifted her head as she saw a black she-cat sat atop the fence, a bright blue collar hung around her neck. She leaned closer to the ferns, her ears lifted.

So what else could I do?

Small’hiss purred, her paws dragging her to creep along the ferns closer to the kittypet. She crept the fence, carefully watching the shecat.

So I said hi to you

“Hai!” Small’hiss popped out of the bush, accidentally startling the kittypet. She fell off the fence with a hiss, whipping around to Small. “Er.. Sowwy.” The warrior murmured, watching as the kittypet settled with a soft smile.

Three years and it went great

Small purred as she brushed up against Jess. The kittypet she met three moons ago today. They were celebrating, curled up with a look to the ocean in a small hut.

Our house by a lake

The hut was built by Jess’ twolegs, built to protect against the weather with windows covered by glass with a single entrance. It had a place where you put your paw and it would open. Although, they had dug a secret exit and laid a quilt over it so nothing could know it was there.

Sunset of another perfect day 

Small’hiss settled into Jess’s fluff, the pale sunset light filtering in through the window, purring gently as she felt the other shecat press her muzzle into Small’s scruff.

Oh but that one night

A sick feeling entered Small’s stomach, twisting and turning it in knots, which made her gently growl out of unease. Jess seemed to notice, because her head tilted. “Something wrong, Small?”

It didn't feel right

Small snarled, leaning further into Jess. “Something feels off today. I don’t know what it is..” She murmured, glancing up into her red eyes.

Cause there was something

I wasn't trusting

Jess nodded, brushing into the other with a purr. A shuffling sound was heard outside, the two she cats lifting their heads to the sound, sudden fear striking through Small.

A face at the window well

Growls emerged and a cat pressed against the window in front of them, jaws agape, eyes glazed as if it was dead. Jess screeched, slamming herself against the wall out of fear, eyes wide. “What is that!?” Small yelped, digging herself into Jess’s fur.

It scared you half to hell

Jess stared out at the window and the creature growling at it. “H-Half!” She yelped, her ears pinning against her head. Small’hiss blinked and noticed the massive gash along its eye, and assumed that’s where whatever it was got the name.

Might be a long night I can tell 

More growls and snarls were heard as more thuds came against the house, causing the two she cats to cower in the center, far away from the walls. “S-Small, what are we going to do?!” Jess squeaked, pressing herself into the other she.

Oh I swear to you

Small snarled, roughly twining her tail with Jess’s. “Jess. Jess, look at me.” Small hissed gently, waiting until the kittypet focused her terrified gaze onto her. “We need to get out of here. They’re here to attack us, so we need to run. I’ll take you to the clan, we’ll live happily there.” Jess stared before shaking her head, whining. “I-I need to make sure the friends at my den are okay! One of them is a queen..”

I'll be there for you

“Jess, please. I’m not leaving you. We need to go to the clan together.” Small glared into the others eyes, a hint of fear tugging at her heart. She scanned Jess’s eyes, mixed emotions flashing around in them. “Jess, you’re panicking.” She whispered, leaning closer to the others face. “Cats are about to break down our hut and you’re telling me to abandon my friends, of course I’m panicking!” Jess snarled, Small blinking in response.

Although the zombies are coming for us tonight

“Jess, this is no time to fight..” Small hushed her voice, staring down at the other. Jess shook her head softly, ears flattening. “Please, Small..” She whispered, her voice hinting tears.

Knock on our door

Small blinked, finally caving and nodding with a sigh. “Fine. Go see your friends, I’ll run to camp and warn the leader. Come to the border and hide in a tree the moment your friends are okay.” The bashing against the kittypet door was growing stronger, and soon enough a head popped through, hissing and growling.

Wonder what they're here for

“COME ON!!” Small screeched, dragging Jess down the secret entrance. As they brushed through the tunnel, Jess whined. “Are you going to fight them, Small..?”

‘Wish I had an iron sword,

I'd fight until that sunrise comes’

The thought echoed in Small’s head, glancing at Jess gently. “I would if I knew what they were.” Small paused, pulling Jess back with her. She scented the air, a slope was in front of them, signaling the exit covered by the cloth. “Jess, I have a few more words before we separate.”

They'll try and get us

Small glanced to Jess, the words suddenly getting stuck in her throat like a hairball, having to swallow in an attempt to get the words out.

Bite us and infect us

“Come on Small… What’s the problem? I’d like to hear our possible last words.” Jess chuckled, although her humor was dry. Small smiled and nodded, finally forcing out the words.

“With nothing to protect us,
To me you are precious..” Small murmured, getting a purr as reply. “I know, Small. And I love you.” She pressed her muzzle onto Small’s, tails intertwined. Jess let her tail slip from Small, a feeling of hurt latching like a thorn in her throat. This could be the last time she saw her mate. After a few moments of staring, she nodded, and the two bursted out of the tunnel and up onto the surface. They rapidly looked around for a while before Jess dashed off into a clearing towards the two leg nests.

Cause oh I swear to you

“Remember what I said! Border tree!” Small’hiss screeched after her, unsure if she had heard her. Another thought drifted into her head.

‘I'll take care of you..’

Small sighed, a groan behind her snapping her out of her phase. She whipped around to see that cat Jess had called ‘Half’ limping towards her. They were battle-scarred, now that Small had a better look.

Although the zombies are coming for us tonight 

She swiped her paw at the other cat before dashing off into the forest, tail whipping around behind her.

Life now is just survival

Small growled, stalking around in the shriveled undergrowth. What they now knew as the infected had attacked their camp and all the other camps in the forest. Now Small and the few warriors she left behind in the tunnels are the only cats alive. She was on a mission. Find Jess and bring her home.

With the infection going viral

Small crept along, letting her thoughts wander. She suddenly realized she’d have to assume responsibilities for leadership when she returned. Copper’star was infected, only a few days ago she watched the process of infection. Copper’star was fairly lethargic, then she had started to heave and eventually puked out pools of blood until she fell again. Small had felt so much sudden panic for her leader, before the other she-cat rose to her paws, snarling and groaning, her eyes glazed over. Small sighed, speeding up through the undergrowth.

Now I miss you all the while, since you've been away

A pang of sorrow stabbed like a thorn in Small’s heart. She had abandoned her clan for this mission and lost her leader, and could’ve possibly lost her mate, which meant this mission was all for nothing. She shook her head, ears twitching as she heard a scuffling of paws.

Once such a peaceful town

She peeked through the undergrowth, spotting moving pelts of infected cats near camp. ‘It was calm once..’ Small let the thought echo, envying the days it was normal, before the infection.

Now buildings burning down

Small sighed as one of the infected tumbled down the wall into the camp, having lost its footing. She recognized the clanmate, but it was too hard to think she was friends with them once.

Decay and dirt lay across the ground 

Small shoved herself through a patch of brambles, the thorns scraping at her pelt. No more pain came from the small tufts of fur she left behind, though. She was practically invulnerable until she got to Jess and made sure the other was okay.

Like a nightmare

Sudden images of her mate as one of the infected flashed into her mind, pausing in the brambles, pain stabbing into her throat and heart.

Without sleeping

The image of Jess being attacked, murdered, until she vomited blood and arose, her once beautiful red eyes gone, now glazed an ugly grey color, pelt matted with blood and wounds, deep growls coming from her throat as her still unsheathed claws dug into more pelts.

I made you a promise

Small shook her head and pushed out of the rest of the brambles, emerging in the forest still. She promised to keep Jess safe. It might’ve been a vow to herself, but she was determined to help her.

That I plan on keeping

Her claws unsheathed as she crouched on the soil, creeping towards the border and to the twolegplace.

Gear up and look around

She caught a glimmer of a shiny substance and crept over to it. It was a silver like sharp object, a pointed edge on one side with brown ‘vines’ on the end. She remembered spotting twolegs using this object to cut various objects for their gatherings.

Search all across this town

She locked her teeth onto the brown edge, her fur bristling as she gripped onto the bark like substance and flipped it in the air to get a better grip, the sharp edge now sticking out to her side.

I won't give up until you're found 

Small growled, feeling tense and powerful with the weapon in her jaw. She tensed her muscles and started to dash through the thick forest, knowing it would be a tad bit until she got to the twolegplace.

Cause oh I swear to you

She felt as if she could run for moons, her claws digging into the soil and propelling her forward faster, her bunched muscles tight as she continued to propel herself.

I'll be there for you

She swerved past a few trees, eventually scaling a thick trunk with quite ease and jumping along the branches, still keeping speed. She skidded to a stop as she heard growling, glancing down to see a few infected clan members in a group, as if a patrol.

Although the zombies they came for us that night

She stared down at the infected, a faint growl of her own rising in her throat. She crept in the branches and once she was far enough away from them, she continued to dash. A funny thought of how much she was acting like a squirrel entered her head, which made her grin, but it quickly faded.

And now it's just me

The memories of her leader becoming one of the infected cats flashed in her mind again, the memories of her panic and fear prominent. She was distracted by the memories and hadn’t noticed she had reached the twolegplace— thus, running out of tree branches— until she hit the ground, a searing pain tingling through her body.

I'm gonna find you trust me

Her jaw opened to let out a pained yowl, catching herself at the last second and harshly clamping her jaw shut, despite her entire being fighting against her in need to respond to the pain. She dug her claws into the soil, feeling her hind legs shake. Having the sharp twoleg thing still in her jaw when she fell, it had landed in the dirt near the tree she fell out of.

Apocalypse this must be

Small eventually rose to her paws after going through the aftermath shocks of pain, her legs still shaking. She limped over to the sharp twoleg thing, once again grabbing it in her jaw. She looked around and eventually figured out where she was, limping slowly in the direction of Jess’s twoleg nest. Slowly pushing through the pain, she sped up, soon catching her running stride once more.

The undead rising one by one

After a few tree-lengths of running around the abandoned twolegplace, she skidded to a stop as she heard snarls and growls. Tensing her figure she turned along the thunderpath leading to Jess’s nest. What she saw made her stop dead. A swarm of the infected was littered in the big space from the thunderpath to the nest, a few of the, squabbling with each other mindlessly.

So if you're out there

Small sharply inhaled, realizing the challenge she needed to get through. Without a second thought, determination to find Jess, her legs pumped her to run at the nest. Almost immediately, she was attacked by about five of the infected before she could even step a tail-length into the space. Reflexes kicked in. She unsheathed her claws and battered at the already deceased cats, plunging the sharp twoleg thing into a blue shoulder, causing a droned screech of pain. She kicked at the cats violently, realizing with a start most of the infected had surrounded her now, blood pumping to her ears as she focused on the quickly moving cats.

Darling please don't get scared

She quickly jumped out of the way of a tabby leaping at her, jabbing the twoleg thing deep into the hind leg, earning a cold hiss, droned, once again. More cats sprouted at her, ripping the sharp twoleg object from the tabby and moving just in time to stab it into the neck of a black and white patterned cat— Luckily not Jess— the creature letting out a snarl, but it didn’t fall. Small had another starting realization. They couldn’t die. No matter how much she were to stab them in the throat or gut them, they wouldn’t die. She remembered camp, before they evacuated; eventually they found out smashing their heads in, damaging the skull and brain, was the key. But how would she do that with so many around her?

I know you're out there somewhere

Her determination still thrived, blood pulsing all around in her body. She was desperate not to get bit, that would bring her to infection as well. Claws were fine, but she was scared of the snapping jaws of the cats as they tried to close in on her. She slammed herself onto the cats, slashing her claws at their heads and chests as she had the height advantage, using the twoleg object multiple times on necks, legs, backs and eventually heads.

I wish I could protect ya

A few of the infected had dropped dead when Small jabbed them in the head, but she still had an entire swarm to care for. It seemed for every cat she killed, another arose, forming an endless wave of infected. She had got a few claw wounds on her fur, and just barely missed some jaws when she realized these infected were blocking her from Jess’s nest, thus probably trying to infect her.

Cause oh I swear to you

Small snarled, trying to jump over and shove past the infected and failed miserably, being shoved back and sliced at the moment she took air, getting smacked against the ground. She snarled, leaping up once more and coming down on one of the infected, jabbing the twoleg thing into their head, a dark version of blood gushing from the spot, the infected cat collapsing almost immediately.

I'll be there for you

Small growled, her rushed gaze going over the infected cats once more, looming over the body of the infected cat she killed. Another cat leaped at her, a solid ginger. Small dug the twoleg thing into the orange-ish fur, in between the neck and chest. She jumped behind it, snagging the twoleg thing into the long and fluffy tail, ripping her head back, causing the cat to stumble and eventually fall onto their side, where Small dug the twoleg thing into their head once more.

Although the zombies they came for us that night 

A loud yet drowned yowl made Small pause, all of the infected cats spreading out. A weight suddenly shoved into her side, causing her to stumble like the ginger she killed and was eventually rolled onto her back. Before she could react, the weight pinned her down against the ground, feeling the shape loom over her. She opened her eyes gently out of nervousness. Her heart caved as she looked up at who had pinned her. 

Is this real

It was… Jess.. Like all of her nightmares, her pelt was torn and covered in scarred-over wounds, eyes, once a gorgeous red, now cold and grey, like the infected cats.

Or is this hell I see

Small could feel her heart in the pit of her stomach and swore she stopped breathing. All she could do was stare up at Jess. Her mate of three moons, now lost to the viral infection.

I close my eyes and think in fiction

Small winced as Jess snarled down at her, her eyes closing out of impulse. She prayed. She prayed to StarClan that this wasn’t Jess in front of her, perhaps some delusion from missing her, any excuse for her mate still being alive.

To try to escape this reality 

Memories of the two flashed into her head. From the moment they met, to the last time they saw each other. She remembered teaching Jess about StarClan, and the code, how interested she was always made her smile.

On the other side of the lake I knew

Small knew she would be killed if she sat around any longer. She opened her eyes, Jess still looming over her with her cold grey glare. Small gripped the sharp twoleg thing tighter in her jaw, the thought of what she was about to do made her sick to her stomach.

Stood a girl I know it's true

Small gently pulled her legs against her stomach, tears entering her eyes as she continued to stare up at Jess. “I’m sorry… so sorry..” She hissed quietly, a few tears trailing down her cheek tuft.

So what else could I do?... 

Small shoved the twoleg thing into Jess’s neck, earning a droned hiss of pain. She roughly kicked Jess in the stomach, ripping the twoleg thing out of her neck as she flew off of her.

Oh I swear to you

Small whipped around and shoved through the infected cats, stabbing a few of them as she passed by, her legs bringing her to a dash, tears flooding her eyes. She never thought she would have to attack Jess, nor see her become infected.

I still care for you

She was blindly running the path she took to the twolegplace, following her own faint scent, ignoring everything around her. All that mattered right now was that she got out of there. Jess was gone. She had to accept that.

Although the zombies might come for me tonight

Small was soon in the forest, a loud snarl interrupting her running. She used her unsheathed claws to skid to a stop, just as another infected cat leaped at her. She rolled out of the way and quickly scaled the nearest trunk of a tree, gazing down at the infected cat as her tears continued to fall.

And no, I'm not scared

As Small saw that the infected cat couldn’t climb the tree, she laid the twoleg object by her paws and used her tail to wipe her tears. Soon the cat left, realizing she was too difficult for prey. Small picked up the twoleg thing again, slowly moving through the tree branches, letting thoughts consume her.

They took everything I cared about

Small had lost practically everyone on this mission, beside her clan mates, who sat in the tunnels in wait. She knew StarClan had not given up on them yet, so, if Tornfoot were to find a way to ask if she should appoint a new leader, they would speak to her and tell her that they’re still alive, right?

You are still right here

Small blinked as she felt a faint brush on her pelt, assuming it was the leaves of the trees, continuing on slowly. Although.. The faint idea of Jess striding with her on her way home made her smile weakly. Small looked around and noticed it was nearing dusk, that she learned was the infecteds’ weakest time. She would need to find shelter.

Standing with me side by side

Small sped up to a trot, imagining the presence of Jess next to her as she walked. She scanned around for shelter as she padded along in the branches, most of the territory rather ravaged. She sighed, hoping the clan hadn’t chosen a new leader out of the few options they had.

And if they get me

I'll think of when you met me

Small gently whined at the idea of being ripped into shreds, but, also realized she would be with Jess again. If she were to be attacked, she would succumb, allow it to happen, knowing Jess would be with her.

You gave me all the best see

Completely distracted, Small finally got back to hunting for shelter, finding a small burrow with plenty of brambles covering it. No infected would get through, and would make a lot of noise before they did. After scenting the air and making sure no infected were within a tree-length, she shoved her way through the brambles, lightly hissing at the sudden pain in her fur.    

I love you so sincerely

She eventually shoved through the bramble thicket, emerging in a dark den. She froze until her eyes adjusted to the dim light, able to see around the den at this point. It wasn’t too big, but was big enough for her to escape if an infected got into the den.

And oh I swear to you

Small padded to the wall, curling up as the last thin rays of dusk faded, assuming the moon was up now. She gazed through the brambles, weariness suddenly flooding over her, muscles aching from her wounds. At least it was only claw marks, and wouldn’t get infected because no saliva or liquids got through.

I still care for you

Small lowered her head, weariness making her easily close her eyes, the final thought of being with Jess again flashing in her head as she drifted into the paws of rest, imagining being with her, hunting, in her dreams. As if no problems were in the world.. Now all she had to do was get back to the clan in one piece, that was for morning, of course.

And when I dream, I'll dream of you all night

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To Be Continued?