“I’m sorry, Mousefur,” the red and brown tom mewed, heaving himself to his paws with a sigh as he looked to her, then the full moon. “This was never supposed to happen.”
“What?” the dusky-brown she-cat hissed, looking to the tom, eyes filled with hurt and pain. “But you said-“
“What I said shouldn’t have been said.” The deputy looked to the young warrior, adding, “I have a kit that’s an apprentice now; I need to spend all my time now with her, not to mention my own apprentice that I have to look after.” The tom attempted to croon his neck and give the she-cat a lick to the head, but she shied away, shutting her eyes tightly and holding back a hurt cry.
How could you? she thought, tearing her claws into the grass, opening her eyes to watch him turn away. The she-cat heaved herself to her paws, ready to chase after the tom, but the next words that came from the tom struck her.
“I’m sorry, but it’s over.”
As the tom padded away, Mousefur felt stiff, hackles raised and disbelief in her wide, amber eyes. After all that she had told the tom, all her feelings and dreams, and he was dumping her like the trees their leaves. Around her, the ground felt as if it was shaking, and she had to dig her claws into the ground again to keep from falling over. Anger lit her eyes, sneering as her attention snapped to the tom.
“Fine!” the dusky brown warrior spat, once again digging her claws into the dirt with her tail lashing. “I don’t need you! I don’t need anyone!” Her thick fur was raised now in almost every direction possible, feeling the blood pulse in her ears as her anger loosed itself.
Yet something held her, rooting Mousefur to the spot. The young warrior just had her hopes, her dreams, crushed. All the warrior ever wanted was to settle down and have kits and a mate. But now… Now everything had changed. No longer would she swoon over the red-tailed deputy. No longer would she long to be at the tom’s side whenever she had the chance, or beg Bluestar to put them on the same patrol.
I don’t need anyone, not anymore, she grumbled inwardly, curling a lip as she stalked away into the shadowed bushes, whiskers drooped and tail thrashing.
Subject: Mousefur One-Shot 
