She may have left camp alone, but she didn't stay that way.

"Hey! Wait up!"

She didn't stop.

"Eclipsepaw!"

Snow crunched behind her as Avalanchepaw scampered up to trot by her side.

"Uh, Wolfpelt and Snowrunner say that we have to go hunting," he panted, almost tripping over his own paws to keep up with her brisk pace.

"I know." Eclipsepaw stopped suddenly and turned to glare at Avalanchepaw. "So, spit it out. What's your deal?"

The tom blinked and confusion clouded his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean with the prophecy. MY prophecy," she snarled. It didn't seem like Avalanchepaw hated her, but for all she knew he was faking it. Cats did that all the time. When she was younger, the older apprentices would pretend to be her friend and lure her into the woods where the rest of them were waiting. Then they would attack her. It would almost be like play-fighting, but they'd slip out their claws from time to time. A scratch here, a tuft of fur missing there.

She tried to tell the warriors, once. But they already knew about it. Each time there would be some elaborate lie. Not that it mattered. They could tell the truth and nobody would care anyway.

So, she stopped trusting her clanmates. Except for Snowrunner, she didn't have anyone. Although her mentor was as crazy as everyone else was about the prophecy, she was always there for her when it mattered. Unlike her parents.

"Oh! Yeah, that. Honestly, I didn't think of that when Wolfpelt told me to go hunting with you. Kind of forgot it existed, really." He scraped at the snow beneath his paws, not making eye contact.

Eclipsepaw took a step back. "How do you just forget about the prophecy? It's all anyone ever talks about." She wasn't quite sure if she believed him. He had to be lying. You don't just forget something like that.

"Yeah, um, I don't have a lot of friends, and I spend a lot of time by myself, so I don't really hear much." His voice got quieter with every word.

The apprentice was nearly knocked over by the force of the emotion she felt. This tom...he was just like her. Well, not really. But they were both alone. Eclipsepaw didn't care if it was for different reasons, she was just glad to connect with somebody.

"Oh," she said quietly. He sounded genuine, and she almost felt bad for snapping at him earlier. But that was the way she had to live in order to survive. "I'm....going to trust you," she murmured. "Screw me over and I'll show you why half the clan thinks I'm meant to destroy them." It was all empty words, but he didn't know that.

Avalanchepaw nodded vigorously, his amber eyes as wide as the moon.

The smell of a mouse dragged her attention back to their task, and she flicked her tail towards the scent. "Let's hunt," she whispered. 

***

The two of them stalked through the forest for a while, catching prey and messing around. For the first time in moons, Eclipsepaw felt normal. Avalanchepaw wasn't afraid of her, nor did he obsess over her. He'd pounce on her, rolling her through the snow, and they'd fight like kits. There was no prick of claws against her skin, no blood matting her fur. 

She felt like she could call Avalanchepaw her friend, and she thought he could too. It felt nice, being able to act like she wasn't "destined for greatness". 

Too soon, they had to return to camp.

But there's always tomorrow, Eclipsepaw reminded herself. He'll still be your friend tomorrow.

She tried not to think that this was some elaborate ploy against her, and simply enjoyed being happy for the first time in many, many moons. 

Yes, Avalanchepaw made her happy.