Thistlepaw, He / Him, MossClan, 10 moons ----------------------------------------------------------------- He felt trapped. Pinned down like a fly caught in the keen paws of a trained warrior. He'd always felt that way ever since he was a kit. It had only been strengthened by becoming an apprentice and meeting so many new cats. Now he just couldn't help himself. He came home late that night from the Prom, back to MossClan. He stopped at a stream a bit out of camp to take off his disguise from it. He brushed the moss off of his face and took out so many little pink flowers, dropping them into the stream and watching them float away on the surface of the water. It had been a nice time, dancing and smiling and spinning with so many other cats from so many different backgrounds and places. He looked down at his lightly warped reflection in the smooth, gently flowing water. He was happy! Yea, he was. He'd had so much fun that night and even if there were tired bags under his eyes from being up so late and he felt like he could drop and sleep for days right then and there, he was smiling. Smiling because he'd learned so much from that night. He'd love to thank everyone who attended, but that would be far too many cats to seek out. He thanked them all silently, though. For showing him why he should go. He was never built to be stationary, never made to stay put in one clan and one place for too long. He was an adventurer and an explorer. He braved the unknown where other cats didn't bother going for the thrill. It made him feel alive. Although this would mean he would be going off alone and he might not see some cats he was used to seeing as much, he was sure in his decision. He was meant to be free. That night Thistlepaw headed home. He went to the Apprentices' Den and gathered up his things. He wouldn't be able to carry everything, but he took the little moss mouse Primrosekit had given him when he was playing with her and tucked it over his back and in between the flowers and feathers settled there. He turned to leave, padding out of camp and pausing right before he left entirely. He turned, looking back as the drowsy, slow-moving camp. Even cats who were out at Prom tonight were settled down. He smiled, and said goodbye. Not forever, but just until he was ready to come back. Bye to his siblings and his dad. Bye to friends like Paprikapaw and Blisspaw and Primrosekit. Bye to happy memories and warm bedtimes. Even bye to sparring partners and rivals. Hopefully they'd been again on the border sometime, maybe even when he wanders back over for a visit. He wasn't disappearing off the face of the earth, just taking a little trip. With that, Thistlepaw left. Or should I say Dingo left. He was his own cat now with his own future and a name he'd given to himself. He was one in a million and he liked that. And as he retreated into the forest and stepped his first step across the border, he was happy. And he knew it was all his own. The start to a new chapter of his life, and one he knew would be amazing. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Okay everyone say hi to Dingo. He's going to be a loner yayyy!! Also name change and new braids too. Art drawn by me (don't mind how exhausted he looks; he had a late night)
