Squirrelflight’s Love is an AU fanfic written by Turtle. It’s an AU where Squirrelflight and Jessy fall in love and become mates.
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Chapter one:
Squirrelflight was in love.
Finally, she had found a cat who matched her fiery personality, after looking for so long.
She felt her heart beat faster thinking of her love’s dark brown fur, kind amber eyes that made her feel warm.
Squirrelflight purred softly to herself.
Jessy. That was who Squirrelflight loved, and she adored every moment she spent with the kitty pet.
But...
Squirrelflight’s happiness ebbed away as she realized that she could never be with Jessy.
Jessy would leave. She and two of her kitty pet friends, Minty and Frankie, were staying with ThunderClan because of a flood. It was too dangerous for them to go back to their Twoleg nests.
But the flood wouldn’t last forever. Soon enough, it would be safe for the kitty pets to return home.
Squirrelflight’s heart ached, but there was nothing she could do.
“Squirrelflight?” a voice asked.
Squirrelflight looked up. “Hi, Jessy.”
The dark brown kitty pet told her, “I’m helping Blossomfall and Bramblestar bring fresh moss to the nursery! Want to help?”
Squirrelflight’s green eyes shone. “Sure!” she said.
“Alright, let’s go.” said Jessy.
The two she-cats walked across the camp.
“Hi, Blossomfall. Hey, Bramblestar. Squirrelflight’s here to help us.” Jessy told the tortoiseshell she-cat and the dark brown tom.
“Where’d you get this much moss?” Squirrelflight asked, looking at the pile in wonder.
“Right outside of camp. My guess is that the storm washed a lot of it over.” Blossomfall said.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Bramblestar said, looking at Squirrelflight.
Squirrelflight didn’t look her her former mate in the eye.
Ever since the truth about Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf came out- they were the kits of Leafpool and Crowfeather, not Squirrelflight and Bramblestar- things hadn’t been the same between the orange she-cat and Bramblestar.
They weren’t even mates anymore.
But now Squirrelflight was having feelings for Jessy.
Yet part of her still felt like she should love Bramblestar.
Uncertain of what to do, she now felt awkward around Bramblestar AND Jessy.
And the horrible thing was? Squirrelflight had no idea what to do, and she saw no solution to either of her dilemmas.
Chapter two:
Later that day, Squirrelflight was sitting in the clearing, her tail curled around her paws.
She watched Minty and Frankie share some prey, and noticed that Jessy wasn’t with them.
“Hey, guys? Do you know where Jessy went?” Squirrelflight asked them.
“I think she went hunting.” Frankie said.
“She didn’t leave long ago! You might be able to catch up to her.” Minty added.
Squirrelflight nodded, and started walking out of the camp.
She soon recognized Jessy’s scent, and started running toward it.
She saw the dark brown she-cat.
“Jessy!” she meowed, then realized that the kitty pet had been stalking a mouse.
The mouse ran off. “Hey! I was stalking that, and because of you the Clan will go hu- oh, Squirrelflight! Sorry! I didn’t realize that was you.” apologized Jessy.
“It’s alright. Sorry for scaring your prey.” mewed Squirrelflight.
“No worries. I can always catch more prey. Say, want to hunt together?” asked Jessy.
“Sure!” purred Squirrelflight.
She sniffed the air. “I smell a squirrel.” she said.
“You’re going to eat a squirrel? Your very name sake? The horror!” teased Jessy, letting out a mew of laughter.
Squirrelflight purred, and gently flicked Jessy with her tail.
“Race ya!” the brown cat meowed, starting to run away from Squirrelflight.
Squirrelflight started to chase after Jessy, happiness filling her heart to the brim.
She had never felt this happy before. Not with Bramblestar.
But with Jessy?
Yes.
Chapter three:
Squirrelflight and Jessy eventually went back to the camp, both carrying a decent amount of prey.
Squirrelflight selected a thrush from the prey pile.
“Want to share?” she asked.
“Sure! I was getting hungry.” Jessy mewed.
The two she-cats began to eat. After a little bit, Jessy broke the silence.
“Squirrelflight? I have to ask you something.”
“Yes?” asked Squirrelflight. Her heart pounded.
“What would you say if I... asked you to come with me when I leave?” Jessy said. Her amber eyes were full of curiosity.
“I...” Squirrelflight didn’t know what to say. Who would she choose? Jessy or Bramblestar? Which cat did she truly belong with? Was she willing to leave the Clan for Jessy?
“I know it’s a hard question. But I had to ask. Squirrelflight, you’re probably my closest friend in ThunderClan, and I’d really miss you. But don’t feel pressured to come with me.” Jessy mewed.
Squirrelflight whispered, “I want to. But I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of what? You should always follow your heart.” Jessy urged.
“I’m afraid of what Bramblestar would say. I don’t think he’d approve.” Squirrelflight confessed.
Jessy’s normally warm amber gaze was now serious.
“Who cares what Bramblestar says? You don’t need HIS permission to make YOUR own choice. Are you really happy with him, deep down? I know you aren’t mates anymore. But do you care for him?”
Squirrelflight thought about Bramblestar when they’d first became mates... BrambleCLAW.
He’d been kind. She had loved him. He had loved her.
But after the truth came out about Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather... he changed.
Squirrelflight’s mate was only JUST starting to warm up to her again. But he could still be cold, controlling, generally... not a cat she wanted to be with.
He wasn’t the same cat. Deep down, she knew that she didn’t want to be with him.
“Oh, Squirrelflight. I’m sorry.” Jessy whispered, understanding what Squirrelflight had not said.
“I know that Bramblestar let you down. But I will ALWAYS be here for you.” the brown kitty pet went on.
Squirrelflight licked Jessy’s ear. “Thank you,” she said.
She meant it with all of her heart.
Chapter four:
The next morning, Squirrelflight woke up. She blinked sleepily. She got up and stretched, yawning.
Walking out of the den, she purred when she saw Jessy.
“Hi, Squirrelflight! Want to go hunting?” asked Jessy eagerly.
“I actually have to organize border patrols right now.” Squirrelflight explained.
Seeing the disappointment in Jessy’s amber eyes, Squirrelflight added, “Would you like to go on a patrol?”
Jessy perked up. “Sure!”
Squirrelflight called to some cats, “Lionblaze, Bumblestripe, Ivypool! Want to go on patrol?”
Ivypool nodded, and started to walk over.
Lionblaze said, “Alright.”
Bumblestripe shook his head. “I’m actually going for a walk with Dovewing. She’s just finishing up some prey.”
“Oh. Okay.” Squirrelflight looked around, and spotted Cherryfall.
“Cherryfall, would you like to come on a patrol?” she called.
Cherryfall replied, “Sure!” She walked over.
Looking at Jessy, Ivypool, Lionblaze, and Cherryfall, Squirrelflight meowed, “Let’s go!”
They started walking. The scent of rain was in the air- it had rained overnight.
After walking for a couple of minutes, Cherryfall suddenly stopped walking, her eyes widening in alarm.
“I smell foxes!” she gasped.
Sniffing the air, Squirrelflight realized that Cherryfall was right: the scent of foxes was indeed in the air- and it was strong.
“Should we go back to camp to tell Bramblestar?” Lionblaze asked.
Squirrelflight pondered this. Then she said, “How about we continue to hunt, then we can see if we spot the foxes’ den while we do so. Then we at least know where they are.”
Ivypool flicked her tail. “Alright.”
Jessy crouched down low. Squirrelflight realized that the brown she-cat had spotted some prey.
Soon enough, Jessy leapt, and caught a mouse.
Squirrelflight’s green eyes gleamed with admiration for the kitty pet. She’s adapted to Clan life so well!
She would make a wonderful warrior.
If only she could stay...
Chapter five:
Days past. Squirrelflight started not spending time with Jessy, in hopes that her feelings for the kitty pet would go away.
It would be easier that way. And maybe saying goodbye would be easier, too.
Part of her felt guilty for ignoring Jessy, but at the same time, she couldn’t leave her Clan for her... could she? Or ask Jessy to stay... could she?
Either way, Squirrelflight wasn’t sure what to do, so she decided to go to her mother, Sandstorm, for advice.
She found Sandstorm by the prey pile, eating a sparrow.
“Sandstorm? Can I talk to you about something?” Squirrelflight mewed.
“Of course. Is something wrong?” Sandstorm asked, concern in her green eyes.
“I’m in love with a cat, and I don’t know what to do,” began Squirrelflight.
Sandstorm’s eyes softened. “It’s Jessy, isn’t it?”
Squirrelflight shuffled her paws. “Well... yeah. I want to ask her if she likes me that way, but I’m scared. Part of me wants to leave with her, but I couldn’t! Could I? And could I really ask her to leave her Twolegs? They’re her family! But could I leave my family?”
“Squirrelflight,” Sandstorm gently said, “only you can make this decision. But as long as you follow your heart, I know you’ll make the right choice.” She touched noses with her daughter before continuing, “Do what you think is right, not what another cat tells you is right.”
Squirrelflight was quiet for a moment before responding. “I’ve felt uncomfortable around Bramblestar. I’ve kinda realized that... maybe he wasn’t the best choice for a mate. I mean, after the truth came out about Leafpool’s kits, he didn’t even talk to me! It’s just... I don’t feel like he’s a cat I can confide in. But Jessy is.”
Sandstorm replied, “I know.” She rested her tail tip on Squirrelflight’s shoulder. “Good luck, Squirrelflight,” she murmured, walking away.
Squirrelflight watched Sandstorm walk across the camp, and talk to Leafpool about something.
Then she focused her attention on something else- well, a someone else. Jessy.
The brown she-cat was talking to Minty.
Squirrelflight padded over. “Hi, Jessy. Hi, Minty.”
“Hi, Squirrelflight. I’m gonna go talk to Frankie. Bye!” mewed Minty, bounding away.
Jessy softly purred. “Minty’s adjusting to Clan life well.”
“Yes. Listen, Jessy, I have something to tell you.” Squirrelflight said.
“What is it?” asked Jessy. “Are you alright? You’ve been acting strange.” Her amber eyes full of concern, she whispered, “I’ve been worried about you.”
“I-“ Squirrelflight could hardly breathe. She started hyperventilating, and her pelt felt hot with shame. “I...” She felt herself shaking.
She was vaguely aware of Jessy asking if she was alright. She nodded repeatedly.
“Jessy, I’m sorry,” she finally meowed, running the opposite direction.
“Squirrelflight?” called Jessy.
But Squirrelflight didn’t reply.
Oh, StarClan, she thought. What am I going to do?
Chapter six:
Squirrelflight avoided Jessy for days after the incident where she tried to tell the kitty pet how she felt about her, but failed.
She had been insane to think that Jessy would ever love her that way. And she could never try to share her romantic feelings again, that was for sure. She’d screw up again.
Leafpool seemed to notice that Squirrelflight seemed upset, and occasionally asked if she was alright. Usually it was a brief question, but one day, Leafpool persisted.
“Please, Squirrelflight. Tell me what’s going on. I’m really worried about you. I’ve noticed that you haven’t been eating, or going about your regular warrior duties. You haven’t been acting like yourself. I’ve asked this before, and I’m gonna ask again: Are you alright, Squirrelflight?”
Squirrelflight whispered, “No.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Leafpool sat down, her pale brown tail wrapped neatly around her paws.
“I... um, I have a crush on Jessy, and I tried to tell her how I feel about her, but I messed up. Horribly, just... horribly. And now I’m afraid to try again, because I’m worried I’m going to fail all over again, maybe even get rejected. And if I get rejected, I just- I just don’t think I could handle that.” confessed Squirrelflight.
“Squirrelflight,” Leafpool gently meowed, “you’re the bravest cat I know. Now, telling Jessy how you feel is your choice. But I believe that you can do it. Jessy is kind. Even if she didn’t like you romantically, she would never be salty or rude about it.”
Leafpool had a good point. Squirrelflight nodded. Her sister had made her feel better- and now? Now she knew exactly what she was going to do.
But it would be one of the hardest things she had ever done. Yet Squirrelflight knew that this was the right choice.
Chapter seven:
The day had come- the day the kitty pets were leaving.
Squirrelflight approached Jessy.
“Jessy, I have to talk to you.” she mewed.
“What is it?”
“If... if you’re alright with it, I’d like to come with you when you leave. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. And I know that I’ll miss my Clanmates, but... I want to be with you.” Squirrelflight explained.
Jessy looked surprised. “Squirrelflight, you have no idea how happy I am right now. I couldn’t imagine leaving you. But... ThunderClan is your home. Are you certain-“
“Jessy... I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” Squirrelflight touched noses with Jessy.
Jessy purred. “Where do you want to go once we leave? The kitty pet life... I’m not sure if I want to go back to it. I think I might want to be a... a loner? A cat who lives in no Clan, isn’t a kitty pet, and wanders? Is that what you call it?”
“Yes, that’s what a loner is. And I don’t really mind whatever we do. I just want to be together.” mewed Squirrelflight.
“When do you want to leave? Minty and Frankie will probably go back to their homes soon. Do you want to wait until then?” Jessy asked.
“Yeah, waiting would probably make sense.” Squirrelflight agreed.
She felt so excited. While she didn’t intend to tell Jessy about her crush yet- not after what happened last time- she felt happy knowing that she was going to leave with Jessy.
And she could always visit ThunderClan. Leaving with Jessy didn’t mean she couldn’t see her family again.
Bramblestar hopped onto the Highledge, yowling to let everybody know that it was time for a Clan meeting.
“Minty, Frankie, Jessy,” he began, “I believe that it’s now safe to return to your homes. The floodwaters have lowered significantly, and I think that you shouldn’t have any trouble getting home.”
Squirrelflight exchanged a glance with Jessy.
The two she-cats approached the Highledge. Jessy’s brown tail was intertwined with Squirrelflight’s ginger one. Just having Jessy near her made Squirrelflight feel a little braver.
“Bramblestar, I just wanted to let you- and all of ThunderClan- know something: I’m leaving with Jessy.” meowed Squirrelflight.
Then she held her breath, waiting nervously for a cat to respond.
Chapter eight:
Sandstorm was the first cat to speak. “ThunderClan respects your decision, Squirrelflight. We’ll miss you, but you must follow your heart.” The pale ginger she-cat touched noses with her daughter. “If leaving with Jessy is what makes you happy... of course I support you.”
Leafpool nodded. “May StarClan guide your path, my dear sister.”
“Bramblestar, who will ThunderClan’s new deputy be?” asked Dovewing.
Bramblestar thought for a moment, and then he spoke. “The new deputy will be Rosepetal. She has proven herself to be a brave cat, and she has mentored many apprentices, and gained wisdom. Squirrelflight-“ his gaze rested on his former mate- “you will be missed.”
Rosepetal dipped her head. “I’m honored. I will do my best to follow Squirrelflight’s pawsteps.”
Hopping down from the Highledge, Bramblestar approached Squirrelflight.
“Remember what we had?” he asked.
“Bramblestar... we weren’t meant to be. Yes, I loved you, but looking back... we should’ve just been friends. Nothing else.” Squirrelflight quietly admitted. “We fought so much... our relationship just wasn’t working.”
Bramblestar sighed. “You’re right. But part of me still wonders what it’d be like if things were different. Anyway, I hope you and Jessy are happy together.”
Squirrelflight blinked. “Thank you,” the ginger she-cat murmured after a few moments.
“Squirrelflight,” Jessy called.
“I have to go. Goodbye, Bramblestar.” Squirrelflight said.
“Goodbye,” Bramblestar responded.
Squirrelflight walked over to Jessy.
She felt nervous, but also excited about the new life that awaited her and Jessy.
Chapter nine:
Squirrelflight and Jessy walked for a while. Once it was starting to get dark, Squirrelflight mewed, “Should we find shelter for the night?”
“I think there’s a barn nearby. Maybe we could stay there for the night?” Jessy suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Squirrelflight agreed. But then a foul stench filled the air.
“Foxes!” Jessy gasped.
Squirrelflight wondered if they could be the same foxes that she and her patrol had scented in ThunderClan territory a while back.
“They must be nearby,” Squirrelflight said, looking around. “Their stench is everywhere!”
Jessy gasped. Squirrelflight turned, and saw that two foxes had come out of the bushes.
One of the foxes growled, and lunged forward.
Squirrelflight raked her claws against its muzzle, wincing at it bit her ear.
Jessy fought the other fox, slashing at its belly fur.
The fight intensified quickly, with both the foxes and the cats receiving a few battle scars.
Hot pain surged through Squirrelflight’s leg, but she tried to ignore it. She had to stay strong. She had to fight. For Jessy.
A new spark of energy blazed through Squirrelflight, and, letting out a snarl, she knocked a fox to the ground.
She was aware that her ginger pelt was matted down with warm, wet blood.
Both foxes let out a whimper, and darted away.
Squirrelflight was breathing heavily, her heart still racing from the fight. But she knew she’d be fine- she had a few scratches and scars, but there was nothing life threatening about her injuries.
She turned to look at Jessy, wanting to make sure the brown she-cat was okay.
She let out a gasp.
Jessy had collapsed, her breathing shallow. Her chest slowly moved up and down- she was alive- but she was seriously injured.
A sob rose in Squirrelflight’s throat. I should’ve been paying more attention to her during the fight. Then maybe I could’ve protected her.
But now wasn’t the time to feel guilty.
Right now, she had to help Jessy.
Chapter ten:
Squirrelflight gently set Jessy down on top of some hay. The barn hadn’t been far from where the two she-cats had fought the foxes, so Squirrelflight hadn’t had to carry Jessy far.
Jessy closed her eyes. Her breathing was more shallow than before- she needed herbs, and soon.
Squirrelflight gently licked Jessy’s head. “Hey, Jessy. I’m gonna get you some herbs, okay? You’re gonna be alright. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jessy stirred. “Alright,” she quietly mewed.
Squirrelflight licked Jessy’s ear, and then exited the barn.
She’d seen some herbs while taking Jessy to the barn, but hadn’t stopped to pick them- she was more focused on helping Jessy get to safety.
Squirrelflight stopped walking once she reached the herbs. Marigold. That would help.
There was a cobweb on a bush. That’d also help.
Squirrelflight gathered a few more herbs that she thought would help Jessy, praying to StarClan that she wouldn’t make any mistakes. After all, basically all of her herb knowledge came from Leafpool. Squirrelflight herself had never trained as a medicine cat, so there was still the possibility that she had made a few mistakes.
She wrapped the herbs in a leaf, and carried them back to Jessy.
“Here, eat this. It’ll help you feel better,” she gently encouraged.
Jessy obeyed. Her amber eyes- her beautiful, beautiful eyes that usually blazed like fire- were dull. But she still had a feisty energy about her, reminding Squirrelflight of the brown she-cat’s usual sass.
“I do feel better. Thanks, Squirrelflight.” Jessy gently touched Squirrelflight’s ginger tail with her brown one.
The two she-cats fell asleep, their tails intertwined.
Chapter eleven:
A few days went by. The herbs Squirrelflight had found seemed to be working- Jessy was acting like her old self again, and her injuries seemed to be healing quickly.
The two she-cats were enjoying life in the barn. There weren’t any Twolegs around- the barn seemed to have been abandoned- so that was good.
They had discussed simply staying in this barn- permanently, not just until Jessy was completely better.
After all, it was safe, cozy, had plenty of mice...
What else did they need, really?
One day, Jessy approached Squirrelflight.
“Hey, Squirrelflight. Could we go for a walk? There’s something I wanna talk to you about.”
“Sure.” It was a lovely day outside- the perfect weather for a walk with a good friend.
Squirrelflight had actually been debating if she should try telling Jessy about her crush again. The first time hadn’t gone so well, but maybe... maybe it would turn out if she gave it another shot?
Jessy and Squirrelflight walked outside.
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Jessy spoke.
“Squirrelflight... I just wanted to say... thank you. You’ve always been there for me. Our friendship means so much to me. And...” Jessy shyly looked away. “No,” she quietly mewed, “forget it. The thing I wanna say is stupid, anyway.”
“No, Jessy.” Squirrelflight touched noses with the other she-cat. “I’d love to hear anything you have to say. And I’m sure it isn’t stupid.”
“Alright.” Jessy drew a shaky breath. She appeared to be nervous, Squirrelflight noted.
“I... I like you, Squirrelflight. Not just in a friendship way. Like, in the way two mates love each other. That way. So, um, if you feel the same way, I was wondering...”
Jessy lowered her amber gaze to the green grass below, appearing to be mildly embarrassed.
“Could we be mates?” she whispered.
Squirrelflight purred. “Jessy! That’s exactly what I want, too! I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you.”
“Well, what do you know? I had no idea.” Jessy said. She affectionately licked Squirrelflight’s cheek.
Squirrelflight purred again.
She was ready. Ready to start over, with Jessy by her side... as her mate.
Chapter twelve:
Two years. How had it been that long, already?
So much had changed. For starters, a few more cats were living in the barn with Squirrelflight and Jessy.
A gray tom named Bush had moved in with them about a year ago. He’d needed shelter from harsh weather one day, and asked if he could stay the night.
He’d never left. Squirrelflight and Jessy, had bonded with Bush quickly, and within two moons, they invited him to stay.
And six moons ago, Jessy and Squirrelflight had become mothers. Bush had offered to be a surrogate father, and the two she-cats had happily agreed.
They had three beautiful kits.
Lilac. They were a brown-and-gray splotchy kit with green eyes. About two moons ago, they’d realized they were non-binary, so from then on, Squirrelflight, Bush, Jessy, and Lilac’s siblings used they/them pronouns for them. Lilac was affectionate and adventurous, sweet yet stubborn.
Stone. She was a silver she-kit with blue eyes. She was talkative and energetic, yet would sit silently for hours, listening to one of Squirrelflight’s stories about ThunderClan.
And Apple. He was a reddish tabby with one amber eye, and one blue eye. He was the youngest of his siblings, yet he was also the most mature. He was quiet and serious, but could also be extremely chatty around cats he cared about.
Squirrelflight and Jessy had visited ThunderClan a couple of times in the two years they’d been living in the barn. They’d brought Bush a couple of times, too.
They hadn’t visited since Lilac, Stone, and Apple had been born, but Squirrelflight was planning to go to ThunderClan soon and ask when a good time to visit would be.
Life was good. Squirrelflight had a mate she loved, a great friend, and three kits.
She was happier than she’d ever been.
This was where she belonged.
Right here.
THE END