Thrush flicked her tail as she returned to camp. All of Horizon's threats seemed a bit half-hearted and Thrush knew that she was just worried about her, but she still wouldn't let that stop her. She had to explore! She felt pulled to the forest, but Horizon was right. She couldn't go alone. Luckily, she knew the perfect cat to come with her.
"Hey!" Thrush whispered. "Toad! Wake up!"
She stood crouched outside of his den, occasionally glancing around to make sure she was in the clear. Toad poked his head out of the den, looking sleepy. "Huh? What do you want?"
"I'm going into the Shadow Forest!" Thrush whispered. Toad's eyes widened. "What?! You can't!"
"Shh!" Thrush hissed. "Either you come with me or I go alone."
Toad sighed. "I can't let you get killed by yourself, I guess."
"That's the spirit!" Thrush purred. "Come on, let's go!"
++++
Thrush and Toad stood in front of the Shadow Forest, looking up.
"You were right." Toad meowed, sounding surprised. "It really isn't that scary. I feel...oddly drawn to it."
"Me, too." Thrush purred. "Let's go in!"
"Hey!"
Thrush and Toad both jumped to see Horizon storming up to them, looking furious. Thrush's heart sank.
"What do you think you're doing?" Horizon snapped.
"You can't stop us from going in!" Thrush said. "Cuff my ears all you want, I'm a grown cat and I can do what I want!"
"This is what I get for fueling your ego." Horizon sighed. "Thrush, you're only a trainee. You can't go alone."
"I'm not alone, Toad is with me!" Thrush waved her tail at Toad, he shuffled nervously.
Horizon sighed. "If I come with you and we get out of this alive, you have to promise me to never disobey me ever again."
"Alright." Thrush sighed. "I won't."
Horizon glanced over. "I've heard stories about what happens if you don't bring anything. Perhaps we should take some prey in, just in case."
"I can take something!" Toad offered, dashing off. Thrush watched him go.
Horizon sighed. "I get the feeling we have no idea what we're getting into."