What Awaits Us

Sections are titled by the in-universe year, and are basically just the major events in Swift's life.

She sped up when she heard the rushing water of the underground river, and then, almost fully drowned out, Pirate saying something to either comfort or reassure Salamander. She had missed the first part of their conversation, and she frowned. The two of them were hiding something from her, and she wanted to know what it was. Swift hated being left out, especially if it was about herself, which she thought it might be.
"I'm telling you, it's not like that. If you just talk to her-" then Salamander cut him off.
"Yeah, right. Like she'd tell the truth. I don't believe you." He hissed, and Swift paused, darting behind a nearby stalagmite to watch and listen. She crouched down, making sure she was hidden from view. She didn’t know why she was hiding, but she felt like she had to.
Who are they talking about? She wondered. Had she been wrong? Was it not about her? She had a better vantage point from where she was now, and she could see both of her friends. Pirate was sitting by the edge of the river, looking slightly nervous. Salamander was all puffed up, his tail lashing. Swift hadn't ever seen him that angry before, and she was concerned.
"Why would Swift lie about that? It's not like you've even asked her about it." Pirate said, slowly moving away from the riverbank, like he was worried Salamander might push him into the water. Swift froze, her eyes wide.
So they were talking about her. Swift narrowed her eyes, and scooted closer, to hear Salamander's response. Now she really regretted missing the start of this. It sounded important, and Salamander sounded angry.
"You're just trying to get to her first, aren't you? You want to steal my girlfriend." Salamander said, taking a menacing step towards Pirate, who just looked confused.
"But… she's not your girlfriend? Unless I missed something." Pirate said, with an awkward chuckle. He was trying to laugh it off, make it a joke, like he usually did, but Salamander was clearly not amused. He was growling, stalking closer to Pirate.
Salamander was being completely serious, Swift realized, her breath catching. He actually believed she was his girlfriend. She made a face, it had never crossed her mind that Salamander liked her that way, but it did make a few things make sense. The way he huffed when she spent time with just Pirate, the way he walked close enough beside her for their tails to brush. Salamander saw himself as her boyfriend, and he thought Pirate was a threat to their non-existent relationship.
Swift realized she had stopped listening to the argument for a few seconds, and she looked back at Pirate and Salamander. She didn't think she could call Salamander her friend anymore, after hearing that. Was that the only reason he was her friend? Because he had a crush on her? She had apparently missed Salamander's reply, but Pirate looked more angry than nervous now, and his blue-gray fur was bristling slightly, so maybe it was better she hadn’t heard it. She’d never seen Pirate that angry before.
“She’s not an object, Salamander. She can make her own choices. Deal with it.” Pirate said, his eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you would even think something like that.” Swift’s heart was racing now. What had Salamander said to get that much of a reaction out of Pirate? He was usually so calm, and could find humor in anything, no matter how bad the situation was.
“At least I’m not… oh, let’s say… keeping life-changing secrets from her?” Salamander said, taunting Pirate. Pirate recoiled, like he’d been hit. Swift recoiled slightly as well, stunned by the new information. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Were either of them telling the truth? Was Pirate really her friend? What was true, and what wasn’t? How long had her friends been hiding things from her?
“I don’t know what you mean.” Pirate said, but Swift could tell he was lying. He knew exactly what Salamander was talking about, which hurt. He was hiding things, important things, from Swift, his best friend. Maybe Salamander was exaggerating about them being life-changing, but Swift felt like he wasn’t. That just made it worse. Salamander sneered, advancing. Pirate wasn’t backing away this time.
“Oh, you know what I mean. Are you ever going to tell her, Pirate? Tell her about her family?” Salamander said, encouraged by Pirate’s reaction. Swift gasped, forgetting she was trying to stay hidden. Fortunately, neither of them heard her.
Pirate knew about her family? But that was impossible. Polar was the only family Swift had left. Of course, there was always the mystery of who her father was. Polar would only say that he died in an OutCast attack, and that was the only thing Swift had ever learned about him. If Pirate knew something else, why hadn’t he told her? Even if he only had a name, that would be all she needed to know. Swift had asked Pirate a few times if his parents might know anything about her father, but he would always shake his head, and say that nobody in the clan knew who he had been.
“That’s not- you’re changing the topic.” Pirate said, avoiding Salamander's question. “And it’s for her own safety.” Pirate looked like he was about to attack Salamander. Swift was holding her breath, scared for her friends. If Polar found out they’d fought, one of them could get exiled. She was very strict about the rules, especially if she could get the chance to exile someone, and Swift knew how much her mother hated Pirate.
“Her own safety?” Salamander scoffed. “Don’t try to protect her. She can protect herself, can’t she?” Pirate stayed quiet, but he was still fuming. “If you don’t tell her, I’ll have to do it myself. Then she’ll see you aren’t her prince in shining scales.” Salamander said, and then Pirate lunged for him, knocking him off his feet.
Swift scrambled back, even though she wasn’t anywhere near the fight. Pirate dug his claws into Salamander, who had hit the ground hard. Salamander growled, and slashed up at Pirate, hitting him in the face. Pirate shook off the blow, but he was bleeding badly. Salamander had aimed for Pirate’s eye, and hit his target. Swift watched them fight for a few more seconds before she jumped up and fled, back to the city and her home. She had to find Polar before they killed each other.
Swift burst into the small cabin she shared with her mother, and stopped to catch her breath. Polar dropped her quill and glared at her, annoyed about being interrupted.
“Swiftlet.” Polar said, her voice threatening. “If this isn’t an emergency, you better have a good reason for disrupting me.” Swift’s ears folded back, and she stared at the floor.
“Pirate and Salamander are fighting, you have to come quickly.” She said, and Polar slowly got up. Swift tensed, not sure what Polar would do next.
“Show me.” She demanded, and Swift nodded quickly, leading the way back to where her friends were. Polar followed her through the tunnels, muttering to herself the whole time. Swift stopped when she reached the river, and looked up at Polar nervously. The scarred clan leader was furious, and she stalked over to Pirate, hauling him off of Salamander, who looked half-dead. Pirate had been winning, and Swift was pretty sure that if she had been any slower, he would have killed Salamander. She paled. Swift hadn't thought Pirate, who was usually so calm, would hurt anyone that badly.
“Who started this?” Polar said, staring at Swift. She gulped, not sure what to do. If she told the truth, Pirate, who’d always been her best friend, would get exiled, but Salamander would have a chance to heal. If she lied, and said that Salamander started the fight, Pirate would stay in the city, but Salamander would probably die from his injuries. She didn’t know if she could truly call either of them her friend anymore, but she did know one thing. She knew she couldn’t let Salamander think she would ever take his side ever again. She’d stood up for him before, yes, and he’d decided that she was something to be won. She hated that.
“Salamander started it. Pirate was just defending himself.” Swift said, glancing from Pirate to Salamander, who had just struggled to his feet, and who was now giving her a death glare. Pirate just looked relieved.
“If that’s true,” Polar said, giving Swift a sharp look, which she turned on Salamander and then Pirate. “Then you all know the consequences. Salamander and Pirate, you’re exiled. Permanently for the attacker. Pirate, you may return in a year. Until then, if you’re seen in the city…” Polar didn’t need to finish her sentence. They all knew what she meant. If either of them came back, they would be treated as enemies, and killed. Even though Pirate would be allowed to come back, Swift knew it would feel like forever until she saw him again. It would probably be the longest year of her life without her best friend there. It was nice to know she still considered him her friend, at least.
Pirate looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t get a chance before Salamander stormed off, heading for the entrance tunnel. Polar narrowed her eyes at Swift and Pirate, and followed Salamander to make sure he left. Swift didn’t quite hear what Pirate said to her, but she guessed it was about telling his parents he was exiled. She nodded, and then without thinking, hugged Pirate tightly. He looked surprised, and his surprise turned to something closer to stunned when she kissed him. Swift quickly realized what she’d done, and she stammered something, pushed Pirate away, and ran back to the city. She glanced back once, just in time to see Pirate smile softly and start heading for the exit himself.