A soft chuckle — more a sharp exhalation of breath than a true laugh — escaped his maw and he laid back down to gaze up at the skies. There was a small pull at the corner of his mouth, the hint of a smile, but even so there was a stinging behind his eyes at the reminder. He never had shown her how to use her wings, had he? He’d never gotten close enough to give her a chance to see what lie beyond the borders of the wonderland she called her home. Bitter regret nibbled at the edges of his heart, yet he still couldn’t find it enough to keep him from following through on his mission.

“They do hold news, actually.” He began, faltering with his words in the beginning but quickly gaining confidence along with the momentum of his conversation, “They bring me one of the greatest adventures of my life. I’d be a fool to turn up the opportunity.” The tom swallowed.

“But perhaps I am.” He turned his head to look up at her. “Subtlepaw...”

What could he possibly say to convey the turmoil inside his head without turning her away? Would it be easier to have her angry at him, to forget about him so that he didn’t feel he was betraying her? Or...

“Subtlepaw, will you dream with me? For just a little bit. Come with me to another world where some things haven’t yet happened and some things... things you’d never even believe could come true.”

Chasingpaw gazed at the stars above him, taking in what courage he could find from them before he released his words, "A world where you can be anyone you want to be. Where you can dance on clouds if you'd like, or fly, or..." he turned his head and looked at her, eyes locked on hers, "freely love who you want to love." Nerves prickled in his belly but he soldiered on. "Subtlepaw," he murmured and sat up, his back to the night, his gaze solely focused on her, "since the moment I've met you, it's been an adventure. One that I've never wanted to back down from. Somehow, you've managed to turn my world completely on its head. You're wonderful, breathtaking, kind, gentle, sweet, and strong in so many different ways. In the few short moons we've gotten close, you've become everything to me." He inhaled a deep breath. "When you were betrothed to Deathpaw, I realized just how much you meant to me. Perhaps I always knew, deep down, but I wasn't able to see it until I thought I would lose you forever."

The apprentice scooted closer to her. "Subtlepaw, you are my everything and I love you. I sincerely hope you know that. You don't have to reciprocate or say anything now. I just wanted you to know." He smiled a bit, but looked away, grief on his face. "And I wanted to make sure you knew that before I left."

Agony flashed across his gaze and tears burned behind his eyes at the broken expression on her face, and while his heart howled, he found himself standing and padding closer to her, desperate to offer her what comfort he could, even as he knew he'd break her more with his words. "Princess... we both know this isn't a world where the unworthy are treated with kindness. Where the princess can be with the pauper. I love you more than anything, but things are getting worse in our home. If I want to see a future for myself or for us, I have to do what's best for both of us. If you're caught with me, you could get hurt. I don't care what happens to me, but I don't want to see you suffer because of me." He grimaced. "Even if that may mean I'm the one who hurts you."

He sighed and sat down, ears drooped and head down. "Everything I do, I do because I love you. All I ever wanted was to offer you a sanctuary and happiness. But even then I've failed. I'm so sorry, my princess." He inhaled a deep, shuddering breath. "I wish I could give you everything you deserve, desire, and more. But I can't do that here." He glanced at her with pain. "But we may have a chance somewhere else."

He padded closer to her and gazed into her eyes. "While I was on guard duty, I met a warrior of another clan. She offered me a deal that would benefit the both of us." He tilted his head. "She is our ticket out of here. Through her, I've garnered us safe passage out of here and to a new world, one that we can create and tend to, one that we don't have to leave come sunrise each night." He smiled at her a bit. "One where we could be together always."

Chasingpaw's jaw clenched and he shut his eyes tight, inhaling a sharp breath of pain. He wished he could say he understood her struggle; and while it made sense to him, he would never have the same experience she did. She was from an entirely different family; not just on another social tier, but also a family that had such high expectations. His family had all but disintegrated; his sister was gone, the rest of his siblings were nowhere to be found, either left or were otherwise gone from this world by... other means. He hadn't seen his parents for seasons. His entire world had shattered and only Subtlepaw had kept it together, but how long could the glue hold when there were those in his clan, the majority of those that were supposed to stand up for one another, that tried to bust it into pieces again?

He swallowed and pressed tightly against her, head resting atop her own, attempting to pull her as close to him as he could, not only trying to offer her what comfort he could, but trying to find comfort himself in her touch and in her scent. He knew what he was asking from her wasn't easy and she was scared; still, he wanted to give her the chance to fly farther and longer than she ever had with him before. If they left, they could go on their adventure and it would never have to end. He inhaled her scent as a way to calm himself. He couldn't force her to choose him over her family; he would never want to put her in that situation. He had offered her the chance and she had the right to choose for herself what path she would take. He would never stop loving her, no matter her decision.

And so...

"Listen," he murmured against the top of her head. He closed his eyes and pulled away from her a bit to look into her eyes. "Listen, darling." He gazed at her with a softness reserved only for her. "This path has been placed before me long before I ever thought it existed. It's only that on this day, I've stumbled across it." He smiled softly, though it struggled to meet his eyes. "The path I'm on right now in WinterClan is one that will end at a cliff's edge. I need to travel a new path, one that may be winding and stretching for many seasons to come. I would love to have you at my side, discovering it together. But I won't make you choose between me and all you've known." He pressed his muzzle against the top of her head, breathing softly.

"So for tonight." He whispered. "Let's enjoy what time we have together and build our final world." He smiled at her, tears in his eyes. "And let's make it strong enough that no matter the distance, it will always be with us."

A sad smile spread across his lips and he brushed his cheek against hers. "Yes. We will race the stars, catch them, dance with them. We will be one with them." He breathed and gazed up at the skies, though not for long. It was as though he was compelled not to look away from her for long; desperate he not forget her face, though internally he knew that could never happen. He had her etched into his memory; one doesn't forget the love of his life so easily.

"Perhaps we will even meet other cats in this world. Cats made of stardust and light, who dream of our world like we dream of theirs."