fall of the scorpion & lion

~~~

Venom felt her jaws drop open in disbelief. "Father's going to fight Scorpion?" Her voice, which she'd meant to come out as a soft, worried whisper, was caught by the sharp ears of her mother.

"Serves him right!" Crow sniffed angrily. "After that stunt he's pulled, not fighting his hardest. Doesn't he know how utterly embarrassing it is for us? Especially for your father! The son of a Top Assassin and leader of the Clan, losing? I can practically hear the rumors already! And this is even more for your father. His image means everything to him, you know."

"So Father's fighting Scorpion to protest his image," Hemlock figured, "because Scorpion would try his hardest, and every cat could see how well he's holding off the leader."

"Quite right, love!" Crow praised, giving her son's head a lick. "Your father's a smart cat, no?"

"I don't think so," Venom muttered softly to herself. "Scorpion could be seriously injured." Her words passed by her mother and brother, both of them focusing their attention on the hollow as the fight began.

The two toms circled one another, snarling. Scorpion's pelt was littered with wounds. He possessed a limp. Rattlesnake was two times larger than the apprentice. The match up was clearly unfair! Yet, no cat spoke out against it.

Scorpion jumped first, making Venom wince softly. Not a good choice. Rattlesnake saw him coming, swiping out a paw with ease and knocking his son away, hissing.

"Come on! You've got to do better than that!" the brown tabby spat as Scorpion staggered to his paws.

Venom didn't think her heart could pound any faster. She was practically on the edge of the boulder, tail-tip twitching with anxiety. Please, Scorpion. I know you're upset, but please put on a good show so Father won't hurt you too much! Worry for her brother bubbled up inside of her, flooding wildly.

As if Scorpion could hear Venom's thoughts, he glanced up at her. He tilted his head and gave her a light-tipped smile, one that he'd shown before the battle had begun. She could read the message as clearly as the previous one: Everything's okay, don't worry about it.

Taking a shaky breath, Venom nodded back and sat down properly. Everything will be okay. Trust Scorpion.

As the light brown tom's attention refocused on Rattlesnake, he didn't waste a moment before he was leaping at the WarClan leader again. And the dark tabby didn't hesitate, either: lashing out a paw, he hit Scorpion away. It was painful to watch. Scorpion was knocked away, as if he was something as light as a leaf.

Scorpion landed on the ground with a heavy thump.

~~~

STORM LANDED ON THE GROUND WITH A HEAVY THUMP. Lion stood above her, lips pulled back into a snarl, claws slashing at her pelt. Gasps of horror arose from the gathered cats, stepping backwards. Flicker eyed her son as if she didn't even recognize him.

Yet none of them hurried forward to pull the ginger tom off.

As Venom rushed forward, she observed the entire scene with interest. Thank you, Lion, for making my plan flow so easily. Leaping atop the ginger tom, she grasped his scruff and lugged him off, throwing him in Cobra's direction.

"You see, everyone?" Venom lashed her tail. "Lion's just attacked Storm again! He deserves to be exiled!"

Lion hissed, his fiery glare never leaving Storm's pelt. "It's her fault! I wish that pathetic cat never joined this Clan!"

The black she-cat lifted her muzzle coldly. "Such unkind words. It's clear that you are and never will be properly fit for PeaceClan. It's best that you lumber off on your own somewhere. Do not approach our territory ever again, as my cats have my permission to attack, whether or not you're crossing the border."

"But..." Lion trailed off. "My mother's in this Clan! You can't forbid me from seeing her!"

Venom huffed unsympathetically. "As I've heard you claim in the forest, you're at the age of a warrior now, no? Isn't that what you're so upset about, that you should be a warrior? Well if that's the case, then you should be able to survive perfectly fine on your own without your mother. Besides," she added, glancing at Flicker, "I bet she wouldn't wish to see you anyway after this. Do you, Flicker?"

"I-" The tortoiseshell she-cat glanced from Venom to Lion, looking back and forth with panicked eyes. "He's my son-"

Venom sharpened her gaze, fixing Flicker with a look of utter danger.

The tortoiseshell hung her head. "No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to see Lion anymore."

Marvelous. A small smile spread on Venom's face as she faced Lion. "Cobra, please escort him out."

Lion didn't speak when the tom nudged him away. His eyes held nothing but betrayal, hurt, and pain. His head hung as he padded towards the borders. Flicker didn't look at him once whilst he went.

"Tree! Heather!" Venom yowled, calling for the Healers. "Come take a look at Storm's wounds in the Healer's den, please. The rest of you may go. Except Flicker. I'd like a word with you, darling."

As every cat moved away, the black she-cat padded towards the tortoiseshell. Flicker's eyes still didn't leave her paws, and Venom sat down besides her sympathetically, wrapping her tail around the tortoiseshell.

"You okay?"

"I just-" Flicker's voice came out heartbroken. "I can't believe Lion would do such a thing! He was always so good, so passionate, so willing to help. And he attacked a cat-" She trailed off into silence, shaking her head.

Venom pressed against her lightly. "I understand it's hard to view one we love in a bad light," she mewed gently. "You think they're a cat sent from the Spirits, to help spread love in our lives, only to find out they're not quite as we'd imagined."

Flicker managed a nod.

"And it's hard for me, too," Venom continued. "Lion had so much potential. He would've made a brilliant warrior. But I can't let a cat that's already attacked a Clanmate remain in our Clan. It just wouldn't be right, would it? In fact, I think it'd be selfish to value the power of the Clan over the safety of our cats. Don't you?"

Flicker nodded again. "Y-Yeah. I do. I just... still can't believe it. And now I'll never see him again."

"Perhaps that's for the better," Venom offered. "It'd keep our Clan safe, wouldn't it? Wouldn't it be good if we could all live our lives peacefully without worrying about being injured?"

Another nod from the tortoiseshell.

"I understand you need time. I shall leave you now to think things over. You may be excused from duties for the next couple of days. If you need anything, I'm always here to talk to."

"Right. Thank you, Venom."

With a sweet nod, the black she-cat stood up and padded away.

~~~

hey!! winter break has officially started for me! whooo! pretty awesome, so i thought i'd celebrate with a chapter!

quick question, are you guys enjoying the flashback or present time more? personally, i prefer present time, as flashback's pretty cliche, haha. but, it is setting stuff up for the present. i promise you guys that the two will connect!!

let me know any thoughts you have! thanks for reading!

~ lily