perfect

~~~

"Venom?" A soft voice breathed beside the black she-kit's ear. "Are you awake?"

Slowly, Venom's eyes blinked open. As her jaws parted into a yawn, painful memories of Scorpion's death flashed through her mind. Yes, it hurt that her brother was gone, but it hurt even more knowing that it was her father's claws who ended the tom's life. More than that, she was scared. Terrified. What if she let something slip? Would her father kill her, too?

Venom didn't want to be here anymore. Each day she lived numbly and full of fear. Why would she want to live a life that causes nothing but suffering? She wanted to leave, to go far, far away. But she couldn't go anywhere; she was only but a kit, possessing no hunting or fighting skills. She was stuck where she was.

The black she-kit's gaze focused on the cat who'd spoken: Crow.

"Yes, Mother." Even though her voice was only at a whisper, Venom could hear the heavy grief that laced it. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Nothing, other than you getting up and giving your pelt a good wash," Crow meowed. "Hurry up, now. Hemlock's already awake and grooming."

"What?" Venom mumbled. "Why do you need me up?"

Crow gave her a surprised look. "Are you joking with me right now?" When the black she-kit didn't respond, she added, "Today's your apprentice ceremony, for Spirit's sake! Now, get up!"

Venom gazed back at her, feeling shock fluttering throughout her belly. She'd forgotten all about it. She remembered how excited she used to be, just wishing and wishing that she could be an apprentice. Now, Venom thought that she'd like anything but to take a role as an apprentice of WarClan, to train and someday fight in the Battle of the Apprentices.

"But-" Venom stumbled to her paws. "Scorpion-" She just managed to get out bits and pieces of her thoughts. Scorpion was dead. How could any cat just move on so quickly? And having her apprentice ceremony without her older brother... She didn't like the thought of that.

Grief crossed Crow's face at the mention of her firstborn son. "I know," she mumbled softly. "But life has got to move on. Scorpion would rather you become an apprentice then mope around in the nursery, I know it." She cleared her throat, then mewed briskly, "Hurry up!" With that, Crow marched out of the den, Venom following her gloomily. 

The sun beamed brightly in the black she-kit's face. Too bright. How could anything be bright after Scorpion's death? Grumbling, Venom trotted over to join her mother and brother.

Before long, the kits were groomed and washed, their pelts fluffy and gleaming under the light. Rattlesnake, checking on them quickly with a nod of approval, called for a Clan Gathering. Cats flooded out of their dens and hurried to sit around the boulder as Venom and Hemlock climbed up the rock.

Taking a deep breath, Venom lifted her muzzle and gazed at her Clanmates, her father's voice booming through the clearing as he began the ceremony.

~~~

TAKING A DEEP BREATH, Venom lifted her muzzle and scanned her Clanmates, clearing her throat as she began her speech.

"Beloved Clanmates," Venom meowed, her voice traveling clearly through the dip from her spot at the top of the ledge. "Today I have gathered you all here to inform you all of some changes that will be coming to our Clan very soon."

Murmurs of curiosity spread throughout the crowd, but the black she-cat silenced it all with a flick of her tail.

"As you all may know, I come from a bloody past. My birth Clan, WarClan, switched its leaders through death. Ever since I've founded PeaceClan, I've been trying to steer its path as far away from the way WarClan was ruled as possible. And I've been pondering on the change of leaders ever since PeaceClan was founded. I don't want the transition of leader to be through death and grief. Instead, I've come up with a new way: one leader retires and chooses an heir. That heir will take over.

"So, I suppose the point I'm really trying to get to is this: I'll be retiring."

"What?"

Cries of confusion burst through the camp. Cats exchanged bewildered looks, pelts bristling with protest, calling out questions.

"But we've never lived under another leader!" Feather's high shrill, laced with anxiety, seemed to sum up the rest of the cats' thoughts well, as they all fell silent, nodding intently with agreement. "What if the next leader ruins this Clan? What if they run this Clan the way WarClan was run?"

Venom chuckled lightly. "Now, now, I trust that each and every one of you has the best interest of PeaceClan at heart. However, I do understand that power can get to one's mind. So, rest assured that I've thought long and hard about this, finally picking a cat I'm certain will do a brilliant job of leading you all."

From the corner of her eye, Venom spotted her three Highclaws, Rose, Cobra, and Frost sit a little higher. Rose's eyes were especially hopeful, as the black she-cat had put her in charge whilst she searched the forest during the apprentices' challenges.

"PeaceClan, the next cat that shall lead you will be Storm."

Silence greeted Venom's words. Every cat seemed to either be too stunned to speak, quivering with bewilderment, or twitching with disappointment and anger. No cat seemed pleased about Storm's promotion.

Perfect.

The thought, created by Venom's subconsciousness, wasn't noticed by the black she-cat. Instead, she flicked her tail and called Storm up onto the ledge with her.

"But-" Frost's voice broke the silence. "She's so young. She's only just become a warrior!"

Yowls of agreement followed Frost's words.

"Exactly! She's got no experience!"

"She's going to ruin this Clan!"

"There are cats more fit to lead! Like one of the Highclaws!"

"For Spirit's sake, I could do a better job than Storm!"

Venom glowered at them, putting their protests to a stop. "Now, is that any way to greet your future leader?" she demanded, as if she were a mother scolding a kit. Turning to Storm, she noticed how the gray she-cat was beginning to shrink away. Satisfaction flickered through her; this couldn't have worked out better.

"Do not worry, every cat. I know you all have your concerns. But don't fret, I'll still be here. I'll still keep a watch over things." She paused, giving the last bits of her speech. "I've raised Storm like my own daughter. I'm certain that she'll be a wonderful leader."

Gazing around at her cats, Venom noticed one thing that was evident on all their faces: jealousy. She'd thought through each one of her words carefully, and the ending wasn't to comfort them: it was to provoke such jealousy.

They were jealous of Storm, because she was getting such special treatment from the black she-cat. If it were any other cat, there was no chance Venom would choose them as heir.

And deep down, they knew it wasn't Storm's fault. It was Venom's. Venom's fault for her irresponsible, biased choice. But they wouldn't dare let themselves think that, and would instead direct anger onto Storm.

And for the record: It wasn't an irresponsible choice. Venom would never make one unless she was driven to strong, strong emotions. Every word she spoke, every step she took, was carefully thought-out and planned.

Let cats think she made a favored and bad choice. Let them know it's her fault deep down, but never let them think about it.

That was the beauty of it all.

~~~

heyyy! sorry about the stuff that kept repeating in the present half - it's basically the exact same as the last present bit. fingers crossed that moving forward, there'll be some more action!

let me know what you thought of this chapter! pretty much a filler, honestly. again, not too much action.

but, i'd like to see what you guys think storm will do & what will happen in the future! also, i'm curious, how do you think venom's downfall is going to happen? i've left just the smallest of clues in this chapter, hehe ;)

feedback is always appreciated!

~ lily