Chapter 24

"There they are." Splash murmured, watching from a clump of bushes near the outside wall of camp. A hunting patrol was trotting out of the main clearing and into the moorland. Both Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot were in the patrol with Stoneclaw and Burningfire leading the way. They were heading towards the Monsterclan side of Flameclan's territory. That area was notorious for a plentiful supply of rabbits.

"Go on." Splash whispered. "Ask to join the patrol."

Crimsonpaw sighed. She didn't know why she was agreeing to Splash's plan. There was no way of nothing if the grey she cat would betray her or not. She could easily leave her to the mercy of the two young warriors. Crimsonpaw didn't actually know why she was even going along with Splash's plan in the first place- trusting a rogue she had just met based only on the fact that she had wings from her tribe. Splash had reassured her many times over as they walked to Flameclan camp that members of the Tribe of Winged Cats were fiercely loyal to one another, and that she would never dream of putting Crimsonpaw in harm's way. It hadn't done much to make her feel better about trusting Splash, but she had decided to go along with the plan anyway.

Crimsonpaw shook the thoughts away as she reached the patrol, feeling Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot glare at her. She sensed surprise coming from both toms. They thought she had died. She snuck a quick glance at them, forcing down a chuckle to see absolute horror and shock on their faces.

"May I join the patrol?" She asked, trying to sound as cheerful as possible despite the dreaded feeling within her. She hoped the plan would work out alright.

Stoneclaw narrowed his eyes before giving a small shrug. "Of course." His tail flicked, ordering her to follow him. She fell into step at the back of the patrol as they trotted away.

Pigeonfeather sneered at her from where he padded in front of her, Thunderfoot echoing the glare. She forced away the sliver of fear and glared right back up at the two older toms.

Soon they arrived at the large, clear expanse of moorland where the rabbit families lives. Stoneclaw ordered them to spread out. That was Crimsonpaw's cue.

She padded off in a different direction to the rest of the patrol, deliberately going towards an area where there were many bushes for cover. She heard Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot following her. Please Splash be here soon. She begged, glancing back to see the two toms nearing her.

She paused in a small dip in the ground, looking up at the two. "Why are you following me?" She demanded, trying to stall them before they inevitably tried to kill her again, permanently this time.

"You should be dead!" Thunderfoot snarled, circling around her, his gaze dragged along her body for any signs of scars left by the wounds he had given her.

Crimsonpaw was glad she had thick fur to cover the scars she had collected in her life. No one would ever need to know. No one would ever criticise her ugly scars because as far as they knew, those scars didn't exist.

Pigeonfeather growled. "We're going to make sure you stay dead this time!" He lunged for her, and she let out a cry of fear. The grey warrior was barely a whisker-length from pinning her down when Splash burst from the cover of a bush and threw the tom onto the ground with a hiss.

With a swift stroke of her wings, she propelled herself onto Thunderfoot before he could realise what was happening. She picked him up by his scruff and tossed him onto his brother before pinning both toms down beneath her claws. They writhed with yowls of surprise and terror. She quieted them both down with a hard glare, her blue eyes holding a strong promise of death if they uttered a cry for help.

Crimsonpaw felt a flash of sick joy as the two toms fell silent, their eyes wide in fear. She stalked up to them, relishing in the new sense of power she held over the bigger warriors.

Splash glanced at her and gave a slight nod, a grin on her lips. It was time for Crimsonpaw to alert Stoneclaw and Burningfire of the rogue attacking the two warriors.

She dove into the undergrowth trotting hurriedly towards the two warriors. She took a few quick breathes to make her voice sound stressed. "H-help! Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot are under attack by a rogue!"

Stoneclaw looked up, blinking in surprise. "Where?" The senior warrior demanded.

"Follow me, if we stick low we can surprise attack her!" Crimsonpaw squeaked, leading the way back to where Splash was keeping Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot.

They reached the dip and Crimsonpaw whispered. "Stay low! Don't let her see you!" It was strange, telling the two older warriors what to do. Strangely, they listened and that good feeling of power burst within her. It felt great, it made her feel more secure, stronger.

They peered through the bushes, watching Splash as she glared down at the two warriors. They had reduced themselves to begging for their lives. As they should be. After trying to kill me, they should die! Crimsonpaw bared her teeth as she remembered Pebblepaw's gruesome death, suddenly wishing a similar demise upon the two grey warriors at Splash's mercy.

Splash glanced briefly at Crimsonpaw, such a small movement, barely noticeable to anyone else. Then she turned back to the two grey toms and growled. "Did you or did you not try and kill that apprentice?"

"Crimsonpaw?" Pigeonfeather squeaked. "Never! We don't harm our clan mates!"

"Tell me the truth!" Splash snarled, her claws digging into their skin. They both cried feebly, writhing and kicking against the winged she cat. "Did you try to kill Crimsonpaw?"

"W-We were only doing it in revenge for Pebblepaw!" Thunderfoot wailed, pathetic tears streaming down his face.

Stoneclaw gasped and looked at Crimsonpaw. "They did what?!"

Burningfire murmured. "They tried to kill you? In revenge for Pebblepaw? But a fox killed him..."

Crimsonpaw muttered. "Exactly! They've got the wrong idea, they think I did it!" The lie slipped so easily from her lips that she was shocked. Perhaps it was because it wasn't a total lie. She hadn't done the actual killing- the fox had.

Stoneclaw growled and stormed into the clearing. "What is all this about trying to kill Crimsonpaw in revenge for Pebblepaw?!"

Splash darted away from Pigeonfeather and Thunderfoot, giving Crimsonpaw a sly grin. Their plan had been successful.

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1110 words! YEEE

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