ωαяяισя ¢αтѕ // Mintpool's Venom

Chapter 10

Mintpool gulped, slowly turning around, facing the Clan leaders. Their expressions were all similar: shocked. Before she could say anything, more paw steps thundered as the medicine cats caught up. Cloverleaf's green gaze was sparkling with delighted surprise as she saw the gray tabby. The others looked much more surprised.

"Mintpool!" Cloverleaf purred, swishing her tail. "You're okay! I was worried you would've been hurt by those rogues."

They don't know I'm part of the rogues, Mintpool thought, looking around at the group surrounding her. And, if the spying plan is going to work in the future, I can't let them. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine." She forced a purr. "I stayed in the Upper Forest." She lifted her muzzle, making her eyes cold as she caught Thistlestar's gaze. "Where I was banished."

The AirClan leader's eyes flashed with guilt and regret. "Listen, Mintpool, I'm so sorry about that," he meowed. "I made a mistake, and I'm hoping that you will return to AirClan. We all feel really bad about that and would be more than happy if you rejoined us."

Although his voice was sincere, Thistlestar's eyes were confident, as if he thought the gray tabby wouldn't refuse. After all, in his mind, Mintpool was an exiled cat that lived with her Clan her entire life. She didn't know how to hunt or fight, and she'd never lived on her own. If she hadn't joined the rogues, then maybe she would've returned to AirClan. But her paws had set down a different path.

Anger bubbled in Mintpool's belly at Thistlestar's confident look. I'm not returning to AirClan, and you'll be sorry you banished me in the first place! She forced her anger down, keeping her voice calm, before replying. "I won't be returning to AirClan at the moment."

She saw Thistlestar's eyes flash with surprise, leaving a satisfied feeling in her stomach. That surprise was quickly replaced with guilt and desperation, and she suddenly felt powerful. It seemed that the AirClan leader has beat himself up in his mind about this a lot, thinking that it was his fault - which, it was. He might've thought having her return to AirClan would help him fix his mistake. And, based on how desperate he wants to fix it, she can get him to do what she wants. Take advantage of his guilt and manipulate him. Or, just make him feel even worse.

Her old self would never do this, Mintpool knew. Her old self would probably return to AirClan and the thought of manipulating Thistlestar would never even cross her mind. Mintpool didn't like her old self very much. 

"We've made a terrible mistake," Thistlestar meowed, "and we really want to fix it. Please. All your Clanmates really miss you, and we really wish that you would return to our Clan. It was very wrong of us to exile you. Please come back." 

It sounds like he's pretty desperate. Mintpool's tail-tip twitched. If I play this right, this'll come in handy in the future. But right now... I'll just make him feel worse. "I won't be returning to AirClan right now," she repeated, firm. "It hurt that so many of my Clanmates-" At this, her gaze pierced into Thistlestar's, making the leader's eyes dart away "-doubted me and thought that I broke the codes. I'll need some time to get over that, not to mention that most were cheering for my exile."

From behind Thistlestar, Echoleaf winced, glancing away. The other Clans and their leaders looked extremely confused and out of place, shuffling their paws awkwardly. 

"Ahem, I hate to interrupt, but I think I'll bring EarthClan back to camp now," Moonstar meowed, her tone awkward. She shot a warm glance towards Mintpool. "We hope that by next moon, Mintpool will be part of the Clans again." Ducking her head, she flicked her tail, leading the EarthClan cats off after Thistlestar nodded. 

Cloverleaf beamed at Mintpool quickly, clear that she was glad the gray tabby had returned, before darting off after her Clan.

The other Clans did the same. It was a pretty crazy night for every cat. Now that AirClan was left alone, Thistlestar flicked his tail.

"Eagleflight, Petalshine, go make sure the other Clans left safely," Thistlestar meowed softly. "Skystorm, lead the patrol back to camp. I think this conversation is something Mintpool, Echoleaf, and I should discuss on our own." 

The AirClan cats began to move, following Thistlestar's orders. Mintpool refused to meet any of their gazes, even as they bumped their shoulders apologetically against hers. In return, she offered them a cold flick of her tail. They didn't matter to her, not as long as she's got Thistlestar under her paws. And, it wouldn't be hard to do so.

As the clearing began to empty, the gray tabby's gaze turned on Echoleaf, briefly wondering if she's feeling as guilty as Thistlestar. No, Mintpool decided, after blinking at Echoleaf for a while. She is feeling guilt and regret, but it's nothing compared to what Thistlestar's feeling. Plus, Echoleaf's a experienced medicine cat. Although Thistlestar's been a warrior for a long time, he's new as a leader, and is still getting into the hang of things. He's a much easier target. 

"So, Thistlestar," Mintpool meowed, deciding to stick to her plan of manipulating Thistlestar later, when she follows through with Holly's spying plan, perhaps, "what do we need to discuss? I'm not seeing anything else we need to talk about." 

"Just please give AirClan another chance." Thistlestar flicked his tail, his gaze refusing to meet hers. Satisfaction surged through Mintpool. He was almost begging. Perhaps he was already there. "We're all really sorry."

"Oh, really?" Mintpool tilted her head. "None of the cats seemed regretful when you made your choice to exile me. None of them stuck up for me." Her gaze whipped towards Echoleaf, but the gray she-cat didn't back down like Thistlestar did. "I highly doubt they'd welcome me back."

"We would," Echoleaf meowed. "Many of us just didn't speak up because we were unsure of the entire situation." Her voice sounded apologetic.

"Unsure of the situation?" Mintpool's pelt bristled. "Couldn't you tell I wasn't carrying kits? I assume you informed Thistlestar of this since he wants me to return?" 

Echoleaf's green gaze remained calm. "Mintpool, I'm sorry. That's a mistake I would fix without hesitation of I could. And, as for our other Clanmates, it was all in the heat of the moment. They weren't thinking clearly. By the very next day, many of them were regretful. Especially Adderclaw." That part was spoken softly. 

The gray tabby hissed. "You expect that mentioning my brother will get me back?" Her tail lashed. "I doubt you're telling the truth." 

"We are." Thistlestar's voice was earnest. "I promise, we'll welcome you back warmly if you decide to return." 

"I will not return right now," Mintpool meowed firmly. "Perhaps in the future, but not now." She began to pad past Echoleaf and Thistlestar.

"But what will you do for hunting and fighting?" Echoleaf called after her, her tone worried.

Mintpool halted, briefly gaping for something to say. "I'll figure it out," she mumbled darkly as she continued her path. "I have until now, after all." With that, she disappeared in the forest, leaving the AirClan cats behind.

That was somewhat of a success, the gray tabby thought as she padded through the woods to the rogues camp. They were so distracted they didn't even question why I was spying on them! As an amused purr rose from her throat, the bushes in her far right rustled. Frost darted out, the rest of the patrol following her, bounding towards the rogue camp as well.

Mintpool felt fear thud in her belly. The rogues. They were going to report back to Mamba. They didn't know Mintpool's manipulating plan, but they'd watched her interact with the Clan cats. And she wasn't the meanest when she'd been talking, like they thought she would be, not to mention she'd alerted all the Clan cats that she'd been watching them. 

The gray tabby bounded after the rogues. Forget success. Her first patrol had been a disaster. 

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Word Count // 1353

Not Edited

Hi! I hope you liked this chapter! I'm definitely going to enjoy writing Mintpool manipulating Thistlestar, but that's in the future. Anyway, any thoughts? Let me know! Okay, that's all. Bye!