ωαяяισя ¢αтѕ // Mintpool's Venom

Chapter 11

Mintpool's paws thudded against the snow as she hurried towards the rogues camp. But, she knew, there was no way she was going to make it back in time before Frost's patrol. Sure enough, as soon as she skidded into the camp, Mamba was waiting for her. Thankfully, only Mamba remained in the clearing, so at least the rogues won't hear of this.

"So," Mamba began silkily, whisking her tail, "I heard from Frost that you alerted the entire Gathering of your presence?" 

The gray tabby shuffled her paws. "Yes. But it turned out okay. They didn't suspect me or ask why-" 

"I don't care about that," Mamba hissed. "You almost ruined us! I should have you exiled! It's clear you're not fit to be part of the rogues!"

Mintpool flattened her ears. "I'm sorry-"

"'Sorry' doesn't fix anything," the black she-cat growled. Her green gaze flashed with satisfaction. "I knew you shouldn't have joined! Now you've only created us more troubles!" 

"What's going on?" Cobrastrike's voice travelled towards him. The two she-cat's heads whipped in his direction as the tom appeared from the shadows. "What's happening?"

Mamba blinked at Mintpool, smug. "Would you like to tell him how you messed up?"

Cobrastrike blinked, padding towards them. "What happened?"

The gray tabby winced. "Well... during the spy patrol, I alerted the Clans of my presence... they don't know I'm part of the rogues, though, and I got some information, too..." She blinked. Oh, please don't let Cobrastrike be mad at me as well.

Mamba stalked towards the tom, her expression still smug, smirking at Mintpool. "She alerted all four Clans of her presence. How one cat manages to mess up and do something like that, I'll never know. All I know is she isn't fit to be part of the rogues. We should have her exiled!"

Cobrastrike swished his tail slowly, as though thinking. "It is her first time," he meowed. "Every cat makes mistakes, and she got away with it, didn't she? No harm was done."

It was satisfying to see Mamba's smug gaze fall. "What? But she messed up!"

"Then punish her," Cobrastrike replied, shooting an apologetic look towards Mintpool quickly. "But exiling is not the answer. We want every cat we can get to defeat the Clans, don't we? I'll head back to my den now," he mewed before Mamba had a chance to respond, "and you two should, too. I think everything's already sorted out."

Mintpool nodded eagerly as Mamba growled. "Fine."

Cobrastrike whisked his tail easily before turning around, trotting in the direction of his den. Mamba shot Mintpool a lethal glare. "Don't think this is over. I'll have Claw deal with your punishments. He's the other Healer. He should have... plenty of jobs for you." As a cruel look spread over her face, she leaped towards the Fang den. "Oh, and, the only reason you're still here is because you're friends with Cobrastrike. Otherwise, you would've been exiled long ago. Don't ever think you're here because of skills." Her green eyes blazed with fury before she pulled her gaze away, disappearing into the den.

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Mintpool was awoken to the sound of Mamba's yowl. "Wake up everyone!" 

The gray tabby's tail flicked irritably as she rolled to her paws, noticing that her fellow Paw cats were doing the same. Their eyes were the same as hers, sleepy and startled. Does Mamba do this every morning? That's going to take some time getting used to.

Holly appeared at her side, her gaze, unlike the others, was bright with excitement. "How did the patrol go last night?"

"Terrible," Mintpool grumbled in reply. "I alerted the Clans about my presence, and Mamba's really mad at me."