ωαяяισя ¢αтѕ // Mintpool's Venom

Chapter 21

Mintpool felt her claws sink, deep, into the cat's pelt. A yowl of pain split the air and the tabby leaped back, surprised, fur prickled.

Her heart seemed to thump out of her chest as she stared at the cat in front of her. Red blood smeared over black-and-white fur. Both she and Flowershine were staring in horror at the cat.

"Adderclaw!" Flowershine's shriek sliced through the forest as she threw herself down at her mate's body, thrusting her muzzle into Adderclaw's pelt.

Mintpool felt as if ice had run through her bones. Adderclaw... She stumbled backwards, staring down at her claws, which were coated in her brother's blood. Her attack had sank right into his neck. What have I done? She had been well prepared to end Flowershine's life, but never would she have expected she'd end Adderclaw's.

Flowershine's wail rose into the air as her body trembled. "It'll be alright. We'll get you to Spotpaw. She'll save you." The ginger she-cat was clearly trying to compose herself. "I'm so sorry."

What's she apologizing for? Everything seemed to be a blur and haze; Mintpool felt as if she could only focus on one thing at a time. Her brain seemed numb from shock and grief, and that question only barely managed to push its way to the spotlight.

The gray tabby's eyes snapped to Flowershine's claws. It was only then that she realized Flowershine had attacked too. Her claws were stained with Adderclaw's blood as well. She'd helped kill him. She'd helped create the wound. Mintpool's breath hitched. Adderclaw had thrown himself in between us as a shield... It was only then that Mintpool realized how close she'd been to Flowershine killing her. Flowershine was being weakened, but so was she. Without Adderclaw, she might be on her way to the Dark Forest.

"Come on, Adderclaw, let's get you back to camp." Flowershine's voice quivered as she stumbled to her paws, trying to nudge her mate's still body up. "Come on, now..."

"There's no point," Adderclaw croaked, his eyes clouded with pain. "Flowershine, I'll see you in the afterworld..." Hissing in pain, he managed to turn and face Mintpool. "I'm sorry. I hope that one day, you'll forgive me..." With that, his eyes blanked, and his head fell, collapsing. Adderclaw was dead.

"No!" Flowershine shrieked, throwing herself besides Adderclaw's body once more, whilst Mintpool stood frozen in shock. "You're a medicine cat! Help him!"

It took the gray tabby a while before realizing Flowershine was addressing her.

"He's dead," Mintpool replied bluntly. Even though she and Adderclaw hadn't been on great terms, she couldn't help but grieve for his death as well. He did say sorry, and probably saved my life...

But her grief was nowhere as strong as Flowershine's. The ginger she-cat's body trembled as wail after wail split the air. A part of Mintpool wanted to crouch besides her and comfort her, as they were both going through the same pain. But a darker, much stronger part, chose a different path. And that was how Mintpool knew her soul was beyond repair.

Leaping forward, the gray tabby's claws sank into Flowershine's neck. With a shriek of pain, the ginger she-cat struggled, but she soon fell still. Her blood stained Mintpool's fur and the tabby dropped her, letting her body land with a heavy thud. She stared down at the two bodies in front of her.

The rain didn't stop; not for a single moment. If anything, it fell harder. StarClan was clearly displeased with the actions that had been done that day.

Mintpool stared numbly at Adderclaw's body. She and her brother weren't the closest littermates, but they were still siblings. Crouching down, she thrust her muzzle in Adderclaw's pelt for a moment in grief.