Lost Wanderers

Chapter Thirty Two- Standoff

"The majority of the Wanderers have voted that they believe that Static is lying. Static is found guilty of murdering Branch and Oriole, and must leave the Wanderers."

At Tigerlily's words, Static's whole world imploded.

Cats turned to look at her. Junco's gloating grin burned into her golden eyes. Snapdragon looked away. To their credit, Estacado and Llano looked disappointed but didn't turn their heads away.

"What?" What? How could this have happened? There must be some mistake.

"It means you are guilty and you have to leave," Junco sneered.

"No, Tigerlily must have made a mistake. Go recount."

"I'm fairly certain I didn't make a mistake. There were only seven votes anyway," Tigerlily responded.

It must be a dream. Wake up! Wake up!

Static dashed to where Blizzard sat. "You! Who did you vote against?!"

"Static! I voted that I believed Junco, because you've been acting like this!"

He's not loyal in the slightest!

"Blizzard! Who you voted for is supposed to be a secret!" Snapdragon called out.

"You!" Static ran over to Inky, who backed up a bit. "Who did you vote for?!"

"I'm not supposed to tell you," the black she-cat responded, chin held high in front of the taller cat.

"I don't care what Snapdragon says," rage bubbled over in Static's voice. "Who did you vote against?!"

"You!"

Static yowled and turned on the healer, "Who did you vote for?!"

"Static calm down–"

"No!"

Static stood up on her hind legs and raised her paw over Snapdragon. I'll teach her!

She felt claws dig into her side and the force of a collision sent her tumbling. Twisting around, Static saw that she had been attacked by her own brother. Llano! I thought he was on my side!

The small tom stood over her. "I trusted you! How could you turn around and do something like this?"

Static rolled so her stomach was down and hissed up at him. "She needs to be taught a lesson. And apparently, so do you!"

She surged upwards and tore a gash into the younger cat's stomach. Llano screamed in pain. Twisting again, Static leaped on his back and forced him to the ground. Another weight slammed into her side as Junco tried to knock her over. Her claws dug into the earth and she stayed up.

She could see Blizzard coming and Estacado helping Snapdragon. Tigerlily was standing near them, seemingly trying to figure out what to do. Inky was glancing around in fear, perhaps looking for an opening. Blizzard and Junco combined might be able to knock me down.

Leaning down, Static grasped Llano's neck in her jaws and everything froze.

"Static. Think about this," Snapdragon mewed, her voice thick with fear.

"Kill him and we'll kill you," Junco growled as Blizzard nodded.

She could feel the pure terror emanating from Llano as he stayed as still as possible. Not daring to speak.

How did it escalate to this so quickly? They made a mistake with their votes. They drove me to this. This is their fault. I am right. My perfect future is fading so quickly.

The tension amongst the cats was so thick a claw could slice through it.

"Static," Snapdragon spoke slowly, "Let go of Llano."

"Make me," she mumbled around fur. 

"What are you going to gain from this?"

The thick, metallic stench of blood filled the air. The fur on Static's flank had become sticky and Llano's belly dripped.

"Junco's the one that's lying."

"Do you really think anyones going to believe you after this?!" Junco cried.

"I'm teaching him a lesson!"

"A lesson about what?!" her sister's fur was fluffed and her ears were back.

"A lesson about, about order! I am right and he attacked me first anyway!" I am right, they drove me to this. They made a mistake. Fix it and I will let him go.

"Junco, this isn't helping," Snapdragon mewed, "Static, please let go of Llano and we can talk about this."

I'll repeat this as many times as it takes for them to get it.

"Make me."

Siblings
By KittyPeep on deviantART (me)