The Rise of a Tyrant

Chapter 9 // Shadepaw

Shadepaw and Slugpaw worked together to corner a large bustard to catch for their dinner. It was their second day out of clan, and they weren't relying on the fresh-kill pile anymore. 

"We have to go back sometime," Shadepaw had mentioned to Slugpaw that morning.

"Unfortunately." The dark tabby had replied smugly.

The bird stood its guard in between the two cats, making weird, grunting noises. Shadepaw saw Slugpaw nod at him and flick his tail - the signal. Shadepaw jumped out of the long grass, blocking the bustard from running off. The bird froze there, alarmed, and in that moment, Slugpaw leapt at it from behind. 

The tom tried to bite at it's neck, but it suddenly spread its feathers outwards, evading Slugpaw's grasp. Slugpaw yowled, searching for grip on the bird's back, but ultimately slipped off, plucking out numerous feathers on the way down.

"You furball!" Shadepaw yelled, leaping onto the mass of brown feathers before it ran off. The bustard toppled onto it's back.

"No, move aside! I've got this!" Slugpaw insisted, leaping up.

"What?" Shadepaw hissed as the tom tried to shove him aside. "Hey, stop!" Shadepaw pushed back. 

The two toms fought over the killing bite, but in the process, the bustard waved it's talon around violently and raked it down Slugpaw's chest.

"AGH!" The dark tabby screamed, falling back in fright. Shadepaw gasped, letting go of the angry bird.

"Slugpaw?" Shadepaw approached the tom.

"You... idiot..." Slugpaw wheezed. "...Now it's gone!"

Slugpaw was right, the bustard had immediately got up and ran away, but that was the last of Shadepaw's concerns. Blood swelled in the place Slugpaw had been scratched, and the cat layed on the ground, face contorted with pain. Now Shadepaw was no medicine cat - but he just knew that would leave a scar.

"You're the idiot, Slugpaw." The blue-grey tom retorted. "Now we have to get your wound treated!"

"I'll be fine," Slugpaw lied. "Just get me some cobwebs or something."

Shadepaw glared at him, his blue eyes staring into Slugpaw's amber eyes. "No, we're going back."

"What?" Slugpaw's gaze redirected to hostility. "We can't!"

"Do you have a better idea?" He shot back.

Slugpaw laid back for a moment, breathing a few raspy breaths. "Actually, yeah, I do!"

Shadepaw sat back and rolled his eyes. "Let me hear it, then." He huffed. "Go ahead!"

Slugpaw gazed at him with a serious look. "We can go find Marshpaw - alone - and he can help us."

Shadepaw gave him a look of suspicion. "Marshpaw?"

"Duh!" Slugpaw protested, clutching his bleeding chest. He raised his paw in front of his eyes, seeing with wide eyes that it was covered in blood. He blinked and glanced back at Shadepaw, continuing. "He's got a weakspot, you know. He's always helping other cats!" 

Shadepaw sighed, anxiety prickling up his back. "And how exactly are we going to do this?"

Slugpaw hissed. "You go find him!" He replied. "I'll be here, I just need to stop this cloud-forsaken blood from going everywhere."

Shadepaw watched the tom get up carefully and pick up a piece of dried moss from the rocky area on the ground. 

Slugpaw glanced back up, his face revealing a glimpse of desperation for a moment. "What are you waiting for?"