THE BLOOD MOON; WARRIORS FANFICTION

Chapter 15

Flowertail hissed in annoyance at Maple, who continued walking next to Menace.

Before Flowertail could take another paw-step however, Maple turned back to her with a raised brow. "Aren't you going to catch that mouse?"

Flowertail stopped and gritted her teeth. "Yes. Yes I am."

If she wasn't Menace's sister, she would not be alive this long.

Flowertail buried the skinny mouse, then glared at Maple as she fell into step beside her and Menace.

"It was scrawny anyway." Flowertail sniffed.

"Aren't you Clan cats supposed to be grateful for prey and all that?" Maple retorted.

Flowertail opened her mouth to insult Maple, but was cut off when Menace stopped, lifting his tail for silence.

"Wait. Does any other cat scent that?" Menace asked curiously.

Flowertail froze, her eyes wide. "I...um..."

"I think it's a fox." Maple replied.

Flowertail felt her blood turn into ice and her vision blur slightly, but she felt a wave of relief wash over her instead at Menace's reply.

"No, I think it's a badger." Menace shook his head, his pelt bristling. 

"We should kill it." Maple hissed immediately.

"We're only three warriors." Menace argued. 

"Well, it's coming towards us anyway," Maple snapped. "So what do you suggest we do?"

Flowertail's eyes widened as the badger burst through the bushes.

"Run." Menace replied, and all three cats bolted, Maple muttering under her breath about what a cowardly choice they were making.

"There's a difference between cowardly and sensible." Flowertail snorted as she dug her claws into a tree, pulling herself up. "And I'd like to keep my other eye scarless, thanks."

Maple jumped after her, followed shortly by Menace. "How'd you get your scars anyway? They look old."

Menace gave her a warning glance as he settled himself on a branch. "Don't ask her that."

"What, did you save her life?" Maple snorted at Menace.

The tree rattled as the badger leaned onto its hind legs and dug its claws into the trunk.

"Sort of."

"I saved you, you mean. That fox when we were kits? I most definitely saved you from it." Flowertail rolled her eyes.

"I'm the one who drove it off." Menace pointed out.

"Could you two stop trying to take the credit and focus?" Maple grumbled.

"Speaking of which, where did your collar go?" Flowertail asked curiously.

"I got rid of it. It reminded me too much of Scourge." Menace sighed.

"YOU TOLD HER ABOUT THAT?!" Maple hissed, fuming.

Menace flattened his ears. "She's my friend."

"Yeah, sure she is." Maple snorted.

"And why are both of your claws so sharp?" Flowertail narrowed her eyes.

"It's none of your business." Maple snarled.

"All BloodClan cats had sharper claws than normal." Menace shrugged.

Maple glared pointedly at him. "Since we're all just casually pouring out of entire life stories and feelings while a badger is still trying to kill us below, why don't you tell me how you got those scars?" Maple asked, her brow raised.

"Stop trying to pry into my life." Flowertail growled.

"The badger's gone." Menace mewed quickly, trying to defuse the tension.

Neither she-cat heard him.

"Oh so I'm prying into your life now? You basically know my entire life story!" Maple snorted.

"Stop sticking your muzzle where it doesn't belong!" 

"Why am I even bothering to talk to you? You're just a self-absorbed, stupid-"

"BOTH OF YOU!" Menace yowled over them. "Apologize. Now."

"....I'm sorry." Flowertail groaned after a few seconds. "To have met you." She smirked.

Menace groaned. "Maple?"

"I'm sorry for calling you stupid. I really thought you knew already."

"Wait, do either of you scent that?" Menace, interrupted, his eyes narrowed.

"Of course we scent the badger. It was literally right next to us." Maple rolled her eyes.

"No, Nyx's scent is nearby." Menace's eyes widened. He leapt down the tree, and Maple's tail twitched anxiously. 

"Wait! Menace, the fox might still be nearby!" Maple called, and when her brother didn't reply, she followed him hesitantly.

"You both are mouse-brains." Flowertail sighed, then jumped down after them, her amber eyes scanning the area wearily. She tracked their scent to the edge of ThunderClan territory, where both Maple and Menace were standing.

"Her scent leaves Clan territory." Maple observed quietly.

"We have to follow her." Menace mewed immediately.

"I'm coming." Maple replied instantly.

"Me too." Flowertail meowed softly, coming to stand next to Menace. He blinked gratefully at her, and Maple thankfully didn't interrupt and object.

Flowertail gazed up to the sky, where the moon was just starting to appear in the light blue sky, a ghostly pale color.

Was it just her imagination, or did the moon seem a slightly reddish color?