𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑, an indoraptor story

Confrontation

A week had elapsed, or perhaps more accurately, five days, since my flight from the school premises. I dared not return home, fully cognizant of the distress and unease consuming my parents. However, the prospect of encountering individuals deterred me.

 Indy's counsel resounded within me, prompting me to ensconce my tail snugly around me as I reclined beneath a birch tree nestled in the outskirts of the forest bordering the school. The echoes of a bird flitting from bough to bough overhead reached my ears.

 Sensing a surge of saliva in my jaws, I emitted a growl before gracefully assuming a camouflage. Raising my gaze skyward, I espied a dainty azure tit hopping merrily along the branch directly above me.

Unbeknownst to the petite avian creature, a carnivorous predator lurked beneath its fluffy form. Acting purely on instinct, I pounced, my primal urges seizing control as I ensnared the bird. 

A piercing cry filled the air as I hurled it away, resulting in the unfortunate snapping of a wing. "Ow, ow, ow!" it chirped in pain, tumbling briefly before righting itself.

 Immobilized by shock, I murmured in disbelief, questioning the very ability of prey to articulate. "Hey, do not simply stand there; bring an end to my suffering!" the blue tit demanded, leveraging itself up by its ears. "Are you akin to a feline that deems it fit to prolong my agony in solitude?" 

"No, you simpleton," I muttered, my movements ceasing. The blue tit emitted a shrill scream, seeking refuge against a jagged rock protruding from the verdant moss. "Fiend!" it accused, its cries resonating in the tranquil surroundings.

I rolled my eyes with a hint of exasperation. "Greetings to you as well, dear blue tit. Allow me to extend my heartfelt apologies for the injury to your wing," I uttered, settling down and directing my gaze towards the bird, where a crimson rivulet began to form a pool.

 The tit emitted a derisive snort, fluttering its wings ineffectually as a pang of agony emanated from the fractured appendage. "As long as you swiftly bring about my demise, I am indifferent to the manner," it asserted. Exhaling wearily, I inclined towards it, detecting the distinct metallic tang of blood wafting towards my nostrils, prompting a surge of saliva in my mouth

. Shutting my eyes, I whispered, "Pardon me," before rhythmically opening and closing my jaws around the blue tit. Accompanied by a resounding CRACK! blood trickled into my awaiting maw.

"I never anticipated such peculiar events unfolding in these times," uttered a voice in feline form, as I stumbled about with the blue tit still gripped between my jaws.

 Observing the entrance of a robust tomcat with a coat of brown-black hue, adorned with scars tracing across his nose and eyes ablaze with amber intensity, I recoiled in unease. Familiarity struck as I realized the identity of this intruding tom: Tigerclaw, the formidable adversary of ThunderClan. "What is the purpose of your presence here?" I snarled, forcefully expelling the blue tit from my mouth.

 Tigerclaw calmly swept a paw over his countenance, displaying a nonchalant demeanor as though unfazed by the looming threat posed by a larger predator in close proximity, capable of dispatching him with the same ease I had disposed of the avian prey.

"I detected the fragrance of potential quarry and chanced upon overhearing your discourse with a bird, of all beings. Your mental faculties may be somewhat askew up there, my dear," he remarked, settling down and idly flicking his voluminous tail. "The intricacies of our ability to converse and comprehend each other elude me, as does the notion of my capacity to engage in dialogue with prey." 

"Similarly, I find myself at a loss as to why I possess the capacity to communicate with beings such as yourself, but I shan't relinquish my prize," I retorted with a snarl, prompting a dismissive snort from Tigerclaw. "Your eccentricities hold no sway over me," he declared.

With a menacing glare, I ran my tongue across my bloodstained violet lips. "Indeed," he acknowledged with a nod. "However..." In a sudden burst of aggression, I pounced, rending chunks of flesh from him and sinking my teeth into his neck like thorns. His scream of shock pierced the air, betraying his unpreparedness for my ferocious assault. I harbored no fondness for Tigerclaw; despite his potential in another clan and his untapped opportunities for a more prosperous existence, I was resolute in ensuring his demise. His continued survival would only serve to destabilize ThunderClan following the loss of Bluestar as its leader, and he would undoubtedly exploit this vulnerability to further his own agenda. I would not permit such a travesty. While the affections of Elias may remain elusive to me, and Erika's regard similarly beyond reach, I will remain steadfast in aiding the protagonists of my beloved literary world.

Retreating from the scene, I left him prone in his torment, his anguished gaze brimming with suffering as he convulsed uncontrollably. "You... you possess more strength than your appearance suggests... revolting," he sneered, expelling a mixture of blood-streaked saliva. I merely countered with a menacing hiss before circling around him. "I harbor a deadliness that surpasses your imagination, feline."

Tigerclaw emitted a guttural grunt as he rose, blood spattering in a chaotic array. "Perhaps so, but bear in mind: I possess knowledge of your abode, and I shall track your scent relentlessly. You shall never evade my pursuit," he declared before vanishing into the dense undergrowth, abandoning me in solitude within the sunlit glade. Exhaling heavily, I redirected my attention to the lifeless blue tit, interring it with reverence. My appetite had waned entirely.