𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑, an indoraptor story

Whispered Oaths at Dusk

I was out on the hunt, nostrils flaring as I trailed the scent of a rabbit close to the borders of ShadowClan. A small voice within me whispered warnings I knew well—I should not be in this place. Yet I harbored no allegiances to RiverClan; not yet. The forests and fields were mine to roam, the prey mine to claim whenever impulse dictated. As the pulse of the chase quickened and I was moments from unearthing the elusive creature, a soft but achingly familiar mew broke the stillness: "This cat gives prey to StarClan!"

Betrayal, I thought, hissing, as tension crawled up my neck, and my pursuit of the rabbit was abandoned. My paws led me instinctively through the thicket concealing the entrance to ShadowClan's camp, and I burst through it, growling, "Fool!"

Every feline head turned to face me, their ears flicking back, tails bristling with a wild array of emotions. Whispers of "monster!" resonated around me, sending ripples of unease through the gathered cats. Yarrowleaf let out a shriek, and in response, I released a raw, defiant roar that cut through the turmoil, silencing the voices—a declaration of my presence and a challenge to the uneasy chorus of the clan.

I turned my gaze to Berry Nose, peering deep into the soft glow of their blue eyes. "You despise the changes to the warrior code so much that you would see your own clan mate exiled, wouldn't you?" My tail swished like a flag of defiance as I turned to face Tigerstar, who stood before me, fur on end, amber eyes blazing with the intensity of a raging fire, claws unsheathed in readiness.

"You're a fool to believe in the words of this traitor!" My voice was a thunderous whip, echoing through the clearing as I dug my claws into the earth, a deliberate mark of my stand.

I swept my gaze across the clearing, locking eyes with each Clan member. Their expressions were a tapestry of shock and fear, articulated in every widened eye and tense muscle. "All of you are fools!" I declared, my words a daring cascade that left no room for doubt. In my sapphire blue eyes, there flickered not just the flame of rebellion, but a plea for a deeper understanding, challenging them to see beyond the veil of their prejudices.

"First of all," began Tigerstar, his tone sharpening the air between us, "who are you, and what do you presume to know about ShadowClan?" I offered a condescending smile and turned to the striped tom. "I know more than all of you combined! I am Alba, the guardian of RiverClan. I cannot merely stand by and witness this chaos where cats are harassed and punished for actions they know in their hearts to be just. To offer food to another clan during leaf-fall is not an act of cruelty—it is what any being of sense would do. Your justice is warped, your reasoning flawed, and above all, you're just sourpusses over a few alterations to your precious code. Twolegs have fewer rules than you all," I snorted with disdain.

My gaze then found Sunbeam, the beautiful she-cat who froze beneath the intensity of my stare. "And you, Berry Nose's daughter, speak up for ShadowClan's sake. Do not let your so-called harpy of a mother trample over you. You have the right heart, Sunbeam," I said, flicking my tail and emitting a heavy sigh before I closed my fiery blue eyes and turned to Briarwhisker. "And you, why do you not speak out? You did something right, only to now tread the path of wrongs," the she-cat sighed dejectedly, her tail sweeping the earth. "I broke the warrior code," she confessed sorrowfully, and I huffed out a breath that ruffled her fur. "Warrior code? Such nonsense. You're all just scrambling for a reason to reign over each other. I'm tired of watching cats be bullied about. You are wild animals, so live as such."

Tawnypelt stepped forward, and I turned to face the formidable warrior, my blue eyes softening just a sliver. "What is it? Are you here to tell me to be silent?" I challenged, snorting disdainfully and flicking my tail in agitation. "I don't want to silence you. I may wish to aid RiverClan right now, but ShadowClan is as fallible as those fish-eaters," she replied, her gaze steady and unyielding.

I turned back to Tigerstar. "Allow me to stay awhile after my hunt, after bringing fresh prey to Moonwing and her apprentice Frostpaw. Then you can berate me for my failings. I don't care anymore, for StarClan's sake. You're all just kits in a vast world, after all." With that, I bowed my head and began to move smoothly towards the exit, but Tigerstar's mew halted my departure. "You are permitted to stay," he declared.

I smiled, gratitude glowing in my eyes, and nodded to him respectfully. As I melted into the thicket, my white tail was the final glimpse the cats of ShadowClan caught of me that afternoon—disappearing like a wisp of cloud on the horizon, leaving them to ponder the enigma of the hunter that had graced their day with a storm.

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"There you are!" Moonwing mewed as soon as I entered the camp, a deer dangling from my jaws. "Oh," she started, taken aback by the size of my quarry as I carefully laid it down before her and licked my lips clean. "I apologize, I could find nothing smaller," I said, but Moonwing simply shook her head.

"It's fine, it's just that we have never eaten anything larger than a squirrel before. Such prey is common for wolves and other large predators, not typically for us," she explained, and I chuckled softly.

"Fortunately, I am large enough to take down such fare," I mused, my claws unsheathing to make quick work of the belly, skillfully removing the entrails to place in a steaming pile aside. "Eugh," Frostpaw gasped, turning her face away, and I let out a gentle snicker.

"It's not so bad," Moonwing reassured, her eyes betraying a hint of respect for nature's raw reality. "I'll fetch some herbs and maybe we can craft a leaf cover to shield this meat," she decided and then slipped away, with Frostpaw trailing behind her.

"Why have you brought an entire deer?" Owlfeather approached, his eyes wide with both ignorance and astonishment. I offered him a smile, lowering my head to meet the gaze of the bewildered leader. "I thought RiverClan cats might dabble in a taste of my world. This is heartier sustenance than the tangy, bony fish you're accustomed to," I said with a playful lilt in my voice, inviting them to imagine meals beyond their aquatic staples, to envision a richer tapestry of flavors offered by the land.

"I... I see, I've never tried deer before, um, where do I start... eh," Owlfeather stammered, hesitantly sniffing at a large slice of venison oozing rich red blood, and I let out an amused snort, pointing my tail towards the amplest portion. "Here, this should suit your size. Simply slice it open with your claws if the pieces prove too unwieldy," I instructed, then glanced up as Dustfur approached, her eyes gleaming with disdain.

"You didn't have to bring this behemoth here," she said icily, and I shook my head in mild reproach. "Do you mean that? You look leaner; leaf-fall is upon us, you must put on weight!" I urged, nudging a piece towards her, but she recoiled, fur bristled defensively. With an indifferent shrug, I added, "The choice is yours."

I continued distributing chunks to those who were inclined to partake while keeping a hearty share for myself. The hide, I artlessly draped across a stone to dry—pondering its use as a bed of sorts for the colder nights to come. My offering caused a ripple of excitement and curiosity, as well as moments of hesitation. The novelty of the meat compelled even the most skeptical to take a closer look; its siren call was undeniably appealing to the natural hunter within.

By the time I had finished, the sun had already set, bathing the world in a soft dusk. Fatigue weighed on my shoulders, prompting a hearty yawn before I stretched out and shook off the weariness. Turning towards the medicine den, I poked my head inside. "Moonwing," I called, and the golden-striped cat emerged.

"Yes, Alba?" she inquired, her eyes locking with mine.

"I must go to ShadowClan. I'll return soon enough, but not tonight, and clearly not tomorrow," I declared. Moonwing's eyes widened slightly, touched by concern. "Why?" she asked.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "They need as much help as you do, but should anything arise, I'll return as swiftly as I can," I assured her before slipping away, leaving an air of quiet resolve in my wake. No cat attempted to stop me; I was out of the camp before any could even formulate their questions.

I was bound for a confrontation with Berryglare, to knock some sense into her if her skull proved unyielding. That was my true mission now. ShadowClan was unraveling just as much as RiverClan had been. It seemed the entirety of the forest clans required my intervention, a notion both daunting and entwined with a sense of preordained duty. The woods beckoned, and I hastened towards fate's call, a lone silhouette against the encroaching night.