Warriors: Poisoned Loyalty {COMPLETED}

Chapter 17

Poppypool led Hawkflight across the moor in silence, her steps heavy with anticipation. The crisp air was thick with unspoken words, and though she felt the weight of what she was about to reveal pressing down on her, she knew it had to be done. Hawkflight needed to know. He deserved the truth, no matter how much it would shatter everything between them.

When they were far enough away from the camp and any borders, Poppypool stopped. Her heart pounded in her chest, the blood rushing in her ears making it hard to focus. She turned to Hawkflight, how stood a few paces away, his expression suspicious yet patient. He had followed her willingly, though the tension between them had grown steadily since their last argument. Now, she was about to lay everything at his paws.

"Hawkflight," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "I... I need to tell you something. Everything, actually."

Hawkflight's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, 'everything'?"

Poppypool drew in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words as they formed in her mouth. "About what I've done. About Rowantail... and the murders."

The confusion on Hawkflight's face quickly turned to disbelief, and then, as the realization set in, to rage. His fur bristled as he took a step toward her, his voice a sharp snarl. "What do you mean, 'murders'? What are you saying?"

She lowered her head, knowing the storm that was about to hit. "I've killed two cats," she whispered, her throat tight. "Darkeyes... and Stormfern. Rowantail forced me to, I-I didn't want to... but I did it."

The silence that followed was deafening. Hawkflight stared at her as though she had grown fangs, his eyes wide with fury and betrayal. Then, all at once, his anger erupted.

"You killed Stormfern?" he spat, stepping forward, his teeth bared. "The deputy? Darkeyes?" His voice rose with every word, the disbelief and disgust thick in the air. "You– You murdererd them! You killed your Clanmates!"

Poppypool flinched, her heart shattering at the venom in his voice. She knew this was how he'd react, but it still pierced her like a thorn. His words cut deep, every syllable searing into her soul.

"Rowantail twisted me," she said quietly, staring down at her paws. "I didn't want to–"

"I don't care what Rowantail did!" Hawkflight snarled, his tail lashing furiously. "Tawnyheart did everything in her power to make sure Rowantail's influence never reached us! She suffered trying to keep him from us, and now look at you– look at what you have become!"

The accusation hit her like a blow. Tawnyheart's name hung in the air, heavy and painful. She had been the only thing standing between Rowantail and his kits. Her absence from their lives after growing up left them bitter and vulnerable... and now Poppypool had fallen into the very darkness their mother had fought so hard to protect them from.

"I know," Poppypool whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I've become him, I know I have."

Hawkflight's fur was still bristling, his breath heavy with anger. He glared at her, as if seeing her for the first time– not as his sister, but as something corrupted. "You've stained your paws with blood," he hissed. "How could you do that? How could you betray the Clan like this?"

Poppypool met his gaze, her voice trembling. "I didn't want to. I've been trying to redeem myself, Hawkflight. I've been reaching out to StarClan, but they won't speak to me. I've been alone in the dark. The only spirit I've been able to talk to is this starry cat who says I can make things right, but I don't even know how."

"Make things right?" Hawkflight laughed bitterly, his eyes cold. "There's no making thing right, Poppypool. Not in the Clan's eyes. You're beyond redemption."