Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 22

((Shadowstripe's pov))

"That was a great first meeting," Nightstorm praised, flicking her tail.

Shadowstripe nodded, feeling proud of himself, "I know. Her mental state will only go downhill from here and I will finally be able to get my revenge."

"Now don't get too far ahead of yourself," Gorsepelt growled, "you don't even know if she took your advice or not. And besides, that stupid Russetleaf cut your dream short."

"Yeah, I know..." he sighed, lashing his tail. The determined look still remained on his face, "But I will continue visit her every night, giving her fake warnings, until she goes completely insane! I will make sure she pays for everything she did to me." He finished coldly, padding slowly into the mist.

***

((Larkstar's pov))

Everything seemed duller to her, the landscape, her clanmates, even herself. The constant ringing in her ears never stopped. It only got louder and louder, and every moment she became more paranoid, as if she was ready to snap at any given time.

Shadowstripe had visited her every single night, constantly giving her warnings about Russetleaf and the new cat that had arrived in the clans, Snowsky, who was training as the medicine cat apprentice. She had lost her trust in both of them, and refused to see either one of them unless it was a dire emergency.

She had distanced herself from Fernkit, worried that somehow she would hurt her only daughter if she got too close. She had even moved back into the leader's den, insisting that Clover could take care of Fernkit for the last moon of her kithood. Now she watched every one of her clanmates suspiciously, wondering when they would decide to strike.

It was raining very hard that sunhigh, and the sleep deprived leader finally dozed off. She woke up moments later in the same place she did every night, and saw her brother standing in front of her. But she didn't yowl in protest, or try to run away in fear like she normally did, she just sat there with a new look on her face: defeat.

"What do you want from me, Shadowstripe?" She cried in an exhausted tone of voice. "Please just tell me so I can give it to you! I can't go on much longer like this.... I've lost all motivation, peace, and joy. Please tell me... I surrender! I'm sorry for anything and everything I did while you were alive. Please just stop visiting me so I can have my life back."

Shadowstripe looked speechless, but the expression on his face said it all. So many emotions crossed his eyes all at once, starting with surprise, shock, triumph, and a little bit of joy. But they ended with a rush of anger and hatred as he narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Oh, I didn't realize I had put you through so much!" He said in his mock sympathetic tone. "Well I'm only trying to warn you about what is to come, but if you like, I can stop visiting you."

Larkstar gasped in surprise, "R-really?" She didn't think he would stop that easily. "Thank you?"

A devious grin spread across his muzzle, "Yes, tonight will be the last night I will ever visit you. But before you go, I must give you one last warning. Now follow me..."

Well I guess if he is never going to visit me again, it won't hurt to follow him this one last time... She nodded and followed after him. Suddenly the landscape changed all around them, and they were back in IceClan territory, heading through the dense pines.

"Why are we here?" She asked, "How did you even get here?!"

He casually flicked his ears, "I have my ways. And you'll see why we're here in just a moment. Now just go through the camp entrance and into your den, and you will see what I have been warning you about all this time."