Seppuku

Chapter 30

Twistedsky sat down in the sunny clearing.  He gazed around at it, feeling half dazed.

He'd made up his mind.

Badgerstripe probably would say Twistedsky had gone mad, insane.  Maybe he was mad.  There was no legit proof of anything good about him, anything sane about him.  He was no longer anything--or so he felt, anyways...

Nettleskip was lying beside Rainpuddle.  Her eyes glowed with warm as she gazed at him, purring.  After all, she was expecting his kits.

He was a lucky tom, Twistedsky knew, to have her as a mate.  Although Twistedsky loved his sister, he didn't love she-cats in that way of fathering the kits they bare.

Twistedsky stood up.  Assessments were coming up for Pigeonpaw...

No, he told himself, it's okay, because he'll be fine...

"Miststar?"  Twistedsky poked his head into Miststar's den.  "Hi-um-hey-Miststar?"

A set of glowing, misted eyes appeared from the shadows. "I-is that you, Twistedsky?" she asked worriedly.  "Is something the matter?"

Twistedsky cautiously stepped into the den.  "Erm-no, see," he began.  He took a deep breath.  "I would like to hand Pigeonpaw over to Hazelstripe.  She was just such a good mentor--and I cant mentor Pigeonpaw anymore... please don't ask why... StarClan wishes it," he added in a quiet tone.  It was a huge lie, and besides, StarClan was such a fake.  Thus, it was a lie.

"If StarClan does..."  Miststar sighed.  "Twistedsky, I'm not sure if you're being entirely truthful with me."

Twistedsky blinked, trying to think fast.  "M-Miststar, trust me... please, hand Pigeonpaw over to her."

Although recluctantly, Miststar murmured, "As you wish.  I will hold a ceremony-of some sort-for Pigeonpaw tonight.  Okay?"

Twistedsky forced a smile.  "Okay.  Thanks, Miststar, I appreciate that."

But Twistedsky wasn't showing up to that ceremony.

~

Twistedsky felt his heart plummet yet farther as he trekked through the wood, slowly, weakly, and sadly.  He felt as though his whole world had come crashing down on him... losing his father, then mate, then mother... and likely worst of all, his beloved sister.  Nettleskip; and only because he was different!  He felt extremely dejected. Twistedsky found himself upon a small, steep cliff.  He jumped on top of a rock that was overhanging on the cliff.  He gazed down.  Rocks were sticking up sharply at the bottom, or well, the bottom he could see.  The rest was just misted, but he swore he could just make out it's dry bottom.  Twistedsky sighed, and lay down.  His sister was starting a family...

And all my family is, well, it is dead.

Well, except for your sister... she's not dead, and you're an uncle to be now.

Twistedsky didn't know where that voice had come from, but he seriously didn't care.  He didn't want to become an uncle, and so he would make sure it wasn't going to happen.

The sky was clear and beautiful, and the sun was pouring onto the warm stone Twistedsky lay upon.  The morning was simply alluring.  He smelled the strong scent of mouse on the air, combined with a bid of sparrow, one of his favorites.   He recalled once trying to catch a sparrow, then Badgerpaw beat him to it... they'd laughed... mentors laughed...

Nettlepaw had laughed.  Nettlepaw liked Badgerstripe as more than just a friend, and was probably too angry to find out his true self. 

But now Nettleskip had chosen Rainpuddle.  And now he was going to father their kits.

As the morning pressed on, Twistedsky didn't move from his precious rock.  He listened to the birdsong, and just enjoyed the day as he brooded on one particular thought.  It was the most difficult decision he would be making in his whole life.

Sometimes, Twistedsky would change his mind.  After a while of deep pondering, he decided.  His dismal mood was making him think, however, this extraordinarly decision needed to be followed through to the end. 

And why should the Clan care?  They'd feel euphoric!

He managed the elated look on Nettleskip's face, and Miststar's.

Miststar!

Her irritating love and belief  in StarClan was driving him completely mad...

Well, adding to how mad he already was.  With such an unfair life such as his own, going insane wasn't all too difficult, now was it?  And maybe his idea was insane too?  Well, he definitely could never consider himself sane any longer.  His life was a series of unfortunate events, one after the other, worse each time they happened...

Losing his sister, as she doesn't support his decisions, along with his mother and rest of the Clan afterwards.  Then, a CreekClan warrior kills his only supporter. 

Then some sneaky badgers come along and Twistedsky loses his mate, and then his sister starts a new family he darn sure won't be welcome in!

Twistedsky realized suddenly he was standing up and digging his claws hard into the rock.  He sheathed them, but gritted his teeth madly.

So be it!  If StarClan existed, then he, of all cats, deserved proof!

"Badgerstripe... here I come!"
Twistedsky leaped off the rock.