Book 2 - Warriors: The Servant's Promise

Chapter Ten

"So you're telling me nothing happened?" hissed the dark commander, his icey, blue eyes flashing with a dangerous anger, fixed onto Rain as the scared servant hunkered down as low to the ground as he possibly could. "Half of the cats out there saw you, telling me several unbelievable tales that all had one thing in common: you were going to kill Lightning."

Rain flinched as the commander's voice boomed throughout the cavern den, feeling the scorching gazes of the elders and Shadow burning his pelt. The elders, who had come out into the open to listen to what Rain had to say, were merely very curious it seemed, but the grey and white servant still felt their authority burning into his insides, clawing at his belly as he nervously hoped that this would go quicker.

"I—I wasn't trying to kill him, I—" Rain started, but was cut off by Shadow, who huffed angrily. Huntress, who sat in the back of the den merely observing at this point, was scrutinizing him intently, her icy blue eyes searching for a different answer.

You're a horrible liar, Jactur murmured.

Well what am I supposed to say? 'I'm really a trained killer and can break into an insane killing streak at any given moment?' Rain retorted.

"Rain, by the many witnesses outside, I know you're lying," Shadow growled low in his chest. "By the look on your face, you were going to kill him. There shouldn't even be a question upon your execution, because of all the witnesses outside. However, by law, I must do this."

"Not to mention the fact that he didn't even kill Lightning," came a gruff voice from the back of the group of elders. "Commander, you're talking to a weak servant who couldn't have killed the skilled fighter in the first place. Does he deserve execution? I apologize, let me rephrase that. Is the slim chance of him being able to kill a fighter enough to make you consider executing a valuable servant? Think, Commander." Shadow scoffed, his tail lashing and his hackles beginning to rise in his agitation.

"Are you mouse-brained?" Shadow hissed. "Do you want to allow a killer to roam our midst? He's dangerous, and even dangerous weaklings should be put down." There was another heavy silence, and then murmuring, each of the elders whispering amongst themselves. Finally, after a few minutes, one of the elders, a tall brown tom named Reed, stepped forward.

"Commander, don't we crave power like this young tom has?" asked Reed in his rasping voice. "He is strong, if only in mind, and do not forget the moment your daughter brought him into this camp. She sensed the power within him and so did you. We did as well, so if he holds this strange power, shouldn't he be allowed to stay? The ultimate choice is yours, but please consider the possibility that we have stumbled upon something great for our cats."

Yet another pregnant silence began, leaving Rain shaking with the fear of being killed. Jactur was mumbling incoherent words to himself lowly, as if trying to decide something, which distracted Rain, with everything here being about him, Rain felt the need to run.

The large black commander soon made his way over to Rain, standing directly in front of him, which scared the grey and white tom into taking a few steps back. It was obvious that he was in no way brave or courageous, which probably made the big tom in front of him even more disgusted.

"If I let you live, do you promise to abide by my rules, never again breaking it like you did two sunrises ago?" asked Shadow, his voice once again booming, making Rain flinch. His head lowered, but he nodded. Bleakly, he thanked whatever god looked over him for letting him live.

"Then by the laws of our noble code, I will not kill you." Shadow told him. Rain sighed quietly with relief, his eyes closing as he happily rejoiced that he wasn't going to be executed. At that moment, however, he felt movement beside him, and heard a loud shriek from Huntress, making him open his eyes.