Warriors | One-shots

Scriptorial || Round Iota «Entry»

❝ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ. ❞

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ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ | sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ.

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ | 746

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ᴀ ғ ʀ ᴇ s ʜ
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Eyes laced with eerily calmed malice and claws sharpened with disturbingly satisfied vengeance, the bengal she-cat raised her head to let out a long, victorious yowl. "Finally..."

Jaguarstrike jolted awake, her fur bristling and her eyes darting about wildly. Her chest heaved painfully as she closed her eyes, trying to eradicate the horrors she witnessed that day. Or rather, the horrors she did.

The bengal she-cat stood before the mangled cream-coloured tom, silent. In life, the cream-coloured tom had the look of obvious pride. But she snatched it anyways with a hateful swipe of her claw, watching in satisfaction as she stole his life away.

His icy blue eyes held her iridescent green eyes for mere fractions of heartbeats, as if he was regretful for what he did.

And then he was gone.

Jaguarstrike had killed Blitz.

She struggled to open her eyes, as if an unknown burden had landed on her. I shouldn't have done what I did...

She traipsed out of the warriors' den, though taking care to avoid trampling on her Clanmates' tails. Her steps were heavy, as if she was underwater, trapped and unable to move forward.

Jaguarstrike turned her head to glance at Sleethawk's sleeping form, looking peaceful and worry-free. She bowed her head in shame. Maybe... Maybe I should perform the Rite of Five Sacrifices.

She had broken the most sacred code of ApricityClan - killing for vengeance was forbidden and should never be considered as an option to satisfy yourself. It was taboo, yet she had done it. She had killed out of the desire to seek vengeance.

No one but Sleethawk knew of her traitorous act, yet Jaguarstrike could not shake the feeling of guilt from her heart. Deep inside her heart, she knew Blitz regretted what he did. She saw it with her own eyes.

Yet, she had killed him.

In ApricityClan, the only way to redeem oneself for an act deemed traitorous and forbidden was the Rite of Five Sacrifices. The rite served as a cleansing ritual, to prove that one is still loyal to the Clan.

One: Friends.

"I never had friends." The bengal she-cat turned her back on the warriors' den, her eyes glinting with sadness. "But you forced yourself into being my friend nevertheless, Sleethawk."

Two: Relationships.

"Even though... Even though it was impossible... I-I" Jaguarstrike bowed her head, walking away from the warriors' den. It was still early, and her Clanmates had yet to wake. "I loved you, Sleethawk. Even though I knew that it was impossible."

Three: Position.

"I am no longer a warrior of ApricityClan. I shall henceforth be a traitorous, dirty, rogue," Jaguarstrike whispered, walking into the aspen forest.

She slipped past the cats guarding the entrance, using her dark pelt to her advantage. The aspen trees seemed to be crying for her to stop, but she paid them no heed as she dart across the swaying forest. "It is what I deserve..."

Four: Happiness.

Leaving everything behind had torn her heart into countless pieces. She had left her home - her whole life - behind. And there was no turning back. She had left without a word.

Every step she took out of ApricityClan's territory was like a claw digging into the deepest part of her heart.

Five: Your Life.

There is no purpose in life now. And I have to fulfil this last one, Jaguarstrike thought darkly. I have to die after Blitz.

She shuddered. She may look fearless, yet she did not like the idea of death. This is my only chance at redemption.

The bengal she-cat dragged herself to a cliff by the Lustrous Coast. The cliff was notorious for being the favoured spot for those who wanted to perform the Rite of Five Sacrifices.

As she prepared to jump, she felt teeth grabbing onto her scruff and yanking her back. Twisting around, the she-cat hissed at her unknown assailant.

Ironically, it was the assailant that stopped her from meeting death.

"S-Sleethawk?" Jaguarstrike stuttered, widening her eyes in realisation. "W-What are you doing here?"

Sleethawk stayed silent and touched his nose to hers. His amber eyes were burning with unspoken anger and passion.

Silently, Jaguarstrike accepted his embrace, allowing tears to roll off her cheeks.

That day, both of them sacrificed something - their life in ApricityClan. Both of them left the Clan, going out on an adventure to explore and discover what others had never dared to.

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|| ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇ ||

I probably gave up on trying too hard for this one, because I'll be eliminated this round, oops. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed reading!

This one-shot is for WattyWarriors' Scriptorial, Round Iota. {helloilovecats}

This is happens after Jaguarstrike kills Blitz. In ApricityClan, it is forbidden to kill for revenge. She performed the Rite of Five Sacrifices in an attempt to seek redemption, but was stopped by Sleethawk.

A trivia will be ended later for anyone is interested. Thanks for reading!

~ Sky ❄

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|| ᴛʀɪᴠɪᴀ ||

➵ The idea of the Rite of Five Sacrifices came to me while I was walking outside. I was reminded of how we all have to make sacrifices, be it big or small.

➵ I was originally going to write eight sacrifices, but it was unrealistic in accordance to warriors, so I reduced it to five.

➵ I was considering killing off Jaguarstrike, but I love her character too much to throw her away before writing more about her. Hence, I wrote it so that Sleethawk saved her, and they ran away together.

➵ It is forbidden to kill in ApricityClan, especially if it is for vengeance.

➵ The Rite of Five Sacrifices is said to be the ultimate - and only - way to redeem oneself.

➵ In the end, Jaguarstrike and Sleethawk became more than friends, but a little less than lovers. However, it has been confirmed that they have fallen in love with each other.

➵ I was originally not going to kill Blitz, but it was changed to fit the plot.

➵ This represents a start of a new life, and how anyone can choose their own path in life.