A Panther's Scars

Chapter 2: "Did you at least bury her?"

He dodged the swipe of Scorch's claws before sprinting towards him and tackling him to the ground before pinning him. He huffed looking down at him and waiting.

"You may depart." he ordered Panther, which he followed standing and waiting for him to get up with no emotion but a straight face. "Good. Now, you may go, todays training is done. But before sun high, remember, todays the day," Scorch said standing up and looking at him. Panther dipped his head before turning to head out of the bushes and into camp. 

'Its been some moons from when I first came, and I have already forgotten the last time I even smiled. I don't even know If I can feel anymore.' Its nearly sun high. He will be choosing deputy today due to his recent one retiring, and everyone knows how it ends up. He wants me to participate, and I can't help but feel somewhat nervous. Its not like everyday your going to fight mostly every rouge to the death. But, I know I won't bring myself to do that. But that doesn't mean others won't.

Panther looked around before heading to the side of the camp to sit down. He looked up at the sky seeing clouds starting to overhead the sun. He looked back down scanning the area before spotting the tabby tom, Scrape, heading towards him. Even now the brown tabby hated him. Panther immediately stood up turning away and ready to leave. 

"Aw Panther, why are you leaving so soon?" Scrape mocked, causing Panther to stay put and turn around, his tail flicking violently.

"Leave me alone," he said narrowing his eyes before turning to pad away. Scrape immediately ran in front of him blocking his exit.

"I just wanna talk," he said tilting his head, unusually kind. Panther looked at him suspiciously. "Aw c'mon, lets take a walk?" Scrape looked at him and nudged him.

"Don't touch me." Panther immediately responded to his nudge but after followed him into the woods without speaking to him. Panther watched him suspicious of Scrape and wondered whenever to just walk away before Scrape stopped at a clearing away from the camp. Panther looked ahead spotting a little Twoleg shed. "So, what is so important that you had to take me out of camp?..." Panther said somewhat annoyed by him.

"Well, as you may know, Scorch is picking the deputy today," Scrape began.

"And?" Panther's tail swayed from the ground as he looked at Scrape confused by his comment, yet he should have known Scrape would have wanted to talk about the spot for being deputy.

"And well, I just wanted to wish you luck," Scrape looked at Panther 

"Um, you too," he dips his head looking to the ground, before turning away, "Im going to go now," Panther started walking away not really caring if he would be deputy or not. 

"Cuz.. your going to need it," Scrape growled before sprinting towards him and tackling him. Panther swung around his claws unsheathing as Scrape tackled him. Panther groaned using his back legs to push him off, leaving him tumble away from him. Panther quickly got up growling. 

"You know the rules!" Panther spat knowing he couldn't battle the whole day due to being the day they would battle once for the spot of the deputy.

"Who says I wanna follow them?" Scrape stood, his tail swaying as his eyes narrowed. Scrape suddenly began padding forward around the clearing starting to circle. Panther did as well staying away from him. "You know that Im supposed to be deputy!" Scrape snarled looking at him, his eyes filled with hatred. 

"Even If I didn't come, you would still have to battle all the ones capable of it!" Panther responded not daring to look away.

"Maybe, but you know no one would want to battle me, except maybe you, which is exactly why Im eliminating anyone who gets in my way!" Scrape stopped pouncing over to him. Panther quickly and swiftly dodged it turning around to swing his claws along his check. Scrape groaned backing away. Panther shot back at him, pinning him to the ground.