Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 3, Part 3

"Ramo, you've been found guilty. Get out," Javari announced coldly. The large jaguar looked at her with disbelief, as though he couldn't believe they were actually exiling him.

"You can't do this! I'm the head fighter! The tribe needs me!" he roared furiously. Javari shrugged, unconcerned.

"I'll be head fighter once you're gone, since I'm the most experienced after you. The transition will be perfectly smooth," she retorted. He growled, prowling closer to her.

"Not if you're dead," he hissed. Then he leapt, claws outstretched, towards the female. She dodged, growling furiously at him. She knew it! He had been the murderer all along!

"You fool! Why would you do this?!" she screeched, tackling him and pinning him to the ground. He threw her off, and got back on his paws.

"Immortality, Javari! They promised me immortality!" he replied, cackling. Her eyes narrowed, as they circled each other. None of the other fighters joined, afraid of what would happen.

"Who's they, Ramo? Are there more of you?" she asked. The male didn't respond, leaping at her instead. She dodged, causing him to pass by her and skid to a stop in front of Maderas and Chuva. The two young fighters leapt on top of him, pinning him down.

"We got him!" Chuva cried, but was immediately slashed by one of his claws. She let out a pained cry, but continued to hold him. Javari prowled closer, glaring at the male.

"On behalf of this tribe, I demand the right to execute you. Does the tribe agree?" she mewed calmly. The jaguars yowled their agreement, and she nodded. With a clean strike, she cut through his throat. Chuva and Maderas stepped back, as the entire tribe watched him bleed to death. He would end up in the Tribe of Darkened Forests.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tikal awoke in a strange place, unaware of his surroundings. Where was he? This wasn't the tribe's land. He slowly got up, and left the nest that appeared with him. Then he looked up, and realized what was happening.

"This is the Tribe of Darkened Forests, isn't it? You've brought me here, Ramo. I know it!" he yowled. The dead jaguar slunk out of the trees, eyes glinting.

"Oh, I haven't. Unlike my mentor, I don't have the ability to bring the living here and kill them. I can talk to you, however," he mewed, looking less sane than he had during his fight with Javari.

"Why would I want to hear what you have to say? You killed my mate. You're my brother, Ramo! How could you do this?!" Tikal spat. A look of regret spread across Ramo's face, surprising Tikal.

"I didn't want to, but my mentor insisted. She was the shaman, you have to understand. But I don't want to kill you, or your cubs. Join us, Tikal. I'll make sure that you and your family are saved. Just join us," Ramo pleaded. Tikal growled, eyes burning with rage.

"I will never join you! Never! Do you understand me, brother? Stay away, and don't bring me back here ever again," he spat. Ramo's eyes hardened, and he nodded once.

"Very well. Just know that you're to blame for what's going to happen next," he mewed coldly. The fur on the back of Tikal's neck raised, and he tensed up. Suddenly, he felt an intense pain, and everything faded away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Tikal? Tikal, wake up," Xingo whined, nudging her father. She had just woken up, and he had a paw draped over her. Kapok stirred beside her, blearily opening his eyes.

"Xingo? What's going on?" he asked, looking at her tiredly. The female cub huffed, trying to move out from under her father's leg.

"Tikal won't move his paw, and I need to go to the bathroom," she told her brother. Kapok grew worried, and looked closely at the hunter. His eyes widened, and he looked at Xingo with fright.

"He's not breathing! Xingo, get out of there!" he exclaimed. He helped push their father's paw off of her, then they both sprinted out as fast as they could.

"Help! Help! Tikal's dead!" Xingo cried, skidding to a stop in front of Manchado. The large jaguar's expression turned serious, and he stepped between them and the den.

"Don't go back in, either of you. Go stand with your brother. I'll ask Masaya to help me carry him out," Manchado ordered. He shoved them towards Maderas, then walked over to the white jaguar. Within a few moments, they had Tikal's body out in the center of camp, and the rest of the group gathered around.

"What are we going to do? Our parents are dead! I have no clue how to care for cubs!" Maderas exclaimed, slightly panicking. Manchado sighed, placing his paw on the young fighter's shoulder.

"It'll be fine, Maderas. We'll all chip in. Now, down to business," he mewed. He cleared his throat, and continued, a bit louder this time. "I'm the Chieftain here. I'll get us through this, I promise. Now, first off, an accusation. Someone has told me that they believe the killer to be Macaco. No, I will not reveal who it was. But that is who we'll be voting on, and that's final".

"What? No, it couldn't be her!" Raio exclaimed, looking sadly at Macaco with his ears pinned to his head. After a few moments of silence among the tribe, he spoke again. ". . . Right?"

Murdered: Tikal
Healed: Xingo
Accused: Macaco
Revealed: Manchado
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 1