Pick A Flower

Chapter 6;Flowers Lie

Hollowpaw's brown, white-patched fur was blended into the dark edges of the woods. On the plain side was a black and white tom. His pelt was smooth. Hollowpaw reminded herself this needed to be done. For Bluepaw, and for Snowpaw. "Hey, Whispednight?" she mewed, her voice questioning as she headed out towards the tom.

"Yes?" the tom turned his yellow gaze onto her.

"I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Flowers?" Hollowpaw mewed, sitting down next to them, before she did what she was sure she would have to do she wanted to see if she could choose a better way.

"I think that they're truthful and predict as we need, I mean, you as a medicine cat saved Icekit, Snowkit, and Dewkit," Wispednight mewed, "and no cat has been murdered by a Clanmates since we made the orange flower rule. Neither have we been betrayed since the red flower rule."

Hollowpaw's tail lashed behind her. "But how? Bluepaw was a sweet and jittery cat, there's no way he'd have betrayed us! Snowpaw is the same, he's more likely to kill anyone's ability to stand him."

Wispednight's gaze narrowed at her. "Are you questioning the Flowers?"

"I mean, Bluepaw was a close friend of mine and Snowpaw was my brother. Neither of them have it in them to betray or murder!"

Wispednight's hardened yellow eyes softened at her comment. "I see, you're in denial that your brother and friend would have destroyed the Clan. I promise you it's for the best."

Hollowpaw sighed, standing up. "I suppose it's to Plan A."

Wispednight was still sitting, his gaze lighting in confusion. "Plan.... A?"

Hollowpaw didn't let him think about it, the brown she-cat leaped at the white and black tom, tackling him as he was unprepared.

"Hollowpaw! What are you doing? You're a purple flower! You're a medicine cat! Not a murderer," Wispednight was half-gasping for air as he said it, having been stunned and the wind knocked out of him.

"I'm sorry, Wispednight," Hollowpaw mewed, bringing her head down, "but like they did about Bluepaw and Snowpaw. The flowers lied."
With that, she brought her jaws down around his throat and bit down. The tom struggled for a few moments, almost throwing Hollowpaw off, but eventually he went limp and the light dimmed in his eyes. She walked off Wispednight, grabbing him and dragging him towards the wood, reminding herself to disguise her and Wispednight's scents and to clean the blood.

~~~

The gray pelt shown was a heart-skipping pelt to Hollowpaw. The first of three, she knew. She could only watch as Dewpaw headed through the flower field. The Clan had mourned for Wispednight's death, having found the body, luckily no one noticed Hollowpaw's scent, she's disguised it well. 'Please remember what I told you. Please.' The she-cat stopped, along with Hollowpaw's breathing as she held her breath. Dewpaw dipped her head now and bit down on a flower, bringing it up. Light blue.

"Dewpaw shall become an apprentice to me, and be the leader after me. She has picked the Flower of Leadership."

Hollowpaw sighed in relief as Dewpaw headed over to sit by her. She couldn't help but remember Dewpaw as the small, half-alive kit she'd fostered from her mother's death, and her heart burst with love. Next came Snowpaw. Hollowpaw couldn't help but remember her brother's death here. He picked a yellow flower, the Flower of Warriors. Last was Icepaw. By now, Hollowpaw was calmer, sure nothing bad would happen now.

Her heart sank. Orange. She unsheathed her claws, only able to watch as the white tom was slaughtered where he stood, his blood staining the flowers surrounding him. 'Things will be different soon. I'll make sure of it.'