StarClan's Mistake (Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

The cats continued walking along the scent trail, terrified of what they may find, terrified of where they may go, but it soon became apparent where they were heading. The Carrionplace. Why would Blessedbone choose this place to go to? Was it just a coincidence and they would meet him halfway? Or was he up to something sinister there?

It was not even that big of a deal, the reason he might have gone to the Carrionplace. But Scatterpath had so much on her mind right now, she could not stop thinking of everything she had just witnessed, she could not stop thinking of the smallest details in the largest of situations.

What if he has a trap for us there? the she-cat fretted. What if there's something he's planning?

She shook her head. It was five cats against one. Whatever he had, she was sure it would not be able to strike down a patrol such as this.

And indeed, they did arrive at the Carrionplace. Long before they saw it, the foul stench pervaded their noses; the smell of rotting prey made itself intense and clear. And, of course, the smell of rats. 

As it began to come into view, Scatterpath saw the clear silver mesh that surrounded it, marking it off from the rest of the non-Twoleg-tainted forest. And of course, the heaps of smooth black pelts and various sharp-edged objects that seemed all but natural to the cats. From a distance, aside from the smell, it seemed safe enough for cats to venture through. Of course, though, all of the patrol held the knowledge of the dangers lurking within: rats. Rats that feasted off of the crowfood that Twolegs left behind, rats that would only be worth dealing with to ShadowClan on a particularly bad leaf-bare.

However, as the patrol drew nearer, they saw something that was not customary of the Carrionplace: a cat, standing in the middle of a huge Twoleg trash heap, staring at them with a smile and a look of contempt and superiority. Scatterpath thought him mad. How can he just stand there, knowing full well the dangers that lie here? Has he no mind? And then it sunk in, truly, the sad realization that maybe, yes, he had no mind. Not anymore, anyways. As everyone arrived to a stop and just stared at the cat through the silver mesh, Scatterpath could only think of how different this cat had been, how only recently she had been empathizing with him and trying to deliver comfort to him. Was this even happening?

Blessedbone let out a laugh that made Scatterpath's black tail puff out. "You are all cowards!" he shouted, gesturing with a paw to them all. "Look at you, cowering, so afraid!"

"At least we're not running away from our crimes," Robinfeather hissed, his fur stuck up in indignation.

"At least I know I committed them," he shot back. "At least I acknowledge it!"

Scatterpath frowned. "This isn't who you really are, Blessedbone!" she shouted. "You know that."

"And Rottenkit wasn't who you said him to be, either," he fired back at her, but when she opened her mouth to continue, he denied her the chance. "You demonized him, you torched his memory, and you laughed about it! You never even gave him the chance to thrive. You just let him die, but you didn't stop there. You went on and demolished his memory nonstop for moons upon moons upon moons! And never even gave it a second thought!

"I bet if I hadn't gone and done this, it would've continued for generations. If I died without ever making a sound, it would've passed down, this twisted scheme of yours. Elders would've taught kits about the horrifying demon-child of ShadowClan. Better to die here and now and nip that in the bud than live on an empty life knowing I did nothing to prevent what was ahead!"

Scatterpath narrowed her eyes coldly. "That's a lot of assumptions."

"Is that your only defense?!" he shouted, half-laughing, half-serious. "Well, here's the news for you, Scatterpath. It's bold of you to assume that it won't happen! But that's normal. You haven't experienced everything like I have. You won't ever understand. The Clan won't either! Nobody will understand but me!"