Delirious: A Warrior Cats' Mind Games Story

2

"Assassinate Magnoliaspring?" Coastmoon's eyes widened. "You can't be serious!"

"I am very serious, Coastmoon," Marmotwhisper growled quietly at his daughter. "You've seen and heard what she's done. She and her mother are and always have been a threat to The Imperials,"

Marmotwhisper had taken his daughter and Pricklestone aside. He knew they had heard Flintkit's side of the story, and hoped that that would help convince them to help them.

"Does she not have two lives though?" Pricklestone reminded his father. "I remember she lost one in the fox attack not that long ago. What if she comes back in a new life to alert the Imperials?"

"We won't give her the chance," He hissed. "If we can injure her badly enough, she won't wake up in time for her next life to begin,"

Pricklestone nodded, his eyes troubled. "I see," he mewed. "How soon should we attack?"

Marmotwhisper thought carefully, gazing up at the sky. "In a quarter moon," he decided. "Until then, act as if everything is normal. Tomorrow night, we should meet with Flintkit and ask for his advice. Does that sound good?"

Both of his kits nodded. "I'll do it," Coastmoon confirmed for the two of them. "Shouldn't we get Icicleshard on board too? She's the best fighter out of the litter. She'd be a huge help, as long as she has the right motivation,"

Marmotwhisper felt a pant of unease in his stomach. It hadn't been very long since he and Brooksplash had their little spat over Icicleshard. He had been avoiding his father as much as possible, and was always seen with Morningsky and her family. He can't be trusted knowing this plan, he thought certainly.

"Let's head back to camp," he instructed his kits. "I'll talk to Icicleshard about the plan, and let you know if things work out,"

His two kits nodded, and the three of them headed back to camp with determination.

***

"Icicleshard?" Marmotwhisper peaked his head into the nearly empty hunters den. He saw Cinderswan curled around his daughter, who refused to look at him. At the other end of the den, Onyxstone and Lupinfrost were sleeping in their respective nests.

His eyes warm, he padded up to his mate and daughter, and settled down beside them. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

Cinderswan licked her daughter's trembling head before standing up. "Come with me. I'll explain," she wrapped her tail over Marmotwhisper's back and guided him out of the hunter's den. He glanced worriedly back at his daughter before they sat outside the camp.

"Magnoliaspring took her aside," Cinderswan explained. "Apparently she caught wind of what Icicleshard has been doing, and forbid her from taking another mate, or from having kits,".

Despite her calm appearance, Marmotwhisper could tell that Cinderswan was distressed by the news. He leaned into his mate, hoping to comfort her. "Is she allowed to be with Chesnutdapple?"

Cinderswan nodded. "Yes. But if he ever doesn't want to be her mate anymore, she can't have anyone else,"

Marmotwhisper felt a surge of anger boiling in his chest. Yes, she was being bad by cheating on her mate. But not being allowed to love anyone else seemed too far in his mind.

"That's not fair!" He suddenly snapped, furious. "Icicleshard should have every right to love whoever she wants. Why does Magnoliaspring have to dictate how everycat feels?" He unsheathed his claws and dug them into the soil.

"Well..." Cinderswan started, but she trailed off, clearly unsure of what to say. "...She is our Seraphim. We have to listen to her, and have pure hearts..."