Writing another short one-shot to get my mind off of Night for a bit. Maybe I'll even write another one or two before getting back to Night. I'll admit this isn't the best story I've ever done, but I like it in a strange sort of way. Here it is:
Traitors.
All of them.
I watched as the last of the dark brown tabby stalked from my camp and slunk back to my den. How could I be so foolish? Oh, Fireheart had tried to warn me, but did I listen? No! Now I was the leader of a Clan of traitors. I slipped into my den and curled up in the soft nest of moss and nettles.
I watched my Clan from inside my den. Their tails low and their whiskers drooping, they didn't speak a word to each other. Oh, they could pretend to be shocked and scared. I didn't care. They couldn't fool me. I knew that in each of their scheming minds, they were plotting my downfall.
Except for Fireheart.
Fireheart, the one who had tried to warn me about Tigerclaw in the first place. Fireheart was the only truly loyal cat in ThunderClan now, and he was a kittypet. I let out a snort. What irony. The only trustworthy cat in a Clan of forest cats was a kittypet! Him and his kin. Cloudkit. Kittypets are worth more trust than a ThunderClan cat. How pathetic.
I let my mind wander to my own kits, left in RiverClan. Why, oh, why did I give them up to Oakheart? I had lost them. And for what? To lead a Clan of what might as well be a band of rogues? Yes, I could see it now: StarClan punishing me for giving up my kits for ambition. Wasn't StarClan tricky? They knew just how to break me to pieces.
Tricky StarClan.
If this was the way they wanted it, then so be it. They could have the war they so desperately wanted. I'd give it to them. I didn't need StarClan to run my Clan efficiently; In fact, they were my Clan's demise. Oh, yes, StarClan were very tricky. But I'd give them the war they wanted.
Yes. Give it to them.
I perked my ears. What was that? "Who are you?"
Do not worry about who I am. I am here. That is all that matters.
"What do you want?"
You ask what I want? Worry about what your Clanmates want. I can see through them. Do not trust them.
"Yes. They will betray me."
They will betray you, just like Tigerclaw has betrayed you.
Tigerclaw. I unsheathed by claws and let them dig into the soft earth beneath me.
He is not gone yet. He is loose, in the forest. Tigerclaw will be back, I promise you.
Yes. He'd be back. I raked my sharp claws against the floor once more and saw with satisfaction as they neatly sliced the ground below. But I'd be ready for him.
Ready, yes. Be also ready when your Clan turns on you.
Yes. I'd be ready for them too. I'd be ready for the cats who thought they could fool me, the cats who were bound on the path of destruction before my very eyes.
Yes.
They are traitors.
All of them.