Warriors: The New Era

Chapter Thirty One: Regrets Of A Traitor


Breezepelt

May 7th, 1999 - March 20th, 2020

Loyal Friend

Devoted Protector

Beloved Partner.


"Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. Amen."

"Amen."

The funeral was short.

There was no wake, just a gathering a friends and loved ones as the workers lowered the coffin.

Honeyfern, Cinderheart, Fernsong, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, Berrynose, Hazeltail, Foxleap, Icecloud, Jack, Heathertail, Fallen Leaves, and Half Moon were all in attendance.

The Triumvirate stopped by as well. The three were awful silent, but they stayed to support their allies.

With some surprising guests to show up along the way.

Jayfeather showed up sober, having been drunk since the news in the hospital.

When the casket lowered, it didn't take long for the first people to leave.

In the end, three people remained.

Jayfeather, Crowfeather...

And Leaftail.

Jayfeather hadn't noticed the two of them, his eyes rested on the gravestone.

When he did notice, he hissed in anger. He grabbed Leaftail's blazer and snarled "What are YOU doing here?"

Leaftail didn't react as Jayfeather hoped. His shoulders were slumped, and his hair was messy. Then a small timid voice cracked out of his dry lips.

"He was my friend..."

Jayfeather let go of Leaftail and stood there beside him, the two enemies at an unspoken truce.

After several moments more, Jayfeather turned and noticed his father. He was about to lash out when Crowfeather spoke.

"He was my son..."

Jayfeather shut his mouth.

He reflected on all he had went through with Breezepelt.

When they first met, Breezepelt punched him because of his running into him.

They had fought multiple times over their high school year, but it wasn't until they were seniors when Breezepelt finally let his goddamn walls down, and accept friends. He protected Jayfeather from Leaftail more then once. He gave Jayfeather his first pair of brass knuckles, which he later have back to Breezepelt upon the discovery of his powers.

Breezepelt was the man who held him accountable. The one who kept him grounded, and prevented him from going too far. He liked to think that he had some credit in changing Breezeplt to the man he was when he died.

Breezepelt survived so much...

Simply to be gunned down in the driveway in a hit-and-run.

Jayfeather began to tear up.

"He was my brother."


"WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE FUNERAL!" Midnoght said on the screen, her android body standing in a motionless state. It was a nifty trick she learned, shifting her consciousness into smart appliances via the world wide web. She was being displayed on the Foxcave's computer monitors.

"I know," Poppyfrost nodded, very sad for her friend "But this is the only way to prove who that the Assassin is Alderheart. Scan it."

What the A.I was scanning was Poppyfrost's sword, which was neatly laid on the table, mechanical arm descended from the ceiling and scanned it. The sword in question was still caked with blood from the fight. Poppyfrost almost wiped the blood off, but she quickly opted not too, allowing the sticky substance to stay on her blade.

She could always get a new one.

"SCANNING AND MATCHING BLOOD SAMPLES."

Poppyfrost prayed to everything she believed in that it wasn't true.

"UH, POPPYFROST?"

"Don't hold back. I can take it," Poppyfrost braced herself for the words.

"I'VE RECOGNIZED THE BLOOD, BUT THE BLOOD ITSELF IS MITATED BEYOND BELIEF. AS IF IT HAS BEEN MIXED WITH OTHERS."

"Alderheart had a blood transfusion during his time at the asylum. That could explain it...is he..."

"POPPYFROST, I AM SORRY," Midnight said in a sincere and sorrowful tone "BUT THE ASSASSIN IS ALDERHEART."

All the air left her in that instant. She fell out of her chair, and grasped her chest.

"It...it can't be..." she whispered.

Midnight's body powered up, her irises glowing blue once more. She held Poppyfrost's shoulder in a means to comfort her.

"I met that kid when I first discovered the Cour Des Miracles. He joking called me the Queen Of Beggars once I bragged on my totals amount of wallets I've lifted during a begging scam. It's because of him I chose the title Queen. Not because of ego or symbolism, but because of of Beggars, was his title for me...but..."

Poppyfrost looked at the sword, and growled "Now he has to die. Avenge our fallen."

Midnight nodded as Poppyfrost stood up and grabbed her phone, texting everyone to come home now.

"Now...we take out his source."


Jayfeather snarled madly "What?"

"One of us is a traitor," Poppyfrost grinned right back.

The room was in uproar, as everyone began to scream and point fingers.

Poppyfrost shut them all up with just a look, and grinned "I've known for weeks. The only people who knew were Berrynose, Sparkpelt, and Cinderheart along side myself. It was hard, shifting through all the data. I have compiled it, and found three likely suspects."

Sparkpelt growled "I don't understand why we are trusting the word of the assassin that we have a spy!"

Berrynose snickered "I'm sorry, can you say that again? How would you know the assassin told her we have a traitor?"

Hollyleaf and Fernong remained silent, watching as everyone shouted.

Sparkpelt glared at Berrynose as Poppyfrost sighed "That was me. I told her. And I thought she wouldn't tell anyone else."

Sparkpelt lowered her head "Sorry..."

Jayfeather growled, fists clenched as Lionblaze thruster his arm in front of Jayfeather, preventing him from doing anything stupid "Of course it's her! Her brother is the assassin, and she's loyal to him above all else!"

Sparkpelt snapped back "HE IS NOT THE ASSASSIN!"

"Yes, he is, I am sorry but his blood matched the blood we found on Poppyfrost's sword," Midnight responded.

Sparkpelt lowered her head in despair, trying hard to come up with a reason against those facts.

"Oh, has Sparkpelt lost her ground?" Jayfeather snarled.

Poppyfrost looked ready to snap "Jayfeather, I am warning you. Lock it up."

Jayfeather pushed Lionblaze's arm off and slowly stomped forward.

"Or what?"

Poppyfrost gripped her revolver, the gun resting in her sidearm

Jayfeather's eyes glowed bright blue, and his mouth etched into a deep and malevolent grin "Pull it out. I dare you."

Poppyfrost pulled the hammer back, and before she could draw, Hazeltail had stepped in front of the two "Okay, let's all take a deep breath. Poppyfrost, who do you suspect?"

Jayfeather almost knocked Hazeltail out of the way, but Lionblaze had grabbed Jayfeather's shoulder and pulled him back beside him.

"As I was saying," Poppyfrost growled "The three suspects I had in mind are Midnight, Icecloud, and Fernsong."

"WHAT?!" Fernsong shouted.

Midnight stood up from the couch, furious "I'M NO SPY!"

Icecloud raised a brow, as Foxleap immediately jumped to her defense "My sister is not a traitor!"

"Let me finish," Poppyfrost snapped "I will now explain my suspects and WHY they are suspects, and then I will reveal said spy, so I'm giving the traitor a chance to confess.

"Midnight was a suspect, but not of choice. It was possible that she was hacked, and she could be relating them information not on her own, but after a quick diagnostic sweep that Foxleap gave me, I found out it would be a lot more easier for her to do it of her own free will. And we have 24/7 cameras in her 'eyes' so-"

"Excuse me, WHAT?!" Midnight roared, and when she glared at Foxleap, the man screamed in terror"You've had me bugged?!"

"I'm sorry, have you NOT seen Age of Ultron?" Foxleao retorted "I'm a genius, but NOT an idiot!"

"We are not discussing this again," Midnight curled her lip.

"My point is, Midnight was quickly scratched off," Poppyfrost smirked "Icecloud was on the list for a longer period of time, but was removed too. I found out two weeks ago, that you were in contact with Rock."

Everyone instantly shouted and screamed at Icecloud, who remained unfazed. Her eyes were the same droopy and crusty, and she curled her lip "I'm not embarresed. Or ashamed."

Jayfeather was about to snap, but Honeyfern beat him to it "Rock has declared war on us! How can you not be ashamed!"

"Because I thought I could talk him down," Icecloud shrugged "I was wrong. Things went south and the Triumvirate had to get me out alive."

Poppyfrost turned to Foxleap, who was almost bursting "You mean to tell me, that you went out and talked to a mad man with a superiority complex with no plan or warning us?!"

"Yeah, because I thought if I could handle your superiority complex, I could handle Rock's. I was wrong."

"MY superiority complex?!" Foxleap snapped.

Ivypool nodded "It's true."

"OH since when did you care?!" Foxleap shouted, glaring at Ivypool "You dumped me THE SECOND we started to fight! Now a normal couple would work things out, but you leaped of that horse the second it didn't listen!"

Poppyfrost nodded "Well to be honest, you have been a bit self absorbed lately. As if you're the smartest of the bunch. You made decision without our consent, like sponsoring a resistance cell from Lindisfarne."

Foxleap scratched the back of his head embarrased.

"But onto Fernsong, who had the biggest motive. The protection of us all."

Fernsong dropped his jaw as Poppyfrost continued "He is from the future no doubt. He knows stuff we don't. Fernsong could have been feeding information that while damages us now, builds us back up in the long run."

"Why would I endanger all of your lives recklessly like that?!" Fernsong shouted.

"You tell me, seeing as how you've been doing it for seven weeks."

Silence.

Lionblaze stood up from the couch "You mean-"

"Fernsong is the spy," Poppyfrost curled her lip.

All eyes were on Fernsong, who clenched his fists "You have no proof."

"Yes I do. Foxleap?"

Foxleap handed her a notepad, and she began to list things off "When I woke up from the attack during the hospital, you were nowhere to be found. Camera footage shows that when you woke up, you left us, to where you were on your way to check on your father that you found Berrynose and Cinderheart around one of the corners. They didn't see you, but you saw them. Quickly putting things together, you rushed to Alderheart, who was already finished patching things up with the twins and Breezepelt. You told him of the two, and instantly faked capture when the others recognized you with Alderheart."

Jayfeather growled "Makes sense. Breezepelt died because of you."

"NO! IT'S A LIE!" Fernsong shouted as he looked around in panic.

"You're panicking Fernsong," Jayfeather growled "Why would a innocent man be worried?"

"Because my mission is too important too-"

Jayfeather grabbed him by the throat as Loonblaze bolted towards him "JAYFEATHER! ST-"

Lionblaze froze in a telekinetic bind, as Jayfeayher began to strangle him "You filthy traitor..."

"My son is not the spy. I am."

Everyone froze in their place.

Poppyfrost looked to the owner of the voice in shock. She didn't expect this.

Lionblaze and Fernsong gasped out loud.

Jayfeather let go of Fernsong instantly and slowly looked at the traitor.

Cinderheart chuckled softly "It was obvious wasn't it? Would you like to know why?"

Jayfeather was already charging forward, slowly stomping towards Cinderheart who didn't waver "Because we are playing a game we can't win. Time is a current, and it can't be changed. But the more information I gave Sol, the less of a threat we were. I was changing the future. But Sol could be reasoned with. Rock couldn't. So when he died, I quit and cut ties with ALL of them. I did, I tried to stop meddling in affairs that weren't my business. But when Alderheart reached out to me, I thought of a new plan. An outside source, who I can help out with taking Rock out. Of course, he wanted to deal with you people, so I assumed he meant nothing of consequence. But when Breezepelt died, I understood. You cannot trust madmen."

Jayfeather grabbed her by the throat and growled "YOU TRAITOR!"

Cinderheart snarled, as Lionblaze and Fernsong still protected her, throwing Jayfeather off of her "I AM A SPY! NOT A TRAITOR! EVERYTHING I DID, I DID TO PROTECT US! THEY PROMISED THAT WE WOULD BE SAFE, I WAS A FOOL TO BELIEVE IT. I HAVE PAID THE PRICE WITH BREEZEPELT'S BLOOD! I am sorry for what I did, but I did everything with the best intentions. When Lionblaze was kidnapped, I had no IDEA it was Alderheart. But when I saw The Assassin, I knew I trusted the wrong man. And when Breezepelt died, I knew I had to come clean."

"But..." Poppyfrost stuttered, not believing she could have been tricked "I was watching you 24/7!"

"I was wired," Cinderheart gestured to her earrings "Small microphones and cameras in here."

Hollyleaf spoke up "She...she was deceived. Our trust in her has shattered, but she tried to make it right."

Jayfeather whipped his head at Hollyleaf and hissed "Oh so you're on HER side now!"

"ENOUGH!" Half Moon glared daggers at Jayfeather who didn't relent.

"NO! NO IT'S NOT ENOUGH! SHE BETRAYED US, AND NOW SHE THINKS WE WILL FORGIVE HER ON ACCOUNT OF HER BEING SORRY?

! BULLSHIT!"

"I'm not asking for forgiveness," Cinderheart scowled "Certainly not from you."

Jayfeather growled "You should be. KILL HER!"

Everyone widened their eyes at what Jayfeather said, and when they refused to move, he glared at them all "DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?! KILL HER!"

When no one moved, Jayfeather shrugged "Fine. I'll do it myself."

He charged at Cinderheart tackling her to the ground, and wrapped his hands around her throat "IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, BREEZEPELT IS DEAD! I WILL SLAY YO-"

But he took it too far.

Lionblaze had punched Jayfeather in the jaw so hard, his brother flew off of Cinderheart and rolled across the floor. Before Jayfeather could retaliate, Poppyfrost's gun was out and trained on Jayfeather's head.

What surprised everyone was that the one pointing the gun was not Poppyfrost.

Foxleap growled, teeth barred and eyes showing fury "You're grieving. Breezepelt was a brother to you, and I understand where you're getting that aggression. But I will not have it. Not in my house. We are a family, we are in this together, or not at all. So go out, and cool off. Don't come back until you're ready apologize."

"APOLOGIZE?" Jayfeather roared in rage.

"Cinderheart did," Foxleap shrugged "And despite what you think, she is not going unpunished. But I'm not having you treat everyone you know like shit anymore. You are changed Jayfeather. I dont even recognize you anymore. Not me, not Lionblaze, not even Half Moon. Why she hasn't dumped your ass yet is a mystery to all. Now... Get. Out. Of. My. House."

Everyone stood in silence, waiting for Jayfeather to burst.

But he didn't. He huffed and walked out the front door.

Foxleap handed the gun back to Poppyfrost, who was still stunned that he was able to grap it out of her holster without her noticing.

Cinderheart stayed sitting on the floor, knees tucked in to her chest.

Lionblaze turned to her and sighed "I don't blame you for wanting to protect us all. But next time, warn us. Breezepelt died from your mistakes. We don't blame you for the mistakes, but I do expect you own up to it."

Cinderheart nodded.


I know what you're thinking.

That was underwhelming as hell.

But this was what I always had in mind. When ResX (Nice name change by the way) said something about her, I knew it was going to be harder to lead him off, so I threw that whole Sparkpelt goose chase to fool you all. That and I hate being upstaged. I mean I had it all planned out, and then someone INSTANTLY gets it? That's no fun...for them. I still have some tricks and traps that I can pull out from under your feet and be gone by the time you look up. I threw Res on so many chases that even he didn't know what I was thinking.

But yes, Cinderheart was the spy. But she wasn't a traitor, if you get what I'm saying. The group doesn't trust her anymore, but they do forgive her. Except for Jayfeather.

Speaking of which, does anyone have any guesses on why he's been acting so strange lately?

Adios.