Chapter ten
Shade regained her balance. Looking around, she realised she was back in the dark forest, but this time, instead of one-eye, Slasher was here. "Hello, Shade. One-eye told me about your visit" He said calmly, almost eerily. She nodded silently, sitting down. "Well, he couldn't make it today, so I will train you"
"uh-huh. But what if I don't want you to?" Shade replied. She still hadn't completely overcome her time in Slasher's group.
He shot her an iron glare. "You don't want to know." Shade tensed and stepped back a bit. "alright…" She prepared to defend herself from any attacks. "Oh, don't worry about that just yet. Someone new is joining us today" He flicked his tail, and another cat stepped out of the shadows. Shade vaguely remembered them from the gathering. "This is Pebble" Pebble was a dust-grey cat with darker flecks and mottled white ears. They blinked their speckled-blue eyes. "Erm, hi. I'm Pebble. But you know that already…" Pebble shuffled their paws anxiously. Slasher pushed in front of them, ignoring their wounded expression. "Pebble here wants to be a better warrior so that no one thinks they're weak anymore. Even though they are"
"Hey, I'm not weak!" Pebble yelped.
"Yes, yes you are" Slasher flicked his tail. "Now, Let's see what you two have learned" He crouched back, giving space for them. "What are you waiting for?! fight!" He pushed Pebble toward Shade. She launched herself at the smaller cat and raked her claws across their back.
"ow!" Pebble tried clawing Shade but failed and landed in a heap. Slasher watched the fight disapprovingly. Shade pressed Pebble down. Their face twisted in agony as she winched down harder and harder. "I- I can't breathe-" Pebble mewed. Shade quickly let go. She was scared of how fats she'd become a, a monster who killed other cats. Is that really me? "Why did you let go?!" Roared Slasher. "Just kill them already!"
"What?! I'm no monster!"
"Well, in my group you were. You've got it in you, c'mon! I even brought you a weak one to practise!"
Shade look devasted. "You wanted me to kill them?"
"of course! You need training if you want to be convenient for our plans"
"What plans-
"but that isn't important now. You've got to train" He pushed Pebble back up. "Go on. FIGHT!" He flung Pebble into Shade. Pebble forced their claws out and managed to get a grip on Shade while she was still in shock. "Ow! Stop! This isn't right!" The two cats tumbled over the ground, clawing and biting each other. Shade wrestled herself free and stood panting. "Why do you do this? Cats aren't objects!"
Slasher growled. "You need to toughen up. You've gone soft"
Pebble sprung at Shade, ripping a tuft of fur away on her flank. Shade twisted and clamped down on Pebble's throat. Their eyes went blank. Shade felt a rush of glee, before dread began to settle in. What have I done? I killed a cat I just met! I- Is this me? She looked up at Slasher, who was wearing a satisfied expression as he surveyed Pebble's corpse. "I knew they were weak. I wonder what the cats in their clan will think. Maybe the mysterious killer of little twig…" he put empathy on mysterious.
"Do- do you know who it is?" Shade begged.
"No. I just believe she is smart. Anyway, that concludes our raining for today. Let yourself heal, we'll see each other again tomorrow." His face started to go blurry, along with the rest of the dark forest. "Wait! I'm not a killer! I'm not who you think I am…" She fell through the floor of the forest, until she awoke in a blood-soaked nest.