Darkkit squirmed under the grasp of the black tom's claws, as he kept him pinned to the ground with just one paw. "Do you understand yet, burden!"
"Yes!" Darkkit squealed, as the massive claws dug into his fur.
"Yes, what?!"
"Yes Slash, I understand that what I did was foolish, you are my leader… I am your loyal servant!" Darkkit cried out as his attempt of saving his life failed.
Slash retracted his claws as he got off, passing Bark as he shot her a harsh glare. "I expected more, as you had promised me way back when he was dragged in… two more weeks you have before I assess him again, and I expect better next time!" he snarled, "if he doesn't change, you can count on joining him out on the street!" he spat the last word before turning his burning eyes at Darkkit, who was struggling up to his paws.
Bark hung her head low to the ground, as the black tom stormed past. Flame stepped up to Bark's side, carrassing the she-cat's ear with her tongue and whispering words into her ear canal. As Cinder was taking her spot up on the ledge overlooking the clearing… her dark eyes were barely visible under her eyelids. "You heard the boss, let's get back to work."
Shimmerpaw rasped her tongue over the wounds, spreading the poultice across the infected areas… before applying a new layer of cobwebs over them. Flame's amber eyes barely open as she looked back at Shimmerpaw, any sense of aggression disappeared from her. Shimmerpaw was thankful to no longer be struggling with the arrogance of a rogue anymore, mostly… Shade always was defensive of the she-cat if something went wrong.
Speaking of the tom, it seems that he had drifted to sleep up above them. Shimmerpaw was much more at ease now as the rest of the clearing was silent, but she had to wait for flame to finally drift off. But for now, a little conversation wouldn't hurt… right?
"So… these wounds look pretty recent, did you guys get into a battle?"
Flame didn't respond and Shimmerpaw's head drooped. "Sorry, it's not my business, I just…"
"We had a run in with a strange group of cats a while ago, they were very hostile to us… we were heading back to our home to report our findings." Flame responded, her eyes closing. Shimmerpaw could feel the agony that the she-cat was feeling, not physically… but mentally. Fear and grief striking her heart, she understood. "Did you lose anyone?"
"A good friend of mine, a sister to me… and though I know he doesn't show it, Shade misses her too."
Shimmerpaw laughed a little. "Does that tom ever smile?"
"We were all trained to be brutal and vicious, Shade… well, got the hard end of the stick before he was deemed useful."
"A cat gets deemed useful, what are they just spat on until they are?"
"A cat learns to hold their tongue when in the presence of the one who holds a higher position, I would be careful about saying that if I were you." Growled Shade, Shimmerpaw whipped her head around to look into the tom's blue eyes; they seemed annoyed... but not hostile.
The black tom adjusted his position as he looked down, Shimmerpaw looked at her paws. "I am sorry sir, I only…"
"Wanted to know how all of this works, the group doesn't share secrets with anyone around here… we keep to ourselves mostly and only fight when provoked." Shade growled.
Shimmerpaw nodded before she slightly adjusted the cobwebs on Flame's leg. "Do you think you could sleep like this alright?"
Flame slightly twitched and turned in the bedding. "I can manage." She mumbled.
Shimmerpaw nodded as she took a couple of steps back, looking up at Shade who was still perched up on the ledge. "I need to go speak with my clan real quick, if she needs anything please come and get me." She meowed.
As Shimmerpaw turned to leave, a harsh growl from behind halted her. "Your clan can wait, and I am not going to send one of my tired warriors to fetch you." He snarled.
Shimmerpaw didn't turn around when she spoke. "I am needed with my clan, it should only be for a few."
A prodding in her head gave Shimmerpaw a hard headache, as she stumbled back. "No, you aren't… you are going to meet with four of your own… neither of whom are your warriors, mentors, or leaders. It can wait!"
Shimmerpaw whipped around on the spot. "How?"
"How what?" growled shade, his eyes narrowed.
"How are you reading my mind, how are you finding all of this out?!" Shimmerpaw meowed, her tone slightly ajar.
Shade rose himself up to full height. "I thought I told you to hold your tongue behind your teeth, little she-cat." He snarled.
Shimmerpaw startled back but held her head up, something sparked in Shade's eyes but it faded when he dropped down. "You have agreed to my terms here, I didn't agree to yours!" he snarled.
Shimmerpaw eased her hackles as she held her temper. "I said it will only be a few, you can watch and count the moon height if you so wish!" she meowed, "But I am going to this meeting, one way or another!"
"If this meeting is so important, then they can come over here! But you are not leaving here otherwise!" he snarled through bared fangs.
Shimmerpaw looked over her shoulder at the quiet and empty clan camp, her eyes shifting towards the apprentices' den. Before she sighed and turned to face Shade head on. "They will not know if that is the agreement, at least let me go get them." She requested.
Shade narrowed his eyes before lifting his muzzle, and taking a threatening step towards her. "No! they can make decisions without you, but you are never leaving here until your work is done!" he spat.
Shimmerpaw backed off before the tom, as he still loomed over her before he turned tail with head turned to watch her. The tom headed back towards his spot on the ledge, and he was watching Shimmerpaw sit there.
'I'm sorry guys.' Shimmerpaw meowed, dipping her head before turning to follow the tom.
So yeah, shorter… but I wanted this to mainly be around Shade and Shimmerpaw, I wanted to show how much effect Slash had on the tom between when he was training, and how he is now.