Disclaimer: I am waaaay too short to be an adult…
A Twisted Heart
Chapter 4
Chimney glanced back at the cats struggling to keep up with him. Of course many cats hated him, feared him, and wanted to kill him. But, how could they, when he was the one who could kill them in one swift blow? Pricking his ears, he heard cats muttering and grunting.
"Why did I join here? Barely any fresh-kill… what a…" muttered a cat.
"Hush, what if he's listening? Be quiet Mossy!" hissed another cat.
"He let Slick die, and we didn't even bury him! Slick, my Slick! He doesn't have heart, that tom, does he? Does he, Slash?" Mossy snarled, her voice getting louder.
"Every cat has a heart, just… he has a smaller heart I suppose…" Slash grunted.
"If he has a heart, it's twisted! A completely twisted heart!" Mossy spat.
Slash responded to Mossy, but Chimney wasn't listening. A twisted heart? Interesting. She'll see how twisted he really was when he decided what her punishment would be.
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Hearth stared at Ribbon and Scorch fiercely and determinedly.
"We must find Chimney!" she declared.
"I suppose…" Ribbon whispered, still grieving over Torch's death.
Hearth glanced at Scorch, wondering what he was thinking. There was murderous glint in his eyes. His eyes narrowed as he thought of dozens of ways to torture his brother's murderer. His claws sheathed and unsheathed into the grass as he imagined sinking them into the murderer's flesh.
Impatiently, Hearth mewed. "Well, Scorch? What do you think?"
Scorch ignored her again. Hearth was so annoying, getting ahead of herself all the time.
"Why must we find Chimney? I want to know who murdered Torch!" he finally growled.
"Don't be selfish, Scorch! We should find Chimney, he's actually alive! We have no clue who Torch's murderer is!" Hearth retorted.
"I'm selfish? Really, Hearth? Blackbelly never said that Chimney was dead!" Scorch snapped.
"Look, there's no need to argue!" Ribbon mewed, her voice pitiful.
"What if Blackbelly doesn't know that Chimney's dead!" Hearth screeched.
Eyes narrowed, the two cats glared at each other. Ribbon stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do. Suddenly a wail of agony pierced the air, and everything seemed to be silent for a few moments.
"What…was that?" Hearth whispered.
Wordlessly, the three cats raced towards the noise, until they finally found a cat lying on the ground. Blood seemed to drool from its mouth. Coughing, more blood splattered the ground. The cat shuddered, paws jerking unceasingly.
"No… don't tell me it's…" Ribbon whimpered.
"MILKY!" Hearth wailed. "What's happening?!"
Blackbelly skidded to a halt next to Milky, along with Whisker.
"What's happening?" the tom hissed angrily. He reached forward to reassuringly lick his mate's bloodstained pelt.
"NO! WHISKER! DON'T DO THAT!" Blackbelly bellowed, tackling Whisker away.
But it was too late.
Suddenly, there was a gasp from Whisker, as Milky's life drained away. Whisker let out a cough, a dry, raspy, blood-splattering cough.
"What's happening?" he choked out.
Milky's body slowly stopped moving, her eyes spun around unseeingly. Her confused gaze rested on Whisker's coughing shape, before seeing Hearth for a moment.
"Hearth… where's… Chimney… my three dead kits…" she whispered and died.
"Milky! No! Don't leave me…!" Whisker coughed.
Blackbelly's eyes closed briefly, "Whisker, you're going to die…"
"What's happening to him?" Hearth yowled in despair. She didn't want to lose both of her parents in one day!
"Bloodcough… it's in the blood. Whisker licked it, it infects really fast…" Blackbelly murmured sadly.
Heads bowed, they had to witness Whisker's blood-curling coughs and shudders.
"Can't we do anything?" Scorch snarled helplessly.
"Nothing… we can't do anything," Blackbelly sighed.
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Chimney was at the camp where most of his cats stayed. It was pretty simple. There was one humongous yew bush full of poisonous berries, and there was enough space for almost every single cat in his 'gang' to sleep. He slept away from them all. He had a stump with a hole under its roots for shelter. He had some cats dig it deeper for more comfort. He didn't go to his stump yet though. He had some business to do first.
"Mossy! Come to my stump, now!" he yowled.
Cat looked at the tabby she-cat with pitiful and fearful eyes. She padded up to the stump, trying to look defiant, but fear betrayed her in the trembling of her paws. Chimney stood on top of the stump, looking down at her.
"Mossy, do I really have a twisted heart?" he asked, his voice deceivingly soft.
"How did you… who… where did you hear that?" she gasped.
Changing the subject, Chimney mewed, "Are you loyal to me, Mossy?"
"Y-yes… I am, I am loyal to no one else!" Mossy mewed, shivering.
Chimney's eyes narrowed, "What do you think your punishment will be?"
"I-I don't know," Mossy whimpered, all traces of defiance gone.
"You have found a better name for me, Mossy. Twistedheart, huh?" Chimney mused.
"W-what? What's my punishment?" Mossy gabbled.
"Your punishment…you want one, is that why you're asking?" Chimney sneered.
Mossy shook her head wildly, too scared to speak.
"I though so," Chimney smirked. Raising his voice, he yowled, "From now on, my name is no longer Chimney! That is but a foolish name, one without power. How could I ever be feared by such a name?" His eyes skimmed the bunch of cats looking up at him. He puffed out his chest and raised his head higher as he mewed, "My new name… is Twistedheart."
Sleektail: Thanks for reading!! I tried to make this chapter sorta long, but anyways, hope you liked it! Please review!!