Planets

"But..." Mosspelt widened his eyes. "Won't you at least help me?"

I smirked. "For what? You'll never get to my level anyways."

He hissed. "I was accused of murder! Don't you care? You're my littermate! My own sister..."

I rolled my eyes. "And I am a member of my clan. Nothing in the warrior code tells me that I have to help you."

"No!"

I turned my back on him. "Shut your whiny mouth."

Mosspelt was silent for a moment. "You know what they say, right? The planets don't revolve around you, and they never will, Sunstorm. You gotta accept. It's what they have been saying since you were an apprentice. You think too highly of yourself."

"Uh, no, I don't." I twirled my tail. "I think myself." With that, I cast one last look at Mosspelt's sad face and padded away.

I held my head up dismissively. Why couldn't everyone just accept that I was the most important thing? Why?

That was what I was thinking as I quickly snapped up my breakfast of a fat, juicy rabbit; the biggest piece of fresh-kill on the pile, as always. And it was what went through my mind as I went on border patrol with a few other cats. And it was what kept me thinking as I settled down in my soft, mossy nest to go to sleep.

Should I help Mosspelt? I tossed and turned in my bed. No, of course not. Why did such a silly question go through my mind? I closed my eyes. I was perfect, and I knew it. My own parents said so. I didn't have to help anyone. And, besides, he was practically a deadweight around the clan. Why should he deserve anything? I snorted. Nothing, that's what he should get.

But even as I thought that, doubt still prickled. I shook it away like a patch of cobwebs. What could he do to me, anyways?


"Hey, Sunstorm," Mosspelt muttered as we got up for the morning. I ignored him. I was too good for someone like him.

Right?

"Sunstorm, Hollowmoon, Mosspelt, and Badgerface, you will be going on a border patrol today," Yellowflight, the deputy, yowled from across the clearing. I groaned. I was stuck with old grumpy-pelt again. "But Yellowflight! Can't I go on by myself?"

She glared at me. "No. Listen to orders!"

I turned my back. Orders! They should be coming from me."Fine..."


"Nothing to report so far, Boulderstar," Hollowmoon reported once we got back. "The others have all been keeping to themselves lately, which is good."

Boulderstar nodded in approval. "Good, good. You may eat now."

I flicked my tail. My face was already filled with feathers from a starling I was finishing off. Badgerface glared at me. I didn't pay attention to him, or anyone else who was around me, just shrugged and stood up. "What? Have you never seen anyone eat before?" With that, I turned around and began heading towards the warrior's den. "Mosspelt! I know that-"

I stopped. Where was he? I thought he would ready at the entrance, ready to moan about whatever else he had to moan about. I frowned. Where could he be? "Hello? Mosspelt?"

No one answered. My frown went even further. "Um..."

Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him since we left for partrol. I narrowed my eyes. Running out of camp, I shouted, "I'll be back soon!", before heading off into the deep, dark, forest. Wind ruffled my pelt. Where could he possibly be? Did he get lost? Did he get into trouble? Too many questions, too little time. I picked up my pace. I didn't know why, but I felt like I had to hurry.

"Gotcha!"

Claws closed in on my throat, and I gasped for breath as the strong paws brought me down to the ground. The voice was eerily familiar... My blood turned to ice. "Mosspelt? What are you doing?"

"Finishing what has been begun!" His eyes blazed, and his claws tightened. "Heartless piece of fox-dung! I will personally see to this." Voice tinged with anger, he added, "and no exceptions!"

"No! I swear, I will change!" I croaked. "I promise! I'll be different."

Mosspelt narrowed his eyes. "Really?"

"Yes!" I yelled. "I swear on my life! And I won't tell anyone what happened here today, I promise." My voice shook. "Please?"

He snorted. "Guess you are full of surprises." And with that, he released his tight grip on me. "Just warning you, if I ever catch you doing-"

Those were the last words he spoke before a single score down his throat finished his life forever.


There was still the scent of fresh blood on my paws when I got back to camp.