Author's note: This chapter's end heads a bit into creepy territory. I won't write sex, but I am fine with implying it. Please let me know how you feel the series is going and if you want any more details about specific characters in the story so far.
Chapter 67: Reverse Cutting Deception
The morning after the Gathering, Darkstripe happened to hear Tigerstar talking about Bloodclan and had to interject.
"Bloodclan? I've worked with those cats before. I could probably set something up."
Tigerstar's face lit up at the prospect. He no longer needed to rely on Boulder who was a rather flakey cat. He knew letting Darkstripe set up those connections would pay out eventually. Usually, he'd tell off a cat for getting so cozy with outsiders, but not Darkstripe. Darkstripe was so well groomed to be his perfect minion that he never even considered Darkstripe could be treacherous. He only knew Darkstripe as a coward who flocks to the strongest, and no cat was stronger than Tigerstar.
"Good. We're going." Was Tigerstar's response.
"Now?" Darkstripe asked cautiously.
"Yes now you fool! Tigerclan won't be filled with cats who sit on their tails all day."
Darkstripe winced but nodded. Tigerstar, Blackfoot, and two other Tigerstar faithfuls followed Darkstripe out of camp. Knowing Tigerstar, Darkstripe started on the most direct route to Bloodclan. It was a discourteous entrance to Bloodclan territory, but no other cat in the patrol knew that. Soon the stinking asphalt of the Twoleg place stung their paws. The heat of the day was cooking the ground, but Darkstripe was used to it and would not complain. It was a small revenge to see Tigerstar annoyed by the heated ground, but Darkstripe ignored it pretending he didn't see.
Darkstripe was the first to see Bloodclan's camp. They were lazing the day away. Usually, Darkstripe saved visits for the afternoon to allow Bloodclan to wake up, but he wanted to leave a negative impression. The outside guards woke Big who made his way over to greet Darkstripe. DArkstripe didn't let him speak first. He needed to keep his ruse alive.
"Bone. We need to speak to Scourge." Darkstripe mewed with a cocky attitude.
Shock crossed Bone's face before he scanned the cats following Darkstripe and nodded. While bone took off to rouse Scourge, Darkstripe turned to speak to Tigerstar.
"Can you give me a heartbeat to talk to Scourge? I need to impress upon him how powerful and important you are before you meet face to face."
Tigerstar, the sucker for flattery, gave Darkstripe a nod. Letting his minion speak his virtues couldn't hurt their relationship.
Bone returned from Scourge's alley. He gestured with his tail in the direction. Darkstripe raised his tail to halt the patrol before padding in alone. The alley was bare except for a dumpster with a familiar small black cat with one white paw sitting on it. The cat stared down at him with cold fury.
"Thunder." He mewed soft but sharply.
Darkstripe shook his head softly trying to hint at what he meant.
"I'm Darkstripe. Thunder is for deals. Darkstripe and Scourge can lie."
Revelation flashed through Scourge's eyes. He now understood Bone's alarming report that Thunder called him Bone. It wasn't Thunder. It was his traitor spy, and he was giving him free rein to lie.
"Tigerstar's going to come bursting in here any moment due to his impatience. Accept his deal as Scourge and you can double-cross him later."
Scourge tapped his tail amused. A faint smile lit up his face at his dealer friend's deception. Then, with a commotion, a familiar and unpleasant face made an appearance. Scourge could never forget that face. It was the one who had driven him off and left him a permanent scar. It was the same Tiger who tried to kill him as a kit. Scourge's face was neutral, but his gaze was of the fiercest hate Darkstripe had ever witnessed. Thankfully, Tigerstar either didn't notice or didn't care.
"Ah. Tigerstar. I've heard a lot about you from your pawn here. I've got to say, I'm impressed. You don't often see cats so carefully wound around another's paws. Could I convince you at all to give him to me?" Scourge mewed in a tone to imply cautious humor.
Tigerstar actually seemed to ponder the offer before replying. "No. I still have use of him. As you said, his unwavering loyalty is a rarity."
Scourge stared for a second now recognizing the peculiarity of Darkstripe's actions. Darkstripe or Thunder was usually still and composed with a well-groomed pelt. Now he was twitchy and had patches of fur sticking up. It was something he knew well. Darkstripe had all the marks of a cat in an extremely high stress environment. Scourge had now faintly wished Tigerstar accepted his proposal if only to get Darkstripe out, but he also knew Thunder's personality well. Darkstripe/Thunder wasn't the type to back out of a plan unless he was killed or ordered out.
"So, what brings you here Tigerstar? What could you offer the mighty Scourge?"
With a malicious grin and eyes that made his attempt at deceit obvious, Tigerstar replied. "I offer you part of the forest. If you can help us oust the other two clans, we'll split the forest between us."
Scourge was a much better actor and replied with a look of intrigue. "What does that entail and how much do you need?"
One of Tigerstar's loyal decided to butt in.
"Why are you trying to work with this kittypet? We can handle this on our own without these flea pelts."
Scourge did not like interruptions. He leapt down from his perch and landed right in front of the interrupter. With a blindingly quick slash, the cat fell with blood oozing from his throat. Darkstripe felt no sympathy. Scourge doesn't suffer fools. Instead of Tigerstar retaliating, Tigerstar interest in Scourge skyrocketed. He could use a cat willing to kill for such menial things.
"Bring as many cats as you can. We'll have the forest before the next full moon."
Something about having such a short timeframe elated Darkstripe. He wouldn't have to put up with Tigerstar much longer. He only hoped he still had his sanity by then.
When they made it back to camp, Tigerstar seemed in a festive mood. He took Darkstripe aside.
"Follow me. I have to reward you for your efforts, and I want you to meet someone."
Darkstripe stealthily grabbed a bundle of herbs he prepared, swallowed it, and followed Tigerstar out. He hoped that the herbs had been unnecessary, but he could feel they were not. The herb blend was typically for cats with "performance issues."
Soon, Tigerstar led Darkstripe into a clearing where a kittypet awaited. He could instantly tell that kittypet was everything Darkstripe hated in a cat, submissive, outsider, suck up, superiority complex, soft, unmarred, and a genuine leech.
"This is my other mate, Sasha. Tonight, we're going to have some fun."
Dread crept up Darkstripe's spine. Tigerstar's and Sasha's scents were nauseating, but he couldn't show it. He just faintly hoped that it would be over quickly. Maybe Tigerstar would just tease him. He'd hate to put some kits in a cat as unappealing as Sasha.