Chapter 72: Boned
Four moons had passed since Bone let Lavendar and her kits enter the clan. Four moons had Bone watched for Lavendar to slip. Today was a day Bone looked forward to. It was the day Lavendar's kits were deemed old enough to fend for themselves. Despite Bone's hatred of familial ties, Bone had watched them. He watched them play with Hare and Owl's kits. He watched Thorn and Owl's kits form their own Real family. Thorn found himself a pair of brothers in Hoot and Jumper. Unfortunately, Violet wasn't as successful of an investment. In all the time Bone knew Lavendar, she'd always been self-assured and entitled. Violet did have potential, but Lavendar seemed to spend time to groom Violet into a match of herself. At least that influence wouldn't last too much longer.
Bone padded his way back to the nursery with a smile on his muzzle, the same kind that one has after removing a particularly nasty thorn. Bone was a cat with connections. The queens in Scourge's kept him well informed of the goings on in the nursery area. The most important knowledge, to Bone at least, was who was seeing who. Lavendar, being the lazy cat that she is, had proven incompetent at conning another cat into being her mate. This meant she was fair game for what Bone planned.
Bone found Lavendar lounging in the nursery, almost alone. Her copy spawn was hanging on to her every word as she taught the deceived kit how some cats are deserving of special treatment because of their natural beauty. Bone knew that kit would have to have a harsh dose of reality to undo all the wrongful teachings Lavendar had taught her. Now was the perfect time to start.
"Lavendar. Your kits are now old enough for training and to fend for themselves. What shall you do to benefit Bloodclan?" Bone asked in a practiced monotone to hide his joy in putting pressure on the detestable molly.
"Can't you tell? I'm pregnant." Lavendar replied in a convincing tone, convincing that is if Bone didn't know the comings and goings of the nursery.
"That's not going to fly Lavendar. You think you can lie to me so easily? I've got eyes and ears everywhere. I know for a fact you haven't gotten a single tom's attention." Bone replied, joyful in his hostility.
"How would you know!" Lavendar snapped.
"Like I said, eyes and ears everywhere. Doesn't hurt that you aren't attractive by Bloodclan standards. Bloodclan thrives on strength. You bear no scars and have no telling muscle. On top of that is your better than you attitude. All of which are major turn offs for the cats here. The only reason you haven't been driven out already is because you had kits. The key word is had. Now you've got to make yourself useful." Bone answered mercilessly.
"Then I'll help the rest of the queens." Lavendar stated quickly, panic starting to appear in her voice.
"Nope. To be a permanent queen, you need the backing of the other queens. I've already talked to them, and they say that they'd never even let you watch their kits for a nap." Bone countered.
Lavendar sputtered, unable to come up with an answer. Bone knew he could get rid of her right then and there, but Bloodclan duties prevented it. He couldn't just oust her without giving her at least the chance to be better.
"Luckily for you, I've got a job in mind. We've got cats posted at the edges of our territory. Their only job is to keep track of which cats are entering and leaving. Most importantly, they have to report if a congregation of cats is approaching. They are our forward warning. Think about it. You'd get to lay about all day judging cats. The only thing you'd have to change is getting in a little training."
Lavendar was hesitant before trying to act indignant. "You'd want my to mar my beautiful pelt with scratches from this 'training'?""
"That's the beauty of it. You wouldn't learn how to fight. You only need to know how to run. If you see a threat, you run to us and we do all the work. It sounds like something right up your alley." Bone tempted.
"Well… That does seem to be something I can handle. I'll do it on the condition that I don't have to hunt or fight." Lavendar answered hotly.
"Deal. Now you'll be expected to follow Hare on duty for a while seeing as she is no longer a queen as well. She's already proven herself as one of the fastest cats here, so she'll be the one teaching you." Bone replied, hiding his hidden glee. Soon, Lavendar would be out of sight. Not only that, but Hare was a cat who took no nonsense. If any cat could set Lavendar straight, it would be her. Hoot and Jumper were already extremely loyal to Bloodclan and swore themselves to Scourge's vision. Thorn was almost there, but his ties to Lavendar and Violet had made him back out of swearing in.
Regardless, Bone had another job to do. He had to assign the former kits positions within the clan. Hoot and Jumper were easy since they'd taken their oaths. They'd train under Scourge's honor guard headed under Bone himself. Bone faintly wished Thorn had done the same, but without the oath, Thorn could not train for that position. Fortunately, there were plenty more jobs to take in Bloodclan. The honor guard was just the most respected.
Bone found Hoot, Jumper, and Thorn playing outside the den. It was time for their assignments.
"Hoot, Jumper. You two are to report to Scourge's perch to meet with the honor guard. If you succeed in your training, Scourge himself with honor you with new names. Do not let us down." Bone commanded.
The two cats gave a respectful nod before bounding off in the direction of Scourge's Alley. Those two would make powerful honor guards if they upkept their loyalty and respect. Bone then turned his eyes to Thorn. Violet made her appearance as well.
"Thorn. I had hoped you'd have been interested in the honor guard as well, but since you didn't take the oaths, you'll need another job. You are still a physically active cat, so I'd recommend either the raiding force or hunters. Your choice." Bone stated in a careful monotone.
"I… don't like hurting cats. I think I'll join the hunters." Thorn answered.
Bone turned his eyes to his supposed daughter. He was disappointed in how under Lavendar's thrall she was, but she wasn't hopeless yet.
"Violet. You have not demonstrated the ability or desire to hunt or fight. There are still jobs you can do. The remaining queens do like you, so you have the option of learning to be a permanent queen. Your other option is to be a lookout. A lookout is simultaneously the most safe and dangerous job at the same time. You'd be safe because you'd never need to fight but in danger because you'd have time spent alone. Lookouts sometimes disappear or die because some cat or cats wanted to sneak in undetected." Bone lectured.
"I think I'll help the queens." Violet timidly mewed.
"Very well. I'll let Scourge know your decisions. Your mentors will find you when your training is to begin." Bone said, turning away.
Today had been both thrilling and disappointing to Bone. He had high hopes for Thorn, but the little tom was proving reluctant. Bone had wanted Thorn to be his heir, backup in the event he died before Scourge. Now Bone knew that was unfeasible. He'd just have to last as long as he could.