Chapter 77: History Repeats

Bone's life was anything but boring. Some may call me cruel to just sit and watch the drama unfold around him, but Bone already gave me his word on his utter loyalty to Scourge alone. He did not want my aid. That did not mean I would not watch him or aid him if desperately needed. Honestly, watching Bone was my go-to hobby. I now understood why so many queens and elders valued gossip so much. It was fascinating.

After Lavender's exposure and execution, Lavender's kin were seen in a more harsh light. Thorn was able to reinforce his position due to his diligence and hard working nature. Thorn was a cat who was worth two hunters. He had skill and focus that was unrivaled among the cats positioned as hunters. Bone always thought Thorn had wasted his potential, but he did not begrudge Thorn for his choices. The more concerning issue was Violet.

Violet wasn't near as lucky as Thorn. Being an assistive queen is a position largely based upon public opinion. While Violet herself wasn't a bad assistive queen, she also wasn't outstanding either. She was, in a word, passable. Passable wouldn't save her from the storm of emotions Bloodclan flung her way. New queens didn't want the spawn of the traitor queen caring for their kits. As with all cases of public opinion, it was easy to get trampled under paw as they lashed out at anything to try and regain some semblance of calm and control. It wasn't even directly malicious. Violet was just an easy scapegoat for all these feelings of loss and betrayal to target. It didn't help that every cat knew she had been close with Lavendar the traitor.

With that, Violet lost her position as an assistive queen. She wasn't attacked or exiled, but her job had to change. She also wasn't allowed to be a lookout given that was where her mother had betrayed the clan from, so she didn't have many options. She chose to be a hunter like her brother, and for a time, things settled down.

The problems arose when Thorn passed out on a paired hunting patrol. From what little medical knowledge Bloodclan knew, they were able to diagnose that Thorn had been overworked. He'd literally run himself into the ground. With some force, Thorn was put on rest for multiple days. Now, this wouldn't be an issue if this had just caused one cat to not bring in prey. The issue lied in the fact that suddenly Violet couldn't catch anything at all.

Bloodclan briefly passed up Violet's failures as stress. She could have just been worried about Thorn and messed up. They let her issues slide for now. Once Thorn was back on his paws, Violet seemed to be bringing in prey again, but Thorn's usual amount seemed to have been halved. Bone would usually have let Thorn off with the issue given that he was still recovering from his collapse, but too many things were aligning in ways he did not wish to be true. Thus, he decided to follow Thorn the next day.

At first, no issue arose. Thorn hunted his quota and then some. Bone was honestly impressed at Thorn's technique and skill. He had quite a haul when the sun began to set, but that is where things started to go wrong. Instead of heading straight back, Thorn brought his prey to a rarely used alley. It was still Bloodclan territory, but that alley was usually unused do to the high daylight traffic of twolegs and the distance from easily accessed food. There should have been no reason for Thorn to go there, but here he was, going there.

Bone watched from the shadows as Thorn brought his prey in. From the far end of the alley came another cat. It was Violet.

"How was hunting today brother?" She asked.

"Good. I caught more than usual, but we can't keep doing this. I know you aren't a good hunter, but you aren't even trying. Some cat is going to wise up." Thorn mewed urgently.

"No cat will catch on. It's not my fault I lost my position as assistive queen. I worked well there. It was my role. Now I don't have one." Violet mewed, exasperated.

"You're a hunter. You have to hunt. It's your job. I can't always protect you." Thorn begged.

"Ok. I'll try." Violet mewed in a way to imply apology.

Bone knew that tone and those eyes. They were the same as Lavendar as she mewed her own falsehoods. Violet wasn't going to try. She was going to string Thorn along just like Lavendar had strung him along. A black fiery rage was born in Bone. He wouldn't let such an ungrateful leech remain in their clan any longer. He wouldn't let her keep toying with Thorn, who he thought of like a younger self. If Bone had any choice, which he did, Thorn would never feel the pain of being manipulated by cats like Lavendar. He was going to make a stand.

The next day Bone called Hoot and Jumper forward to join him on a punishment detail. He specifically chose to have the punishment at sunset to ensure Thorn would witness it. With a heart of rage, Bone lead Hoot and Jumper to the alley. Bone and Thorn had generally similar builds, so Violet confused them briefly. That was all it took for Bone to catch her. Bone even knew Thorn was nearby enough to witness what came next.

"Violet. You are accused of failing to fulfil your duties and making another do them for you. What say you in your defense" Bone mewed in a practiced monotone.

"Bone! Dad! Please let me go! I'll do anything! I'll work hard!" She begged.

Bone could hear Thorn watching, rustling with uneasiness but unable to interfere.

"You know, you're exactly like your mother, a coward and a manipulative liar worth less than a mousetail. Even knew you echo her words the night she betrayed us all. I gave you chances. I wanted you to be better, but you seemed determined to walk the same path has her. I cannot let a cat like you remain in Bloodclan. At least know your final act as a Bloodclan member will serve a greater purpose. Hoot. Jumper. Exile her." Bone ordered.

Hoot and Jumper fell on Violet with trained violence. They'd been trained well in the fine art of battle. Violet didn't stand a chance. Hoot and Jumper could have killed her with ease, but exiling meant something different. It meant marring a cat with enough scars to ensure they'd never forget their treachery. They were precise, accurate, and merciless.

After Hoot and Jumper stopped, Thorn rushed forward to his injured sister. "Father! Why would you do this?"

"You know why Thorn. She did not work. She did not do her job. The main tenet of Bloodclan is to be useful. She was a parasite. She cannot remain." Bone snarled back. "Leave her." He ordered.

"No." Thorn softly mewed.

"What!?" Bone hissed.

"No!" Thorn growled in response. "I won't leave her. Cast me out too! I'm not letting her die."

Then begone! You are Thorn no longer. Thorn is the name of a Bloodclan cat I respected. Begone nameless cat and never return." Bone howled with rage.

As Thorn, no, the nameless cat, and Violet fled, Bone couldn't place the feeling in his chest. It was deep and sorrowful, but why did he feel this way? He did what was right. There was no better choice. Bone turned to Hoot and Jumper, a final task to fulfil before he could try and bury his problems with sleep.

"Hoot. Jumper. You two have proved your loyalty and skill. You have earned your new names. Hott, your name is now Snake for your speed and precision. Jumper, your name is now Ice due to your coolheadedness and unrelenting loyalty. You are now full guards." Bone forced out.

It felt like he was just going through the motions, but he would do his job. He wouldn't fail Scourge. It was the last thing he had.