Chapter 52: Interrogation

Now that the surgery was over, I'd be able to get what I was really after. I started to make my way back towards where Brokentail's ragged form lay before Yellowfang stopped me.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked testily.

"What do you think I'm doing? Getting Answers. Brokentail's raid occurred at too perfect opportune of timing, and I want to know why. I need to interrogate him. You owe me that much for what we just did." I responded.

Yellowfang's fur rose. She did not like that was using Cinderpaw's situation against her. I could visibly see her bite back a hiss.

"And you wouldn't have helped her if Brokentail weren't here?" She retorted.

"Of course I would have, but I'm also not the type to waste an opportunity or mince words. This isn't about you, Cinderpaw, or even Brokentail. We're talking about the safety of the clan. If you truly consider yourself Thunderclan, you will let me through." I bit back.

Yellowfang's back arched with visible anger, but she made no move to stop me as I moved towards Brokentail. I knew he heard me coming, the way his ears swiveled to track me. Despite this, he did not rise. I gave him a shove with one of my paws, but he pretended to not notice.

"Are we really playing games here Brokentail? I saw your ears move. You can't pretend that I'm not here. Listen to me now. What will happen to you depends on how cooperative you are. I'm not playing here. Shadowclan and Windclan want to see your head roll and your bones picked clean by whatever scavengers there are. Without Thunderclan, you are dead. At least here you are fed and kept alive. Depending on your behavior, that is subject to change." I stated.

Brokentail at least had the wisdom to look at me after my rant. He pretended to look befuddled, like an elder, but his acting skills weren't good enough to hide the way his ear twitched at the slightest of sounds or the way the corner of his mouth faintly smiled or frowned depending on his internal reaction.

"So, tell me, how did you know to attack then?" I commanded.

"Luck." Was his answer.

My tail lashed violently. An obvious lie. "Again with the games! Stop playing with me! Even if you were the one who chose the time of the attack, someone else knew. Who was it? Who gave you the opportunity?" I growled.

Brokentail decided to stay mum, but the way his tail faintly twitched indicated his unease. He knew I knew something, but I needed proof.

"Why do you stay silent? You have nothing to gain from it. Did your ally buy you off, make impossible promises, perhaps even offer you Shadowclan back?" I baited.

I had to rear my head back as he snapped at where my nose once was. I was stunned for a second. It was in a way amusing.

"Oh ho ho. It seems Brokentail isn't without a bit of fight left in him. Good. Now listen. Whatever they promised you, I can assure you, they never intended to keep it. I know you better than you think I do Brokentail. I know you are a cat of ambition. You are a cat who always wants more. Nothing wrong with that, but your failure was in execution. You played risky. You moved too fast. You made too many enemies. In other words, you lost, and when you lose, you don't just get back into the game. Its winner takes all, and you've become someone's pawn."

"I am Brokenstar! I am no one's pawn!" He hissed back.

I pretended to think a moment before responding. "Maybe not knowingly, but you've been used. Tell me, has your ally done anything for you since? Did they speak up for you when the clan questioned whether to imprison you or kill you? No. They stayed silent. You're living on our mercy, not theirs. In fact, they may wish you dead. Is it worth saving them when they won't save you? Do you think protecting them is really revenge on us? We didn't care what happened to you as long as it didn't bother us. We may have attacked your camp to get our kits back, but we weren't the ones to exile you. The only one here deserving your revenge is the one who led you here, the one who is responsible for you losing your eyes, the one who misinformed you about the strength of the camp." I tempted, thoroughly enjoying the way his tail lashed in thought as he tried to mentally disprove my words.

I let him struggle with it a moment before giving him a reprieve. "Tell you what. How about I give you some time to think on it. I'll swing by tomorrow, and I'll bring some food. What's your favorite prey?"

The classic good cop bad cop. I wanted him thinking I was on his side. Gifts and generally pretending to sympathize went a long ways. Brokentail managed to calm himself.

"Frog." Was all he mewed.

"Then I'll bring you a big one tomorrow. As long as we work together, I'll continue to reciprocate your kindness." I mewed.

I left, having set the bait. As I've said, Brokentail is a cat of ambition, but that is also his weakness. Whenever he tries to get a leg up, he does not notice where he steps. He is impulsive and quick to anger, making him an easy victim to manipulate. I knew my temptations would be on his mind until my return. Just like a watchmaker knows a clock, I knew what made him tick.

As I made to leave, Yellowfang stopped me again. "Who in Starclan was that? The Smudgefoot I know never talked like that." She asserted.

"I assure you that was me. As I've demonstrated, there are many ways to manipulate. Sometimes you can be kind, giving them what they want and gently guiding them on their path. Other times, you must be every bit the monster they see you. Brokentail will mull on my words because to ignore them is against his nature. Pray he falls for my honeyed words soon because I can't imagine him surviving here more than a moon before one of the other clans gets tipped off." I answered.

She flinched back, but I chose not to react This may have hurt my relationship with Yellowfang, but maybe it was about time for her to learn who I truly am. I am a liar, a cheat, but most of all, I am someone who will do whatever it takes to protect what is mine. Morals be damned.