Chapter 33: Counter Ambush
There wasn't much to do while I waited for Claws besides grow accustomed to prowling on stone with my claw extensions. It was an awkward kind of prowl because I'd have to tilt my fight front paw up to avoid the clicks and then slowly lower it down to minimize the impact. Frankly, it looked like I was limping if watched, but it was the only way that worked to a reasonable degree. With this ability to maintain silence, I decided to spy on the main cavern looking for info on this Jaggedtooth.
I pressed myself against the wall, angling my body to present my black furred back towards the entrance, obscuring me. I stalked silently along, looking for any sort of gossip about Stormfur or Jaggedtooth. I got close enough to one pair to listen in.
"Can you believe the nerve of that useless Scratch?! There I was, about to let out some of my frustrations about getting paired again with Dawn's Early Blight again when that piece of dung decided to fight back. How dare that sorry excuse for a cat act like that. Doesn't he know that his only use is to sharpen our claws on?" The first cat complained.
"You really shouldn't talk like that. Dawn will rip your tail off if she hears you. Besides, we all know Stoneteller favors that cursed cat for some reason. I'd rather not risk the wrath of the Tribe of Endless Hunting over something petty like Scratch fighting back." The second responded making the first flick his tail angrily.
"I thought you'd back me up on this! That useless Scratch needs to know his place. Me and two others are planning to ambush him when he goes back for the prisoner. Are you sure you don't want in?" The first prompted.
"No way! You and your friends have got to be mousebrained to do that. Dawn will kill all of you for messing with him like that." The second refuted.
"Scratch wouldn't dare tell after the beating we plan to give him. Since you aren't with us, will you tell anyone?" The first queried.
The second let out a slow huff, clearly torn from their loyalty to the first cat and their avoidance of angering Dawn. "Fine. I won't say anything, but if you're caught, don't say I didn't warn you." The second begrudgingly answered.
Realizing that Claws was going to come to the tunnel relatively soon and knowing the broader cavern that Dawn left me at before, I knew that cat and his cronies were going to ambush Claws there. Based on the light from the entrance, it was getting close to Sunhigh, a time Claws was certain to come to me to deliver food. I didn't have much time, but since there were only three cats, likely all entrance guards, meant I'd have a bit of an advantage. I'd been in the dark longer than them, meaning my night vision was better. I also knew their ambush point, meaning I had a homefield advantage. If I did this right, I could flip the ambush. The only question was if I should. It'd reveal that I got loose. I'd honestly be safer letting it happen. Claws wasn't going to die by it, but at the same time, I didn't want it to happen. Claws didn't deserve such abuse. If I let it happen, Claws might lose the last bit of resistance to them. I owed him for all he'd done for me.
I crept back into hiding just past where I knew the ambush was going to happen. The darkness hid me well as I watched the three set up their positions. They all were watching the entrance for Claws to come, which conveniently left one's back presented to me. I likely couldn't take on all three at once, but if Claws were here, I was sure we could deal with them handily. Thus, I just needed for them to spring their ambush. It was a sickening feeling, just waiting for my new friend to walk into the trap. I knew I could just have killed all these cats easily. Those claw extensions were sharp and long, meaning I could kill the one with his back to me in an instant. The fear of one of their own dying so fast would allow me to close the gap to kill a second one. By then, the last one would be in fight or flight, their instincts overwriting their training, making them just as easy of a target. Then they'd all be dead. Claws would be safe, but Claws wouldn't want that. He'd be scared of me. I'd be proven the monster Stoneteller said I was. As much as I hated it, those three would have to live, admittedly with some new scars, but I couldn't kill them. I'd have to take the hard nonlethal option despite how much my claws sang to be drenched in blood. It was so tempting. One was just right there.
At long last, Claws emerged, carrying with him one of those giant bird's wings and a wad of wet moss. He caught sight of the trio blocking his path.
"Ah. If it isn't Scratch. I've been meaning to pay you back for messing up my training earlier." The leader of the trio mewed maliciously.
"Knock it off Eagle. I'm not just going to take it anymore. The fact that you had to run away with your tail between your legs only proves that you're weak." Claws hissed back.
Eagle got right in Claws' face before hissing. "You've got some nerve talking back to me. You're just a useless Scratch. I think it's time you got a reminder of your place."
This was the perfect opportunity. They were all distracted by the confrontation. I dug my claws into the cat closest to me, leaving a lengthy scratch and making him cry out in pain. The rest turned to find the source of the noise. My claw extensions were soaked, but they wanted more. The wound they inflicted was shallow, having bounded off the cat's ribs. I made them click against the ground one by one as I emerged into sight.
"Looks like I finally made it out, and look, it's Claws. Who are these? Some of your friends? Hmm… Maybe not. They don't seem friendly to you, so they must be rogues. I didn't think rogues got out this far, but what would I know." I played, baiting the three while implying that Claws had no relation to how I got this far.
"It's the prisoner!" One of the trio called out.
Eagle decided to attempt to intimidate me. "I am a guard you filthy beast! Go back to your cave before I kill you!" He hissed, trying the same get in your face tactic he did on Claws.
"Hmm. Let me think about that." I pretended to muse before lashing out with my unarmed paw, dragging my claws across his face.
He reeled back at the sudden hit before growling. "You'll regret that. Attack!" He ordered.
The trio tried to pin me down, but they were obviously the runts of the guard. Of course, with three of them, they'd catch me eventually, but Claws decided to act. He dove into the fight, singling out Eagle. The other two were up to me, but since I could pull claws, it wouldn't be much of a fight. The two were quick to flee when it became obvious that I was just letting them live, tracing scratches just by vital points but never actually hitting them. That just left Eagle.
Claws was wrestling with him. Eagle's back paws scratched at Claws' belly, but Claws would not relent, pummeling Eagle in the face repeatedly. Finally, it seemed that Claws could stand it no longer. From his paws emerged rather blunt but lengthy claws, dull from the lack of use, but they'd do. Claws lashed out at Eagle's face, tearing a jagged cut through the tom's right eye, blinding it. Eagle screamed in pain. Claws saw the blood and hesitated, allowing Eagle to break free and run from Claws.
Claws looked at his bloody paw shaking. "I… I drew blood. Stoneteller said I should never draw blood, but… it felt good. I wanted to hurt him, still want to hurt him. Why? Is this the curse Stoneteller warned me of?" Claws rambled fearfully.
I pressed into Claws' side, knowing he needed the comfort. "It wasn't your fault. They were the ones who went too far and forced your paw. You shouldn't feel bad for defending yourself." I consoled.
"But… I wanted to fight. I still want to fight. I'm scared…" Claws mewed, his voice wavering.
"Wanting to fight isn't such a bad thing as long as you are fighting for something worthwhile. Fighting for your life or the life of another are noble things. This curse you claim to have doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can choose to fight for others, fight for the right reasons." I mewed, feeling his shaking beginning to still.
"I… don't have to be a bad cat?" Claws questioned, his eyes filled with tears.
"No. You can still be a good cat despite your temptations. You just need to fight for the right reasons, be it for your friends, your family, or your allegiance. You also aren't alone when it comes to temptations. I have one myself. I fight with my own desires to spill blood, to kill. Every day it tempts me, and every day I resist it or redirect it. This dark urge I hold isn't just a curse placed upon me. It is a means to protect those dear to me. As long as I control it, it will be the barrier to protect those I deem worthy of protecting. That happens to include you. I know you can master your urge as well. I believe in you." I reassured.
Unfortunately, we couldn't just have a moment after what happened. Claws and I had to retreat further into the tunnels to prevent being discovered. Surely Eagle was spinning some false tale about how he was ambushed by Claws and I, emphasizing how he was the victim. I knew Dawn would see right through it, but Stoneteller was a different story. We'd have to be careful and meet up with Dawn again.