~Warnings: Prey death, poisoning, lack of self-care, paranoia, death~ Snowpelt felt like she was going to burst out of her pelt. The half moon was tonight. Shadow had gone through the plan. The first step was to wait for sundown, then go on a solo hunting patrol. She just needed to wait for Shadow’s command. It felt like she had been waiting on Shadow to tell her what to do a lot… it felt strange, and wr- ‘Focus. It’s nearly time.’ Snowpelt shook her head, Shadow was right. With her promotion to deputy, Snowpelt had taken up a new spot to be when she wasn’t busy. The clan couldn’t have their deputy hiding away in the warriors den constantly. So Snowpelt had started sitting on a sunny rock near highrock during the day, where cats could find her to ask about patrols and such easily. The work was… strangely nice. It gave her something else to think about sometimes, who needed to go on patrol, where did patrols need to go, how much prey did the clan need, how did they need to prepare for leaf bare, how could she balance the amount of cats out and inside camp? All of the different things that came with running a clan. It was overwhelming at times, but it kept her busy. Especially since Whitestar stayed in her den near constantly. When she did leave her den, she was suspicious and wary of everyone. Except Snowpelt. She was always trying to talk to Snowpelt, and Snowpelt was the only one Whitestar asked to get her food from the fresh-kill plie, not that Whitestar ever hunted or patrolled. She refused to go on patrols. Apparently, she was too afraid of being attacked again. It was infuriating. Snowpelt ended up doing everything by herself for the most part. When Snowpelt wasn’t able to do something on her own, or was out of camp, Skylight usually stepped up to lead a bit. The two of them didn’t talk much, however. Skylight pointedly ignored Snowpelt when it wasn’t related to duties. Skylight spent most of her time with Flowersong anyways, and Flowersong had… changed a bit after Brightspot’s death. She spent more time in the medicine den, and was clearly sad, but Skylight seemed to be keeping her spirits up somewhat, which was good. Snowpelt kept meaning to reach out… ‘It would just make things worse, she doesn’t want you. We’ve been over this.’ Yeah… Shadow must be right. Snowpelt sighed and looked up at the darkening sky. ‘Sunset. It’s time. Go.’ Snowpelt stood and walked out of camp. She walked for a while, slowly looping towards the edge of the territories. Old thunderpath, that’s what Shadow said. ‘It’ll take a little time for Whitestar to die, but most cats will be asleep and she’ll be too frightened to call for help. Keep going.’ Snowpelt began moving quicker. Eventually, Snowpelt came to the edge of the territories and found the old thunderpath. Ok, nightshade. ‘Green plant, it has small shiny black berries. It should still be growing here…’ Snowpelt looked around. Green plant. Very helpful. ‘Don't sass me.’ Snowpelt sighed and started looking at the plants until she found one with some black berries. Most were gone, but a few remained. ‘A few are all we need. Take them, and treat them with the same caution of deathberries.’ Snowpelt stepped away and grabbed a broad leaf, then very carefully picked off the berries using her twisted paw. Now she needed to get prey to put it in. Snowpelt sniffed the air. There, mouse. She dropped into a hunting crouch and followed the scent until the scrawny mouse came into view. Snowpelt pounced on the mouse, killing it instantly with a quiet snap of the neck. ‘That will work. Now, we get the berries inside, through the mouth. Grab a small stick.’ Snowpelt found a small stick and took it and the mouse back over to the berries. She followed Shadow’s instructions as she dropped the berries into the mouse’s mouth and used the stick to push them inside. When she was finished, the mouse looked normal. Still unappetizing, but nothing else visually wrong. Time to get other prey- ‘Perfect. Now, hunt for a couple more pieces of prey to bring back to camp’ She was about to do that, but ok. Snowpelt hid the mouse and went hunting, ending up with a bird and a squirrel. She took the prey back to camp, using her twisted paw to carry the mouse. It wouldn’t look strange, she often used that paw to carry extra prey, and she walked just fine without the paw. ‘Other cats have always been so strange about this paw. They saw it as a deformity, when it’s quite easy to figure out how to work with. It makes cats underestimate us, but even if the whole leg was gone, we’d be fine.’ Snowpelt slipped back into camp. A few cats were still up, but most were headed to their dens, so they had already eaten. Good. Snowpelt put the squirrel and bird in the fresh-kill pile, and put the mouse near it, almost hidden by a larger rock nearby. It’d keep any cats from taking it. Snowpelt returned to her rock, watching the camp. Whitestar wouldn’t have eaten yet.
She only ever asked Snowpelt to grab her prey, and rarely grabbed it herself. It was annoying, especially since Whitestar always tried to start up a conversation. It was good tonight, because it meant Whitestar would be asking- “Snowpelt!” An annoying voice called. Snowpelt looked over as Whitestar poked her head out of the den. For once, her pelt was ungroomed and dirty, fur sticking out. Amber eyes paranoid. Whitestar had lost weight, she looked half starved. Likely because she didn’t eat unless Snowpelt was the one bringing her the prey, and she didn’t work to choose the best prey. “Can you get some freshkill?” Snowpelt sighed and nodded, walking to the fresh-kill pile. She picked up the bird and the mouse. When she turned back, Whitestar had slunk back into the leader's den. Snowpelt dropped the prey at the entrance, saying “Here.” Whitestar didn’t come out, asking “Could you bring it inside?” Snowpelt picked it back up, walking inside the dark leader’s den. It was a mess. The ground was torn up from pacing paws, the nest in the corner was kneaded to death and in dire need of replacement, and remains of prey were in a foul-smelling pile in another corner, some of it half eaten. The whole den stank. It was…pitiful. ‘She killed them. She deserves this.’ Yeah… Whitestar’s head snapped up as Snowpelt entered the den, eyes catching in the weak light from where she was at the back wall. Whitestar relaxed as she said “You can come in more!” Snowpelt walked to about the center of the den, dropping the pieces of prey as Whitestar stepped towards her, “Is one of those for you? Can we eat together?” Then Whitestar looked at the prey and made a face. Oh, right. Birds were Whitestar’s least favorite piece of prey. They had been Stormcloud’s favorite. Whitestar paused, then said “You can take the bird if you want, you didn’t have to choose smaller prey for yourself, I can take the mouse.” She grabbed the mouse and pulled it towards her. That was… strangely nice, even if Whitestar was making some assumptions. ‘Well, it works out for us. Don’t correct her. This will let her believe she saved you.’ Huh, yeah. Snowpelt sighed and said “I’m tired.” Whitestar’s eyes turned almost pleading as she asked “I know, but could you stay here for a little while? It’s been so long since we had a real conversation.” Whitestar flinched slightly as Snowpelt looked at her coldly and said “I believe the last time I attempted a ‘real conversation’ with you was after Ashstar died.” Whitestar seemed to shrink as she quietly said “I’m sorry.” Snowpelt paused. Did Whitestar, Whitestar, of all cats, just apologize? Whitestar shifted slightly as she said “I, I shouldn't have lashed out at you, but, but family is important. That’s what father told me!” Snowpelt sighed and started “I-” “He said to remember that it is family that can stand at my side, that it’s family I can trust! And you’re my family!” Her eyes were almost wild as she took a step forward. Snowpelt took a step back. Whitestar paused, then sighed and sat, saying “I, I know I was horrible to you, but we’re in this together. I need your help to find whoever’s been taking my lives! You’re the only one I can trust! And mother said to have caution, to not let poison into my life, what if that was a warning? That’s why I’ve been having you get my prey! Any other cat might take the chance to poison me. I think Father was poisoned once, when we were younger. What if some cat does that to me? But I trust you, you’re smart, you’d never give me prey you even suspected might be posioned.” Snowpelt paused. Where was Whitestar even getting this from? ‘She’s extremely paranoid, it might be best to excuse yourself.’ Snowpelt sighed and took another step back, saying “I need to get some rest, you can have both the bird and mous-” Whitestar shook her head and said “Oh, no no no, you need to eat. You’re such a good fighter, and I need someone strong by my side. It was so nice of you to get smaller prey for yourself, but I don’t like birds, but they’re your favorite, right? I asked Flowersong.” Why would- “I’ve been really wanting to have this conversation and I figured it’d start out on a good foot if you had your favorite prey, I really don’t mind the mouse.” She dragged the mouse to her and pushed the bird to Snowpelt. Snowpelt paused, then said “Ok…” Whitestar beamed and nodded as Snowpelt slowly took the bird. This was weird. Whitestar paused, then asked “Can you please help me find the cat that’s been doing this? Please?” Snowpelt hesitated, then nodded and said “I will.” Whitestar let out a sigh of relief and said “Thank you!” Snowpelt nodded, “I’m going to bed.” She picked up the bird and left before Whitestar could stop her. She quickly ate and went into the warrior den full of sleeping cats. She laid down on her nest and closed her eyes. ‘She’s dying now. Rest. She’s on her last life.’ Prev https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1298805312 Next Early May (May 1st if I remember)
