Brisknose padded out of the Entrance Cave and into the grassy part of the territory. Shadowleg was stalking a mouse somewhat in front of him. If Brisknose, in fact, had been the more bold and brave type, he would just kill him there and then, and blame it on the fox wandering through the territory. He flexed his claws. Shadowleg extended his gnarly large claws and pounced on a mouse, slitting its throat. He looked back at Brisknose, “I think I smell a bird upwards.” He said, glaring at the deputy claws. Brisknose looked down at his own claws. “I’m just upset about the fox in our territory.” “There's a fox?” Shadowleg tail twitched. “Yeah.” He padded over to a tree. “There's a fox sent right here.” Shadowleg began to follow the scent. They traced it to a den. “There’s no fox here but... “ he went inside and came out moments later. “The Vixen has three cubs.” “Let’s take one.” Shadowleg chuckled, half serious-half joking.

“I hate to say it but… we need to get rid of them.” He looked at Shadowleg dead in the eyes. “I was trying to lighten the mood, mouse brain.” He growled and walked in. Brisknose growled at the cubs. “They can’t stay here. Even if they move, they’ll come back.” Shadowleg picked up the runt of the litter, “I say we kill them and maybe we can use their pelts and meat for stuff.” “Not for meat but their hides would be very soft for the Nursery and the Elder’s den.” “Do you think we could use their claws for anything? Maybe we could give them to the medicine cat. It can maybe be like an extra set of claws, or a hook.” “Perhaps. If a cat’s claws break off, we could easily replace them.” “Would we glue them with dew?”

He shrugged. “Or we could use some of Leafclan’s honey.” Shadowleg nodded, “We’re still trading them. We have little honey left now: some Fadedclan cat ate it.” “Well we can deal with it later.” Brisknose grabbed one of the cubs. Shadowleg grabbed another one and bit down on it, causing it to erupt in squeals of pain. He had no mercy as he crunched harder. Brisknose killed the runt. “Only one left.” Shadowleg killed the last, “None more now. Just the mom.” “We should wait here till it comes. It’s dark enough for us to hide in here.” “Bright idea.” He got in, he was so dark he couldn’t be seen. The vixen padded into the cave not too long after they hid. Shadowleg sprung out and pounced the mother vixen, and bit it down on it’s throat, violating her flank with claws by clawing them deeply. Brisknose jumped onto its hide, raking his claws down her side. The fox cried out in a hall and rolled onto her side. Swiftly in just a second it bit Brisknose’s leg. For a second, Shadowleg smiled.

The gray tom yowled in pain as he slashed the vixen’s face. The vixen yowled in his ear and kept biting him. Shadowleg swatted it. Brisknose tore his leg out of the vixen’s mouth, and raked his claws on her throat. The fox slipped down, and began to weep in a pool of blood. Shadowleg did a death blow on her, ending her suffering. Blood splattered everywhere. Brisknose stood up and panted. His leg was bleeding and he fell onto the ground. Shadowleg grabbed him by the scruff, “I could kill you right now…” He whispered in a twisted, wicked joke. He began to drag him. His eyes widened. Brisknose jerked up and made a deep scratch in Shadowleg’s face. Shadowleg hissed but didn’t let go, he began to drag more harmfully across the jagged pebbles which in fact cut through Brisknose’s skin and pelt and into the entrance of the camp. He couldn’t struggle anymore as he was dragged into camp. Jasperwhisker quickly went to Shadowleg’s side.

“Shadowleg!” She made a disgusted face, “And Brisknose.” He was breathing heavily. “What.” “You look like a badger just clawed you.” The top of her head went under Shadowleg’s strong chin, “I’m being serious too.” “We killed a fox and her cubs. They’re back at her den. We would have brought them if this cat hadn't dragged me over here.” He signaled too Shadowleg. “You were injured!” He said in a charming manner. He smirked, “I was just making it easier for you to get here!” He grabbed his scruff and dragged him to Emearldspeck. He glanced up, “Jasperwhisker, pretty cat, get the fox stuff.” Jasperwhisker obeyed and he dropped Brisknose. Shadowleg looked down at Brisknose, “I could’ve let the foxes eat you.” He bluntly twitched his tail. He sat up and growled at the black tom. Shadowleg smirked and walked away, close to the nursery.

“Brisknose?” Mosspaw asked. “Yes?” He was keeping one eye on Shadowleg. “Let’s get you healed up… Then you can stare at him all you’d like.” He got the medicine and began to clear his wounds. “He’s sucking up to Jasperwhisker when he threatened to kill me.” “He’s just being silly.” Mosspaw dismissed. “Sure.” Mosspaw swiftly healed him up, “Now go tell Quartzfur if you're really serious…” Brisknose got up and stalked towards Quartzfur’s den. She was in a ball, grooming herself. “Quartzfur.” “Yes?” “It’s gotten worse.” He started to tell his leader about the fox and Shadowleg. Go again Quartzfur shot up, “I need to talk to him. Now.” She swiftly got up and into the heart of the clan. The gray tom followed, standing at the entrance of the Leader’s Den.

“SHADOWLEG!” Her mighty mew roared through the cave, echoing. Far away, a Fadedclan cat jumped in surprise. Quartzfur glared down as the black tom came, a charming smile on his face. “Oh Brisknose,” He looked at him, “Did you tell us about the vixen?” “Oh. I told her more than just the vixen.” “Yes.” Quartzfur turned and walked into her den, “Follow me. You to, Brisknose.” Shadowleg nodded and followed her into the den. Brisknose followed in after them, twitching his tail. “Shadowleg. What’s the meaning of this?” “I’m just being a good Clan member.” He scoffed. “A good Clan mate doesn’t threaten to kill the other.” “Correct. Shadowleg, I must exile you.” Quartzfur words slipped from her mouth. Briefly, a small spell of silence casted uncomfortably around them. “Oh really?” Shadowleg broke the silence, “What about your dearest Jasperwhisker?” Quartzfur whiskers trembled, as she glanced to Jasperwhisker tearing apart the fox hide with Shiningpaw.

“If you can’t act correctly, she’ll pay the damage too.” She glanced at Brisknose, her eyes full of uncertainty, “Is that best?” She licked her chest. Brisknose nodded. “Jasperwhisker is blind not to see his monstrosity.” Suddenly, in a jolt, she glared at Shadowleg, and gave her shoulder a confident lick, “Are you planning something with her?” Her voice was sharp with coolness. “What would we plan?” He hissed. “No cat can trust you to do anything.” “But Rubystar did.” Shadowleg’s comeback left Quafztstar to silence. For a moment, she was uncertain again. “Then Rubystar was a fool.” “Her judgment was poor,” Quartzfur added, with a nod. Suddenly, Shadowleg began to chuckle, “Do you really wish to know why she let me join Crystalclan?” His tail twitched, “She saw an omen.”

Brisknose’s ear twitched. “What was it?” He smirked, “You see, I hated Fadedclan - Their all fat cats who spend to much time with kittypets.” Willowdusk was listening to their conversation with Nightleg. “I swear.” She whispered to the black she-cat. “If he says one more bad thing about Fadedclan, I’ll rip his throat out!” Nighttail agreed in a silent murmur and a nod. “I was desperate to get out of the dirtplace… I spent my nights training in the darkness and living in the night… Rubystar thought I fit perfectly to an omen... “ His tail twitched, “The daughter of the leader, and cat of night may bring salvation or terror.” He smirked, “Maybe it wasn’t an omen. Maybe that’s her old brain messing her up.” He leaned back. Willowdusk couldn’t take it anymore. She ran into the den, and thonked Shadowleg on the head. “How can you say that about the Clan that fed you! Trained you! Made you who you are!”

“Feed me! You ate rabbit pellets for food!” He held her down, and bit down on her shoulder, “And I trained myself, under the light of the moon.” He growled and clawed her face. Horrified, Quartzfur turned to her deputy. “Get Mangledstar.”

Oof