snakestrike

~~~

SNAKESTRIKE QUICKLY organized patrols, sending them out to ThunderClan and WindClan's borders to check for the rogues as Ivorystar made her way into the medicine den to be fixed up. A very somber Mintberry had followed her. Snakestrike didn't understand why; despite how mean it might sound, he felt very little grief toward Clearfrost's death. She'd gotten what she deserved in his opinion.

It's simply karma.

After the patrols, Snakestrike posted two guards, promising them easy patrols the next day for sitting out in the rain. He dismissed all the other cats back to bed and finally padded over to the medicine den to check on Ivorystar.

Poor Ivorystar, he thought, slipping into the cave. Her eye. He shuddered; Snakestrike could only imagine the pain. Ivorystar must've fought very bravely.

Snakestrike had a strong hatred for the medicine den. The herb scent disgusted him more than anything, and everything reminded him of Clearfrost and her negligence, but to mention the hours he'd spent in here as a kit sorting herbs, being punished for causing trouble around camp. Just bad memories all around.

"Ivorystar's not here."

Mintberry's voice startled him, and Snakestrike had to force himself not to jump. Looking around the empty patient area, he replied flatly, "Yes, I can see that."

"She's back in her den," the gray tabby continued, her voice wavering. "She should probably rest up due to the wounds, but if you want to speak to her about these... rogues"- she spat the last word out -"just be quick about it."

Snakestrike shook his head. "No, I just wanted to check up on her. Make sure she's alright."

"Right, of course, it's what a good deputy does," Mintberry replied emptily, sitting down and staring out into the rainstorm. Snakestrike had a feeling this was one of the rare times she's being vulnerable and genuine with him. "Poor Clearfrost."

Snakestrike's ears folded onto his head, any thoughts of gentleness and comforting his sister thrown out the cave. "Poor Clearfrost?" he all but snapped. "She got what she deserved."

Mintberry's eyes sharpened, and her guard was back up again, all vulnerability gone. "And what in StarClan's name would she have done to deserve this? Being murdered brutally?" 

"She's a foxhearted cat," Snakestrike snarled. "She never shows a single sliver of grief for our dead Clanmates, why should we mourn her?"

"That's how she operates, Snakestrike, she separates feelings from her work," Mintberry defended angrily.

Snakestrike lashed his tail. "Well she's great at that, isn't she?"

The gray tabby's pelt started to bristle. "You still haven't answered my question," she pointed out angrily, "what did Clearfrost do, in your opinion, to deserve this?"

Snakestrike hesitated. If bad-mouthing Clearfrost had gotten him into a full blown argument with Viperfoot, what would it do with him and Mintberry's already rocky relationship?

"Ivorystar says Clearfrost tries to undermine her a lot," he meowed. "She tries to challenge Ivorystar's orders all the time."

"So what?" Mintberry scoffed. "That's why there's a medicine cat and deputy, to offer the leader different opinions."

"Well according to the code, 'the word of the Clan leader is the Warrior Code'," Snakestrike quoted. "Clearfrost isn't bringing up these new ideas to try and help Ivorystar, she's trying to dethrone her and become the leader herself."

Mintberry rolled her eyes. "And that's what Ivorystar's told you?"

Snakestrike frowned. "Yes, but so what?" 

"Just tell me this," Mintberry mewed, "has Ivorystar told you the prophecy yet?"

Snakestrike's fur prickled uncomfortably. "No, but I bet Clearfrost hasn't told you either. I'm sure Ivorystar will fill me in someday, I just need to prove myself. And until that time comes, I trust her."

"Right," Mintberry replied coldly. "You keep trusting her, see where that gets you." She lashed her tail. "Now get out of the den. I'm tired." 

"Me too, I was just leaving," Snakestrike retorted childishly. He whipped around furiously and stormed out, rain soaking his pelt immediately. As he climbed into his new nest (he'd been promoted into a better one since becoming deputy), he knew as well as Mintberry that neither of them were getting a wink of sleep that night.

~~~

THE NEXT MORNING, after seeing the dawn patrols out, Snakestrike paid a visit to Ivorystar. He brought her a pigeon, dry due to being at the bottom of the pile, tucked away from the rain. He was pleasantly surprised to find Ivorystar already awake, staring blankly into the distance.

"Snakestrike." Ivorystar's eyes refocused as she recognized her deputy's presence. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Snakestrike dropped the pigeon by Ivorystar's paws. "I hope you slept well?"

"As well as I can with these," Ivorystar meowed good-humoredly, gesturing to her fur laden with poultice and cobwebs, "Mintberry wouldn't give me any poppy seeds for the pain. I think she's angry I didn't manage to save Clearfrost from the rogues."

Snakestrike groaned in embarrassment. Why was Mintberry always so ruled by her emotions? "I'm sorry- about her- I'll- I'll talk to her."

Ivorystar's whiskers twitched with amusement. "No need, she's simply grieving. As am I." She was staring blankly again. "I really don't know how to live without my sister."

Snakestrike was pretty sure he could live fine without his, but it didn't seem like the appropriate time to rant about Mintberry. Or Clearfrost, for that matter. "Of course, I'll always be grateful to Clearfrost for taking us in." He practically had to grit the words out.

"Hmm," Ivorystar hummed, turning her muzzle to face Snakestrike, her one working eye beaming at him. "So, is there something you wanted to talk about, or are you just here to bring me this meal?"

Snakestrike sat up taller. Not sleeping last night meant a lot of thinking. Primarily, about the war. "Well, I believe that we should attack. Have some offense instead of sitting here and waiting for RiverClan to make a move."

Ivorystar nodded. "And I suppose you've already planned this attack out?"

"We don't share any borders with RiverClan, plus they're on their own island," Snakestrike meowed. "Launching a direct attack on their camp would be suicide and practically impossible. WindClan, however, we can take."

Ivorystar indicated for him to continue as she took a bite out of the pigeon.

"As far as I can see, Swiftstar's been following Rainstar's orders. He's let her take over his territory, basically, and use WindClan's border to attack us. He's never really been the brain of these attack patrols, plus since the war's between RiverClan and us, he won't expect an attack on his camp.

"We'll have separate attack patrols, and rotate them out," Snakestrike proposed. "That way, a fresh batch of cats can fight while the wounded get taken care of."

Ivorystar tilted her head in consideration. "And what's to stop WindClan from calling out for help?"

"RiverClan's a mess without Splashfoot," Snakestrike mewed. "They must be. I mean, Rainstar promised war, and since her deputy's death, there's been nothing. I doubt they'll help WindClan much, but it doesn't matter, since WindClan will never reach them. Until they lose, that is.

"We'll block off their paths to RiverClan's camp. I'll lead that patrol myself, make sure no messenger gets past me. WindClan will have to surrender eventually if we keep rotating out the patrols, and when they're driven out of camp, they'll go to RiverClan."

It was scary, almost, how the downfall of his enemy came so easily to his mind.

"RiverClan's already struggling, and to welcome a large group of cats who aren't accustomed to the water territory, extra mouths that can't hunt - well, I doubt they'll last long."

Ivorystar finished off the pigeon. "Good plan."

Snakestrike brightened. "You think?"

"Yes, I do," Ivorystar mewed. "In fact, you can organize the whole thing. You lead the attack."

Snakestrike's tail-tip twitched, startled. "W- what?"

"It's your idea, you organize it," Ivorystar pressed. "Our Clanmates are already doubting you, Snakestrike. It's time to prove yourself, don't you think?"

Snakestrike nodded slowly. "Yes, Ivorystar, I'll get right on it."

As the ShadowClan leader hummed in acknowledgment, dismissing him, Snakestrike knew what this was. A test. A test that Ivorystar had set out. If he failed, all the blame would be on him, and their Clanmates would demand his stepping down. But if he won, Ivorystar, too, would share the glory.

The leader was testing him. What would he be willing to do to prove himself?

And, well, that answer was easy.

Snakestrike shook out his pelt, walking out into the camp's clearing. This plan had to go well, no matter the cost.

He was willing to kill.