viperfoot

~~~

THE SUN WAS SETTING, and Viperfoot and Snakestrike still weren't talking. Frozenpaw was concerned when Viperfoot turned down the offer to share a pigeon with her and Snakestrike.

"But you're not allowed to eat durning the vigil, and without sleeping, you'll get hungry," she reasoned. "You don't want to start guarding without something in your stomach."

"I'll eat something, don't worry," Viperfoot assured, "I'm just not hungry now." He tried for a comforting smile. "Go enjoy the pigeon."

It was officially nightfall now, and cats were beginning to climb into their respective dens as Viperfoot and Snakestrike headed for the camp entrance. Still angry, Snakestrike made a point of turning his back to Viperfoot, facing away from him.

"We'll come release you two in the morning," Sandstrike meowed as he padded over with Foxstorm. "You're not allowed to sleep, talk, or eat, but if needed, you can go get a drink."

After they left, a few cats still remained in the clearing. Mostly mates, sharing tongues sleepily before going to their nests. To Viperfoot's surprise, Mistyfrost, a queen who'd recently given birth, allowed her kits, Whitekit and Dewkit, to toss around a moss ball. He'd never seen the kits out of the nursery after sunset, as the gray-and-white queen was quite strict about bedtimes.

The most prominent cats left would be Ivorystar and Waspstrike. The ShadowClan leader made a move to leave for her nest, but her deputy stopped her. "Ivorystar, can I talk to you, please?"

Ivorystar froze, like a kit caught sneaking out of camp, but when she spoke, her voice was even. "Not right now, Waspstrike. I'm tired. Tomorrow."

"You keep saying that," the yellow tom pointed out, "and then keep assigning me things to do the next day. You're trying to put off the conversation."

"I'm not trying to put off the conversation," Ivorystar snapped. "It's a lot of work to rebuild a camp after an attack, there simply hasn't been a spare moment."

Waspstrike shook out his pelt. "As your deputy, I'm supposed to assist you with the whole war and attack. This is simply a conversation about that. We need to talk about Splashfoot. I have some concerns for the future of ShadowClan."

Ivorystar's ears pressed to the back of her head. "Keep your voice down," she hissed, but there was no need. Everyone else was immersed in their activities, slowly retreating to their nests, and Snakestrike was watching Frozenpaw with a longing gaze as the white apprentice murmured softly to Sweetpaw before they padded into the apprentices den.

Nobody was really paying attention. Well, except Viperfoot.

"Can we talk?" Waspstrike pressed again.

"Fine. Let's go into the forest." Ivorystar started forward in a now empty clearing, stopped only by her deputy's confused look. "In case they hear." She angled her ears at Viperfoot and Snakestrike.

Waspstrike followed her without a second thought, and the two were gone.

Now the clearing was completely empty. Left in silence, it didn't take Viperfoot to grow bored quickly, not to mention his raging curiosity about whatever Ivorystar and Waspstrike were talking about. If it was about Splashfoot, it meant the war, and maybe the Great Secret. 

He glanced at Snakestrike. His brother still wasn't looking his way. Viperfoot pushed himself to his paws, and took a tentative step forward.

He wasn't breaking any rules, he tried to convince himself. He won't speak, or fall asleep, or eat anything. Sandstrike hadn't mentioned anything about staying still. Plus, he could simply be searching for water in the woods, and happen to stumble upon Ivorystar and Waspstrike. He was allowed to drink during his vigil.

So, with that flawless logic, Viperfoot set off.

If Snakestrike saw him, he didn't make any moves to try and stop his brother.

He found Ivorystar and Waspstrike's scent trail easily. It seemed the only thing he was good at was tracking scents. He followed it along to the direction of the Thunderpath, and as he grew nearer, he could hear voices raising, the leader and deputy obviously engaged in an argument.

"I did what I had to do, Waspstrike!" Ivorystar's voice snapped. Viperfoot shifted under a bush, ensuring that he was hidden yet still having a clear view of the scene.

"Kill Splashfoot? You had to kill Splashfoot?" Waspstrike was making an effort to keep his voice even, though Viperfoot could tell a growl was beginning to develop. "I saw it with my own eyes, Ivorystar, you knocked him on the ground then snapped his neck. You killing him wasn't necessary for self defense, you'd already defeated him."

Ivorystar flicked her tail, dismissing her deputy's words. "You don't understand, Waspstrike. You don't know the full story."

"Then tell me," Waspstrike demanded. "Tell me the 'full story'. Tell me the prophecy. Show me how there's some hidden, positive goodness to this, because all I'm seeing is an unnecessary war that's ending so many lives!"

"Waspstrike!" Ivorystar's eyes flashed. "You don't have the right-"

"I'm your deputy," Waspstrike pressed. "I'm supposed to be advising you! But how can I advise you if you don't tell me the prophecy? Who else would have more of a right to know?"

"It's between me and Rainstar," Ivorystar mewed firmly. "Keep out of this." She turned, about to pad out of the clearing, when the yellow tom called her back.

"I don't know if I can trust you as a leader anymore."

Ivorystar stopped, spinning around. "Excuse me?"

"You're keeping all the power, and knowledge, to yourself! Don't you realize how dangerous it is to not have a second opinion? You should clearly be able to see the negative effects with the war you've created!"

Ivorystar growled. "The war I created?"

"Yes! If you'd told me the prophecy, then maybe we could've worked something out with Rainstar peacefully." Waspstrike's eyes blazed. "But no, I didn't even know such a thing existed until last night!"

Ivorystar lashed her tail. "I'm just doing the best for ShadowClan."

"Well I have ShadowClan's interests at heart, too!" Waspstrike meowed. "All I'm saying is, it's scary to have a leader make all the decisions herself. Especially since she's proved to be rather rash, with killing Splashfoot and all."

The ShadowClan leader's ears flicked. "I don't know what you want from this conversation, Waspstrike," she mewed coldly. "I'm going back to camp, I'm tired."

Again, her deputy's voice stopped her just as she turned. "How would our Clanmates feel about this?"

Ivorystar froze, facing the yellow tom again. "What?"

"How would our Clanmates feel knowing that their leader's refusing to share the power? That she's making all these decisions without a second opinion, that their deputy's kept in the dark. That we're losing lives unnecessarily." Waspstrike's snarling now, each word getting louder.

"Waspstrike-"

"I bet they'd want a new leader. I bet when I become leader, Clearfrost would be happy to tell me the prophecy. I've heard your arguments, she wants to share it with everyone. You're the one that wants to keep it private."

Ivorystar's eyes hardened. "Look who's the power hungry one now."

Waspstrike shook his head. "I'm not being power hungry. This is the real wanting to do what's best for ShadowClan, not whatever version you've made up in your mind."

"Is that so?" the ShadowClan leader mewed icily.

"Yes. And it's going to happen today." Waspstrike trotted past her, his tail held high in the air, looking straight ahead of him.

So of course, he didn't see the sinister look spreading on Ivorystar's face as she stared after him.

It happened so quickly Viperfoot didn't even register it. One moment, Ivorystar was standing there, glaring at her deputy, and in the next, she was on top of him, scratching out his guts. Waspstrike yowled in pain, but it seemed Ivorystar was much more talented at combat than he was. Moments later, he was dead.

Horrified, Viperfoot watched in silence (he didn't think he could speak even if he was allowed to) as Ivorystar climbed off her deputy's bloody body. She didn't seem fazed. A breeze blew past as that happened, and though Viperfoot paid it no close attention, the ShadowClan leader suddenly burst into a high, maniacal laughter, staring up at the sky.

"'The wind is coming', is that right?" Ivorystar shrilled. "You're such a hypocrite, Berryfern!"

The only thing that followed was a stronger gust, which made Ivorystar shout some other things up at the stars.

She's crazy, Viperfoot thought, frozen in place. So many things were happening, he couldn't keep track of them all. His deputy's death had been a shock in its own, added with Ivorystar's newfound insanity and an unfamiliar name, 'Berryfern', which she kept shouting. 

A new thought occurred to him as he watched Ivorystar roll Waspstrike's body onto the Thunderpath, spreading the blood on the black ground. He'd have to tell someone, but who? Who would believe him? 

Snakestrike? No, they were in an argument right now.

Frozenpaw? That seemed like a good idea at first, until Viperfoot remembered Frozenpaw and Ivorystar were sisters. Plus, whoever he shares this with might put them in danger. Ivorystar's clearly proved herself as a willing killer, he didn't want Frozenpaw to get hurt.

Not to mention, the end result would be Ivorystar's word against his. Nobody would believe him, he'd be seen as a lunatic.

Viperfoot shivered. He'd have to keep this to himself.

~~~

hi guys!! sorry for such a long chapter!

i just want to address something really quick - i haven't read the warriors series in a long time, and i can't completely remember if new warriors are allowed to move or not during their vigil. all i could find was that they were allowed to get water, though viperfoot definitely broke a rule with leaving camp, as he's supposed to be guarding it.

but other than that, let me know if something's horribly inaccurate! thanks for reading!

~ lily