(Golden's POV)

Golden stood, tense, beside the commoner's den as she watched the terse stand off, and halfheartedly hoped it would end without coming to claws, teeth and blood. The fur on her neck stood up when she heard that mangy she-cat mention Lilacfern's name. She had already murdered darling Acornkit. Golden would not allow her to take the life of another. She felt Lilacfern trembling violently behind her. Golden entwined her tail with the heir's, hoping it would offer silent words of consolidation.

"If you want her, you'll need to get past me first," Golden heard her own voice snarl, much to the shock of herself and the clan.

Venom only cooly slunk towards her and purred softly, voice dangerous,

"That's not a wise choice, commoner."

Golden only stood taller and lifted her chin,

"I've been defined by those words for my entire life. They shall not, and will not, define me from this moment onwards."

Golden internally flinched as Venom sniffed, false sorrow pouring from her face,

"Such wise words. But what if I choose to define you by those words, commoner?"

Venom's claws unsheathed and she smiled, her grin growing wider, and to Golden, was so unnatural that it seemed almost...maniacal.

"You're insane, Applekit," Golden gasped slightly.

"I know," Venom licked her muzzle, "I'm too insane to explain. You're too simple to understand."

Golden's heart thumped erratically in her chest but kept her voice even as she retorted,

"Are you going to fight me or shall we move this conversation to somewhere private?"

Venom only stretched as she meowed,

"Remember, little kitty, I don't play by the ordinary rules. One scratch or bite from me, and that's game over for you."

Golden bunched her muscles together as she crouched lower,

"I know."

Lilacfern pushed past her and stood in front of Venom,

"This is between you and me, sis. Not Golden. Leave her out of this."

Venom tilted her head to the side, eyes glinting,

"True that. But what's the difference between one more death if I already have red in my ledger?"

Venom stalked closer, less than a whisker's length away from Lilacfern and Golden. It was almost as though she could see the spite brimming in Venom's eyes.

"Last warning," Venom snarled.

Golden's pelt spiked up as she replied,

"My answer is still no."

With that, her legs were whipped out from under her and Venom pinned her down, foreclaws unsheathed, poised delicately on her throat, utter fury and rage unleashed from inside.

"I've told you, sister. This is my fight. Not hers," Lilacfern growled.

Venom sidestepped away from Golden and paced around Lilac.

"Very well," she meowed, licking her muzzle, "your wish will be fulfilled."

Golden watched as Venom leaped, and twisted mid-air to avoid Lilacfern's claws and landed on Lilac's back. Claws fully unsheathed, she ran them down Lilacfern's back, turned around and latched her teeth into the heir's neck, before gracefully jumping backwards. The venom must've taken effect almost immediately, for Lilacfern had already collapsed, eyes glazed over, chest rising and falling rapidly.

"One down, one to go," Venom snickered, the crimson blood glittering ominously on her claws.

It was at that moment when Golden collapsed, getting a faceful of dirt. She groaned inwardly as she mewed, to perhaps both herself and Lilacfern,

"Get up, please, get up."

Her legs couldn't fail her. Not now.

A fierce cry emerged from Brackenstar, momentarily distracting Venom, allowing Golden to drag herself away, claws scrabbling on the ground.

"You promised you'd leave her alone!" he wailed, hunched over his mate's limp, lifeless body.

Golden flinched, externally this time as Venom broke into a fit of laughter, and when she finally came to, giggled,

"Dear father, haven't you learnt yet? Promises are solely made to be broken, nothing more. Only fools keep them."

Golden watched as Venom turned, eyes boring into hers, meowing in a sing-song voice,

"Now, with that sorted. Where's our little tattletail, come out, come out."

Golden only had time to blink before Venom lunged forwards, slicing her claws across her right hind leg. The pain was blinding. For several seconds, the vision in front of her was blurry. She cried out, hoping to escape, only falling into an even deeper void below.