benitoite and velvetpreen didn't have to worry about their leader for long, for the albino had made her abrupt return while they were gone, returned back to normal.

twilight was giving way to the star-flecked, inky sky, and this time, diamond had sent velvetpreen to bring her her prey.

diamond took her time smelling the flowers on the hill- roses, irises, lavender, asphodel- truly, there was too much variety here for diamond to pass up. if only she could ever create a legacy so grand.

a snarl like a dog's found diamond's ears, and then it was proceeded by velvetpreen's yelp. it was time.

agateash could only stare blankly at the albino she-cat sinking out of the foliage, her eyes gleaming with evil intent.

"well, well, well, well, well!" diamond's face broke into a grin. "yes, you might have heard the story already- oh wait." diamond cocked her head. "no, no you haven't. the traitors took care of the cat i tried last time, correct?"

agateash blinked and backed away slowly. "the cat you... tried?"

"ooh, yes! unfortunately, that put me out of commission, but now i'm back~!" diamond bared her fangs and took quicker steps towards agateash, who kept backing off. "you should be glad that i chose you, darling! lustreclan would certainly be happier without you~"

"wh- h- what are you on? have you been gorging on catmint in this- this forest?"

"a garden, darling, where if your sorry little nose hadn't been too clogged with the fragrance of death, you'd realize that catmint doesn't grow here." diamond sat back on her haunches to examine her claws. "but i can understand why you don't visit here often. it's just a reminder of your impending doom~"

agateash glared at diamond while she stepped back towards the nearest plant- a deep violet wolfsbane bloom- and lifted a tarnished ivory shape with her jaws. diamond had to readjust the thing before it would stop slipping out of her mouth.

"tell me," diamond's muffled voice interrogated, "how would you react when faced headfirst with death?"

agateash looked at the ivory shape, its two gigantic holes on the sides, its... fangs... agateash's blood was flash-frozen, and his eyes darted to diamond's cruel face and back down. this thing that diamond had so casually picked up... was a skull?

diamond placed the skull on the ground and gazed coyly up at her victim.

"here in the garden, let's play a game..." diamond prowled closer... and then she smiled. "that's what i'm after. your fear, the terror in your eyes... the sound of your heart racing to its end..."

"what are you waiting for? did you forget how to be a warrior?" diamond cooed. "but then, you surrendered that title the moment you joined the traitors."

diamond surged forwards, and agateash leapt backwards, bracing himself for diamond's next move. his gaze flitted wherever diamond went; the albino she-cat's movements never seemed to stop.

agateash pounced, head outstretched for a bite, but when his jaws clamped the air a whisker-width away from diamond's stomach, the she-cat did not flinch. instead, she struck a blow on the tom's skull, instantly killing him.

"i'd forgotten how exhilarating killing can be," diamond breathed. her gaze overflowed with wonder, and a smile, this time somewhat childish, returned to her face.

"i'd love to do that again!"

***

"you... i suspect you."

the shaman loomed over a cat who was curled up in their nest. the nest of moss and twigs looked neat, too neat. the cat in the nest made no reply, their breathing slow and regular- but their scent of nervousness gave them away.

"don't act like you can't hear me. it only makes you more suspicious."

the shaman hooked a delicate yew berry on their claw. "last chance to confess."

nothing happened.

the shaman wrenched the cat's jaws open and pushed the berry down their throat. the cat's eyes flared open, choking, but the shaman clamped their jaw shut with their paws, forcing them to swallow, forcing them to ingest the deathberry that would end their life.

"don't come crying to me in my dreams if you were innocent." the shaman's eyes flickered shut for a moment. "i bear no allegiance to either side of this war."

the shaman turned to leave, neglecting to take even one more glance at their victim, but two shadows stood in their way, snarling. the traitors lunged, tearing away at the shaman with a vengeance...

as the traitors' victim lay there, they saw more shadows streak towards them before they blacked out.

━━

agateash has been killed in diamond's game. he was the loner.

melanterite has been killed by the shaman. he was the traitor lookout.

lapisdream was killed for inactivity. they were the deputy.

━━

diamond's activity check

benitoite's discussion

velvetpreen's riddle

triumvirate's voting [ 6 / 6 ]