What You Deserve (CLOSED)

It had been a long time coming. Ever since the beginning, Spottedpaw had been a problem. The other clan cats had been too petrified by the rogue leader to speak out. However, the young Thunderclan apprentice had challenged Bear from the start. For a long time, he had wanted to simply rip her throat out and be done with things. But the group would have probably not have taken well. Besides, Bear preferred to use rather than waste resources. For a long time, he had not known what to do with her. That was until Wolffang gave him an idea. The she-cat spoke of a gathering that happened every full moon. Apparently, for one night every month, all of the clan cats would meet at the great oaks. He couldn't remember what his mate had called it, but he knew the place she spoke of. There, he had fought three clan cats. His claws scraped at the barn floor as he remembered it.

The tom shook his head to focus on what was about to happen. With so many young kits in the barn, the night ended earlier than most. All around, the sleeping forms of cats rose and fell quietly. His gaze landed on the small she-cat that was his target. Silently, Bear made his way down from his high perch. His pawsteps were quiet as he stalked across the forest floor. For a moment, Bear looked down at her frame. Spottedpaw would have been a great addition if she had ever begun to listen to him. Thankfully, the she-cat had chosen a nest not far from the entrance. With a brief glance around, he realized with satisfaction that no cat would notice. This would be easy. Swiftly, Bear lunged forwards, lodging his teeth in her soft neck. His sharp fang sliced through the skin easily. It wouldn't kill her, though. No, this would only serve to cut off any attempts at speech.

"Say a word and your life is over," he hissed to the apprentice. Even if she attempted to speak, it'd be futile. Bear dragged her from the nest and out of the barn entrance. Once outside, he spat her to the ground. The rugged tomcat towered over her with a snarl rising in his throat. Moons of anger were built up in the rogue leader. Spottedpaw would not get off easy. Before the bewildered she-cat could speak, Bear was on her. He had dragged her far enough away from their camp to not be heard. His claws ripped into her fur, tearing and pulling out tufts of hair. The vicious rogue's attack left long streaks of red welling up through her fur. Relentlessly, he tore into her for a few moments. When Bear finally stopped, it was evident the younger cat was on the brink of death. Perfect, He though with a dark grin.

"You're going home," He broke through the silence. The words were dry and he laughed harshly afterwards. The blood stained the ground and his paws. Bear stepped away. They were close enough to fourtrees that the severely maimed apprentice would be able to drag herself there. Going home would not be an option. Instead, she would be a message to the clans. Bear was here to stay, "Now go and join your clan at the gathering!" The tom snarled, snapping at her hindlegs.

Spottedpaw

Pain seized her around her throat. She opened her jaws to scream but the only sounds that escaped her was a gurgle. Then the scent hit her, one she feared and loathed. Bear! He's come for me! She thought trying again to gasp and speak at the same time. His words surrounded her, reaching in and tearing into her heart like an icy claw. "Say a word and your life is over," She couldn't speak even if she'd wanted to, she could feel the blood trickling down her neck from the place where his fang had punctured her skin. He's going to kill me. This is it... she thought and a despair so deep washed over her causing her to goi limp as he dragged her from the barn.

Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could feel it. She felt as if it were betraying her, trying to race, to accomplish as many beats allotted for an entire lifetime. She wasn't going to have a whole life time. It was beating too fast her chest was going to explode from the pain of her heart and his teeth in her neck. She could barely stand it. Then it was over, he released her. She shuddered and crouched, her body shaking and her eyes closed. Her ears flat back against her head and fear scent rolling off her in waves. She dug her claws into the ground the silence stretching out between them like a chasm. I wish he would just kill me! this waiting is so much worse! She thought another painful, fearful shudder racking her body.

It was at that moment she realized she wasn't hurt that badly. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, anger beginning to replace the fear she felt. She was a Thunderclan apprentice. Sure she hadn't had much training, but she had pride. She would not die with her belly on the ground grovelling for her life. She would stand and take meet his claws with her own. His teeth with her teeth. Perhaps she would take some of his fur to Starclan with her. She rose shakily to her paws fierce fire smoldering in her eyes. She took a shaky breath, the pain in her throat erupting anew and glanced up at the sky surprised to see the full moon sitting just above the tree tops. The Gathering. She thought dropping her gaze back to where Bear had been.

She'd made a terrible mistake. One only an apprentice could have made. Only an apprentice who had not had any formal battle training but rather had gone out on her own, thinking her new name would be enough. A cocky and mouse brained apprentice she had been. In taking her eyes off of Bear to look at the moon she'd given him ample opportunity to attack her. When her eyes returned to where Bear had been confusion flared in her heart as his form was gone. That confusion quickly turned to fear and panic as he landed on top of her. She rolled trying to escape and only succeeded in offering him her vulnerable underbelly. Claws and teeth tearing flesh and muscle. she screeched in pain and fear her eyes watering. She batted and bit wildly, unsure if she ever even connected. The pain was so great, every part of her was on fire. Every part he touched burned with such painful intensity. She was losing so much blood, blackness was creeping into her vision. The weight of him, the scent of her own blood, the terrible terrible scent of him suffocated her. She gasped for air as he clawed and tore at her. She hissed and spat but to no avail. Exhaustion and pain overcame her and she wished for death, wished for him to kill her because the pain was too much.

Tears streamed down her face but no sound came from her tiny maw. She scrabbled wildly at the ground trying to get away but she couldn't move under the weight of the larger tom. Then it was over. He was off of her and speaking. The words floated around her head and she struggled to understand, struggled to believe she was still alive. A deep gash above her right eye concealed half of the world with a steady stream of blood. Her sides ached where deep gashes ran down both sides. Her underbelly was bald and open, seeping blood onto the cold ground.

"You're going home," The words sunk in, finally she understood and a clarity filled her a hopefull clarity, that he was going to finish what he'd started. Kill her for her insolence. "To Starclan." was what she tried to say, but the only thing that came out was a raspy gurgle. She coughed blood filling her mouth. She spat the blood out aiming for his face, but again he was faster than she. Already he was nipping at her heels, forcing her too her feet. Pain seared down her legs, through her sides, all over. She staggared toward the direction he drove her and his words sunk in "Now go and join your clan at the gathering!" He was letting her live. She was going to the gathering. She was alive! this filled her will adrenaline. And pain ebbed in her paws. The blood still flowed freely, and she could do barely more than drag herself toward 4 trees, but she did it. She moved. One paw in front of the other. Behind her lay a zigzag pattern of blood. So much blood for such a small cat. She may not make it to the gathering. I'll die before I get there. she thought pathetically, but pride and determination steeled her. I mustn't. I will NOT give him the satisfaction of watching me die. Not like this.

She'd never been to a gathering but she'd heard enough stories to know what she was looking for. She could scent nothing over the scent of her own blood and fear, but she trudged on hoping Bear was driving her in the right direction. paw step by paw step she made her way toward Fourtrees.