A passing of Sedges. (Closed)

An unseasonally cold breeze nipped at Sedgestrike's silver pelt. The tom barely felt it as he leapt from one tree to another with his mind lingering on the events he was running from. His attack on Tinystar... on his own daughter. His claws ripped deep into the bark of a tree as he yowled and slashed at it with all his strength. Feeling satisfaction in the way it split from his claws. He panted heavily, a soft drop of rain tapped him on the head once, then twice. Sedgestrike turned his green eyes to the sky in time to welcome the rain that had decided to fall.

It was appropriate. He looked down at his silver paws with sadness. Their well-groomed perfection now covered in mud and blood from the fights and rain. Fights he should never have had... his heart clenched to think of Sparrowpaw. Mintwhisker was right.

He was a monster.

Sedgestrike could practically see the Sedgestrike from his dreams. The one that warned him, guided him... his conscience that he had let down. When he woke, he wondered if he would enter the dark forest, or would he be allowed to live another dawn? His gaze was drawn to the edge of the large branch he rested on. From it, he could see the world unfold before him. Rippedsky had taken him here once. Had taught him lessons and guided him... and yet every lesson seemed to be forgotten. Here, it was easy to imagine the black and white tom back at camp waiting for him. It was easy to believe that nothing had changed.

Like the world hadn't been ripped out by his own paws. As though he hadn't had a claw in ripping away his own future and hopes... his dreams... ones that would never be realised.

The sky was murky, shot through with the blood-red of the setting sun. The clouds had gathered quickly as Sedgestrike left, swollen with rain. It seemed fitting that the raindrops would begin to fall the moment the young she-cat crept out of camp; it was as if nature herself was trying to aid her in her endeavor, providing the she-cat with a disguise. She couldn't let him catch sight of her before she struck, or he would end up fighting back. She had only the experience of an apprentice, after all, and she was no match against him out in the open. The Skyclanner flicked her tail as she ran, following Sedgestrike's tracks through the mud. She was right, she was good, she was making the right choice. Those three thoughts drummed themselves into Mintwhisker's mind as she pushed through the sheets of rain. Killing Sedgestrike was the only way to protect her clan. To protect Sparrowpaw. The taupe she-cat gritted her teeth and pushed on, her murky green eyes dull.

What had started as just a few drops had grown into a full-blown storm by the time Mintwhisker lost Sedgestrike's tracks. Her steps faltered, then stopped. She turned to look for the tracks, but what little trail she had been able to follow had either been completely washed away by the rain or simply ended. She let out a yowl of frustration, turning to stalk back to camp only to return after a few paces, her temper only rising. It just disappeared! How... how had he done it? Blinded by anger, Mintwhisker sniffed around fruitlessly. This wasn't fair. This wasn't right. With another snarl, she turned and pummeled the nearest thing- a tree -angrily. Of course, this got the young Medicine Cat nowhere, and all she managed to do was twist her paw painfully. Grunting, she stepped back, breathing heavily. This would solve nothing. No tracks, no Sedgestrike. Mintwhisker turned to leave once more, her tail lashing the ground.

At that exact moment, the rain dulled just enough to allow a series of creaking branches from above reach Mintwhisker's keep ears. Immediately, she leapt aside and into the undergrowth, her large ears swiveling. Of course! How could she be so stupid? He had been above her the entire time, hidden safely in the trees. With a grin, the she-cat lifted her head towards the sky as the rain began to roar again. She squinted, scanning the treetops for a moment before a flash of movement caught her gaze. Sedgestrike. With a soft hiss of triumph, Mintwhisker raced towards the tree he was perched in, careful to approach from behind him. Her eyes narrowed as she saw how the tree's trunk was marred with scratches. She had to be wary; Sedgestrike was dangerous.
With a faint grunt, the Medicine Cat scaled the tree, adrenaline and anger fueling her desperate climb. Sedgestrike was right there. Despite the thundering of raindrops on her pelt, Mintwhisker imagined she could hear him, just on the other side of the trunk. Justice, safety, peace. It was all so close.

With a giddy grin, Mintwhisker maneuvered her way around the trunk. So close...
And then she was there, standing lightly on the branch where Sedgestrike was perched. It was perfect, just perfect. Sedgestrike would die the way Tinystar had. Without a sound, Mintwhisker crept along the branch until she was almost directly behind the tom. She lowered her muzzle to his ear, everything she had longed to say to him burning in her chest.
"Say hello to Rippedstar for me on your way down."
Sedgestrike turned in time to meet Mintwhisker's eyes one last time before she pushed him. The way he fell was picturesque; his paws outstretched, his maw opening in a silent yowl. Mintwhisker watched him fall, a wave of relief washing over her. He couldn't hurt anyone ever again. Skyclan, Riverclan... everyone was safe from him now.

His green eyes fell upon the gloomy landscape. Ignoring the cold wind as it swept through him, claws tightening on the bark instinctually... though he thought about just letting go. Just falling, ending it all. In the midst of his anger, he couldn't help seeing that as the easiest solution. Yet... a low growl crawled from his throat. Why should he? His ears flattened as he regarded the world below with slitted eyes. None of this was right. SkyClan following a pathetic little cat like that. His own daughter rejected him. The medicine cat was a pathetic coward. A snarl rose to his lips.

"Rippedstar, when you left this clan went to dung." He snarled bitterly into the wind. "It's okay, I'll make it Right." Thoughts of how to correct the problem leapt into his brain in a rush. All he had to do, was become the leader and properly put the clan in order. They needed discipline. They needed strength. Not the pathetic weakness they currently had. That thought in mind, he nearly turned as a voice met his ears and rushed all thoughts from his mind.

He turned towards Mintwhisker.
"Mintbr-" The name died on his lips as he felt the shove, the sudden release of his claws from the bark and the distinct, terrifying feeling, of there being nothing beneath him.

There was no snow to catch his fall. Not this time. It wasn't Rippedsky waking him for patrol... but oddly, it felt like it for a brief moment. For all of a second, he thought he saw Rippedstar on that branch. Reaching out, but a second and a sickening crack later, there was nothing.

Only the limp body of a once proud silver-pelted warrior, that could have once, been great.