#aaaghh

W/o the wethered effect

Hoove'Star, accompanied with his deputy, Dupe'Eye, hissed at the stranger. The scent of blood overtook the air, he couldn't sniff out what clan they were from.

The cat slunk away into the tall grass, Dupe'Eye growled. "Do I go after them?" Hoove'Star shook his head, "I'll go" but immediately, she stopped him

"You don't have many lives left, I can't afford to let you lose anymore." she said firmly. "I'll be fine."

Hoove'Star nodded, but his expression showed deep worry. "Call out for me if anything goes wrong." he pressed. Dupe'Eye flicked her tail in approval, setting off to where the stranger was.

...

Dupe'Eye's fur raised, the sight was terrible. Two dead warriors lay in the moor, the third was Stone'Hoof. She had returned injured and confused. The only thing she could remember was where she was last. Here

She recognized the two warriors, Pale'Gaze and Barn'Fur. They were close to Hoove'Star, Pale'Gaze being his apprentice back then. Oh... he'll be heartbroken...! Dupe'Eye thought, dipping her head.

"Show yourself!" she snarled "Who ever did this, face me!"

The grass rustled, Dupe'Eye braced.

A tall, slender feline padded forward, face laced with horror. Yet her fur was flatter than a clearing. Red'Bargain of Lonely'Clan.

Dupe'Eye calmed, she'd heard a little about this cat, she could only hope she knew as the tom sounding she'cat spoke

"What a mess!" She exclaimed "Who could've done such atrocity! And so close to our borders!"

Dupe'Eye didn't take her eyes off of her "Did you see who did this?"

She put her paw to her face, "oh! If only you saw that cat limping off the scene! The perpetrator!"

Dupe'Eye glanced around, "What?"

"A traitor! Limping off after a bad deed! Luckily your cats put up a good fight. But in vain!"

Dupe'Eye, though confused, started to believe her, blinded by her simmering anger at the death of her clanmates. "Did you see where they went? Were they of Horse'Clan?"

Red'Bargain paused, paw to her chin. Her face twisted into one of terror "I believe it was!"

"Show me, now" She demanded, Red'Bargain immediately sprang up "Oh of course!"

She followed the she-cat not to far across the moor, hackles raised.

When Red'Bargain stopped, she beckoned her forward. "Deputies first" She purred. Dupe'Eye narrowed her eyes, but went forward anyways.

When she saw the cat, she froze, eyes scanning her. Her eyes widened as she craned her neck closer

".....Glare'Strike?" she didn't respond, she knew she wouldn't

wait...Dupe'Eye hissed, Glare'Strike was of Lonely'Clan! And so was Red'Bargain!

She backed away, that...that could only mean--

Before she could address this, she felt herself being weighed to the ground. Her eyes widened in fear as she gazed up at Red'Bargain... or at least... thats what she looked like. "You..." She paused, then, she yowled "Hoove'Star! Hoove-"

before she could finish her sentence, Red'Bargain sharply covered her mouth..

and something else spoke back

"Bring him here and I kill him" she snarled, Dupe'Eye froze, distraught.

It can't end like this, it can't! She thought, but what could she do!? She was going to die!

That is until, she spoke again, Red'Bargain this time.

"How about a strike you a deal!" She said, a bit too enthusiastically. Dupe'Eye nodded, at least, tried to, desperately. "I let you go, but you don't return to Horse'Clan! You run, run, run like a little rabbit and you don't return round' these parts.. ever! Can't have Hoove'Star knowing! Not yet..."

She was about to let go, before that voice spoke again

"If I see you again, you'll be crow'food."

She released Dupe'Eye, who sprinted off as fast as she could away from the border, tears in her eyes as she fled

Star'Clan forgive me!

--

Hoove'Stars ears twitched as he gazed off towards the moor. He hadn't heard from Dupe'Eye in hours. He sworn he heard something, but it must've been the call of a bird.

His ears pinned back, she would return soon, he hoped.

He turned towards the barn to return to the clan.

She never really did return.

--

I already hear the pitchforks oh noe