Originally Posted by Lilly
(there is no one i would rather have bring an end to cricketpaw. thank you for doing it swiftly with little to no pain c,: XD)
The young feline tilted her head at his confusion - so obviously he wasn't Clanborn. She could've guessed that much, but to not know what medicine cats were? He didn't seem like part of the Syndicate either. They had healers similar to their medicine cats, didn't they? At least that's what she'd been told as a kit in the nursery. If she remembered that correctly. With all the recent stress that had clawed at her recently it was hard to sort out earlier memories of her life before being appointed as medicine cat apprentice. But this strange tom seemed to dwell in a state of victory. Maybe he had been looking for a medicine cat. She perked up a bit, adrenaline beginning to surge through her veins like fire. Perhaps this would be her first chance to truly help someone in need. Quickly, Cricketpaw did a once over of Hephaestus, studying his structure and pelt for any signs of physical injury. It didn't seem like there were any, and the Bengal furrowed her brow in thought.
As the next expression registered on his face, along with the flexing of his forepaws, was Cricketpaw's first indication that this was a little unusual. For the first time, she was able to study his stature, and saw that he was much bigger than she. At least twice her size, if not more. A brief moment of panic registered on her face, and the molly suddenly realized that she might be in a bit of a predicament if he turned out to be unfriendly. His mind seemed to be working behind an unreadable mask of slit eyes, blue orbs that felt like icy as they bore into Cricketpaw's own sapphire ones. Chills traveled from her ears to tail tip and she winced visibly, the fur on her neck rising just by a hair. "I-I mean no harm to you. I won't even tell Russetstar you were here," she stammered, shaking her head as she spoke, offering a shaky laugh as she tried to diffuse the tension that was sparkling in the air. Of course, she would tell her Russetstar. Not only was he the leader, but her father. He needed to know of this strange cat.
She fully expected his guard to come down, and for him to admit that he was just a rogue passing through. But as the Syndicate guard began to speak again, all the blood in the medicine cat apprentice's veins turned to ice. Hurt my Clan? Don't fight and it will end quicker? What is he talking about? she thought, a quizzical expression taking over her face. An instinctual fight or flight feeling suddenly overtook Cricketpaw and she found her claws unsheathing without warning. As she watched him take a step closer to her, voice rising in anger, she knew one hundred percent that this tom was not here on accident. The malice in his blue eyes told her that this was a methodical plan that was to be carried out. Before she could get another word out, Hephaestus landed his strike, with Cricketpaw rolling backwards.
A flash of pain struck her chest as the guard met his target, and the apprentice let out a startled yowl. Having received no battle training whatsoever, the young molly was completely unprepared to defend herself. Gasping for breath, she began to flail her claws, trying to land any blow she could to her attacker. "Stop! What are you doing?" she screeched, ears flat against her head. She drew one forepaw back and aimed it for Hephaestus's face, hoping it would land and at least stun him, thought her hopes for that were slim to none.
Despite the chaotic moment that was unfolding, everything was slowed down in Cricketpaw's mind. She felt the sudden unfolding of her destiny, and for some unknown reason, the image of Northpath and their conversation appeared in her mind. It was brief, and barely registered for more than a blip in time, but a certain thought settled at the back of Cricketpaw's mind:
These were her final moments, weren't they?
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