A Villain's Past - WARRIORS

Chapter 8

"Whoops," DarkTalon said as he shook off some debris, casting a cautious glance in my direction. I responded by rolling my eyes and gracefully getting up on all fours. "Now, come on. And try to stay quiet," I sighed, as I made my way into the dense woodland. Carefully maneuvering around the rocks and zigzagging through the trees, I could sense DarkTalon's curiosity. "So, where are we going?" he asked, wrinkling his nose. 

"Somewhere," I replied cryptically. "But where exactly is that somewhere?" he pressed. "It's just somewhere," I repeated, feeling a tinge of annoyance. "Somewhere isn't an answer!" he groaned. "Maybe you need to work on your attention span. It's not that far," I complained, feeling increasingly irked as he nudged against my side. "Come on, tell me," he pleaded in an annoyingly persistent tone.

"No, it's either you shut it or I'm going to shove that rock down your throat," I gestured my muzzle toward the rock lying in front of us, disappearing as we passed it.

DarkTalon let out a long sigh as he followed me quietly through the dense forest. As we made our way through the trees, a sense of relief washed over me as I led him to a clearing with a glistening waterfall and lush greenery all around. The moonlight cast a beautiful glow on the scene as I turned to DarkTalon and mewed, "This is the place," before trotting over to the water's edge and seating myself nearby.

DarkTalon stepped closer, eagerly lapping at the crystal-clear liquid. "And the water is sweet!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with delight. After a minute or so, he suddenly turned and splashed water into my face, his laughter echoing through the serene night. I was taken aback, my fur now damp from the unexpected splash. With a snarl, I locked eyes with him and retaliated with a splash of my own, the water slapping across his face and causing him to fall onto his back in the shallow water.

I couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at the sight before me. Suddenly, DarkTalon playfully tackled me into the cool water. I let out a lively hiss as we playfully wrestled, I even managed to playfully nip at his ear. He pushed me off and scrambled away, daring me to chase after him. "Get back here!" I laughed, eagerly pursuing him. 

We weaved in and out of the trees as I picked up my pace to catch him. When I was close enough, I leaped up and stretched out my paws, successfully tackling him. We both tumbled down a hill, the seconds feeling like hours. He ended up on his back with me on top of him. Giggling, I looked at his face and enjoyed his expression.

 Our laughter slowly died down, and I found myself staring into his eyes. Gradually, I leaned in, pressing my nose against his. I could feel the warmth of his nose from my sudden touch, but he relaxed, allowing this moment to unfold.

***

It hasn't been long since DarkTalon and I spent the night together. We went hunting and enjoyed a peaceful time gazing at the stars. However, I had to take him back to his prison before morning. As I sat there, I couldn't help but reflect on the beautiful night we had shared. It was truly one of the most memorable experiences I've had in a while. I started to think that maybe DarkTalon wasn't as bad as I had initially thought.

Lost in my thoughts, I was interrupted by the arrival of WhiteSnow, a white she-cat with light gray swirls and piercing amber eyes. She always wore a large orange bow around her neck. While I found her annoying at times, she was also pleasant to talk to.

 She lazily padded over and greeted me with a yawn, "Good morning. Enjoying guarding our new friend?" she teased with a mischievous smirk. I gave her a warning look, but she just laughed heartily and said, "You're too serious! You hiding something?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

Feeling a bit irritated, I shook my head, "Leave me alone. I already had enough with Acorn on my shoulders," Winter rolled her eyes and retorted, "Oh, please. You're just upset that you can't find any other cat like me!" She proudly sat down next to me, and I snarled in response. "Never said that. Even if I did, I was probably possessed," I sighed, trying to tune out her obnoxious rambling.

Just then, Acorn strutted over with a smug expression. "What are you two talking about?" he inquired. "None of your business," I growled. Acorn mocked me, "Aren't you in a bad mood! Did you eat the wrong mouse?" "Shut it, mousebrain!" Winter chimed in, joining the banter.

"Acorn, you're just mad your appearance is not so appealing," Winter added, her voice tinged with amusement.

 "Since when did my appearance come into this conversation? I'm the hottest tom in this clan," Acorn boasted, ruffling his fur proudly.

 "Since now," Winter retorted, about to add something, but I couldn't hold back any longer. 

"I doubt you're the hottest tom in this clan. All the she-cats you meet end up running away from you or striking you in the face," I growled, unable to contain my frustration.

 Acorn narrowed his eyes, "They do not!" he defended himself, his tone defensive.

 "Yes, they do! I agree with Avian," Winter chimed in, baring her teeth in agreement.

 Acorn and Winter went back and forth, and I kept my mouth shut, staring into the distance as I listened. The tension in the air was palpable as the confrontation just continued to escalate.