Chapter Text
Ravenpaw crouched under the bush. The screams and shouts from the battle sounded far away, muffled.
Snow fell so heavy that one could barely see a hare-length in front of their muzzle. It also made it so that the ground was covered by a tail-length of snow, soaking Ravenpaw’s fur and making him shiver.
The apprentice suddenly spotted two figures – or more like blurry shadows – through the snow. He froze on the spot, feeling like his blood had turned to ice.
Then he heard to muffled, slightly familiar voices.
“Greetings, Wolfstar,” purred one the voices, sickeningly sweet.
“You should go back to the battle Vultureclaw,” the one on the right – Wolfstar – said.
They were a bit closer now. Ravenpaw could make out the silhouettes better. Both were big, though in different ways.
The one that had spoken – Wolfstar, Hareclan’s leader – was big, burly, with a large mane of fur and and fluffy, sweeping tail. Muscles rippled under his thick coat, hard to make out because of the snow.
The one on the left, Vultureclaw – who was Hareclan’s deputy – was leaner. Still fluffy, but not as much. He had dense fur and torn ears with a scar that ran all along his side. He also had long legs.
“Oh, I think I’m right where I need to be, Wolfstar,” Vultureclaw purred, but his voice was off, malice twisting his tone.
The leaner tom took a step closer to the leader. “I won’t have to listen to you for much longer,” he purred again, voice full of cruel, venomous glee.
Ravenpaw trembled, still frozen to his hidden spot between the branches. The two cats were close enough now that the apprentice could make out some features, eyes, mouths and such.
Just as Wolfstar bunched his muscles to back away Vultureclaw darted forward, jaws already snapping close around Wolfstar throat with a muffled clench.
Ravenpaw watched, horrified as Wolfstar struggled and then fell still, held in the jaws of his own deputy.
Wake up, please, wake up Wolfstar. Ravenpaw thought desperately, but apparently the leader had been on his last life as he did not start struggling again, even after several heartbeats.
A dampened thud sounded as Vultureclaw dropped the unmoving body. Cruel satisfaction and cold glee glittered in the deputy's eyes. A contented smirk played on his lips at the successful murder.
The new leader of Hareclan turned away and dove into the snow to rejoin the battle with a lick of his lips.
Ravenpaw raced back into the Hareclan territory. The weird trance that had frozen him to the spot finally lifting as he raced, terrified, back to camp.