Chivestar's Secrecy.
"You're late again!" Silvia chimed in a sing-song tone as she watched the other she-cat bound over to the yard.
"I know you're better at swimming, but you can at least try to run once in a while."
Chivewhisker opened her mouth to speak, but the black cat interrupted, purring as she brushed against the warrior and licked her forehead adoringly.
"Don't look so sour, puss. You know I'm only teasing you."
Chivewhisker grit her teeth, avoiding the kittypet's gaze. "Silvia, I can't do this anymore."
The housecat snorted, sitting back to scratch at her ear with a hind paw. "Okay, here's a reminder — You say this every moon, and every time, I reassure you and comfort you and we tell each other it'll be alright. And guess what! It turns out alright."
The she-cat seemed relatively unfazed by her mate's concern, heavy though it was.
Chivewhisker lashed her tail. "I'm serious this time!" She snapped. "I can't anymore. I'm a deputy now! Grainstar appointed me last night!"
Silvia frowned, quirking a brow. She looked to her paws, then back to her partner. "Congratulations...?" She offered a smile.
"No! No, not congratulations!" Chivewhisker hissed in frustration. "I have cats that depend on me now, all the time! I'm the one who sets the patrols, who advises Grainstar, who sets rules and punishments and schedules — If they find out I'm with one of you, they-"
"One of me?" Silvia's nose wrinkled in offense.
Chivewhisker inhaled, then hung her head bitterly. "You know I don't mean it like that. But this is how it has to be. From now on, we don't know each other. We've never met, touched noses, or even seen a hair of one another's pelts."
Silvia bared her teeth, expression full of hurt. "You don't mean that... You don't mean that! You want to throw away everything for some cult in the woods? I thought you said these were the best days of your life, the ones you had with me!"
"It's not a cult!" Chivewhisker snarled insistently, whirling around from her pacing to get nose-to-nose with Silvia. The dark feline didn't even flinch, luminous yellow eyes staring deep into her.
"I don't need you," Chivewhisker growled. "I have a family, and it's a responsibility. If you'd just understand that, you'd -"
"Be a brainwashed rat," Silvia spat. "You'd rather worship a bunch of dead cats and sleep in the cold than be with someone who loves you?"
Rage bubbled in the pit of Chivewhisker's stomach. She kept silent, turning to pad away. She trudged along.
"Come back!" Silvia screeched, finally giving chase. "Chive!"
"Leave me alone!" Chivewhisker yelled.
"Just talk to me!" Silvia pleaded, springing at the tabby.
The two rolled together, screeching, which resulted in Chivewhisker pinning the feline to the ground. Silvia squirmed, shrieking in surprise as she was assaulted with claw slice after claw slice with unsheathed claws, mercilessly marring her.
"I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE." Chivewhisker snarled closely to her face. "What's it going to take for you to leave me alone?! You're everywhere! Every time I'm on patrol, you're there! Hunting, you're there! Don't you ever do anything but stalk me, you piece of crowfood?!"
"Chive, stop!" Silvia yelped. "Chive!"
Again, a slash across the face. Across the throat. A bite. A tearing of an ear. Silvia did her best, fighting feebly against the well-muscled warrior.
"Don't call me Chive! It's not my name! It's not my name! Shut up! Just shut up!" Chivewhisker shrieked.
"Please!" Silvia begged for mercy as a teeth snatched at the back of her collar. The bell jingled wildly as it was pulled, pressure becoming increasingly unbearable on her throat.
Chivewhisker was suffocating her.
Silvia sputtered for air, letting out squeaks and croaks in plea for mercy, but to no avail. Her thrashing became weaker and weaker until it ceased altogether.
Only when Silvia stopped moving, did Chivewhisker drop the body, staring. Slowly, realization of what she had done pieced together.
She stared at the lifeless corpse of her former mate, shaken for several moments, before backing away and briskly returning to camp.
