Chapter One: The Rule
Bumblestar POV
The rule had only existed for a day, and it had already been broken.
After the battle against ShadowClan and RiverClan, I had found it necessary to place new restrictions on my cats. The skirmish had almost caused the collapse of ThunderClan, and, worried about my own safety, I had resumed having a bodyguard, except this time, at all times, not just at night. No more than two cats could speak to me at once, in case a group of them tried to gang up on me and murder me. I didn't trust my own warriors almost as much as I didn't trust ShadowClan.
I had also allowed Nightkit and Redkit to become apprentices, even though Nightkit was only slightly over five moons of age. Redkit was six moons old though, so altering her status wasn't against the code. They were both worthy of apprenticeship in my eyes, and anyways, I didn't give a mouse-tail about what StarClan thought.
The final change was I implemented a simple, basic rule that was actually quite easy to follow. It was only created because of the whole Shadekit-Fawnkit disaster. Any cat caught crossing into another Clan's territory without my permission would cause me to automatically assume they were trying to leave the Clan, and they would be executed for treason. So all they had to do was stay in our territory, but no. Of course it couldn't be that simple.
Sandstorm had tried to sneak out of camp through the dirtplace tunnel so that she could flee to ShadowClan. Perhaps she thought I was planning on doing something to the elders, which I actually wasn't. I had followed her and watched as she began to hobble across the border...then I stopped her. At least she came back with me willingly, so that I could have the satisfaction of executing her in front of the whole Clan.
I summoned the Clan for a meeting. "I caught this she-cat while she was trying to leave this Clan! Cats of ThunderClan, look to your elder. Let her serve as an example. My dear, I can assure you this will be quick and painless. Wait here."
The quick and painless may or may not have been sarcasm.
I hurried into Jayfeather's den. Sandstorm and the rest of the Clan whispered to each other in confusion, wondering what I was doing. I looked around the den, searching for the herbs I needed. Thankfully, Firestar had made all of the apprentices and younger warriors learn basic herbal knowledge seasons ago. I spotted the water hemlock leaves near the back of one of the crevices in the den wall, and the bright scarlet berries next to them were nearly impossible to miss.
I crushed the berries with a forepaw, then wrapped the leaves around the smashed berries and juice. I placed the deadly mixture around a branch, so that I could carry it out without getting any of the poison in my mouth.
I dropped it at Sandstorm's forepaws. "Eat that. Or else I will find something more painful."
Sandstorm hesitantly sniffed it. "What is it?"
Oh nothing much, just a mixture of water hemlock and deathberries! Not painful at all! Completely harmless, really.
"It's called, um...oh yeah, nightsleep leaves!" I lied. "Yeah, they, uh, they knock you unconscious and then, um, they...they slow your heart and you die in your sleep!"
I quickly shot Jayfeather a warning look as the blind gray tabby opened his mouth to object, then remembered he couldn't see it. I coughed purposefully, and the medicine cat seemed to understand, because he lowered his head. Obviously, he knew I was lying though, because first of all, nightsleep leaves are not even real. I had just made the story up on the spot. And secondly, he could probably smell what it actually was. Sandstorm, however, would not recognize the mixture.
Sandstorm sighed. "You're a disgrace, Bumblestar."
I chuckled. "Just eat the leaves already."
"Death is kinder than staying in this sorry excuse of a Clan!" Sandstorm hissed. "Besides, I can see Firestar again in StarClan."
She lapped up the leaves and glared at me defiantly. For a few moments, nothing happened. A few cats looked at each other uncertainly.
"What is this?! Why are my paws numb?!" Sandstorm shrieked.
Her legs buckled underneath her. She began to convulse from the two poisons, and foam seeped out of her mouth. Her claws tore up large clumps of grass as she thrashed about, and I heard her gasping for breath as she slowly suffocated. Her blood was surely on fire, and I believed that ancient she-cat deserved to suffer like that. She had too much attitude, and she was always questioning my decisions. Spasms continued to travel through her body, and I watched in amusement. I thought back to another day, a great day awhile back, when I had killed Millie, but only with deathberries. I had been so glad to see my kittypet mother die in such a horrid manner.
Eventually, Sandstorm's body fell still. I kicked dust over her corpse as a sign of disrespect and turned to the crowd of gathered cats. An eerie silence had fallen over the Clan. Many cats' eyes were stretched wide with horror. Foxleap looked nauseous, and even Redpaw and Nightpaw looked revolted.
I laughed evilly. "Would anyone else like to leave? If you would, now is your opportunity!"
Hm, I wonder why nobody did?
A/N: This book WILL have Nightpaw and Shadepaw POV, but there will still be some Bumblestar chapters! Hope you guys enjoyed, must admit I am SO HAPPY I KILLED SANDSTORM YAY! SHES ANNOYING AND IMMORTAL SO SHE NEEDED TO DIE AT SOME POINT IN THIS SERIES! XD
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