Raindrops began falling harder and harder, soaking every cats' pelts. No cat moved a muscle. Other than angry hissing from the rogues, every cat was silent. Mintpool stared at Echoleaf, her former Clanmate staring right back, green gaze meeting green gaze. Shock simmered through the gray tabby. What's Echoleaf doing here? How did she find the rogue camp?

Suddenly, thunder boomed in the sky. This seemed to snap every cat out of their frozen state. Instantly, anger simmered over Mintpool's shock, her tail lashing as she glared at Echoleaf. And, more than anger, she was worried. Worried that Echoleaf would now know that she was a rogue. Worried that the gray she-cat would report back to Thistlestar. Worried that her plan wouldn't work. No. I can't let that happen.

The rogues began stalking forward, eyes glimmering eagerly to sink their claws into Echoleaf's pelt. 

The AirClan medicine cat's eyes glowed with fear as she stepped back, tail-tip twitching. "I- Mintpool, what is this?" Mintpool flicked her tail. So she doesn't seem to think that I'm a rogue yet.

Before the gray tabby could answer, Holly padded up besides her, brushing their pelts together. "Who's she?"

The gray tabby twitched her pelt. "That's Echoleaf. She was my former mentor." Anger sank through her. "She didn't say a single thing when I was exiled."

Holly's gaze was unreadable. "Well, then don't be polite to her."

Mintpool gaped at the golden tabby. She'd been planning to act as though the rogues had captured her. Don't be polite? Wouldn't Echoleaf now know that she was a rogue? "But she might report back to Thistlestar-"

"She can't report anything if she doesn't return." The golden tabby's gaze glimmered as she slunk back into the crowd.

The rogues were getting more and more restless. The only reason they hadn't yet attacked, Mintpool realized, was because they were waiting to see if Cobrastrike approved of it. She glanced at the gray tom. Her friend's yellow gaze was unreadable as he stepped forward. "Echoleaf."

The AirClan medicine cat's eyes widened. "Cobrastrike? What is this?"

Cobrastrike flicked his tail. "What do you think it is? I've always found you quite clever. Don't prove me wrong."

Echoleaf's eyes widened as she began to realize. "The rogue camp-"

"Indeed," the gray tom agreed. Rain began pouring from the sky, faster and faster, drenching every cat, but Mintpool barely noticed, her eyes fixed on the scene. "Now, you've found the rogue camp. I can't let you go and tell Thistlestar. But, tell me. How did you find us?"

Echoleaf stepped backwards, eyes fearful. "I'll tell you if you let me go."

Cobrastrike purred, although there was no amusement in it. "You're in no position to make demands. I can live without knowing how you found our camp, but your life may end very soon if you don't tell me. Now, answer the question." 

Echoleaf gulped. "I found you by the yowls."

"The yowls?" For a moment, Cobrastrike seemed confused, his cold and unbothered posture ruined as he stepped back, puzzled.

Realization dawned on Mintpool. The yowls from her and Snarl's battle! 

"Yes." Echoleaf lifted her muzzle. "How dare you! I never thought you were this kind of cat, Cobrastrike! Joining the rogues is one thing, but capturing Mintpool and torturing her is another!"

Surprised jolted through the gray tabby. She thought... she thought the rogues captured me?

Echoleaf growled. "I was just out picking herbs, when I heard her yowls of pain. I came to investigate! And thank StarClan I did, look at her! She's covered in wounds! And now you threaten me as well? The rogues are truly cruel!"

Cobrastrike's whiskers twitched with amusement, laughing at Echoleaf's stupidity. "Oh, we're torturing Mintpool, are we?"

Echoleaf nodded firmly.

"Very well, then. Mintpool, why don't you over here and tell Echoleaf how we're "torturing you"?" 

The gray tabby took a deep breath, stalking up towards Echoleaf. Holly's words flashed through her mind. She can't report anything if she doesn't return. 

"Mintpool!" Echoleaf spoke first. "Oh, thank StarClan that you're alright. Did they hurt you? Oh, forget that question, you're covered with wounds!" She was nothing like the calm medicine cat that Mintpool knew; her words stumbled over one another, clearly nervous and afraid. 

"So, Mintpool, why don't you tell Echoleaf why you're here?" Cobrastrike prompted.

Echoleaf glared at him. "Of course I know why she's here! You've captured her! When AirClan realizes I've gone missing, they'll come looking for me! You can't keep me here forever!" Cobrastrike opened his jaws to respond, but she cut him off, barreling on. "Mintpool, when an AirClan patrol does come to find me, you'll come back with us, right? Don't be irrational. I know we've done bad things in the past, but you're not going to stay here as their prisoner just because you don't like us, right? In fact, I was hoping you might return to AirClan as well-"

"Echoleaf," Mintpool interrupted, "I'm not returning to AirClan."

Echoleaf blinked at her, surprised. "I- what? You're willing to stay here as their prisoner?"

"I won't be staying here as their prisoner," Mintpool chuckled. "I'm staying here as a member of the rogues."

It was amusing, almost, to see the realization dawn onto Echoleaf. To see, if possible, even more shock and fear sparkle in her eyes. To see her step back, and audible gasp coming from her, staring at Mintpool as though she didn't even recognize the gray tabby. "What?"

"Mintpool is a member of the rogues now," Cobrastrike meowed, stepping forward. "And, I'm afraid we can keep you here forever."

Echoleaf hissed. Mintpool recognized her expression well, one mixed with fear, shock, and confusion. She knew the medicine cat's brain was probably spinning, trying to wrap her mind around what was going on while keeping a strong front. It was an expression Mintpool often wore. "How?"

Cobrastrike examined his claws. "Well, AirClan can't find you if there's not a you to find."

Another wave of realization swept through Echoleaf as she leaped backwards again. The rogues let out a pleased growl, stalking forward. "What? You mean you're going to kill me? That's against the Warrior Code!"

"Ah, well-" Cobrastrike stepped forward, taking one step towards her for every one she jumped back "-we don't follow the Warrior Code here." He flicked his tail. "Attack."

Echoleaf's eyes were wide with fear. "Mintpool, I- please-" She was interrupted by a growl from the rogues as the cats bounded forward. The gray tabby stepped back, feeling not a glimmer of remorse or sympathy for the gray she-cat. This is what she deserves. 

Suddenly, before any rogue could touch Echoleaf, a yowl split through the air. "Stop!"

Mintpool whipped around, her gaze landing on the cat that had spoken. To her surprise, it was Mamba. The rogues paused in their tracks, glancing from Mamba to Cobrastrike; after all, the black she-cat had gone against his orders. But, Cobrastrike didn't look annoyed. He looked more curious and intrigued, sitting down and watching Mamba's movements. The gray tabby had almost forgotten Mamba was there; she'd been so quiet.

"I don't think you guys are the right cat to kill Echoleaf," Mamba meowed, twitching her tail-tip. "Mintpool? Why don't you do the honors instead?"

The gray tabby gaped at her. Me? Kill Echoleaf? She blinked at Mamba. What's she playing at?

"What better way to show your loyalty to us than kill one of your old Clanmates?" Mamba added.

It was as if, at that moment, everything clicked. Mamba's gaze was confident, blinking at Mintpool. She thinks I can't do it. She thinks I'll decline. Then, all the rogues will think I'm not loyal. The gray tabby's gaze flickered towards Echoleaf. The gray she-cat's eyes were much more relieved. She thinks I won't to it, either.

Anger sparked inside of Mintpool as she lifted her muzzle. "Okay."

Both Mamba and Echoleaf's faces fell. Mamba composed hers quicker, sweeping her tail towards Echoleaf. The gray she-cat blinked at Mintpool, the fear returning. "Mintpool, please don't do this," she begged. "I- Spotpaw's just been apprenticed to me. She needs a mentor, and AirClan needs a medicine cat."

Mintpool's ears flicked. She thinks that bringing up my kin will make me more sympathetic? The daughter of my brother, who said absolutely nothing when I was exiled? If anything, it only made the gray tabby angrier. "Well, AirClan should've thought of that when they exiled me." With that, her claws sank into Echoleaf's pelt.

Blood poured from the gray she-cat, her face twisting. "Mintpool-" Her words came out choked. "I'm sorry."

Mintpool stepped back coldly. "It's too late for that." 

The gray she-cat let out a gasp as the life faded away from her eyes. It was familiar. It was a scene Mintpool had seen too many times from her dreams. But then, she'd been sad, hating that scene. Now, she felt satisfaction rise from inside her. Echoleaf was dead. She'd killed her. This was her first step towards revenge.

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Word Count // 1482

Not Edited

Hi! Yay, this chapter was fun to write! Echoleaf was completely out of character, but I hope that's understandable; she was completely afraid. And, uh, Mintpool's first kill being Echoleaf. Any thoughts on that? I did want Echoleaf to die towards the end of the book, but I also wanted Mintpool to be the one to kill her. But then it would be in this one huge battle where Mintpool's already going to kill a lot of cats, and I wanted Echoleaf's death to be more important. Anyway, less said, quite a few cats will die. I know this is kind of like a spoiler, but I think it's not that surprising.

Also, I did want to add more about the rain, to make it more dramatic, I guess, but this chapter's long enough. On another note, thanks so much for 700 views already!! That's amazing!

Anyway, the cat at the top is Echoleaf! That's all, bye!