Am I worth it yet?
Scorchcinders watched as her 'partner', Chrysanthemumstar stood on a tall rock, yowling loudly to the other cats to gather around them, the small brown molly looked nervous, she kept sheathing and unsheathing her claws and scraping them against the rock they were standing on.
Chrysanthemumstar took a deep breath before she started speaking, "Cats of Hurricaneclan, I have gathered you all here today for a very important ceremony." They paused for a moment, they could hear their clanmates whispering, it made her want to retreat to the leader's den and never look back, but it was too late to do that, and as the leader of Hurricaneclan she has to act strong and brave for their clan.
"I'm aware that I have put this off for way too long, and I don't have any good reasons for my decision." The brown molly continued, "I'm sorry." The apology was barely a whisper, and Chrysanthemumstar hung their head in shame and embarrassment. Scorchcinders had to hold back a snarl, she can't believe what she was hearing right now. What kind of sorry excuse was that? How pathetic.
"Hurricaneclan has been living without a deputy for way too long, and it's about time I appoint one." The Hurricaneclan leader continued, Chrysanthemumstar risked a glance at Scorchcinders, her mismatched eyes were cold but she looked calm, sitting neatly with her long fluffy tail warped around her paws. Chrysanthemumstar knew how their 'partner' is going to react, even if they didn't love each other, they were still close enough to know what emotions were going through her head.
Snapping her gaze away from the tall warrior, she opened their mouth to continue the ceremony, "Gleamfire, I have chosen you to be Hurricaneclan's deputy, everyone knows you're a skilled warrior and I think you are right for the role." Chrysanthemumstar had a warm and loving smile on their face, her amber eyes shined with pride. Gleamfire had her eyes widen in surprise, but it quickly morphed into happiness as she bounced to the front. The healer, Flarelight stepped forward as well.
Scorchcinders zoned out for the rest of the ceremony, her mind repeating the scene over and over again, slowly fury and anger filled all of her senses and she was using all of her might to stop herself from snapping. How could she? I was supposed to be deputy! After all that work, all that pain, all that suffering, I'm still not good enough! A small quiet mew jolted Scorchcinders out of her mind, the warrior lifted her tail away to reveal a small ginger kit. Right, of course, I still have you to deal with.
Scorchcinders looked at the kit with disgust and hatred, she viewed them as a mistake and a complete waste of time. A loud and cheerful voice made the warrior look up, "Scorchcinders! I got chosen to be deputy! Do you think mom and dad would be proud of me?" Gleamfire chirped as she trotted over to them. "Of course they would, I'm proud of you too." Scorchcinders forced herself to praise the young deputy, hiding all emotions from her face.
A golden spotted jack and a smokey grey tom were whispering to each other with excitement, they could barely keep themselves from jumping around like a bunch of kits, Scorchcinders eyed them for a split second before turning back to Gleamfire, "Go to your friends, they looked like they want to talk to you." Pointing at the young warriors with her tail, Scorchcinders prayed to Starclan for the ginger and white molly to leave, Gleamfire furrowed her brows, "Leoparddust and Smokespeck can wai-"
"Go to your friends." Scorchcinders snapped sternly, cutting Gleamfire off mid sentence, the young cat flinched, confusion and hurt flashing through her bright green eyes. Scorchcinders blinked and took a step back before continuing more gently, "I have some things to do, go let your friends congratulate you for your achievement." She nudged the young cat towards her friends before grabbing the kit by her paws, "I need to talk to Chrysanthemumstar." Scorchcinders mumbled through the ginger fluff ball.
Gleamfire turned her head just in time to see a striped tail disappearing into the leader's den, she turned back to see the tall warrior holding her kit in her jaws, Gleamfire smiled and meowed understandingly, "Oh of course! Sorry I got in your way." Gleamfire has never been happier when she found out that her parental figures were having kits together, and she vowed that she would take care of their kit just like how they took care of her. Gleamfire flashed one last smile at Scorchcinders before bounding over to her friends, she didn't notice the hate filled glare Scorchcinders was giving her as she turned away.
Scorchcinders watched in dissatisfaction as the ginger and white molly purred in happiness with her friends surrounding her. But she forced herself to look away and padded over to the leader's rock, leaping up the boulder elegantly. She poked her head through the entrance, her big size blocking the light shining into the den, "Chrysanthemumstar." She growled.
The leader looked up from her nest, looking anxious, "Yes?" She mewed timidly, standing up to take the kit from Scorchcinders. Scorchcinders drew her lips back in a snarl, "Explain." Her eyes glaring daggers at the cat she supposedly loves. Chrysanthemumstar looked away and slunk back to their nest, focusing on calming down the small ginger kit, "Explain what..?" They muttered after awhile.
With fur bristling and hackles raised, "Are you being for real with me right now?! Why did you choose Gleamfire as deputy?!" Scorchcinders took a step forward, mismatched eyes blazing with anger and claws unsheathed. Chrysanthemumstar took a deep breath, they knew this would happen, "Because of her skills and wits, accept it and move on Scorchcinders." They replied calmly, never leaving their gaze on her kit.
"No! I will not accept it and move on!" Scorchcinders roared, tail lashing in anger, "I have more experience than her! I trained her for Starclan's sake!" Her eyes became slits, her large fangs gleaming in the darkness. The brown molly didn't respond, too busy grooming the kit appearently.
The warrior stood over the small leader, "I did all of your dirty work for you! I pretended to be your partner! I even had your kits! The least you can do is make me deputy!" She snapped. Chrysanthemumstar continued to avoid eye contact as their kit mewled sleepily. Suddenly Scorchcinders stopped the growls and snarling, the leader looked up hesitantly. It looked like her 'partner' was thinking. "Scorchcinders?"
"You only chose Gleamfire because she's Mistletoeheart and Hickoryfire's kit..." She started, eyes flickering. Chrysanthemumstar's eyes widen, "N-no!" They jumped up, trying to defend themself, but Scorchcinders wasn't taking any of it, "Shut up Chrysanthemumstar! I can see right through you!" She hissed with rage. The small brown molly shook her head, "No! I didn't! I chose her because she has proven herself as worthy!" She growled, though a seed of guilt sprouted in the pit of their stomach. What Scorchcinders is saying isn't completely wrong...
Scorchcinders had her teeth bared, "Proven herself? Fine! I'll prove myself to you then!" "Scorchcinders wait!" They called out in alarm but the warrior was already dashing across camp and she soon disappeared through the entrance tunnel. Chrysanthemumstar watched her go with guilt in their amber eyes, she decided to not pursue her, thinking that she needed some time alone and went back to their kit. "Oh Citruskit...what am I going to do now?"
Night fell and Scorchcinders hasn't returned yet, Chrysanthemumstar warped her tail around Citruskit, sitting by the entrance in the dead of night, waiting for her 'partner'. Just as they were about to doze off, the rustling of leaves made them jolt awake, a tall bloodied warrior limped into camp, breathing heavily. "Scorchcinders! What happened to you?" The brown molly immediately jumped forward, looking very concerned, "We need to get you to Flarelight right now!" She meowed urgently.
"No."
Chrysanthemumstar blinked in confusion, "What..?" Scorchcinders flashed her fangs at the leader, "What part of 'no' do you not understand? Leave me alone Crisisstar." She scowled, pushing past the other molly and glaring at the small ginger kit on the floor. Chrysanthemumstar whirled around, sprinting to blocked the warrior's way, "Are you crazy Scorchcinders? You're covered in blood!" "Why do you even care? I'm going to sleep, goodnight." She growled, slinking slowly back to her den.
Before the warrior could fully disappear into the shadows, she looked back and glared at Chrysanthemumstar, "I hope I'm worth it now." The brown molly looked at her with wide eyes, they stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do, they eventually moved to grab Citruskit by the scruff and returned to her den.
After that, Scorchcinders would go and wait at the border and attack any patrols she'd come across and only come back at nightfall everyday, she'd refuse to go have the healer look over her wounds and shortly after the whole ordeal. She died of infection and overworking.