Pineheart shuddered as he looked up at his cruel, cruel deputy. Beside him, Lilyflight shrugged indifferently. 

"So," Snowtalon began slowly. "Twistedbranch here tells me that you called me old."

Twistedbranch flicked his tail and sneered at the pair of warriors. "Yes, which means they're disloyal. We cannot stand for such treason!"

"Snowtalon can't stand, period," Lilyflight muttered, casting her vibrant green gaze at the old white tom who had slumped into the seated position with closed eyes and the beginnings of a snore in his throat. 

Twistedbranch's eyes grew wide with horror. "How dare you?! Disrespectful! Rude! Impolite! Mean! Bully!"

She huffed. "You finished?"

"Ruffian! Miscreant! Criminal! Ill-mannered!"

All the shouting woke Snowtalon from his brief slumber. "Quiet!" He shouted. "Just hurry up. I want a nap." 

"How can we make this right?" Pineheart asked, shuffling his paws nervously. 

Twistedbranch's expression morphed into an ugly scowl. "Death–"

"Apologize." Snowtalon cut him off. 

"Apologize!" Twistedbranch agreed. 

Lilyflight scoffed. "Why?"

"Don't worry, Lilyflight," Pineheart interjected. "I will gladly take the blame for you." He looked up at Snowtalon. "I'm sorry for calling you old. It won't happen again."

Snowtalon bore his pale green eyes into Pineheart's blue ones. "I want to hear it from both of you."

The beautiful dilute tortoiseshell shook her head. "No can do, old man. Can't apologize when I'm not sorry."

Suddenly, a chilly aura rested upon the conversation. Wickedstar had arrived with all her terrible awfulness. "What's going on here?" She asked coldly.

"They called Snowtalon old!" Twistedbranch mewed. "They're supposed to apologize!"

"And have they?"

"No!"

"See, now this won't do." She shook her head evilly. 

"Whatever," Snowtalon said with a yawn. "I'm going to sleep."

As he meandered off, Wickedstar looked evilly down at Lilyflight and Pineheart. "I think I need some punishment for you two."

At that moment, Petalpaw strolled by the exchange for the convenience of the plot. Wickedstar evilly leaped from her position and pinned down the frightened apprentice. Lilyflight stopped short, blinking in surprise while Pineheart snarled at the evil leader. 

"Let her go!" He yowled.

"No," Wickedstar replied with an evil smirk.

"Help me!" Petalpaw squealed. "I'm just a small, cute apprentice that everyone needs to save at all times!"

Wickedstar evilly grinned at Lilyflight. "If you disrespect my leadership and evil followers ONE MORE TIME, the pipsqueak here dies." 

Lilyflight rolled her eyes but refrained from snapping back at the sight of her imprisoned little sister. "Fine."

As Wickedstar evilly walked away, Lilyflight noticed a large group of warriors had gathered to watch the conference. Ravenfire, the black tom that had made fun of them only minutes before, sneered. 

"Wow, so stupid! Another reason you shouldn't have left the nursery."

Pineheart stepped in front of Lilyflight as if to guard her against the tom's words. "Do us all a favor and leave."

Lilyflight shoved her friend aside and marched up to Ravenfire's angry figure. "Get some better insults, buddy. You look like you have the brain capacity of a flea."

Ravenfire's glowing amber eyes narrowed with anger. "What did you just say? You just think you're so cool, huh, kit?"

Lilyflight's tortie pelt quivered in anger.

One of the spectating cats, Thrushwing, let out a cheer. "Tackle him!"

"She can try," Ravefire growled.

Thrushwing continued. "Violence is always the answer! Go for the kill!"

Lilyflight nodded slowly, realizing what she had to do. With a loud caterwaul, she exploded from her spot and flew full-force at Ravenfire.

Brought to you by your favorite Feather. Thrushwing is my spirit animal, gotta say.
~ Feather