A/N I should have a chapter of QMS up soon, as well as a new chapter of this before Easter. Maybe. I've caught the flu, so it depends on the amount of time before I pass out from exhaustion again. Thanks, all.

She Speaks of Murder

Prologue

A shrieking cry pieced the russet-colored she-cat's delicately curved ears. Eyes flashing, she was on her paws in an instant. Raking her claws across the peaty earth, she knew she had heard that call before.

Distress.

Russetfur slammed through the dark forest, Rowanclaw's breath burning her tail. It was Tawnypelt, Rowanclaw's mate, who had screeched. The ShadowClan deputy was quiet, as the yowls and sound of battle rose from the edge of her territory. A cold wind blew through her fur, so faint she almost didn't detect its presence.

Almost there.

Stench of blood? What was happening in the bushes?

The duo burst in to a wailing Tawnypelt, yowls broken by sobs. She was bent over the frazzled and broken body of both Flamekit and Dawnkit. Flamekit's breath was coming out in short puffs, but Tawnypelt's face was buried deep in Dawnkit's unmoving fur.

The stench of death and ShadowClan was in the small clearing.

"Murder! Murder..." Tawnypelt whispered.