Chapter 1

I awoke to a fierce, stinging pain in my side.

Blinking the black dots that swam across the vision out of my eyes, I realized that I was in the medicine cat den. I glanced at the source of the pain, and saw that my entire side was covered in a thick, gooey paste of herbs, the bitter juices worming their way into my cuts.

How did I get the cuts? I wondered. And then the night's events came back to me.

Wildtail.

I guess I really did faint. The scrapes were probably from collapsing on the pointed, broken rocks on the shore of the island, something that I most definitely do not recommend trying.

I tried to get up, wincing as I did so. Feeling a little woozy, I stumbled and tripped over the ground, falling into the exact same position in the soft bed of moss.

"Ah, I see that you're awake."

I spun my head around, and saw that Barkwhisker, the medicine cat apprentice, was hobbling towards me. His right hind leg was wrapped in cobwebs and smeared with herbs even more foul-smelling than the yucky stuff on my side. His leg had been hurt a quarter-moon ago, when he fell out of a tree. It was permanently twisted. He had to give up his warrior duties and become a medicine cat. It was either that or retire to the elder's den at the age of 25 moons.

Barkwhisker pressed more greenish glop onto my scrapes, his muscles rippling as he rubbed the poultice's juices deep into my wounds, making them burn. He worked quickly and silently. Then, he said, "Goosestar wants to see you."

I nodded. "I-is it about..." My voice quavered a little. I took a deep breath and began again. "Is it about... about Wildtail?"

Barkwhisker sat as still as a stone. The only movement from him was when he said, "I think so."

Slowly, I got up, the stabbing pains in my side now just dull throbs. I pushed my way past the herbs and out of the medicine cat den, my mind whirling with thoughts.

Why would he want me to see him?

Does he think that I know who Wildtail's enemies are?

Maybe he wants to tell me something important.

I arrived at Goosestar's den. It was a large piece of wood dug firmly into the ground, leaning against another piece of wood. Lichen and vines draped the entrance, and a strong smell of rotting fish came from the den.

I shuddered. I didn't like Goosestar that much. He was okay on a regular day, but when pressured and worried– such as if one of his warriors were killed – he tended to make harebrained decisions that he blamed on others whenever they blew up in his face. The only reason he became deputy was because his mother was the leader before him. Most said it was favoritism. Goosestar said that it was because he was strong and smart.

Yeah right.

The stench of fish grew stronger, and Goosestar poked his head out of the den. Bits of trout clung to his whiskers. His amber eyes narrowed, and he said, "What are you waiting for, Cloudfang? Come on in!"

I stumbled into the den, and was instantly enveloped in darkness. I let out a gasp.

"I'm sorry if it's too dark for you to see," said Goosestar. "But I like it dark. It helps me concentrate on important things." I heard some rustling, and a strip of light appeared from between two of the largest vines on the entrance.

Goosestar turned to face me. "I need to ask you something, Cloudfang, and you need to respond as honestly as you can."

I nodded.

Goosestar's expression turned serious. "How old was Wildtail?"

I was taken aback. "What?"

"How old was Wildtail?"

"Why do you need to know that?" I demanded, and then remembered that I was talking to a clan leader, however mousebrained he might've been. "Of course, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to, Goosestar," I added quickly.

The fishy smell filled the air, and Goosestar held a small trout's skeleton up, his dusty gray paws smeared with blood and shining with fish oil. His neck bent forward, nibbling the last bits of meat off the gleaming white bones.

"You just need to answer my question, Cloudfang."

"Okay." I thought back to when I was two moons old. It was so long ago, the images of my memories were blurry and missing parts. But it served its purpose: the sounds of cheering and laughter and purrs from when Wildtail had just become an apprentice were still there.

"Nineteen moons, Goosestar."

The small, skinny tom nodded, and paused for a moment, before saying:

"You are really rather large for your age, Cloudfang."

I gasped, and flattened my ears. The insults from when I was an apprentice still rang in my ears:

"Fatty!"

"You're big as a mountain!"

"Haha, you're so-"

But then I had to blink away tears, for when those mean, merciless words had come, Wildtail was the one who had defended me, saying that my size would help me on the battlefield, and that I was stronger and smarter than those who had teased me.

"Cloudfang! Cloudfang, I didn't mean it like that!" I realized that my claws were out and digging into the ground. I smoothed out my fluffed-up fur and took a deep breath.

"It's fine, Goosestar," I said rather evenly.

Goosestar replied, "I meant that your size would certainly let you overcome almost any warrior. And certainly one smaller than you. Wildtail was one of the smallest warriors, correct?"

I was nodding when I realized what Goosestar meant.

I jumped up, my head hitting the top of the den. "Are you accusing me of murdering Wildtail?" I hissed.

"Well, did you?"

"No! I didn't! I swear by StarClan, I didn't kill Wildtail!"

"Let's look at the facts," Goosestar said smoothly. "After your... ah... little fainting episode at the Gathering, the clans all came together and talked about Wildtail. One warrior, Grassclaw, said that you were the last one to talk to him." Goosestar paused. "And when I called RiverClan to cross the tree-bridge, you weren't there. That was around the time that Wildtail was killed." I stiffened, a growl rising in my throat. "Wildtail's claws were bloody, meaning that he had put up a fight." Now Goosestar waved his tail at my side, which was covered in herbal gunk and wrapped with cobweb bandages. "And you are so strong, it would've only taken a pounce, a short struggle, a quick swipe, and then he would be dead."

"But why would I kill him!" I blurted out. "We were family, the best of friends! And Wildtail's the best fighter in the entire clan. What chance could I have-"

"Cloudfang." Goosestar looked rather sorrowful. "I regret this, but the clans have come to the conclusion that you killed Wildtail. You will be banished at sunhigh."

Now I sprang forward, hissing, my paws thrashing against Goosestar's pale fur. "I didn't!" I wailed. "Don't make me leave!"

"I'm sorry. I really am."

Goosestar pushed me out of the den, coming out right after me.

"All cats old enough to fish, gather in the clearing for a clan meeting!"

Cats murmured amongst each other as they slid out of their dens, some still grooming themselves, others slurping up half-eaten fish.

"What could Goosestar want?"

"Is it about Wildtail?"

"Did they find the murderer?"

Goosestar sat by his den, his tail flicking back and forth.

"We have found the murderer of Wildtail." He paused, and cats glared at me.

"It is Cloudfang. She shall be banished at sunhigh. If we ever see her again, kill her, for that is what she did to one of us."