Welcome to my third challenge!

This challenge, is from The Clans of Darkness. It is a Pick a Letter challenge, meaning that I said a letter, and was given a word that started with that letter. I said M, and was given Murder.
I hope you enjoy!

There was a murderer in their midst, that was for sure. It had all started the day SilverClan's MedicineCat, Roseleaf, was found dead, her body floating in a small pond. At first, it was said that the cause of her death was drowning, but they learning the truth once the bite marks were discovered on her throat.

That day, however, had just been the beginning. Innocent Hawkkit, his body found torn in the nursery, followed Roseleaf, but there were no signs of invaders. His mother had taken a break from watching over her kit, and was devastated when she returned to the sight of her beloved kit, dead on his mossy nest. Hawkkit was followed by Maplestream, found dead in the dirtplace, the strong stench covering up any scent that may haven given them a clue. Maplestream had been Vixenpaw's mother, and she was determined to find the murderer and avenge her death.

Vixenpaw was woken the next morning by soft amber light that found its way into the apprentice den. The birds were chirping cheerfully in the willow trees above, and Vixenpaw poked her head out of her den, to see the warriors talking warily to one another. The day might look and sound cheerful, but none of the cats of SilverClan knew when the next death would come, or who would be killed. For all anyone knew, his or her best friend could be the murderer.

Suddenly, Vixenpaw heard the sound of pawsteps behind her, and she looked cautiously over her shoulder to see her brother, Birchpaw. Birchpaw looked concerned, and he murmured, "You're thinking about Maplestream again, aren't you?"

Vixenpaw narrowed her eyes, turning on her brother. "How are you not thinking about Maplestream?" She snapped, "It hasn't even been a moon since she died, and you are already over it? Didn't you love her at all?!"

Birchpaw recoiled, hurt flashing in his leaf-green eyes. He looked down at his paws and sighed, "I'm not over it yet, Vixenpaw, I just don't want everyone to think I'm weak."

Vixenpaw's eyes softened. "Birchpaw, no one will think you're weak because you're sad about Maplebreeze's death. Everyone understands what we're going through."

Birchpaw's gaze hardened. "I'm sure whoever her murderer is doesn't give a mouse tail about what we're going through." He spat.

Vixenpaw looked down, and opened her mouth to respond, before her mentor, Ivyleaf, called, "Vixenpaw, we're going on a border patrol!"

Vixenpaw cast her brother an apologetic glance, before making her way over to her mentor.

"Is anyone else coming with us?" Vixenpaw asked Ivyleaf.

"Just Mistpelt and Yarrowtooth," her mentor responded. "No one to be afraid of."

Vixenpaw was not assured though. She rarely felt safe anymore, and Yarrowtooth had been acting strange recently.

As if reading Vixenpaw's mind, Ivyleaf added, "I've known the two of them all of my life, neither of them have it in them to murder innocent cats, especially not a kit."

Still, Vixenpaw decided it was best not to ever let your guard down these days, no matter how much her mentor trusted those cats. Rolling her eyes, shed muttered, "Alright, but if they're coming with us, where are they?"

Ivyleaf motioned toward the camp entrance, which had used to be left unguarded in the day and guarded in the night. However, due to the current circumstances, it was guarded by two of their top warriors, Tigerfang and Blizzardwind. Beside the warriors stood Mistpelt and Yarrowtooth, who were talking to each other in low voices, occasionally looking up at the guards. Suspicious behavior could not go unnoticed, and Vixenpaw looked up to mention that to her mentor, only to find that Ivyleaf was already making her way over to the two warriors. Very on edge, but still aware that it was necessary to follow her mentor's orders, Vixenpaw followed her mentor slowly, each step filled with dread.

Yarrowtooth looked up, a sneer spreading across his muzzle. "How long does it take you to walk over to us?"

Ivyleaf shot Yarrowtooth a glare. "Give my apprentice a break." She snapped, "She still hasn't gotten over the death of her mother."

Yarrowtooth simply rolled his eyes in response. "Whatever." He grumbled, "Anyways, now that we're finally all here, lets get this patrol over with."

The patrol passed by smoothly, along with a few more days. There were no new murders, and cats were becoming less careful. A rumor had even begun to spread, saying that Maplestream had been the murderer, and she had killed Roseleaf and Hawkkit, before regretting it and killing herself. Vixenpaw was outraged that any of her clanmates actually believed that rumor, being that her mother had always been the kindest, most warmhearted cat she had ever known.

Vixenpaw knew that the mess wasn't over yet. There was still a murderer out there, and they were dangerous. She was going to figure out the mystery, and stop the murderer before anyone else died. She turned to Birchpaw, who was sitting silently beside her. At the moment, however, she just wanted to take a small break from the mystery. She just wanted to spend time with her brother.

"Would you mind coming hunting with me?" She asked softly.

Birchpaw turned to her and shrugged. "I suppose." He responded, "It's not like we're doing anything useful sitting around thinking."

Vixenpaw got to her paws, and her and her brother made her way up to the camp's entrance, and Blizzardwind turned on them. "Where do you two think you're going?" He demanded suspiciously.

Vixenpaw shrugged nonchalantly. "We decided to go out hunting." She responded simply.

Blizzardwind stepped out of the way, but kept a cautious eye on the two of them. As they stepped past him, he added, "Keep an eye out for Ivyleaf while you're out there. She's been gone awhile, and we're starting to worry something happened to her."

Vixenpaw turned to Birchpaw looking alarmed. Once they were out of earshot from the camp, she gasped, "What if Ivyleaf's been killed? What if the murderer isn't finished killing after all?"

Birchpaw's eyes were nervous. "Should we hunt, or should we look for her?" He asked hesitantly.

Vixenpaw looked determined. "She could be bleeding to death right now! Do you really think that I'm going to hunt, when she could be dying?"

Birchpaw sighed, obviously scared. "But Vixenpaw, if she's dying, that would mean that the murderer is out here in the forest. If they find us, we'll be their next victims."

Vixenpaw hesitated before turning away from her brother. "Go back to camp, for all I care." She snapped. "I'm going to find my mentor."

"Wait!" Birchpaw called, hurrying to catch up with Vixenpaw. "If you're going, I'm going with you."

Vixenpaw cast her brother a small smile of relief, and they carried on, moving cautiously away from the camp. Suddenly, Vixenpaw stopped, and she could see Birchpaw's eyes grow wide. "I smell blood." She whispered, her voice hoarse. She was beginning to think that searching for her mentor had been a bad idea, and all of a sudden Birchpaw bolted forward, heading straight toward the strong stench of blood, leaving Vixenpaw no choice to follow him.

A clearing began to open up in front of them, and they stopped suddenly, seeing a silver tabby she-cat sink her fangs into the throat if a dark brown tom. It took Vixenpaw a moment to recognize that the dead tom in front of them was their father, Mudpelt. Birchpaw, obviously realizing this just a moment before Vixenpaw, let out a screech of outrage and sprang toward the silver she-cat. The murderer turned just in time, and sent a hard blow to Birchpaw's head, leaving him lying unconscious on the forest floor. She then looked up and locked eyes with Vixenpaw, and the apprentice found herself staring into the forest green eyes of Ivyleaf.

Vixenpaw let out a gasp of horror, and sputtered, "Ivyleaf? But… I trusted you!"

Ivyleaf let out a cold laugh. "I thought that you had given up trusting others, after your mother was murdered."

Tears welled up in Vixenpaw's eyes, and she hissed, "Why? Why did you kill them? I thought you cared about me… I though you felt sympathetic about me after my mother died."

Ivyleaf smirked. "If you want to know why I killed them, I'll tell you why." She hissed. "You see, I loved your father first, and he loved me back. I had a kit, and he soon became the brightest part of my life. His name was Cedarkit. But then, Mudpelt fell for your mother, and left Cedarkit without a father. I was devastated. Next thing I know, Cedarkit got sick, and I left him in Roseleaf's care, simply praying to StarClan that she would be able to save him. And yet, she failed me. Cedarkit died, and it was all her fault. A medicine cat that can't save lives doesn't deserve to live. Not long after Cedarkit's death, my sister, Fernleaf, gave birth to a kit named Hawkkit. Fernleaf and I never got along, and I was outraged to know that she had a healthy kit while my kit was dead. Therefore, I killed him, to show her how I felt. Your mother, well, she ruined any chance I once had at happiness. And, your father betrayed me. Neither of them deserved to live."

Vixenpaw stared at Ivyleaf in stunned silence, and the she-cat continued, "You know, Vixenpaw, I never liked you or you brother, being that you are the offspring of Mudpelt and Maplestream, but I never planned on killing you." She sighed before adding, her voice hard, "But, being that you had to solve the mystery, you've left me no choice. I'm sorry, Vixenpaw."

Ivyleaf leapt toward Vixenpaw, and she tried to run, but it was too late. She felt the larger she-cat's claws dig into her shoulders, and felt her fangs dig into her throat. The last thing she heard, before her world turned black, was Birchpaw screaming in horror.

Thank you for reading! If you liked it, please leave a review.