The shadows of pine trees draped the clearing in darkness. The boggy ground squelched under my paws as I crept toward the ravine. My prey sat just by the edge. One touch and it would be done.
I closed the remaining distance with a leap and came at him from behind. He didn't even have time to scream before he hit the rocks below. The stream ran red with his blood.
...
Shadeflower barreled into camp, panting. Her eyes were wild with terror.
"It's Sootstripe," she whispered. "He's dead."
The Clan murmured in confusion, and Wolfstar stepped forward. "How did this happen?"
"I went hunting and I passed him sitting by the ravine. Later, I was tracking a frog and I heard something fall in. I ran over and the stream was red. He must have lost his footing... His body was floating, it was mangled but I could still see his gray fur..." she whimpered, shuddering at the memory.
...
In StarClan, an orange tom sat next to a gray tabby tom.
"I'm telling you Firestar, someone pushed me. I didn't just fall," the gray tom meowed.
"Who could have, though?" he wondered, and started pacing. "Did you ever see the cat?"
Sootstripe shook his head. "No, and I didn't smell them either. It seems like they were trained for this, and used to do someone else's dirty work."
He had no idea how close he was to the truth.
...
"Tonight we will sit vigil for Sootstripe," Wolfstar announced, standing over his body. "He was a strong and noble young warrior, and we mourn his tragic passing."
A large portion of the Clan sat at the vigil. Many went up to his body to pay their respects to him, including Shadeflower. Luckily, no one else heard what she whispered in his ear.
"I'm sorry."
...
The orange tom sat with a blue-gray she-cat now.
"It's been a week and we still have no clues!" Firestar growled, lashing his tail. "What are we supposed to do, Bluestar?"
The she-cat rolled her eyes. "Be patient, Firestar. We'll just have to wait until they strike again."
...
It felt so good to be out in the woods again, tracking in the shadows. This time I was allowed to have a bit more fun. I hid behind trees and it was easy to stay just out of sight. It really was a shame that I didn't get a more challenging target.
I finally got bored of this and got close enough to finish the job. I hopped on to her back and slashed over and over. I felt a purr rising in my throat. I eventually became annoyed by her struggles (ha! As if she could ever defeat me!) and sunk my teeth into her throat.
"I hope you remember every way you hurt me," I meowed casually, walking away. "This is how it feels."
...
Wolfstar sighed, looking down at the body of his deputy. The grooming of her fur couldn't hide the huge slices covering her back, and the herbs couldn't mask the scent of death. What had she done to deserve this?
...
I pouted. I had been informed of the final stage of the plan, but it was so boring. More stalking through the woods and pouncing. It needed to be more dramatic. Whatever; if I didn't do it her way, I wouldn't get a reward.
...
Wolfstar stood on the Highrock. "I say these words before the body of Amberstorm, so her spirit may hear and approve my choice. Nightwing will be the new deputy of ShadowClan."
All of the pieces were falling into place.
...
I followed Wolfstar out on one of his night hunts. He was dead by morning.
...
Nightstar stood on the Highrock. She had just received her nine lives. She began the ceremony.
"My deputy will be..." I shook with anticipation. "Honeylight."
With one word, my world fell to pieces. My own sister had lied to me. I had no one left, nothing to live for. Without a second thought, I charged.
My vision was red. "You lied to me," I hissed.
She looked at me doubtfully. "I'm a leader. You can't challenge me."
"Oh yes I can." I ran at her and began slashing her.
She shoves me away. "You can't kill me. I have nine lives." Her voice is laced with doubt.
"I'll just have to take them one at a time," I smiled.
In a flash I had her pinned. "I was always the stronger one."
I sliced her stomach open and she twitched nine times and then lay still. I laughed, and her blood coated my claws, my legs, my entire body.
I kept laughing, and I went through the crowd, attacking cats at random. Around a third of them lay dead. Something hit me in the back of the head, and my sight grew fuzzy. A golden figure stood over me.
"Honeylight...?" I managed.
"I'm sorry, but I have to do this." She sank her teeth into my throat.
...
I sat in a black void. Suddenly my mom was next to me.
"Mom!" I yowled. "I thought you left."
She shook her head. "I was a kittypet; my housefolk moved away, and they took me with them. We were all supposed to join the Clan together. Your father left them to be with me. I did manage to escape the Twolegs, but I couldn't find my way back: I died trying."
"Why are we here?" I wondered.
"I think they're deciding if we will be in StarClan or not."
"Do you think I'll make it? After what I did?" I asked uncertainly.
"I don't know," she replied, "but wherever you go, I will go with you."
