Author's Note: A big thanks to everyone that reviewed last chapter, and a big welcome to the readers that have hopped aboard since! n_n My family was visiting the weekend before last, so there was much more cooking than writing going on, and last weekend, I was attending a Renaissance Faire. All that said, I apologize for the late update. I also thank you endlessly for bearing with me. In other news, I received a question from the marvelous Warriors Fan12, and I feel the answer is worth sharing.

Question: How long do you think Blackbirds will be?

Answer: According to my rough outlines, I'm looking at about fifty chapters per book. I can confirm that there will be at least two books, and there may even be a third depending on how things play out. Stay tuned! c;


ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ sɪx | ʙᴇᴇᴛʟᴇᴘᴀᴡ


Beetlepaw was curled tight in her mossy nest when the yowling started. She watched as the other apprentices sat up one by one like sentinel rabbits, their glowing eyes fixated on the den's moonlit opening. Like the others, the small black molly lifted her head, and her ears swiveled forward as the distant shouts became louder and more distinct.

"Rowanstar, we can't accept this! They've gone too far."

Beetlepaw recognized Whitelion's deep, rumbling voice just as easily as she recognized Lindenfur's sharp meow:

"They've taken so much from me, Rowanstar, I can't—!"

From the nest next to Beetlepaw's, Rainpaw rushed forward, murmuring to herself, "Oh, StarClan, no..." The gray tabby's footfalls were uneven, and after stumbling over her own gangling legs, she all but spilled out the den's entrance. She called to her mother, "Lindenfur, what's wrong?"

Fawnpaw jumped to her paws and shook a stray feather from her light brown fur. "I'm going out, too." She turned to Beetlepaw, and blue eyes met blue before the two mollies nodded together.

"I'll come with you," Beetlepaw affirmed, and keeping close to the taller apprentice's side, she made to leave the den.

"Hey! Wai—" Cedarpaw yawned. "Wait up!"

Without even looking at her brother, Fawnpaw leaped from the den into the bright night.

Beetlepaw was just about to poke her head out from under the holly bush as well when she heard Rainpaw shout, "Where's Snowfoot now?"

"Snowfoot?" Beetlepaw echoed as she emerged beside Fawnpaw. She'd never been particularly close to the white warrior. However, she remembered how a mere moon ago, he'd assured her whimpering kit-self that there was at least one cat in DuskClan that would be honored to have her as his apprentice. As she eventually figured, he hadn't been referring to Ravenflight.

Beetlepaw twitched her whiskers and scanned the clearing. Not far from where she stood, there was a flat boulder even larger than the one over the medicine cat's den, and beneath its stony lip was the entrance to the leader's den. Ambassadors slept there, so it was no surprise when Reedstripe and Tallnight popped their heads up from the shadows.

On the other side of the leader's boulder, the warrior den could be found at the base of a large pine tree, and several cats crowded around its trunk, while on the opposite side of camp, Badgerclaw, Stoatbelly, and Wormtail all perched on the oak roots outside the elders' den.

Firefern and Blackbee had emerged from under the medicine cat's boulder, and beneath the nursery's pine tree, a long-limbed black and white queen stood with a yawning Nettlekit between her paws.

Like Fawnpaw, all the awakened cats stared at camp's center, where Rowanstar sat surrounded by the warriors that had attended the Gathering. Each voiced a variety of concerns, though none quite explained the current commotion.

Rainpaw had joined them and sat licking Lindenfur's shoulder like a mother trying to soothe her anxious kit. Meanwhile, Ivyheart stood off to the side with Rookpaw and Pikepaw. She appeared to be speaking gently to them, but the two toms simply stared ahead into nothingness, as if they'd gone blind and deaf.

Beetlepaw felt her heart seize.

"Pardon me." Cedarpaw stepped out from the apprentice den, his broad shoulder bumping Beetlepaw to the side so he could stand beside Fawnpaw. "What's going on here?"

Fawnpaw shrugged. "We don't know for sure yet. Snowfoot's missing, and it looks bad. Even Pikepaw's shaking."

Cedarpaw frowned and stuck his white chin forward. He looked ready to defend his friend's fearless reputation, but he said nothing.

After a deep breath, Rowanstar broke from the group and made straight for the Standing Stones. Most of the other cats at the center followed her at a considerable distance, but Beetlepaw noticed how Ivyheart turned to guide Rookpaw and Pikepaw to the medicine cat's den.

As Firefern rushed to help Ivyheart nudge the two apprentices along, Rowanstar jumped atop the shortest of the three cylindrical stones. She paused and her white-tipped tail flicked once before she jumped again to perch on the tallest. Under the moonlight, her ginger tabby fur looked a pale yellow, and her white chest swelled before she yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Standing Stones for a Clan meeting!"

"Come on!" Cedarpaw meowed as the cats around the camp's edges began to run toward their leader. The red-brown tom dashed forward and disappeared between a blue-gray warrior and a tall black molly missing the tip of one ear.

Fawnpaw darted after him, but Beetlepaw hung back. She watched the black molly warrior with shuffling paws, but despite her hopes, Spiderfang didn't once glance in her direction. Instead, the short-furred warrior settled next to Badgerclaw without a word.

Like the rays of a setting sun, the gathered cats radiated out from the Standing Stones, and Beetlepaw imagined Cedarpaw and Fawnpaw sitting right in front of Rowanstar. Thornwillow and Ratwhisker were probably sitting with them, grooming their fur and reminding them to mind their volume. She was convinced Rainpaw still sat with Lindenfur, trying to soothe her, and Nettlekit was probably nestled comfortably against the warmth of her mother's side.

She missed Rookpaw.

Beetlepaw circled around the cluster of cats, watching as Ivyheart and Firefern padded over from the medicine cat's den to take their places on either side of Rowanstar.

Ivyheart leaped to sit on the second highest stone, while Firefern jumped atop the shortest. In position, DuskClan's three highest ranked cats sat with their backs straight and their heads high.

The cats below murmured to one another, and Beetlepaw, with her ears flat and her shoulders hunched, plopped down beside Spiderfang.

"I'm worried about Rookpaw," she mewed, stealing a look up at the powerful warrior, but she didn't even receive a blink in return. She dropped her gaze down to her paws. "He hates the medicine cat's den. He can't stand the taste of herbs. I know he'd rather be out here, but he's not, so I'm... I'm worried. Spiderfang?"

"Spiderfang, just talk to your kit," Badgerclaw spat.

Beetlepaw flinched, but before her mother could speak, Rowanstar began.

"Snowfoot is dead." The ginger and white molly paused just long enough for the gathered cats to hiss. "He was killed during the Gathering, and according to the other Clans, such a thing does not defy Lune's truce. There is no body left, and his vicious murder confirms our worst fears. DuskClan is not considered equal to the other Clans, and like prey, we are vulnerable."

A few cats wailed, and one gray and white warrior jumped up to remind the others he'd warned them this would happen. A few expressed agreement. Others whimpered. Even so, the cats of DuskClan were leaning against one another, licking one another's ears and whispering comfort.

In stark contrast, Reedstripe and Tallnight stood stiff like a pair of mice discovered under a mushroom cap. Cricketpaw lay on his belly with his paws over his eyes.

"Monstrous!" Badgerclaw growled, her black and white fur bristling.

Spiderfang simply gave a knowing nod, but Beetlepaw felt a lump in her throat.

She thought again about Snowfoot and his sunny disposition, how he didn't even hesitate to say he admired a shy kit like her. He wasn't the sort to start trouble. He wasn't even intimidating.

Rowanstar continued, "As angry as we all are, this tragedy does not mean that our ambassadors are unwelcome. They are our guests, and we will not treat them poorly for actions they had no part in. We will not let this crime plunge the four Clans back into war. That would do nothing but befoul Snowfoot's memory." Her green eyes flashed. "As DuskClan's leader, I swear that I will seek justice, and I hope you will trust Ivyheart and I to find the best solution."

Ivyheart, looking up at her leader, blinked encouragement.

Rowanstar concluded, "At this time, those who wish it may pay their respects to Snowfoot. He is an honored warrior, and he shall be sorely missed. Let us not taint the night of his vigil with hate."

The murmuring began again as Ivyheart and Rowanstar jumped down and disappeared into the leader's den. The ambassadors followed the pair with Cricketpaw stumbling over their heels.

Rather than return to the medicine cat's den, Firefern jumped into the crowd. He ran forward to nuzzle Sorrelspot, a white molly with large ginger and brown tabby patches.

Firefern—Beetlepaw remembered—had been Snowfoot's brother, and Sorrelspot their mother.

Badgerclaw shook her head. "Just shameful. At the rate things are going, I'm beginning to wonder if the other Clans want another war."

"That seems likely," Spiderfang meowed, her voice as smooth and gentle as a shallow stream. "I don't think it's a coincidence this has happened just after the ambassadors decided to poke around the elders' den." Her pale green eyes flicked toward Badgerclaw, and the elder nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean?" Beetlepaw queried.

Badgerclaw narrowed her orange eyes at Spiderfang, flicking her tail once in Beetlepaw's direction, and the black warrior sighed.

"The ambassadors wouldn't have visited with the elders unless they thought we were hiding something." Spiderfang bent down and licked Beetlepaw's ear, her movements effortless, as though she did such a thing all the time. "It's silly, honeybee, but that's just how it is."

"I see." Beetlepaw frowned. Her ear tingled where Spiderfang had licked it, and she thought it strange how she could feel a rush of both joy and shame simultaneously. She clenched her mouth shut.

Badgerclaw rose to her paws with a stretch. "Hopefully Rowanstar can calm things down without letting personal feelings get in the way. Snowfoot was her kin, after all."

"A lot of cats were Snowfoot's kin. Kin and friends." Spiderfang lifted her head and looked back out at the cats gathered around Firefern and Sorrelspot. She noted aloud, "The dens will feel awful empty tonight."

"It makes sense." Badgerclaw rolled her muscular shoulders. "So few cats of their generation survived, and they'd grown so close, almost a like a family all their own. We called them the lucky ones when it was all over. Do you remember that?"

"I do." Spiderfang stood up. She towered over both her mother and her daughter. "The poor things."

"Beetlepaw, why don't you go check on Rookpaw? You were so worried about him before, and I'm sure he'd love to see you," Badgerclaw suggested.

"Right." Beetlepaw managed a shaky purr. She brushed against both Spiderfang and Badgerclaw in a silent farewell before making her way toward the medicine cat's den.

Badgerclaw wished her a good night and promised her everything would work out in the end.

Spiderfang, however, had resumed her silence and simply studied the various cats sitting vigil.

By then all the others had returned to their dens, and despite Snowfoot's mourners, the camp felt much emptier than it had when Beetlepaw first stepped out. She couldn't fathom what had gone wrong at the Gathering, but she felt the resultant shift. It was like a sudden breeze from another direction, one that carried the subtle scent of a storm, and it made Beetlepaw's heart flutter with worry.

She slipped beneath the medicine cat's boulder, and feeling her paws sink into the soft soil, she blinked to better adjust to the deep shadows within.

"Hello?" a gentle meow called out.

Blackbee.

Beetlepaw's worry gave way to excitement. She couldn't hold it against any cat, but she wasn't ignorant to the fact so many of them forgot she existed. Maybe Fawnpaw and Cedarpaw could leave her in their dust. Maybe Spiderfang and Badgerclaw could overlook her. But like Rookpaw, Blackbee was surely too kind for that. The little molly's long black fur stood on end and her ears perked. "I-I'm looking for Rookpaw. Is... Is he okay?"

From the darkness, Blackbee padded forward. Her head was cocked, and her golden eyes studied Beetlepaw curiously. "He's just about to fall asleep now, but you're welcome to see him if you wish. Come on in." She flicked her plumy tail, and on poised paws, she turned toward the nests at the back of the den.

Beetlepaw followed closely behind her, paying careful attention to the elegant rise and fall of the medicine cat's tiny paws. The narrow den turned spacious, and Beetlepaw quickly shifted her attention to the young toms.

Pikepaw was half-curled in one of the three nests, the front half of his long gray body hanging limp off the reed-wrapped side as if he'd fallen asleep abruptly.

Like his opposite, Rookpaw's tiny black body curled tight in his own nest, his jaw working frantically to chew on something.

"I've given them both a high dosage of poppy seeds." Blackbee stepped toward Pikepaw. One of her ears fell lopsided as, with her mouth, she pulled his forelegs into his temporary nest. "It should help with the stress, in part by putting them to sleep." She glanced up at Beetlepaw once before she proceeded to grab the unconscious tom by his scruff. She pulled so that Pikepaw rested with his head on his paws, and after giving him one last look-over, she nodded her satisfaction. She stepped around Pikepaw's nest and came to stand in front of Beetlepaw. "You're Rookpaw's littermate, aren't you?"

"I am." Beetlepaw pushed her white chest forward. However, after an awkward heartbeat, her fur fell flat. Had she sounded too cocky? She cleared her throat and approached Rookpaw to nose his familiar cheek.

He shuddered and buried his long face between his forepaws.

Beetlepaw's ears sagged. "It must have been really awful. The Gathering, I mean. These two, they're a couple of bramble bushes, you know. All prickly and ready to take on any challenger." She settled down on her belly and laid her forelimbs over Rookpaw's back before resting her head on top of them.

On one paw, she was grateful that there didn't seem to be any external injuries. Both toms looked fine and fit with no blood and no cobwebs. On the other paw, if they were in the medicine cat's den without physical injuries, then their wounds must be internal, like Barkface's lingering paranoia.

Beetlepaw stared at the den's back wall and whispered to her brother, "You're going to be okay, okay?"

He trembled beneath her, but he seemed to relax some. Whether that was the result of what she'd said or the poppy seeds finally starting to take effect, Beetlepaw couldn't be sure, but she purred nonetheless.

When his breathing finally slowed, she lifted her head and looked over her shoulder at Blackbee. "I don't mean to pry, and I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I-I really don't mean to offend you, but by any chance... do you know why they killed Snowfoot?"

The DawnClan medicine cat, by then seated as well, hesitated before admitting, "I can't imagine why any cat would want to kill another."

Beetlepaw couldn't imagine why either, but a thought struck her. Before she could stifle it, it floated up from her mouth in the form of a curious meow, "Do you think it has anything to do with the prophecy?"

There was a pause, and in its instant, Beetlepaw realized her mistake. The den's pleasant warmth seemed to turn to ice as a shot of adrenaline tore through her.

Blackbee's tail began flicking furiously. "Excuse me?"

Beetlepaw froze, and her mouth shut tight.

One of Blackbee's ears twitched, and the molly stepped forward, suddenly looking much larger. "Who told you about a prophecy?"

"I-I..." Beetlepaw felt her fur grow hot.

"Well?"

She gulped. "I accidentally overheard you and Firefern talking about it last night. I was just sitting outside, and then I heard it, and..." She pinned her ears back, and avoiding Blackbee's blazing yellow eyes, she turned to face the den's wall once more. "I know I should have stopped listening and just left, but I couldn't. I'm selfish, I know. Curiosity got the better of me. I admit it. I'm sorry." She buried her face in Rookpaw's dark fur, muffling her meow, "I'm sorry, Blackbee!"

"Does anyone else know?"

Beetlepaw kept her face hidden. "I only told Rookpaw, but he's good at keeping secrets. We won't tell anyone else."

Blackbee sighed, and her meow turned gentle once more, "That's fine, then. So long as you both promise to keep the secret, I promise I won't tell Rowanstar about your accidental espionage."

Beetlepaw turned her head, just enough to peek at the medicine cat with one round blue eye.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you," Blackbee purred, her ears pinned back with apology. "To answer your question, I can't say I see how tonight's events relate to the prophecy, but who knows? Maybe this is the beginning, or maybe it's the end and we were too late to stop it." The corners of her mouth twitched downward. "That said, we truly don't know what the prophecy means, and that's why it's important to keep it quiet. We don't want to start a panic, understand?"

Beetlepaw nodded against Rookpaw's side, ruffling his fur and causing him to shift in his sleep.

Blackbee stepped forward and licked Beetlepaw's ear. "I trust you."

Beetlepaw felt her heart swell with pride, and she lifted her head fully. "Blackbee?"

The petite molly tilted her head. "Yes?"

"I've been meaning to thank you... for stopping Bearpaw. It means a lot to me, and I really admire how you handled the situation. I think you're really smart and brave, and I hope that someday I can be like you."

"I apologize, but would you mind telling me your name again?"

"Beetlepaw. My name's Beetlepaw."

"That's incredibly sweet of you to say, Beetlepaw." Blackbee shut her eyes and purred anew. "If you want to be like me, does that mean you have an interest in herbs?"

Beetlepaw's eyes went wide and her tail fluffed up. "I-I do a little?" She watched Blackbee blink at her curiously, then elaborated, "When I was a kit, I was really curious and Rowanstar once talked to me about becoming a medicine cat apprentice, but... Firefern didn't want an apprentice just yet. He's still so young, so I've been trying really hard to be a good warrior instead." She wrinkled her nose. "But, honestly, I've always been better at building nests and helping the elders than at hunting and fighting. I've always been fascinated by StarClan... and prophesies..."

Blackbee's golden eyes seemed to glitter. "If you'd like, and if you can keep up with your mentor's training as well, I wouldn't mind teaching you a little on the side."

"Really!" Beetlepaw burst, then ducked her head, realizing how loud she must have been. She looked from Rookpaw to Pikepaw, inspecting the steady rise and fall of their sides. Thankfully both appeared to be sound asleep. She matched Blackbee's purr.

"We can start tomorrow, so you'd best get a good night's rest, all right?"

"Absolutely," Beetlepaw agreed.

Blackbee dipped her head and turned to check one of the herb stores, most likely to see if she'd used all their poppy seeds.

Meanwhile, Beetlepaw lingered in the den just long enough to press her nose against Rookpaw's side and murmur, "You don't have to be scared. Blackbee and I will help you. You can count on it."


Thanks for reading! And, as always, if you enjoyed this chapter at all-all the more if you hated it!-please review. Even just a few words go a long, long way. See you again next week!

Reader Question: At this point, what do you think DuskClan should do?

Critical Question: There were a lot of characters and names in this chapter. Were you ever confused?