Mouseheart woke up in a starlit clearing, frosty trees surrounding him. It was if the scents of all the seasons swirled around him at once; the icy bitterness of leafbare the most prominent. Overhead was a dark sky, and in the distance, he could hear footsteps patter within the forest. The footsteps grew closer, and closer, and the deputy could not say anything. He was too scared to speak.

Suddenly, a dark shape emerged from the trees. A black tom now towered over him, his glossy fur rippling as he approached. His starry blue eyes held a familiarity to him as they darted down towards him. There seemed to be an eerie calmness surrounding him, stars dancing in his pelt. Suddenly, he realized who was standing in front of him.

"Snowface!" the small tom exclaimed. "You're here!"

The white-headed tom dipped his head. "Indeed." He paused briefly, and went on to say, "You did the right thing, Mouseheart. Even if you went behind your leader's back, you did it to protect the innocent. StarClan admires your courage."

He felt honored, a rush of pride swelling through him. "T-Thank you. It's an honor to serve as your successor, Snowface."

The former deputy dipped his head in respect. "There is one more thing I should tell you." The tabby tom's ears peaked in interest. "To clear the dark thunderclouds, a new leader must arise."

"Wha-?" Before he could finish, the large tom started to fade out of the clearing. "Wait! Snowface! Can't you at least tell me who killed you?"

"That is for you to figure out, young one." His voice echoed as he faded out of sight.

"Wait!" Before Mouseheart knew it, everything faded into nothingness.


"Why is he here?!"

Mouseheart shot up from his nest, and looked around. Why was he here…? Then it came back to him. He was supposed to kill Beesong. Now, he was residing in the same twoleg nest the rogues lived in. He was in the home of the enemy for now. And yet, Beesong was still alive, sleeping next to him. She seemed to have not heard the outcry. An air of hostility hung around them, with Twist's fur bristling as he dug his claws into the ground.

"Calm down." White lowered his tail, commanding for his son to sit down. "He's our guest for now."

"He's our enemy," the gray tabby snapped back. "We can't let cats in here whenever you feel like it. It'd be like welcoming a badger in here!"

"I know, but Bee brought him along." He pointed towards the two Clan cats. "He has something to tell you." The two rogues looked over at Mouseheart, and his anxiety started to grow.

"Oh! Right, right." He got up from his nest, the shoulder with the now-forming scar on it a little sore. He puffed out his chest, trying to make himself seem bigger. "Beesong is going to stay with you two until further notice."

The reaction from Twist was almost immediate. "She is, now?" He slinked over to her, standing over the she-cat. The early sun casted a shadow over her sleeping form. "Why might that be the case, you little mouse-heart?"

"My leader, the leader of ThunderClan wants her dead for a crime she didn't commit," the deputy explained, trying to ignore his insult. "I…can't bring myself to kill her."

The rogue burst out in laughter. "Wow, you're even more mouse-brained than I thought you were," he wheezed in the midst of it. "Leaving her here won't solve anything. Not unless you don't have any evidence to convince him."

"This was supposed to be a secret mission!" he protested. "If I come back with blood on my paws, the whole Clan will know I killed her!"

"Then find another method. It's that simple," the gray tom chided. "Look, if you're really that desperate to leave her here, then I can show you something."

White gave him an uneasy glance. "Are you suggesting…?"

"Yes," Twist finished. "Follow me, little mouse-heart."

"Wait…" The mangy tom did not budge at all, his suspicions rising. "How do I know you're not leading me into a trap?"

"You don't," he replied before heading out of the nest.

"You ought to follow," the elder rogue suggested. "We may still be enemies, but we are your allies for now."

"Fine, fine," Mouseheart grumbled, and he slipped out of the twoleg nest as well to catch up with the other rogue.

It had started to snow once more, yet the sun was peeking out of the clouds. Orange light surrounded them as the two toms treaded through the snow, the area becoming more and more unfamiliar. Where was Twist taking him, exactly? Suddenly, a new, strong scent hit his nose, and he became alarmed.

Foxes! he realized. More fear crept into him. What was he planning to do exactly? Leave him out for the dead?

The fox stench grew stronger and stronger, until it was pretty much fresh. Twist flicked his tail and told the ThunderClan cat to stop. They waited, and suddenly, a single fox crawled out of its nest. Immediately, it spotted the two invading cats, a malignant glare in its dark, beady eyes. The light brown tabby unsheathed his claws, ready to strike. He glanced over at the rogue.

"What are you doing?!" he hissed. The tom was simply standing, not intending to take action.

"I'll let you fight this fox." He took a few steps back. "Besides, if you're really some experienced 'warrior', then you can get rid of this fox once and for all."

"Do you know how dangerous they are?!" Mouseheart snapped. "Even warriors have died trying to fight foxes!"

Before Twist could answer, the fox pounced. Its weight crashed down onto the deputy, its jaw snapping at him. He slashed its muzzle, but that did not faze him. It reached down for his throat, but he rolled over, the teeth simply grazing his neck, yet he freed himself from the fox's grasp. It stumbled in surprise, but wasted no effort rushing towards him. Mouseheart was faster. He dashed around the fox and made a leap for its back. It did not succeed, and the fox attacked back. The fox's claws slashed his side, and the deputy wreathed in pain.

Dear StarClan, help me!

Luckily, size was an advantage here. The tabby slipped under the beast's belly, raking his claws through it. It howled in pain, but the young fox did not just seem to give it. Despite the injury, it kept fighting. It made another attempt at ripping his throat out, yet the deputy was able to get out of the way in time. Instead, it was barreling towards Twist. The rogue stepped out of the way, leaving the fox to crash into the frozen ground. Blood started to leak out of its nose, but that did not faze it at all. Once again, it jolted towards Mouseheart, teeth bared.

The cat jumped on a rock, with his intentions being to catch it from above. The fox stopped abruptly to sniff the air, and then it started to head towards the rock the deputy perched on. Head-on, he leaped towards the fox, the impact knocking it down belly-up. Claws unsheathed, he started ripping its throat. Warm blood embraced his claws, and the beast's white neck fur was stained red, spreading to the snow below. The life faded out of its evil eyes, and they became glossy with the mark of death. Mouseheart pulled his claws out of the fox and got off of it. It went limp.

Twist chuckled. "You said they are dangerous, yet you won."

The skin under the tabby's pelt became hot with anger. "I just got lucky!" he snapped. As soon as he finished, he noticed the fatigue from the brief battle set in. His legs started to shake, and his own scarlet blood still leaked out of his wounds. He would bleed out if he remained here and meet a similar fate to the fox. "…Besides, I'm not in great shape."

An unamused look crossed the gray tabby's face, and he then grumbled, "Look, I can carry you back, you little kit-warrior. You're small enough."

"I can still walk," he protested, puffing out his chest fur. "And I'm not a kit!"

"Still counts." Before the deputy could say another word, the rogue snuck behind him and grabbed him by the scruff. Curses started to run through his head as he froze, helpless.

"Just drop me off by the border," Mouseheart demanded. "We made an agreement."

"Which is…?"

"Beesong can stay as long as you never enter Clan territory, ever again."

"Oh yeah, right." Twist, still holding Mouseheart, continued to trudge through the snow as the fields turned back into the woods, and the scent of ThunderClan grew stronger and stronger. A trail of blood followed them, but they had no time to clean it up.

"We're here," the brown tom announced after some time. Immediately, the gray tom released his hold, and the smaller cat plopped onto the ground. He got back onto his paws, and turned his head to look into Twist's yellow eyes. "Thank you."

"No problem," the rogue meowed and left without another word.

Mouseheart returned his attention to the land in front of him. Everything was familiar now. He hated having to spend more time in the medicine cat den, but it would allow him to process recent events. Beesong was gone, but he did not expect his life to get any better. He took a step, and then another. It was a miracle he was still on the earth, walking around like life was normal. With that mention, another thought hung in his mind—when will this luck streak end? He sniffed the air, trying to recognize any familiar cats. Someone had definitely been here; the border marking was fresh. He peered through the trees to look at the sky. It was blue now, and he had to bet that the dawn patrol had passed by now.

While walking, he started to cry out the names of ThunderClan cats, in hopes that someone was nearby. He hoped that whoever he found could fetch Ravendusk to treat him quickly before bringing him back to the medicine den for more efficient methods. Alas, no one came. As he drew closer to camp, he gave up. He took a deep breath, preparing to enter through the brambles to tell a lie. Though he was no mastermind, he already had an idea of what he would say to the rest of the Clan.

When he approached the camp, he was met with perplexed faces from the guards, Kestrelshade and Seedbreeze. Not Seedbreeze! Mouseheart immediately thought in alarm. I can't let her see me weak!

"What happened?" the cream she-cat asked, squinting. "You don't usually get into fights."

"I swear I didn't mean to get into this one," the deputy meowed. He winced in pain from her remark, memories of the past night flooding into his head. He would make a fool of himself here, that was for sure.

"So? What happened?" she pressed.

"Beesong and I got into a fight with a fox," he replied.

"And where is Beesong?" Kestrelshade butted in, raising an eyebrow.

"She's…" He gulped, hesitating before saying the false truth. "…Dead."

The she-cat's ears perked up in alarm. "Dead?!" She looked over at the warrior with the torn ear. "Can you believe this?"

"Considering her behavior, yes," the dark brown tom put bluntly. He then focused his attention on the deputy. "You better go to Ravendusk's den, now," he commanded. "You almost died once since becoming deputy, and you're not dying again today."

"I'll help you," Seedbreeze offered, standing up. "You won't last another step."

"Seedbreeze, please!" he cried. "I can get my own paws there!"

"No." The larger warrior blocked him from entering very briefly, and then she swung around to his hide, and rested her tail on his back. The two cats walked to the medicine cat's den, with every cat staring at them. Mouseheart was embarrassed by all of this, but then again, the love of his life was his escort now.

When they entered, Ravendusk raised a sleepy head. No one else was in the medicine cat den, not even Emberkit. She started to ask what they needed, but quickly she noticed the wounds on the deputy and ushered him in. Seedbreeze left the two to their lonesome, and with little words between them, the black-and-white she-cat began to treat Mouseheart's wounds.

"You really need to follow my advice," she growled. "Look at yourself. Your last wound was healing up all nicely, and now you almost get yourself killed again."

"It's not as serious as last time," he argued. "It was just a fox."

"And any wound can get infected," she snapped back as she rubbed a marigold poultice on the most severe wound. Afterwards, she pushed a sweet-smelling leaf towards him. "You better eat this, too."

"Alright, alright." He ate the chervil leaf like she asked, and he waited once more as Ravendusk covered his wounds in cobwebs.

"Now, rest," she commanded. "I'm not letting you go as early next time."

Mouse-dung...


Several sunrises later, the medicine cat finally let Mouseheart walk around camp. Once again, Stemtail had assumed deputy responsibilities while he was out of commission, and the tabby even started to have nightmares of Molestar exiling him from the Clan. All in the while, thoughts on what to do now raced through his head. Any leads on who the suspect could be were virtually lost, and sitting around doing nothing would not help him at all.

"Are you sure that piece of fur isn't Snowface's?" Aspenspring had said while visiting him. One thing the tom did decide on was to be more open about his investigation into Snowface's murder. He explained private things that had happened, except for whole ordeal involving Molestar's command to kill Beesong, to his mother first of all. She had been supportive the entire time, though the point she brought up then was a good one.

"I just… know it!" Mouseheart had exclaimed. "His scent wasn't anywhere near where I found it."

"But who did you smell on it?"

"…I don't remember." He did not think he smelled any cat in particular, actually. The tuft's scent was muddied with other ones.

"Then it's Snowface's fur," she had concluded. "That's what I think."

After thinking their conversation over, Mouseheart realized she was right. It was most certainly Snowface's fur that he collected. However, now the whole string of suspects was falling apart. It could be anyone now. Aspenspring and Speckfeather could have not told them something, that was another hole. Thus, he made the decision to ask Molestar to announce his investigation to the whole Clan. To his den was where the deputy was heading now.

"Ah, Mouseheart," the cream-and-brown tom meowed, sitting on the Highledge. "Glad to see you out and about."

"Thanks," he replied to the leader's compliment. "But, I just want to ask you something."

"What is it?" he asked, turning to focus his amber gaze on the deputy.

He straightened, and then Mouseheart offered, "I want to announce my investigation to the Clan."

For a few heartbeats, Molestar was silent, but he shook his head. "Didn't we conclude that Beesong was the murderer?" he argued in a low voice.

"We did, but..." The tabby hesitated, debating on whenever to reveal his dream or not. It was the Clan leader he was talking to, so he should be confident in telling him any visit he had from StarClan, but at the same time, he was afraid of how the ThunderClan leader would react. He decided, why not? Things could only get worse from here. "Snowface visited me in my dream the night after I killed her," he continued. "He said she was innocent."

Quietly, Molestar whined, "Snowface visited you, but not me?" A look of despair crossed his features, but by the time Mouseheart recognized it, he reverted back to a calm stance. "That does not prove anything."

"StarClan is always right, aren't they?" the deputy argued. "We should listen to them!"

"Have you told Ravendusk about your dream?" the tom then asked.

"No," he replied. "She refuses to even talk to me." Mouseheart began to grow frustrated with the leader.

"Strange…" he muttered, gaining a distant look in his gaze. "I wonder why."

"So…" the deputy started. "Please, let me make this investigation public."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Yes I am!" The tabby flexed his claws, and with determination blazing in his green eyes, he continued, "The tuft of fur I found is Snowface's, I'm almost sure of it now. There's no other explanation." He stood taller, puffing out his fur. "Aspenspring's and Speckfeather's memory could have been faulty, and that means a lot more cats might have left the camp than we first thought. Anyone is a suspect, whenever they like it or not."

The ThunderClan leader was taken aback for a heartbeat, but then he nodded, ears flattened ever so slightly. "Very well. I'll let you speak after I make Plumsnout's kits apprentices."

"Thank you." He dipped his head. He started to leave when Molestar laid down a tail to block his path, who told him to wait.

He took a few steps to the edge of the Highledge, and cleared his throat. Straightening, he announced, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting."

Quickly, the Clan sprang to life, and cats came crawling out of their dens and dropped their activities to gather beneath the Highledge. Mouseheart looked down upon the new crowd, amazed at how small they were from this high up. Will this be normal when I become leader? It was one of the first Clan meetings called since he had become the deputy of ThunderClan. To think that all of this chaos had happened in the span of less than a moon felt unsettling to the mangy tom. In this short time, he felt like he has lived a lifetime.

Once the ThunderClan cats had settled down, the leader began to speak. "I call you today for a very important event in a cat's lifetime." Mouseheart started to scan the crowd to search for Flowerkit and Emberkit. Indeed, they were out in the camp, little tails raised high and proud. He wished he had their enthusiasm about the meeting. But they don't know what I'm going to say.

"Flowerkit! Emberkit!" he called. Eyes sparkling with joy, the two kits stepped up. Plumsnout gave a kind smile as she watched her kits alongside Kestrelshade, who definitely seemed like he was in a good mood. They conversed briefly before the brown-and-cream tom spoke once more. "You two have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed."

"Flowerkit," Molestar continued, "from this day on, you will be known as Flowerpaw. Your mentor will be…" He scanned the crowd, and then meowed, "Mossyfall." The mottled brown tom looked surprised to hear his name uttered. "I hope he passes down all he knows to you.

"As for you, Mossyfall, you are indeed ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Stormcloud—may he find good hunting in StarClan—and I hope you can past down your courage and patience to Flowerpaw." Mossyfall nodded while Flowerpaw padded up to him and they touched noses.

"Flowerpaw! Flowerpaw!" the Clan cheered.

"Now, Emberkit," Molestar meowed. The gray kit seemed to tense out of anticipation. "From this day on, you will be known as Emberpaw. Ravendusk will be your mentor. I trust that she will pass down her knowledge and dedication to you." He turned to the black-and-white she-cat sitting near the edge of the crown. "I trust that you will pass down your knowledge to Emberpaw."

Emberpaw and Ravendusk touched noses, but with a certain hesitance not found between Mossyfall and Flowerpaw. Regardless, the Clan cheered Emberpaw's name. Despite the rough start, the dark gray she-cat beamed with pride.

"Before I dismiss you all," Molestar announced, "the deputy of ThunderClan has something to announce to you." He turned to Mouseheart and dipped his head. The tabby gulped, and he stepped up to the edge of the Highledge. Looking down upon all the cats was nauseating, but he was confident that he could do this. He just needed to muster his words.

"Cats of ThunderClan," he started, his voice a little quiet compared to the leader's. "As you know, Snowface, the late deputy of ThunderClan, was murdered by an unknown cat not even a moon ago." Strange looks came upon their faces. This isn't going too well… "Since I was appointed deputy, I was given a task by Molestar to do something very important." Louder, he meowed, "Discover the culprit behind Snowface's murder!"

Immediately, the Clan burst into conversation, with several cats directed their complaints towards Mouseheart. "Quiet, quiet!" Molestar interjected. "Let him finish."

"Thank you," he meowed quietly to the tom. Turning back to the cats of the Clan, he continued. "Despite my efforts, I have not found out who did it yet. Thus, I'm asking all of you to cooperate with me." More cats talked among themselves, but the tabby tried his best to ignore them. "All of you are suspects. Everyone is guilty until proven innocent."

"Even the kits?!" Snowpond cried out in alarm. "Blizzardkit only just opened his eyes! There's no way he could have killed a full-grown warrior!"

"And even the queens," Darkblossom hissed. "My kits are going to come any day now, and I can't do anything for StarClan's sake, even back when Snowface was killed!"

"The elders, too," Needlebelly pointed out. "Waspdust has been blind for moons! He's been in there ever since that badger clawed his eyes out, and I was a queen for most of my life. I have not needed to fight someone since I was a young warrior. I probably fight like a kittypet at this point."

"And either way," Redfang snapped, "most of us were asleep while Snowface was hunting before the dawn patrol was sent out!

"And weren't you hurt half the time you've been deputy?" Birdpaw added. "That's not very good."

These complaints made the deputy close to giving up. He could just announce that he would stop and walk away, becoming even more of a disappointment. By StarClan, he could just resign and give his job to Stemtail. He would have been a much better detective. However, something inside him drove him to keep going. He could not just quit now. The Clan was loud with outrage, and Mouseheart was quiet, lost in his thoughts and worries.

Instead of backing down, he remained on the Highledge. He would complete this, no matter what the Clan told him. He had to. StarClan was counting on him, and he did not want to let them down. "I realize that," he replied. "But we cannot take any chances. Even the most unlikely cat could be the murderer. We will bring justice, and the murderer will be punished for their crimes!"

The Clan roared in support, the complaints much less now. The Clan started to cheer his name, and for the first time since becoming deputy, Mouseheart felt like he could set things right. He would not give up, and that was his final decision.


A/N: First half of Faded Stars, complete! The stakes are only getting higher from here on out, and there's much more to come in this story. With everything that happened in this rather short chapter, what are your predictions on what is going to happen next? Who do you think the true murderer is? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the reviews. Until next time, Branchwing, out!