Chapter 8
Mournful wails had sounded when Ghostwind told the Clan what had happened to Brightfur. Willowcloud remained silent as he described how Brightfur tried to fight off the DuskClan warriors. She was desperately outnumbered, and had fallen at the claws of Rosefang. Willowcloud had flinched when he mentioned that Rosefang wanted revenge on the one who gave her the scars on her neck. She knew that he was wrong, and that he was the one who murdered Brightfur in cold blood.
Thornstar's head was bent as he whispered something to Brightfur's body. Willowcloud could see that there was pain in his eyes. The black-furred leader kept his gaze on Ghostwind after he was finished relaying the heroic actions he took after chasing the DuskClan warriors out.
"Brightfur was...is one of the best deputies I could ever ask for," Thornstar began. His voice was hoarse as he swallowed. "She would have made a wonderful leader. Probably a better leader than even I. She will be welcomed in StarClan."
"You must choose a new deputy before the moonhigh," Owlfeather rasped.
Thornstar turned to face her, hackles raised and yellow eyes dark. "Yes, of course." He blinked after watching his Clanmates gather around Brightfur's body. Ghostwind put on a decent act as he lowered his muzzle to touch Brightfur's cold body.
I should tell Thornstar what I saw, Willowcloud thought as she watched the scene unfold before her. Thornstar has a right to know.
She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when Ghostwind sent her a sharp look. Fear wormed it's way in her belly when she realized what she was about to do. If she revealed what Ghostwind had done, he would tell the Clan that she did nothing to defend Brightfur. She was stuck between the truth and keeping a terrible secret.
"I say these words before the spirit of Brightfur, so that she may hear and approve my choice. Tawnywing will be my deputy." Thornstar's words had come out slowly, and every cat stared at him in surprise.
Willowcloud blinked when she watched Tawnywing gape at him. The senior warrior was sister to Brightfur, so it made sense that Thornstar would make Tawnywing the new deputy.
"Congratulations, Tawnywing." Ghostwind was the first to call her out. Tawnywing had been Ghostwind's mentor while he was an apprentice. Willowcloud noticed that she ducked her head in embarrassment. She glanced at her brother and saw that a smirk fell upon his face.
Of course, she thought. Tawnywing will be easy to influence. I'm sure that was what he'd planned the entire time. Brightfur never really trusted him. It was her sister who admired his bravery. Willowcloud rolled her eyes as she thought of Ghostwind's bravery. He was more of a coward than anything else.
Willowcloud rose to her paws once the clearing had emptied. The elders were preparing for the burial that would happen in the morning. Orangestripe kept a firm eye on her as she crept forward. The orange tabby's eyes were narrowed into tiny slits.
"Stay back, mangepelt!" he spat when she was a tail-length away.
Shock made her recoil in disbelief. The others gave Orangestripe wary looks before glaring at her.
"We know what you are capable of," Acorntail growled. "Brightfur probably died because of you. Ghostwind was merely defending you."
"That's enough you three." Willowcloud remained silent when Mistybird spoke up. "Willowcloud had nothing to do with Brightfur's death. If anything she helped Ghostwind chase away those DuskClan cats." She glanced at her daughter in concern before giving the elders a malicious look. Even Orangestripe couldn't meet her gaze. "If any of you have anything to say, complain about them," she spat.
Without another word she turned and led Willowcloud away from them. Willowcloud looked down at her paws while her mother's tail lashed from side to side.
"Don't let them get to you," Mistybird muttered. "They're nothing but a bunch of fleabags."
"But...what if they're right?" Willowcloud felt herself stuttering as she held her mother's fierce gaze. "What if I've done something...only Brightfur would know?"
"If that is the case, than you would be wise to tell Thornstar or Ruststripe," Mistybird replied. Her eyes narrowed as she thought of what Willowcloud said. "I know you are not capable of doing the terrible things you claim to have done." Mistybird rubbed her muzzle against Willowcloud's before disappearing into the warriors' den.
Willowcloud knew that her mother was right. She couldn't kill an enemy warrior, even her own Clanmate. Guilt would weigh her down heavily. Her conscience would drive her mad. She looked down at her paws once more before following her mother.
Maybe...things would get better if Ghostwind was gone. He has done nothing but hurt those around him. I know what he is capable of.
Her thoughts kept churning that night as she slept. Sooner or later both of their secrets would be revealed. Ghostwind would be thrown into exile, but where would that lead her? She allowed Brightfur to die. The LeafClan deputy could have lived if she stopped Ghostwind.
. . .
The following morning had proved no better for Willowcloud. She was spending more time away from the warriors' den, where Ghostwind's watchful eyes would keep her at bay. She knew that he was waiting for her to slip. If she did, he would tell the Clan what really happened.
Willowcloud's gaze focused on the medicine cat's den. Sparrowpaw was giving herbs to Nettlesplash, whose kits were a few days old now. Icefeather's kits were about to become apprentices; their ceremony would be held any day now. The nursery was getting crowded once more as Honeypool returned. The light brown she-cat had spent more time with Thornstar than ever in the past moon since her kits became apprentices.
Honeypool is always going to have kits, Willowcloud thought as she shook moss from her leg.
"Willowcloud, you've been acting strangely since you returned with Ghostwind," Thornstar meowed when he emerged from his den. Willowcloud stiffened under his gaze. "What really happened in the forest?"
"I-" Willowcloud stopped when she felt Ghostwind's stare on her pelt. "Yes," she finished with a dip of her head.
Thornstar waved his tail at Tawnywing, who was busy grooming herself. The newly named deputy merely nodded before returning to her grooming. Willowcloud couldn't meet Tawnywing's gaze as she followed Thornstar into his den.
The den itself was dark and damp. Willowcloud shivered as she tried to warm herself up. Thornstar turned around once he was inside. His fur was ruffled as well, but he kept his gaze calm as he watched her cautiously.
"Now, why don't you tell me what really happened out there?" Thornstar asked after the two of them held each others stare.
"I- Brightfur wanted me to follow her. She led me to the spot where I...was attacked." Thornstar blinked when she relayed what had happened the previous day. "I didn't want to, but she was trying to force me. I ran, and she followed. When she had me cornered, she threatened to..." Willowcloud closed her eyes as she tried to recall what Brightfur had said. "She wanted to protect the Clan from Rainstar's threat. She said I could see what Rainstar was planning next. Ghostwind suddenly came and...and stopped her. I don't know what happened after that."
"Brightfur was always one to put the Clan above herself," Thornstar sighed. "She was blind to what would happen if she went too far."
"But...what about Ghostwind? He could have killed her," Willowcloud protested. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized how far her accusation went.
"Ghostwind was only protecting you," Thornstar hissed. "He knew that Brightfur went too far. She would have killed you had you continued refusing to cooperate."
Willowcloud felt her hackles rise as she thought of how to make a better explanation. Thornstar was acting as though Ghostwind was the savior of LeafClan. She knew part of it was due to the fake signs that Sparrowpaw had created. Her sister had done well to influence Thornstar's decisions.
"Thornstar, I speak for the safety of the Clan," Willowcloud mewed with a dip of her head. "Ghostwind is not who you think he is. Sparrowpaw told me herself that he has faked signs, and that he will do so again to gain the Clan's trust."
"I refuse to believe that," Thornstar spat. "Ghostwind has done nothing but help the Clan. You, on the other hand, put yourself in danger by sneaking off while you were an apprentice. How is that going to help the Clans?"
Anger pierced through Willowcloud. "I'm sorry you believe that," she snarled. "Don't blame me when your life is taken by my brother."
She turned around and left her leader to his own thoughts. Thornstar was a fool if he thought that Ghostwind would save him. The LeafClan leader had lost his mind over the course of moons. She knew now that only she and Sparrowpaw could stop Ghostwind from killing Thornstar.
And of course he refuses to believe me, she thought bitterly. I wouldn't put it past Ghostwind to use this against me.
Her tail lashed from side to side as she stayed near the fresh-kill pile. Nothing could stop her brother now if she didn't. The Clans were doomed to fall in the next few moons.
