Hey ya'll! I'm so happy to bring you chapter 10 of this story! We're (almost) at the end! Anyways, I hope you like this exciting conclusion!
Chapter 10
A young black furred she-cat padded determinedly over toward the group of Lightpool, Mallowpelt, Berryfur, and Brambletail. The four cats were sharing their sun-high meal together near the medicine-cat den, huddled against the rock wall for shelter from the wind that whipped the pale gray clouds overhead.
Gripping her own mouse meal firmly in her teeth Fallstripe forced herself to walk the distance over to them and politely ask if she could join them for her meal. They paused their conversation to give her a surprised look and Fallstripe was painfully aware that it was unusual for her to eat with anyone of the cats in the group, often eating with her littermates or the elders.
"Sure!" Berryfur purred first, sympathy in her bright amber eyes, "Sit by me," she offered, shifting to make a space between her and Brambletail. The dark brown tom silently moved over as well, creating a comfortable space for her to sit with them. He didn't look at her and she didn't look at him, he'd always been a sort of quiet cat, kind of like her but that didn't make her want to know him better.
She forced herself to thank Berryfur before taking a few small bites of her meal, chewing them slowly as the conversation picked up again. "WindClan's pushing their luck with us again," Lightpool growled, green eyes glaring at nothing.
"If they don't apologize for accusing us of being the ones murdering cats around the Clans, we'll have no choice but to fight," Brambletail mewed quietly, looking down at the ground pensively, his claws playing with the bones of his finished meal.
"Shh!" Berryfur hissed, giving her an apologetic look, "There's no way anyone in this Clan could be responsible, not after what happened," the cream she-cat mewed softly, sharing a sad look with Fallstripe as she laid her tail gently over her shoulders.
The black she-cat swallowed hard, trying not to retch. She felt like there were worms in her belly and she felt unnaturally cold and hot at the same time as she forced herself to raise her gaze. "No, the other Clans aren't wrong to blame us," she mewed quietly, trying to remember what Flintpaw had told her to do. "Start quietly, get louder, it'll attract more attention."
"We're as much to blame as the other two Clans," she repeated more loudly, trying to ignore the shocked looks of the cats around her. "Letting the murderer get away with killing so many of our Clanmates, it's embarrassing!" Her heart was beating like crazy and she had to raise her eyes to the sky, hoping Ivysong would give her the strength to do this even as she wanted nothing more but to shrivel down into the dirt.
"Boulderstar should have done something after the first murder, but he didn't do anything but increase patrols! Isn't that strange? And now several of our beloved Clanmates are gone," now genuine bitterness seeped into her voice and her voice was carrying through the entire camp. Dozens of eyes on her as she stood up and her glare swept across the camp. I don't know who you are, but I will catch you and make you pay for what you did to Ivysong.
It hadn't bothered her before, but the idea that one of these cats watching her now was the one who murdered Ivysong filled her with pain and rage, fueling her acting. "But I guess Boulderstar has never been good at dealing with murderers," she spat, the fur along her spine prickling uncomfortably, "After all, we know what happened with Jaypaw, she killed and murdered like a rogue under his watch. And now he hasn't taken any action against this murderer, which makes our leader just as bad, I guess it's a family thing," she mewed, not quite shouting, but with a sarcastic edge that echoed in the camp.
Finishing her staged rant, Fallstripe glared at her unfinished meal and tried to ignore the shame and embarrassment burning her ears as shocked whispers carried through the Clan. "I can't eat anymore," she grumbled, trying to keep up the angry act and not show that she was about to crumble up and cry.
Padding quickly through the clearing she headed for the exit, hoping to escape the Clan until after sunset when they'd try to catch the killer. But just before she reached the gorse exit, a wall of dark fur blocked her way and a quick gleam of glowering green eyes told her it was her father.
"Fallstripe, I would like a word with you," his voice was barely more than a whisper but as she looked at his eyes, she could see he was full of rage. She gave a longing look toward the forest but as Coalspark turned away, she found herself following him, head and tail dragging as it always did. This was the first time they'd talked since Ivysong's burial, and she sensed it wasn't going to be an improvement.
He led her to a secluded corner behind the Elders den, a place that was both hidden from sight and sound, since the thick den she'd built muted all noise coming to and from the Clan. Her father turned toward her slowly, eyes narrowed and the beginnings of a snarl pulling at his lips.
"What in StarClan's name was that," he spat, but continued before giving her a chance to speak continued, "I understand that you're upset and frustrated with your own failures, but that is not an excuse to blame your leader, who gave you the mission and entrusted you to catch the murderer without putting the Clan in anymore danger. And every time the killer struck, Boulderstar wanted to launch a full investigation, but I insisted we trust you! And this is how you repay that trust? By pinning it on your leader?"
Fallstripe kept a stoic face, trying to let his words slide over her harmlessly, but they still got caught and stung her. "Is that all?" she asked quietly, hiding how much she was trembling on the inside at the outraged tone of her father. Especially since what he said was the truth.
She watched Coalspark give her a long, slow look and it seemed like all his hope and trust slipped from his gaze, as if he were ready to give up on her. "Yes, return to your duties and do not disrupt the Clan with your nonsense. You will be receiving no more missions, I'll talk to Boulderstar about assigning a special group to investigate. One which you will not be on," he spoke in an exhausted tone as if he were fed up with her and then brushed past her roughly so that she stumbled into the side of the ravine, falling to her stomach to catch her breath.
Come on, she told herself fiercely, you're doing this for the good of the Clan and for your poor sister. It doesn't matter if the Clan never knows, it doesn't matter if your father doesn't love you… it doesn't matter... But it still hurts.
She could feel her throat thicken and her nose burned as emotion flooded her senses. Their crumbling relationship had finally broken and what was worse was that she had broken it, by putting her duty first. Ironic, by doing what he always wanted me to do, he'll end up hating me. But when we catch the murderer, maybe he'll understand. Her hope was small, but it was enough for her to take a deep breath of cold air and regain her level-headedness.
Giving her ruffled fur a few licks she padded back into the clearing to be greeted by Rainpool. She flattened her ears immediately, knowing his fur was easily ruffled when Jaypaw was mentioned. But he looked unusually friendly, motioning to her in a soothing manner. "Fallstripe, would you do me a favor?" he asked, green eyes sympathetic as he flicked a piece of moss off her shoulder.
"Of course, Rainpool," she mewed, taken aback by his warmness, maybe he's sympathetic because of Ivysong… "I need you to come gather herbs with me, I think some may have survived under the snow, but we have to get them now. This is our last chance before leaf-bare is completely upon us."
"Oh, of course but…"
"If you have stuff to finish now, then we can go closer to sunset, but I'd rather set out before then, with the half-moon meeting tonight…" he mewed, a note of impatience in his voice. I guess his kindness has limits…
"I would like to but…" she mewed, looking around trying to find an excuse. Then she spotted Flintpaw watching them intently and when their eyes met, he nodded frantically. "I'll be ready whenever you are," she mewed, reading that Flintpaw wanted her to go.
"Good, we'll leave soon," the medicine-cat turned away back toward his den. Fallstripe immediately headed over toward Flintpaw, wondering why he had wanted her to go. She was supposed to serve as bait to catch the killer, not babysit the cranky medicine-cat.
"Before you ask, take a look at the sky," Flintpaw instructed, a gleam in his eye.
Confused, Fallstripe looked up and saw the sun was already sliding toward the horizon. "I also have a feeling that Rainpool will be collecting herbs near the WindClan border, where our killer likes to show."
Fallstripe frowned, "How do you know that? He didn't even tell me."
"Because the other day he sent a particular cat to gather herbs in that area, but he didn't get those herbs because… you know," Flintpaw looked at her meaningfully and with a sick feeling Fallstripe understood.
"Ivysong never returned with the herbs," she finished with a shiver. "But the killer won't appear before two cats," she argued, looking around to make sure no one was listening, but most cats were out on patrol, leaving them with space to talk.
"Yes, but I don't think it'll be difficult for you two to split up, at which point the killer will come in to get you. But I'll be there with the others, who I will be going to get right now. Stall as long as you can and don't split up until I give the signal," he ordered, starting toward the exit.
"What signal?" Fallstripe hissed, looking at him in alarm, realizing that this was happening too quickly.
"Something, I'm sure you'll notice. Just be careful," he stopped to look at her seriously in the eye, dark eyes enveloping her. "If you start to feel unsafe, just run."
"But if I'm out there with Rainpool, I can't just leave him out there. He can be grumpy, but he's still an important part of the Clan!" Fallstripe mewed, exasperated that she had agreed to go gather herbs with Rainpool. The goal was to not get anymore Clan cats involved!
"Don't worry, the killer won't target Rainpool, I guarantee it." With that, the apprentice ran out of the den, the sound of his pawsteps and scent fading quickly into the snowy forest.
Partly annoyed, partly scared, Fallstripe forced herself to go to the warrior's den, sitting on a patch of bare ground and giving herself a thorough cleaning to calm her nerves. Will Flintpaw really be able to get to the border and then run to the opposite border quickly enough? Will Thorn and Amelia even be there at this time? What about the killer, will he really show himself, and who is he? Why won't Flintpaw tell me? She looked around the camp, most of the warriors were out on patrol and the dusk patrol was gathering together by the entrance with Coalspark as its lead.
She saw her father's eyes find her, but they quickly looked away, a hint of anger in them. A spark of panic shot through her and she dug her claws into the frozen ground to keep from flinching, her heart was beating wildly, and she was short of breath as anxiety gripped her stomach like stone claws. "Fallstripe, are you okay?" a voice broke through and the grip on her stomach lessened.
"Oh, hello Tallpaw," she mewed, turning her head to greet the young tom quietly, trying to hide her panic as she forced her fur to lie flat.
"You look a little worried, do you want to get a bite to eat to take your mind off whatever?" the apprentice offered kindly and his eyes looked her up and down cautiously.
Falllstripe shook her head, a little sorry to miss this chance, she'd much rather spend a nice evening with the apprentice than act as bait for a killer. "Sorry, I'm about to go help Rainpool collect some herbs."
Tallpaw didn't respond but dipped his head, "Okay, then how about we go hunting together tomorrow, my mentor already gave me the day off to prepare for my final assessment, I'd really like to spend it with you," he mewed, eyes gleaming hopefully.
Fallstripe managed a purr, "Sure, let's do that," I have a feeling his assessment will get pushed back.
The apprentice's tail curled happily, and he trotted away, "Good luck with those herbs," he called and Fallstripe waved her tail back at him, watching his muscles roll smoothly under his sleek pelt. When had he grown so strong? He'd always been a tall scrawny thing, but now lean muscle gave him a powerful appearance as he joined up with his den-mates near the fresh kill pile. Time was passing by quickly; he was nearly a warrior now.
"If you're done wooing over the resident starstruck fool," a cranky voice brought her attention to Rainpool who was approaching with an annoyed look on his face, "I'd like to get moving. Tonight is the half moon meeting, so I would like to not be out too late… I'll probably have to send you back to camp with the herbs while I continue on to the meeting."
"Oh, of course," Fallstripe mewed quickly, lowering her head as her heart began to pound faster. "After you," she invited the medicine-cat, moving aside awkwardly and nodding with her head for him to lead the way.
Rainpool sniffed, green eyes cold, "You're not anything like your mother," he grumbled, walking past her at a sauntering pace as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
Panic again caught up to Fallstripe as she followed the medicine-cat into the snowy forest. The trail was brown and cold, the snow having been trodden away to leave only a damp muddy mess that clung to her paws and splattered up on her legs and belly, making her wince at the cold.
But now she was out in the forest, with sunset fast approaching, with a medicine-cat, and Flintpaw could only just be getting to the border. StarClan, please help them hurry! She prayed, watching the medicine-cat anxiously. Had she been alone, she could have waited, but now not only was she early, but she had another cat to protect.
But who knows, maybe he won't attack if I'm wish another cat. But then again… Flintpaw was confident, and in a fight, Rainpool's more of a liability than an asset…
"Keep up! You're falling behind!" Rainpool snapped, glaring over his shoulder at her.
Fallstripe scrambled to catch up, fur fluffing up defensively, he clearly doesn't like any of my littermates or I, so why even bother asking us to help him? There were others… She thought in annoyance.
"Fallstripe, tell me…" Rainpool started, his voice softer than before as he slowed so that they were walking shoulder to shoulder, but his eyes looked far away as if he saw something she couldn't. "How is your mother? After Ivysong's death," Fallstripe's ears twitched, was that regret or pity in his voice.
"She's upset… she hasn't been eating much and she's been talking to Sootfall a lot," she mewed, looking away, feeling guilty that she hadn't tried to comfort her mother or littermates at all. She'd been too upset at her father to want to think about family.
"I see, that's to be expected," Rainpool muttered. "But you don't think it'll affect her for a long time?"
Fallstripe blinked at him, "I don't know, I think it'll never stop hurting… but she didn't grieve Leafkit forever either, so I don't think so."
"That's a relief," Rainpool sighed, then instantly snapped back to his abrupt self, "The sun's already setting, step it up," he bounded forward, leaving her to trail as blue shadows stretched over the snow, the last hints of light dying away from the cold sky.
It didn't take much longer to reach the WindClan border and now Fallstripe was on guard, drinking in the scents while her eyes and ears constantly searched for any hint that someone was following them. Nothing.
"Stop standing there like a mouse-brain and hold this up for me," Rainpool snapped, pushing a holly branch in her direction. Fallstripe grabbed the branch with her mouth, blinking back tears as the poky leaves stabbed her muzzle.
Rainpool crawled under the bush, digging in the snow and reappearing a few moments later. "Good, the tansy's only a little frostbit, I can save most of it," he mumbled, taking the pile in his mouth.
With his mouth full he signaled with his tail for her to continue to follow, "Dis ay."
Fallstripe was almost amused by how silly the medicine-cat sounded, but she was too nervous to do anything but follow. The cold seemed to grow colder, and the shadows grew more ominous as the haloed half-moon gave only the slightest sliver of light for them to walk by. Where's Flintpaw? Where's the killer? Will either show? Who'll get here first?
"Fallstripe, hurry u- Ah!" Rainpool's call of alarm turned Fallstripe's blood cold as she saw the tip of his tail disappear behind a boulder. He had left the safety of the trees behind and started up the open slope that led to the Moonpool, vanishing suddenly behind a shadowy rock.
"Rainpool!" she cried, fear mounting as she raced as fast as she could to the boulder, skidding around it with hackles raised and claws unsheathed.
"What are you doing?" Rainpool looked at her scornfully as she looked at him in confusion. He had dropped the tansy and was instead plucking a blue flower from its stem. "Whatever, help me pick some larkspur."
"What's that?" Fallstripe looked at the flower in confusion, she knew she'd seen it before, but not in the medicine-cat's den.
"Larkspur, it can treat infected wounds. I didn't think it could still be growing in this cold! It'll die here if we don't take it all, so grab all that you can and get it back to camp," the medicine-cat mewed excitedly. "It's also great for leaf-bare because it helps strengthen cats like travelling herbs, it tastes better too, see?" eyes gleaming, he handed her a stem with the vibrant blue flowers bouncing happily.
Fallstripe, with her ears cocked to listen for any cats approaching, leaned forward and took the herb, chewing it, a peculiar but not altogether unpleasant taste erupted with the herb and she finished it quickly. "Okay, let's go," she mewed, bending down to pick up the rest of the larkspur and following Rainpool around the boulder onto the open hillside, eyes and ears scanning the shadows that protruded from the forest.
The snow crunched under their paws but half-way back to the forest Fallstripe felt a sudden pain in her head and stomach and her limbs felt stiff as she stumbled and swayed over the snow, straining to keep her senses focused on searching for the expected arrival of the killer.
She clenched her teeth, tasting the sweet juice from the herbs seep out of her jaws as she failed to swallow. Chocking, she spat out the herbs and coughed so hard she fell onto her side, eyes squeezed shut as a wave of pain, nausea, and numbness gripped her with frightening strength.
"Fallstripe?" Rainpool's cool mew broke through the heated panic she was experiencing, and she opened her eyes to see him standing over her, a surprisingly unconcerned look on his face. "How do you feel?" he asked softly, staring intensely into her eyes.
Fallstripe opened her mouth to cry out in pain but she couldn't move her jaws and she stared at the medicine-cat helplessly, confused and frightened as she felt herself growing stiffer and a strong sensation of drowsiness seemed to sap at her strength to keep her eyes open.
"You know," Rainpool mewed, stepping away from her and bending over to sniff at the larkspur she had dropped about a tail-length away, "On second thought, Larkspur is one of the best treatments for infected wounds, but it should never be eaten, otherwise it could cause paralysis and death." His green eyes blinked back at her and Fallstripe hoped that the ringing in her ears was making her hear incorrectly.
She tried again to open her mouth, but no noise came out. "Shh… it'll be over soon," Rainpool purred soothingly, rolling her onto her back and standing over her, putting his back paws on her stomach and his front, sheathed paws on her throat and pressing down slowly.
"First Ivysong, and now you, poor Dappledpelt…" he mewed sadly, green eyes flooded with sympathy. "But I can't let you live… I can't stand to look at you, not after what you said," a light of wrath now filled his usually calm eyes and they glowed eerily as Fallstripe struggled for air.
She couldn't think, but after all, there was no need. Was this how he killed Ivysong? He poisoned her and choked her? Was this how he had killed so many other cats? All while being a revered member of the Clan… Flintpaw was right, no cat would have believed he was the killer without proof. And no one other than a medicine-cat would realize he was using herbs to kill cats. And just like with Ivysong, there's absolutely nothing I can do. I guess I won't be able to go hunting with Tallpaw tomorrow after all…
Fear gripped her heart as she went silent, unable to draw in any air and she closed her eyes in resignation. Ivysong… I'll be seeing you sooner than I thought…
A sharp noise pierced her ears and her eyelids fluttered as she felt herself grow as heavy as stone, Rainpool's paws pressing against her throat more urgently and she felt a vague prick of claws at her throat.
Then the weight was gone, and her lungs filled with air as she tried to cough but her body still wouldn't move. Indistinct noises swirled around her and shadows filed her visions, but her nose was still working. Thorn! She could smell the tom's anger and rage as he attacked the medicine-cat, she could nearly taste Rainpool's surprise. They made it in time! Relief flowed through her before she realized that she was still growing weaker and was unable to see anything clearly.
I'm still poisoned, and I can't smell Flintpaw or Amelia… what's going on? Struggling to open her eyes, she saw Thorn on his hindlegs, swiping down at the medicine-cat who backed away slowly, expertly dodging each blow.
Cold shock filled her as she saw that the medicine-cat was nearly unscathed, but Thorn already had several bleeding gashes, and as she watched Rainpool darted in as fast as a snake to bite Thorn's paw. How? He's a medicine-cat!
"Get out, rogue," Rainpool spat, glaring at him.
"I won't leave Fallstripe!" Thorn hissed back, spitting a mouthful of scarlet blood on the snowy ground.
Rainpool flattened his ears and glared at her, "You planned this!" Fallstripe glared back, feeling fury well up inside of her as she stared at her sister's killer. Confusion and disbelief had already disappeared and now she could only remember every cold look and word the medicine-cat had given to her littermates and herself. She wanted to yell at him and demand answers, but she couldn't move her mouth.
"Then I'll just have to kill both of you!" the tom's green eyes glinted with deadly intent and his lips curled back in an ugly snarl. "You'll be the last to insult my family ever again!" his voice cracked but Fallstripe didn't notice, her ears had picked up the sounds of a pair of swiftly approaching pawsteps.
Rainpool seemed to have noticed as well and in a show of speed closed the two tail-length distance between himself and the bulky golden tom and with a slight twist that dodged Thorn's claws, plunged his jaws at Thorn's throat. Fallstripe watched in horror, unable to move, unable to utter a word.
Time seemed to slow as she could see Rainpool's white fangs dig into Thorn's soft throat, staining the lush golden fur red. Blank fear hallowed out Thorn's blue eyes as his own blood ran down, staining his white chest red as he struggled to keep his paws but seemed to slip on the snow, falling like a limp piece of prey onto the snowy forest floor.
His eyes dimmed and with his last ounce of strength he lifted his head slightly, blood trickling from his mouth. His blue eyes locked onto hers, like twin swaths of sky that slowly turned dark. "Fallstripe—" his whisper was hoarse, but in the silent forest it sounded like booming thunder, "I love you…" His eyes rolled back, and his head fell against the snow, a widening blood stain surrounding his head.
Fallstripe felt pain seer her chest, and she wanted to cry out more than anything, but only a chocking cough was heard as she felt regret and sadness swirl in her head. It's my fault he died! He shouldn't have had to, this wasn't his fight, I should have died! Where are the other two? Why did it turn out this way?
The only answer to her questions was an angry caterwaul and a dark blur of fur rushed from the shadows, rocketing into Rainpool and sending him flying several fox-lengths away from Thorn and Fallstripe. Flintpaw!
"Fallstripe!" Flintpaw looked at her and then Thorn, his eyes darkening with regret as he took in the tom's lifeless and bloody body. "Are you okay?" he went to her and sniffed at her, she looked at him and stared back helplessly, unable to answer.
"She's been poisoned," a she-cat's amused voice was heard, and Amelia entered the scene. Unlike Flintpaw, she wasn't out of breath and her fur was as sleek as a RiverClan cat who had spent all day grooming. Her glowing amber eyes briefly landed on Thorn and she shook her head, picking up some herbs she seemed to have dropped when she spoke and moved over to Fallstripe.
"Keep Rainpool busy," Amelia told Flintpaw.
"Oh, don't worry," Flintpaw's voice was grave, "I won't be letting him leave, not after this." The tom launched himself towards Rainpool, but Amelia stepped between her and the two toms so that she couldn't see.
Fallstripe gasped, wanting to warn Flintpaw of Rainpool's exceptional skill, but no words came out. "Oh, don't you worry about that one," Amelia purred, stuffing her mouth with a sour tasting herb and stroking her throat so that she would swallow. "Flint was trained not only by me, but by his mother. And no matter how skilled Rainpool is, he's in for a rude surprise when he sees how a mountain cat can fight," the she-cat's red eyes weren't comforting, but her confidence was, and Fallstripe relaxed, at least until she felt a sharp pain and her stomach and began to convulse.
"The only way to get rid of poison is to cough it back up," Amelia purred happily, not minding her pointed glare.
"You could have warned me," Fallstripe growled shakily, spitting out the last bit of bile. But she was already feeling better, her head was clearing, and she could make small movements.
"Don't move," Amelia snapped as she tried to get up, "I got rid of most of it, but you shouldn't move too much until the symptoms subside or you could still die. Besides, I think the show's almost over," she mewed, moving to the side so that Fallstripe could see the ongoing fight.
Unlike before, with the growls and hisses, this fight was silent, save for the thumping of paws and the crunching of silvery snow. Flintpaw moved quickly for his size, like a shadow as he feigned one way then another before finally striking, slowly wearing Rainpool down so that the medicine-cat was panting and glaring, blood dripping from several wounds and falling as scarlet raindrops onto the snow.
The medicine-cat raked his claws over Flintpaw's cheek, but the tom was unfazed and struck back with a bite to Rainpool's shoulder, shoving the tom back onto his haunches. "Give it up, we're taking you back to camp and you will answer for your crimes," the apprentice growled threateningly, dark eyes focused.
Rainpool lashed his tail and pinned his ears back, "Why are you on their side?" he snarled, glaring at Fallstripe. "I know your secret, I know you're Jaypaw—my sister's- son!"
Fallstripe's heart beat wildly at that and her eyes widened, she knew he was her half-brother, being Coalspark's unknown lost kit, but his mother was Jaypaw? The Jaypaw in every nursery story about what a warrior shouldn't be? The Jaypaw that disappeared before she was even born, killed in mysterious circumstances?
"What does that have to do with anything?" Flintpaw snapped.
"You're not as bright as your mother," Rainpool mewed with false pity, "It means you're my kin and that as your mother's son, you shouldn't allow her name to be smeared by lies!" The medicine-cat's green eyes widened with anger, "The Clans were the ones who went to war, and they pinned every fight, every injury, every death on the talent of a young cat who did not fear death, your mother! My… sister," Rainpool's voice cracked.
Flintpaw pinned his ears back and snarled, "I would never side with you."
"But you would, I know you attacked Harespring when she insulted your mother. You feel the same as I do."
Amelia chuckled, "This cat is really Jay's kind and innocent brother? She'd be abhorred if she could see him now," her eyes gleamed with pleasure and a faint purr rumbled from her throat. The sound made Fallstripe's blood turn cold.
"I regret what I did, I shouldn't have attacked her," Flintpaw mewed evenly, recomposing himself. "My mother told me what I could expect to hear about her in the Clans. She told me to make my own path and not worry about what anyone else thought. Not what my friends thought, or my family, or any cat I happened to meet, not what the Clans said, or even StarClan said. I know my mother isn't the cat in those stories, and any cat who knew her knows that too, I don't need to prove anything to anyone. Unlike you, my mother isn't interested in living in the past, but fighting for the future. And a future of killing isn't the path I want to walk!"
Flintpaw ended his speech by launching himself at the unprepared gray tom, grabbing him by the scruff and, ignoring the claws raking his chest and shoulders, with a massive heave tossed the cat against a tree with such force a pile of snow fell on the limp medicine-cat.
Flintpaw approached the immobile cat and a quick check told him, "He's unconscious."
Fallstripe released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and Amelia's tail curled with pleasure as she stalked soundlessly over to Flintpaw, who watched her warily. "Good job, you've taken down the fearsome medicine-cat."
"He fought like mother," Flintpaw mumbled, staring blankly down at his defeated foe.
"She probably practiced with him all the time, she told me they were very close and there weren't many other cats she got along with," Amelia mewed, grabbing Rainpool by the scruff and dragging him out of the snow.
"What are you doing?" Flintpaw asked, a guarded expression on his face as Amelia pulled Rainpool away from Flintpaw's reach.
Fallstripe couldn't see what Amelia was doing and she tried to scramble to her paws but slumped back in the snow as a sharp pain flashed through her. "I'm doing you a favor," Amelia's sweet voice could not be anything other than deceptive and Fallstripe let out a cry of protest while Flintpaw launched himself at the black she-cat, rolling with her in the snow away from Rainpool.
But it was too late, the black she-cat had already gouged out the tom's throat. "What did you do?" Fallstripe whispered, looking wide-eyed in shock at the black she-cat who was detangling herself from a furious Flintpaw.
"He would have been executed for his crimes anyways," she mewed dismissively.
"But he was unconscious! He couldn't defend himself!" Flintpaw growled in disgust.
"And were his victims able to defend themselves? Poisoned? No, and this was a mercy for his family, who would have had to bear another embarrassment upon themselves. I'm sure Scorch will be happy to bear the burden of knowledge alone."
The black she-cat leaped past the dead medicine-cat, heading for the moonpool trail. "Where are you going?" Flintpaw called.
Amelia looked over her shoulder, "I'm leaving. I get the feeling the Clans will be peaceful for a while, and that's boring. Besides, I'm sure your mother is anxious to hear about how you're doing. Can't wait to tell her you helped kill her brother!" the black she-cat snickered but at Flintpaw's growing look of horror she sighed.
"I won't tell her that little detail if you don't want me to. But when you return to the mountains, then you will have to tell her yourself. Does that work for you?"
"I'm not returning. I'm going to live as a warrior in ThunderClan," Flintpaw mewed, no hesitation in his voice as he went to Fallstripe and helped her to her paws, letting her lean heavily on his shoulder.
Amelia regarded him curiously for a few moments before dipping her head, "Then she will never know. I wish you luck with the path you have chosen, I hope you do not regret it." Amelia turned and bounded into the shadows, her presence fading like mist in sunlight.
Flintpaw let out a heavy sigh and looked at her, "I'm so sorry we didn't get here sooner…" he murmured, resting his muzzle on the top of her head, "Do you feel alright?"
"A little wobbly, but getting stronger," Fallstripe mewed shakily, feeling more exhausted than ever before in her life. "But now Ivysong and the others can rest in peace. And no more cats will be killed," she whispered, a sob in her voice as she stared at Thorn's lifeless body.
"He was a good cat, and he died as nobly as any warrior, defending what he loved," Flintpaw looked at her gently, "If he really loved you, he wouldn't want you to be sad. You're not weak and you're not a kit, you'll get through this."
Fallstripe looked up at Fintpaw and felt a rush of warmth for her half-brother. "Thanks, but what do we do now?"
Flintpaw followed her gaze, they were standing in a freezing, snowy forest far from camp with two dead toms at their paws. "What do you want to tell the Clan?"
Fallstripe bit her tongue, she knew what they should do, but she couldn't stand the thought. "Amelia was right, if the Clan finds out Rainpool was the killer things will go badly not only for Boulderstar and his family, but for all of ThunderClan. But on the other paw if we say it was Thorn…"
"If we say Thorn was the killer and he killed Rainpool before we could stop him and we took his life in vengeance…" Flintpaw sighed, "I don't like it, but it's the least painful thing to do to the Clan."
"But how will we get them back to camp? I still can barely stand, and you're injured," Fallstripe mewed worriedly.
"I think," a loud voice boomed behind them and Fallstripe nearly fell over as she jumped in place. She watched, mouth open, as Coalspark and Boulderstar, followed by Scorch, emerged from the shadows. "That we can help you with that."
...
I almost feel like crying. I don't know about you guys, but for how mediocre this story was, I really liked this conclusion! You know how some things just write themselves... that's what this was like.
So, who was surprised about who the killer was? Nobody? Anybody? I'm not very good at mysteries yet... this was supposed to be hard-core mystery, detective stuff but ended up mostly as a drama... ah yes, my old genre.
The epilogue is all that's left, I'll probably have that up in a few days! (hopefully, since summer school starts tomorrow, bleh)
Anyways... I talk a lot. And you should too! Let me know exactly what you thought about this story and I'll be answering reviews in the epilogue, since there's not really anything left to spoil! Ask me anything, since remember, this is the last story related to the Legacy series! So, I'll take and answer any questions for the whole series either about the past or future! I hope to see you all for the last post, take care!