I have a few things that I would like to say, the last chapter wasn't one of my best and now for the moment everyone has been waiting for...the killer is revealed! This chapter is a lot longer then the last. And I mean a lot! There is action in this chapter, warrior ceremonies and a few surprises along the way also there is a reason for some of Birdpaw's thoughts! It will be revealed in this chapter...but beware there is still an accomplice in the very midsts.
A Killer Revealed
Birdpaw's paws were slowly drifting around the camp, today Grassfoot had been named a warrior, Gingerpaw's name had been changed to Dangerpaw and today Icepaw was killed.
His death weighed heavy on everybody because the killer had been right there but had disappeared moments before any cat had gotten even a sniff of it. The scent of the cat was not there any way so it would have been no use, the only smell had been of blood and death.
Moonstar had hopped on the highledge and yowled "The cats going to the Gathering will be Stormheart, Willowtail, Hawkfire, Silentwish, Crowshadow, Spiderweb, Grassfoot, Applefrost, Adderpaw, Blazepaw, Birdpaw, Flowerpaw and Dangerpaw. That is all."
Birdpaw was going to the gathering but truthfully all she wanted to do was find this killer before anyone else got hurt or killed. The sky was getting dark and she knew it was time to leave as the cats called padded to the entrance to the camp. She got up and hurried to catch up.
Her only friends there tonight were Crowshadow and of course Spiderweb. She hoped that the whole group was there, even though the last time didn't go as smooth as she had hoped.
As they made their way to the island the breeze seemed to whisper something not understandable but it was definately saying something. It was like it was warning of danger. She shook the strange feeling off and padded on, watching the sky change from a gorgeous deep red to a cool clear black with a few stars showing up and the moon shone, clear as day.
The cool air chilled her to the bone and she steadily padded on with Spiderweb and Crowshadow not far behind. They were near the front, in front of everybody but Moonstar who always had to lead on to the island. Birdpaw looked back and saw Blazepaw stumbling around, he must be delirious after Icepaw's death, they were always best friends, just like me and Shimmerheart. Birdpaw thought.
She watched as Moonstar hopped on the fallen tree and started padding across, next went Crowshadow, then her to get to the Gathering. As she padded into the clearing she spotted Lilypaw, Cometpaw and Tigerpaw crowded around their usual meeting place, she touched Spiderweb's shoulder with her tail and they padded over, followed by Crowshadow.
"Birdpaw!" Cometpaw said loudly
"Hey, Cometpaw, Lilypaw, Tigerpaw. It's nice to see you again." Spiderweb said.
"Hi, Spiderweb, hi...Crowshadow?" Lilypaw said puzzled.
"Crowshadow is sorta my friend, I guess you could say. We're trying to solve the mystery of who killed, Shimmerpaw, Frostpaw, Foxfire and...Icepaw."
"Wait! Icepaw's dead?" Tigerpaw gasped.
"Yeah, he was killed earlier today." Birdpaw said with a sad look.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Cometpaw and Lilypaw said at the same time.
"Yeah, well..." She was interrupted by Rainpaw's voice. "Hey, guys!"
Then a yowl sounded and the gathering started, looked like Flarepaw was not going to be there tonight.
Moonstar started the Gathering and said "This moon we have been very unfortunate, after losing our medicine cat and Frostpaw during a battle with Shadowclan we lost Icepaw as well. They were all brutally murdered we are not accusing any cat of killing them though. We also have made two new warriors, Spiderweb and Grassfoot. Also we have changed one of our apprentices names, Gingerpaw is now known as Dangerpaw."
Birdpaw couldn't help but miss the glances all the clans med. cats shared. There was something there that she did not understand. Was there something about Dangerpaw's name that had some big meaning? After Moonstar stepped back Duskstar stepped forward announcing that prey was running good and that Wildheart had moved into the nursery, expecting Nightfire's kits. She tuned out the rest for she felt a strange feeling of insecurement.
As the cats left Birdpaw immediately followed and when they came upon the camp she saw a sight she never dreamed of seeing, Streamclaw leaned over Nightpaw's body, his teeth dripping with blood. Nightpaw was dead...
Birdpaw leaped towards Streamclaw, bowling her father over. She threw him against a tree and he immediately found his footing, launching himself at her she flipped and used her hind legs to send him flying. She looked at Spiderweb as he tried to help her but Moonstar barred him off saying "This isn't your fight, it's her's. She has waited for revenge for moons, ever since Shimmerpaw's death."
Then she felt teeth meet her scruff and she felt blood start flowing from her neck but she would not give up, not with out her revenge. She rolled on her belly, throwing him off. She then felt a tail on her back and she sprang up, angrily ready to take on any cat.
Then she saw it was Spiderweb, and he whispered in her ear "He can't fight, he tried to kill you but you beat him. He is no longer part of this clan, calm down and sheathe your claws." She looked over for the first time at Moonstar, she was carrying Streamclaw to camp. As they padded into camp whispers of shock rose from the clan and then Moonstar leaped on highledge. She said then "Streamclaw we have seen you killing Nightpaw, if you killed Frostpaw, Shimmerpaw, Icepaw and Foxfire tell us now."
Streamclaw grinned and said "My, my precious Moonstar you think you have got it all figured out but what you don't know is that I wasn't the only one involved, did you ever wonder why Shadowclan attacked you all of a sudden, it was me that caused that. I spoke with Shadowclan's leader..."
Flashback:
Streamclaw padded into the Shadowclan camp, receiving nods from his old friends and friendly glances from the rest of the cats.
As he padded to Duskstar's den he felt a cat staring at him, it was Skystorm.
He grinned at him and he shivered. He padded into Duskstar's den and Duskstar turned and looked at him.
"Hello, Streamclaw. It's nice to see you. What have you got to tell me?"
"I am here to tell you that Thunderclan is ready to be attacked. They are weak after losing Shimmerpaw and Frostpaw almost being killed. I think that it would be a good idea to attack tonight."
"Thank you for this information, my precious mate..."
"I think our kits will be good warriors one day."
"I know they will, love."
"I will attack tonight, kill Foxfire and Frostpaw then."
"Of course."
"Good bye, love"
"Good bye, Duskstar."
(End Flashback)
"Our kit is Silverpaw, but she doesn't know it. Also, you think that you had it all figured out but what you don't know is there is an accomplice in all of this. They were the one that told me who would be best to kill next, they were my source with in Thunderclan. You are not as smart as you think...I was just the one doing the dirty work, the real brain behind all of this is one of your own." With that Streamclaw left, with a smile on his face.
Birdpaw could feel her shock from all of this, she had thought that the killer wasn't Streamclaw but it really was and she was startled to know that it was. The words that Streamclaw had said shook her to the core, who was the accomplice? Who was the real brain?
"We must not let this effect us! We will continue to train as if none of this has happened!" Moonstar said, she sounded shaken.
Birdpaw padded towards the medicine den, she felt kind of sick, her stomach was hurting, badly. Dapplesong raised her head as she padded in. "Oh, hello Birdpaw! What do you want? Do you need anything for shock?"
"No, I just feel sick to my stomach."
"Let me check to see what's wrong." After a lot of prodding Dapplesong spoke again "Birdpaw, your pregnant. You might want to tell Spiderweb."
"What? I'm pregnant! But I'm just an apprentice!"
"Yeah but Moonstar is about to make you and your siblings warriors."
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah, Moonstar said she thought it would be a good idea. Seeing as you are ready." As she said this she heard Moonstar call a clan meeting.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!" Moonstar yowled
As Birdpaw padded over to sit next to her siblings Moonstar said "We have six new warriors to make. Their names will be Flowerpetal, Dangerstrike, Blazestorm, Birdwing, Blueflame and Adderbite."
Moonstar didn't even go through the regular ceremony! She just said our warrior names! I do like the name Birdwing though.
She nodded at Moonstar and padded over to tell Spiderweb about the kits, but she felt dread in the back of her mind.
Well, some of you that surprised, others it didn't. This had a lot of action packed in this chapter, I have decided to save the accomplice for the next story, so read that! I have the epilogue up. Well see you later.