Fire: Sorry 'bout the short chappie, folks. I promise the next one will be quicker.

Dawn: You're going to love it! Tee-hee!

Chapter 20

"What do you mean it smells like Treepaw?" Bluetail asked, taking a whiff of it herself.

"It smells like Treepaw." Wetpaw replied.

"Maybe Treepaw had been eating it when he was still here." Shadowpelt said with weak hope.

"No," Mossear murmured. "No, this is more recent than that. Besides he's supposed to be eating at camp. Not in the middle of the forest!" Mossear pointed out.

"Well, judging how he's already left the clan, I don't think protocol meant a whole lot to him." Wetpaw mewed.

"Snowstar needs to be notified. We finally have proof of Gustclan stealing prey!" Shadowpelt growled.

"There's no better time than the present!" Wetpaw said cheerfully. "I wonder if there's gonna be a war?" Wetpaw asked excitedly. This won him many disapproving looks on the hike back to camp.

Blackpaw sat down, licking her paw methodically. Training today had been tough, as if Jaggedtooth thought he could squeeze the last few days into one session. But she was actually fine with it. Blackpaw always welcomed a challenge. That was probably the only thing that had kept her so close to her brother all these moons.
"Well, speaking of the devil..." She muttered as she noticed Wetpaw's patrol climb through the barrier to camp.. All of them looked grim except for Wetpaw who was practically bouncing up and down. He quickly ran over to Blackpaw yelling, "I told you! I told you!"

"What did you tell me?" Blackpaw asked as her older brother hopped up and down in excitement.

"There's gonna be a war! I betcha we'll win! And I'll be fighting! And when Snowstar sees how good I am at fighting she'll have to make me deputy! Then I'll be Leader!" Wetpaw said faster than Sparrowpaw could've (and that's quite an accomplishment).

"You can't be made deputy until you've had an apprentice..." Blackpaw started, than she realized what Wetpaw had said. "There's gonna be a war? Wh-wh- but why?"

"Well, that's what usually happens when we catch Gustclan stealing our prey." Wetpaw replied smugly. Blackpaw jumped to her feet.

"You mean they've found proof?" Blackpaw whisper-yowled.

"Well, so far we've only caught the 'murderer' attempting to steal prey," Wetpaw nonchalantly licked his paw and ran it over his scar. "But I bet the whole Clan's doing it."

"He didn't murder you... Treepaw was stealing prey?" Blackpaw couldn't believe it. Not a moon ago she had been laughing at one of Oakpaw's exadurated hunting tales with Treepaw. She was still finding it hard to adjust to the fact he wasn't here, let alone in another clan. Now him openly threatening his birth clan... Blackpaw shook her head.

"I told you they'd try and start a war. Next time you should believe me." Wetpaw said smugly.

"I... I can't believe it. Why would Treepaw steal our prey?" she asked.

"I told you. They want to start a war! Treepaw and Treestar. The Evil Father/Son Duo! Me and dad could be the Good Father/Son Duo! Maybe we could defeat Treepaw and Treestar and then Snowstar would have to make me deputy!" Wetpaw said excitedly.

"Yeah, and I'm a Twoleg. I bet you a squirrel you won't be made deputy." Blackpaw replied.

"Okay. You're on!" Wetpaw replied.

"If you aren't made deputy be the time... Berrykit is made a warrior you owe me a squirrel." Blackpaw clarified.

Just then the Patrol filed out of Snowstar's den. All looked quite troubled, but Mossear hung back a bit, nervously chewing the inside of her cheek. Blackpaw knew the news wasn't good.
"Well, I guess-" Wetpaw began. Whether he was going to comment on the particularly nice weather for this late in leaf-fall, or maybe compliment the size of the squirrel Oakpaw had just laid on the freshkill pile, Blackpaw never knew. For at that moment, Leafpaw came running up, a bit out of breath.

"Wetpaw! I've got something really important to tell you!" Her voice had a touch of urgency in it.

"What is it?" Wetpaw asked, distracted.

"This is serious! Look at me NOW!" she hissed angrily.

Wetpaw and Blackpaw both snapped their attention on the medicine cat apprentice. Leafpaw never raised her voice. "What is it, Leafpaw?"

"You're going to..." Leafpaw was cut off by Snowstar.

"We are calling a Clan Meeting, now!"

Fire: Mwah ha ha ha ha. Suspense, oh how I love it.