Chapter Fifteen - Accusations and Interesting Occurrences
"Daisypaw!" Spoke Mousestripe in a small, creaking voice quite unlike his usual one. "What are you doing here?"
"We've come to see you." Replied Daisypaw, blinking meaningfully at the striped tom.
"Whatever for? You should be at camp? Does a warrior know you're here?"
The tabby tom blinked his eyes noticing Hazelpaw for the first time. "Hazelpaw? What is this?"
"We are here," said Daisypaw in a low, dramatic voice, "because we know what you've done."
Hazelpaw noticed Mousestripe's paws give a slight twitch, before he sunk his claws into the ground.
"Daisypaw," he whispered looking absolutely terrified, "whatever do you mean?"
"We know…" said Daisypaw grandly, sitting on her haunches and curling her tail around her paws. She began to speak very fast.
"We know that you are the cat who killed Whistlesong! We've seen the blood on the beech tree, the blood on the moss, the drag marks toward the badger set, your paw prints inside it, a tuft of your fur, blood in your nest and there is this…."
The cream she cat stood up again to reveal the purple violet flower.
There was a pause as Mousestripe stared at the flower, eyes wide with shock, before shaking uncontrollably. He hung his head and began mumbling under his breath, obviously distressed. Hazelpaw could just pick out a few coherent words -"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I wish"-
Hazelpaw's heart sunk.
I had been kind of hoping he would just deny everything, but this is an unmistakable sign of guilt.
The grey she cat sighed.
I have no choice but to believe Daisypaw now.
"At least he isn't denying it." Daisypaw whispered in her ear. "I think this is going rather well, don't you think?"
I do not.
At last, Mousestripe lifted his head and stared up at the two she cats, hazel eyes wide and breathing shaky. He hardly looked like a warrior at all.
"It's been utterly horrible. Like being hunted fresh kill. No worse! Like being in the Place Of No Stars. The last few sun-ups - it's been a blur."
The tom took a shaky gulp. "How - How did you find out? No, don't tell me I can't bare it anymore. I'm just so foxdung tired!"
Hazelpaw flinched, surprised to see a warrior use language like that in front of an apprentice. Daisypaw, however, was thinking more practically.
"You must give yourself up," she told Mousestripe sternly," to the Clan Guard, immediately. If you don't, we will go."
Hazelpaw noticed Mousestripe's claws sink deeper and deeper into the ground as if trying to crush it. Then he suddenly relaxed.
His face, utter calm.
"I shall." He said. "There's nothing much else to be done, is there? It's funny, I've heard so much about guilt and always thought I understood it , but this - I can't bear it anymore, it's as simple as that."
Suddenly the peaceful look left Mousestripe's face and he looked terrified again.
"But you - you mustn't tell anyone you were here! If I go to the Guard, they won't need your evidence; you won't be dragged into it. Do you promise?"
"Yes." Said Hazelpaw. "I promise." Before glancing at Daisypaw. She could tell she was in the grip of a terrible personal struggle.
"I promise," she replied eventually and rather sulkily with a flick of her tail. "But if you don't go-"
"I will!" Said Mousestripe rather sharply. "I will. Now leave you two."
Hazelpaw tilted her head confused by the tom's sudden change in demeanour.
"We shall." Said Daisypaw. "But I'll be keeping you to your promise! Common Hazelpaw." Before turning away, tail held proudly.
It was a very Daisypaw exit and at another time Hazelpaw might have purred with amusement, however something didn't seem quite right. As they walked her thoughts whorled.
What was up with Mousestripe's sudden behaviour change? Why was he so desperate for us to leave? Was it simply that he didn't want us getting mixed up with the Guard as he said or…
Hazelpaw mind flashed back to how Mousestripe had jumped round to face them when Daisypaw called out.
Had he been expecting someone? Waiting for someone? Was he meeting someone there that he didn't want us to know about?
"Daisypaw," Hazelpaw began, turning her head to look at the cream she cat as they walked away from the twoleg place.
"Do you think-"
The rest of the sentence was knocked right out of the she cat as she collided straight into someone coming in their direction the other way.
Hazelpaw let out a yelp of surprise and the other a hiss of annoyance, before the grey she cat gasped.
It was Leopardpaw.
The yellow spotted she cat glared at them before abruptly turning away and walking back the way she came.
Hazelpaw eyes widened.
She was heading in our exact direction towards the Green Leaf Twoleg Place! What if she had been the cat Mousestripe had been waiting for? If it's true then there is more to this mystery than Daisypaw's solution. Maybe I had been right all along.
"Daisypaw! I think Leopardpaw was about to go and meet with Mousestripe!"
"What?!"
"Daisypaw, I think she's mixed up in this somehow. There's something going on that we don't understand yet!"
"No there isn't!" Snapped Daisypaw, fur beginning to bristle. "Don't be mouse brained Hazelpaw! We solved the murder, why can't you just leave it?"
"Because," began Hazelpaw with pleading eyes, "We haven't solved the murder. Leopardpaw as good as proves it! I tell you-"
"Oh, DO BE QUIET! Yowled Daisypaw, fur bristling and tail lashing angrily. "I don't want to hear another word about it. I'm thinking can't you see."
Hazelpaw glared at the cream she cat furiously, jaw clenched.
All I can see is YOU being a terribly bad sport, because you know you were wrong!
"Fine! Be like that!" Hazelpaw snarled back, before storming off back to camp.
Hi everyone! How's that for a plot twist and a chance to see what scaredy ol' Mousestripe has to say? And they're arguing again! Tune in Fri/Thurs to see if they can make up this time. Also, who's your favourite warrior side character (not the mentors)? See ya!
-Fastbreeze
PS: I'll be posting more pics on my profile sometime today, this time of the warrior mentors. Go and check it out! And don't be afraid to comment if the links aren't working and I'll try to fix them. :.)