Chapter Twenty Six - Murderer Unmasked

Gorsestep stopped for a moment, amber eyes fixed on Ashstar.

The whole clearing was heavily silent. One could almost taste the tension. Hazelpaw could hear her gasping breaths and pounding heart, she was terrified all over again.

Ashstar, meanwhile, sat glaring straight ahead, jaw clamped shut and body ridged. All the rest of the warriors stared at her.

"Nonsense," she said at last in an ice cold voice. She sank unsheathed claws into the earth. "This is all mouse brained nonsense. You have no proof."

"Whistlesong asked to see you that evening." Spoke Robin's Call, suddenly. "I remember now. It was in the warriors Grass Lay area - I was there."

"Be quiet!" Snarled Ashstar, turning to face the russet furred she cat menacingly.

"I shall certainly not!" Retorted Robin's Call, looking offended. "What I say so is true and I'm prepared to say so in front of the Court of the Clans."

"And you think they'll believe you? You're not even clan born!"

"I told you I liked Robin's Call." Hazelpaw whispered to Daisypaw.

"Shh - he hasn't caught her yet." Daisypaw whispered back.

"Quite apart from witness statements," the deputy Guard was saying. "I can have the White Rabbit tested to see whose scent it carries and who, therefore, killed it. Not to mention there are paw prints alongside the drag marks leading to the abandoned badger set which my Guards can match to your prints."

"I've destroyed the rabbit." Snapped Ashstar, glaring at Gorsestep. "And those prints could have got there at any time."

Despite herself, Hazelpaw couldn't help being impressed with how Ashstar was brazening it out.

I know I wouldn't have been able to lie so quickly and well. She must have had a lot of practice.

"And tufts of your fur have been found in Mousestripe' claws and poppy seeds found in leftover fresh kill which you gave to him." Continued Gorsestep.

Ashstar snorted. "This is ridiculous. Are you expecting me to slip up and tell you I hid the prey remains? Or are you saying Mousestripe attacked me now?"

The dark grey tabby she cat flicked her tail casually, blue eyes cool. "Say what you like, deputy Guard." She spat. "But I don't believe you have enough evidence to even bring this before the Clan Court. If you were hoping for a confession, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

Then she suddenly let out a harsh, humourless laugh. Her deep blue eyes seemed to burn with crazed determination and her claws sank lower into the ground.

The leader looked utterly terrifying.

"Ah," said Gorsestep, seemingly unphased. "But I do have one more piece of evidence that might sway you."

With that the tom nodded towards another fern bush behind him.

There was a pause.

The bush then shook, before someone of dark ginger pelt climbed out.

"Oh, who is it?" Rabbithop whispered excitedly to The Flame, as if this was some sort of dramatic entertainment.

It was Oakbranch.

She padded up to stand beside Gorsestep.

"Hello Ashstar." She said, acknowledging the leader with a nod.

The leader's fur twitched as she looked the elder up and down.

"Wh - what are you doing here?!" She spluttered.

"Well Ashstar," began Gorsestep again, "I believe that before you killed Whistlesong, you discovered that she indeed did not witness what she was using to blackmail you - rather she had a source."

The leader's flaming blue eyes jumped between the tabby tom and Oakbranch.

"Y-you?!" She stuttered at last.

"Yes. I am the source." Confirmed Oakbranch, not taking her eyes off the leader.

"I heard it all Ashstar. I saw it all. I wanted to help but-" the ginger elder looked down at her paws sadly. "You obviously had other ideas."

Ashstar said nothing; glaring at Oakbranch speechlessly.

Gorsestep nodded.

"Oakbranch witnessed everything which Whistlesong blackmailed you about. It makes for an astonishing story - as I assume, Ashstar you know. I also assume that you know Oakbranch's testament alone is enough to have you lose your position as leader, you exiled from PineClan and possibly convict you of a previous crime."

The deputy Guard sat down again on his haunches in a confident position, chin raised.

"Its contents also provide the perfect motive for the two murders you carried out. And that," announced Gorsestep triumphantly, "is my case against you.

There was a frozen stillness. No cat moved a muscle as they stared open mouthed, eyes wide, first at Oakbranch, then Ashstar.

The leader had begun to shake in jerky, rigid movements, while making odd little hissing sounds out the side of her mouth.

"This whole time?! It - it was you!" She hissed at Oakbranch. "I..I trusted you!"

"Well I trusted you." Retorted Oakbranch, coolly.

"How dare you!" Snarled Ashstar, baring her fangs at the elder.

Gorsestep quickly stepped between the two she cats and the surrounding Guards tensed with anticipation.

Oakbranch just blinked her amber eyes passively, unphased.

"Now, now, Ashstar." Began the deputy Guard.

The dark grey tabby cut him off.

"How did you find her?! Who told you? You can't have discovered everything so quickly!" Exclaimed Ashstar through another snarl.

"I'm afraid I'm not in the habit of revealing my sources." Replied Gorsestep calmly.

Ashstar ignored him and began staring around at the gathered warriors as if she was seeing them for the first time - at Mothfur, who was shivering in her sitting position, at Rabbithop leaning into The Flame for protection, at Grassclaw who was breathing heavily with rage, fur spikier than ever, golden eyes glaring scorchingly at Ashstar; and lastly at Robin's Call who looked as if she'd just discovered a nasty piece of crowfood.

She then turned slowly around until she was staring at the fern bush Hazelpaw and Daisypaw were hiding in.

Hazelpaw jerked back in the foliage with a fright, making the bush move.

I swear she looked right at me!

"Mouse brain!" Gasped Daisypaw.

Ashstar would now know for sure the two she cats were there even if she hadn't before.

From the clearing beyond, Hazelpaw heard a barely distinguishable yowl.

"DAISYPAW! HAZELPAW!"

There was a hiss of alarm, a scuffle, the sound of voices followed by a thump and the sound of Gorsestep's voice very close to the fern bush.

"I am arresting you on behalf of the Clan Guard for the involvement in the deaths of Whistlesong of PineClan, Mousestripe of PineClan and Cinderpaw of PineClan as well as several other breeches of the warrior code. Come quietly and I shan't have to do anything I might regret later."

There was a pause. Then.

"He's got her!" Breathed Daisypaw. "Great StarClan!"

And that was the end of Ashstar.

He's got her! Great StarClan! Hello everyone. Hope you enjoyed this eventful chapter. Ashstar gets what's coming and Oakbranch makes her grand appearance. Yay! And there is only ONE chapter REMAINING until the end of the story. Tune in next SUN/MON to see it and find out what in Silver Pelt PineClan is going to do now? And a big thank you to everyone for reading! As of today before posting this, MMUL has a grand total of 1,665 views, so thank you :.)

-Fastbreeze37

QOTD: Who's your favourite character full stop out of everyone? Mine is Oakbranch!

Bonus QOTD: Who will lead PineClan now? Remember Ashstar didn't choose a new deputy before she got caught. Who do you think would be the best choice?

Russetmoth – No kidding! Ashstar's a bad kitty lol.