Chapter 25

It had been a few days since Tallblaze had annoyingly ordered me into caring for myself, but I was feeling a bit stronger and more energized so maybe he did have a bit of a point although I wouldn't tell him that. Lightstar had also deepened the wound much more in the past few nights which had come with many more losses. Things weren't looking much better for the Clan. Except today another cat came into the forest to assist me, one who was finally recovered from greencough.

"Hello Deathfire," Wingstar said as she greeted me in the forest. Unfortunately it was Wingstar, who I don't think has a particular fondness for me.

The two of us hunted in a somewhat tense silence. My gaze occasionally darted towards her for a second, but quickly moved away. Something told me she was doing the same.

Once we had caught a bit of prey I said, "I think we've caught all we're going to here. We should probably drop this off at the camp and find a different place."

She looked towards me, her cold, hateful gaze surprising me. She nodded in agreement though and we headed towards the camp. I couldn't help but wonder why she looked at me like that. Had I done something wrong? Did I say anything rude or out of place?

"You have every right to be worried," Wingstar said.

I looked toward her, utterly confused. "What?" I asked.

"Don't act innocent. I know you're evil and a threat to this Clan," she told me, her voice full of hate. "I may not have the solid evidence I need, but I know."

"I'd never do anything to hurt NightClan," I said. Why did she think this way of me?

"Tell your lies. StarClan itself said there was a traitor in NightClan," Wingstar said.

"Did they ever say it was me though?" I asked. They were obviously talking about Flurrytail! It made plenty of sense.

"It began for me not long before you became an apprentice," she told me. "And there has been a few mysterious deaths around you. I wouldn't be surprised if you caused them."

"Who?" I asked.

"Your sister for one," she answered. This accusation felt like claws ripping out my heart. "Don't act so hurt. I doubt she actually fell into the badger set. How easy it would be for someone she trusts to give a little push and act like she fell. A fake call for help when it was already too late. Why, I don't know. Maybe jealousy, maybe just pure spite. And the way you never seemed to get over it and always blame yourself? Regret. Your conscience finally making itself known."

"I— How could you even think that?" I asked.

"Don't play this game with me. You may have others fooled, but not me," Wingstar told me. "Don't waste your time. And I wouldn't be surprised if you assisted Lightstar in some way. What a coincidence she knew the day Silkshade came back. And your father's death, what an act."

Each of these accusations hurt more and more. She thinks I was trying to kill my entire family. She thinks I'm a murderer.

"These attacks on cats started long before I was born. How could I have caused them?" I asked.

"Those were all rouges," Wingstar answered. "These others were not."

Those others were caused by either Flurrytail or Lightstar, not me. I couldn't just tell her Flurrytail was evil, she wouldn't believe me. I didn't know how to convince her. It's not like she has any evidence though as I was innocent.

"Believe what you want, it doesn't make it true," I told her.

"So you've run out of excuses. I suppose there's nothing else I need to say," Wingstar said. "I just need to collect evidence."

At least there wouldn't be any evidence to find. When they get better I should probably tell my friends. I decided against it, there's no need worrying them or making them seem like accomplices. I'll be fine. Unless Flurrytail finds out and tries to frame me for something or tell Wingstar about my training with Lightstar. I felt worried, but there was nothing I can do.

We continued hunting in silence. I made sure to look away, but I could feel her staring at me. She was watching, waiting for me to do something wrong. Something condemnable. Something that would prove I'm guilty.

I felt so much blame for Limppaw and Duskpelt's death yet didn't at all think I had planned it, murdering them both without hesitation. I would never deliberately hurt my friends, my family, or my Clan. I couldn't believe she thought such a thing. The accusations stung with a fury. What was I to do though?

"Is there any way to convince you I didn't do it?" I asked. "It sincerely wasn't me."

"Don't try and use your small size to look cute and win me over that way," Wingstar told me. "Nothing you say or do will convince me otherwise. I just can't do anything about it until I have some form of proof, some witness."

"I would never hurt my family and it really hurts that you'd think that. And I am not trying to do anything but make you realize that I am a loyal warrior," I said.

"You are really trying to play that whole innocent act," Wingstar said. "It isn't going to work though, I know you're guilty."

I sighed, realizing I'm not going to get through to her. As wrong as she was she was obviously stubborn and completely convinced. I would just have to try my best to convince her through action. I must be the best warrior I can possibly be. I can do this.

"If your leader finds out about this you're in trouble," Lightstar told me. "It'll be all the evidence she needs."

"I know that," I sighed.

"You obviously need to get rid of her," she said.

"That'll do the opposite of proving my innocence!" I exclaimed.

"That's why you don't get caught," she told me.

"I'll just stick with my method of trying to win her over," I said.

"It won't work," Lightstar said. "Wingstar is right though, you are evil. After all, you are here. But she is wrong, you didn't kill anyone directly. You indirectly caused some deaths, but you didn't murder them."

"It will have to work," I said. "I can't try and kill her, it's wrong. And besides, I'd get caught and stopped. It would be more than the evidence she needed to get rid of me." I just can't believe Wingstar hates me so much.

"Well then, if you're sure in your plan, even if it is awful, let's get started training," Lightstar told me.

Wingstar during the day and Lightstar during the night. Neither one will be fun. Both believe I'm evil, although one wants me to be. I'd rather be alone than deal with either she-cat. No one could help me with that though. I'd also have to work harder towards hiding my encounters with Lightstar. Let's get these next few days over with.

Author Note: Wingsta s. Anyway, sorry for disappearing. I have been having a reoccurring pain and occasional vomiting for quite some time and then had two of these episodes within a week of each other so went to the doctor and the pain lessened some but was still unbearable. Has some tests and eventually went to the ER where we found out I had a huge kidney stone. 6.2x9.2x11.7mm I believe. Anyway, I got admitted to the hospital and had a surgery. Every nurse was shocked by the size and someone said I should have been writhing in pain, not able to walk or talk. But oh well, high pain tolerance. Would've lost the kidney in under two months so good thing we dealt with that. Then I got busy with make-up work after missing over two weeks of school so I haven't really remembered to update so sorry for that. Have wrote a few more chapters tho so that's good! I really am sorry for not publishing, I didn't quit, I promise. I'm back now and hopefully I won't have to deal with that again although I'll probably deal with kidney stones until I die. Anyway, I apologize again. So leave a review if you'd like as I know you all love as I progressively make Deathfire's life worse! See y'all here next week(well, can't see you, but you know) I'm glad to be back!

- Rowan W.