Chapter Nineteen - Sparks Fly and Suspicious Behaviour
Out in the long den - the four detectives stumbled into another scene. Rosethorn was standing just outside the warriors Nest Lay den and shouting at Falconflight.
The cream she must have just gotten back from alerting the Clan Guard, because her light fur was wet and streaked with mud, and her tail was all tangled with foliage. Her blue eyes blazed as she glared at her brother.
"I'm in mourning!" Rosethorn wailed. "Why can't anyone understand that? We haven't even been able to sit vigil for Spiderstreak!" The cream she cat swished her tail dramatically. "Oh, I have a foxhearted family! You should have heard Eaglepaw just now, telling me I should be pleased that he's dead. Pleased!"
"Don't exaggerate Rosethorn." Said Falconflight. "I appreciate that he was a clanmate, but you were hardly that close."
"Hardly that close!" Cried Rosethorn. "I'll have you know that he was my everything!"
From next to her, Hazelpaw heard Daisypaw gasp. Glancing at her friend, the grey she cat noticed that her blue eyes had gone wide and her claws were unsheathed.
Daisypaw advanced a few paces toward her mother. "NO HE WASN'T!" The cream she cat shouted at Rosethorn, her usual cool composer cracking. "SPARROWFEATHER IS! Why do you have to ruin everything?"
Rosethorn jumped before turning around to face the apprentices. "Daisypaw!" She said with an uneasy twitch of her ear. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go and play? Where's Whitefur? Whitefur?!"
The cream warrior looked around, calling the white furred she cat.
"Really, Daisypaw. Do get yourself under control." Said Falconflight, tail tip flicking in annoyance. "We can't have everyone losing their heads."
Daisypaw glared at him through scathing blue eyes. "I am under control. Are you?" She retorted.
"This family!" Exclaimed Rosethorn, before rushing away into the warrior's den.
At that moment, Whitfur padded up from behind the apprentices. She must have heard her name called, but seeing her still gave Hazelpaw an awful shock.
Daisypaw froze, Lilypaw gasped and Beanpaw gave a small frightened squeal.
Hazelpaw looked past her to the warriors den.
How can we find a way to look inside her nest?
"What a lot of noise. Whatever is going on?" Asked Whitefur, sitting a few fox lengths away from Falconflight.
"Only my sister, making a scene." Responded Falconflight, and he gave her a curious look. Hazelpaw tilted her head slightly as she struggled to figure out what it was.
Then it hit her.
It was exactly the kind of look Daisypaw gave her to tell her what she was thinking without using words. A look between friends - close friends. But as far as Hazelpaw knew (and everyone else for that matter) they hadn't known each other for very long and barely interacted as clanmates - let alone friends.
However, if what Beeflight said is true, and Falconflight was the cat to not only find Whitefur first but also plead Dovestar for a place in the clan for her, then there is truly something more going on than meets the eye.
"Whitefur." Spoke Falconflight again, giving her another of those curious looks. "I think the apprentices are bored."
"No we're not!" Said Daisypaw quickly. "We are perfectly alright. Lilypaw and Beanpaw were just going to go help Beeflight with hunting while me and Hazelpaw were about to take a quick walk in the cardinals again. Weren't we Hazelpaw?"
"Oh - yes." The grey she cat spluttered.
Lilypaw narrowed her eyes. "But-" she began indignantly.
Daisypaw cut her off. "It's great you want to help Beeflight, Lilypaw. Think of all the useful things you'll learn. Now come along Hazelpaw."
The cream she cat wrapped her tail around her friend and pulled her quickly towards the den entrance.
Although she looked as cool as anything, Hazelpaw could feel her trembling. The grey she cat turned and looked back at Falconflight and Whitefur. The two warriors were standing together and staring at the parting she cats; faces unreadable.
This is suspicious behaviour indeed! Thought Hazelpaw.
They were all she could think about at that moment, but the grey she cat knew that Daisypaw had no more room in her head for anything but her mother.
…
The two she cats hurried away from Cardinal Nest and out onto the grassy hill which it sat upon. The rain had completely eased for the movement, and sunlight streamed through breaking grey clouds, but a cold breeze made Hazelpaw shiver and ruffled her fur.
Eventually Daisypaw slowed her pace and the two she cats just walked quietly together through the long grass, pelts brushing. Hazelpaw didn't know what to say to her. The grey she felt a pang of jealousy that Lilypaw and Beanpaw got to go help Beeflight with hunting, but she pushed it away.
I should enjoy the fact that this is just between me and Daisypaw, like old times, and just...be there for her. I know I can't fix anything but - maybe I can make it better though. It's the least I can do.
The young detective felt her pelt prick with guilt and swallowed thickly as a lump seemed to appear in her throat. Ranvenwhisker's warning which had continued to niggle at the back of her mind throughout the investigation, had now resurfaced with a vengeance, and the guilt along with it. It had now become a constant reminder to Hazelpaw that she could have done something to stop this.
Beware the pure white feather which hides a hidden grudge, danger and death will come out from the sludge.
After a period of silence, Daisypaw spoke up.
"I hate Rosethorn," said the cream she cat with a flick of her tail. "I know I shouldn't, but I hate her. Being sad about Spiderstreak! Saying that he was more important to her than Sparrowfeather!"
Daisypaw growled softly under her breath.
"Oh! What a disappointment she is. Perhaps the murderer did do us a favour by getting rid of Spiderstreak. Now perhaps she'll forget him and everything can go back to the way it was."
"But, he is dead, Daisypaw." Said Hazelpaw softly, stumbling on a slippery patch of grass.
The murder is repsonsible for making Spiderstreak no longer a living, breathing cat and that really is quite horrible.
The two she cats padded toward the edge of the cliff overlooking the flooded valley. Hazelpaw sat on her haunches and gazed out over the blue expanse of water - a mini lake - which now sparkled in the sunlight.
"So?" Asked Daisypaw after a few heartbeats. Hazelpaw turned to her friend who was also gazing out over the water.
"Maybe some cat's oughtn't to live."
Hazelpaw's eyes widened and her unsheathed claws sank into the ground. "Daisypaw! Don't talk like that. You know it's not true!"
The grey she cat's tone was urgent. "Spiderstreak was horrid and what him and your mother were doing was awful, but he didn't deserve to die because of it. You mustn't say so!"
Dasiypaw let out snort. "Well some cat thought he did." The cream she cat was quiet for a few heartbeats before letting out a long sigh.
"What a horrible case this is!" The cream she cat exclaimed. "Everything's the wrong way around. The only really nasty person is dead. Just our luck, isn't it?"
Hazelpaw found she couldn't answer as Ravenwhisker's warning began reverberating through her mind once more. She gave a sharp intake of breath as she closed her eyes and dug her unsheathed claws into the wet ground again as if bracing herself against a vicious combat blow; feeling the guilt eating away at the pit of her stomach like a pack of ferocious rats.
A few heartbeats of silence passed until Hazelpaw couldn't stand it anymore.
"I..I..I'm so sorry." The grey she cat's tone was all quiet and wobbly and she couldn't keep the slight whimper out of her voice.
"Oh Hazelpaw, what's the matter? What's wrong?!" Hazelpaw heard Daisypaw ask urgently almost immediately. When she opened her eyes, the cream she cat looked as worried and troubled at her friend's sudden admission as her tone implied.
Hazelpaw gulped before replying, "I can't help thinking this is all my fault."
"Wha- Why would you think a mouse brained thing like that?" Asked Daisypaw incredulously.
"Well...I…" Stuttered the grey she cat before her voice trailed off.
What if Daisypaw gets really upset with me once she knows? What if she decides she doesn't want to be best friends any more? Or that I don't deserve to be the Detective Society's deputy?
"Hmm? Keep going Hazelpaw! Why in Silver Pelt would you think something like that?"
When Hazelpaw dared to meet her friend's blue gaze, she saw her eyes were filled with confusion and concern. The grey she cat took a deep breath finally making her decision.
No matter the consequences, I must tell her the truth. I owe her that much.
"Well to tell you the truth," Hazelpaw began hesitantly, before abruptly taking the plunge and rushing on faster and faster, "just before we left, when we had just finished cleaning out the elder's den, Ravenwhisker told me a strange warning. Like some sort of thing from StarClan almost or something. He was so urgent about it but I didn't understand and I...I tried to convince myself it was just ramblings and when I asked Oakbranch she said it was nothing to worry about and that he had been speaking nonsense for ages, but-"
"Woa, slow down Hazelpaw!" Exclaimed Daisypaw, cutting her friend off with a nudge to her shoulder. "You say Ravenwhisker told you some strange rambling nonsense supposedly warning you of something? Well of course you thought it was a bunch of tosh!" Admonished Daisypaw with a flick of her tail. "Honestly, you'd be a mousebrain to believe something like that from an incoherent, old tom and you're no mousebrain. Neither is Oakbranch for that matter, most of the time."
"But Daisypaw!" Exclaimed Hazelpaw, knowing the cream she cat couldn't understand. "What it said would happen did happen! Spiderstreak is dead! And the feather-the feather is gone!
"I don't understand," said Daisypaw after a pause as she stared intently at her friend, a frown now on her face and brow furrowed. There was still a glimmer of concern in her blue eyes, and Hazelpaw wondered if the cream she cat thought she now had bees in her brain. "Are you saying the warning was about Spiderstreak's death?
"Yes," replied Hazelpaw with a soft sigh. "At least, I'm almost positive it was even if it wasn't directly mentioned. He...he told me to beware and then said there would be danger and death. And when we went to Cardinal Nest there was death. He told me; 'Beware the pure white feather which hides a hidden grudge, danger and death will come out from the sludge.'
"'Beware the pure white feather which hides a hidden grudge, danger and death will come out from the sludge.'" Echoed Daisypaw, her frown deepening.
"I didn't believe it," choked out Hazelpaw, her voice barely above a whisper, "and now it happened and it's all my fault…."
"No Hazelpaw never!" Exclaimed Daisypaw fiercely, her blue eyes boring into the grey apprentice's own. Her gaze softened. "Look, I don't understand this warning that Ravenwhisker gave or whether it might have some merit, but," the cream she cat puffed out a breath, "what I do know is that even if it is true there was nothing that you or any other cat could have done."
"You really think so?" Asked Hazelpaw, her tone hopeful and brown gaze searching as she met her friend's blue gaze.
"Absolutely." Said Daisypaw lifting her chin up confidently and flicking an ear. "And I know this for a fact because I know that you are the most loyal and brave cat who would do anything to protect a clan mate - even if they were completely horrible."
Hazelpaw couldn't help gasping at Daisypaw's assured praise. Despite being friends, it wasn't something the cream she cat did often, so the fact she was doing it now to cheer Hazelpaw up meant a lot to the grey apprentice.
And she called me brave! Thought Hazelpaw, positively glowing, before she was interrupted by Daisypaw's commanding voice.
"So stop being a complete fleabrain and thinking the murder had anything what so ever to do with you! The only cat responsible for anything is the murderer. And the only thing you'll be responsible for is catching them!" Finished the cream she cat with an empathetic swish of her tail.
Hazelpaw blinked before letting out a huge breath she didn't know she had been holding. She felt lighter all of a sudden as if an invisible weight she didn't even know she had been carrying had been lifted off her shoulders. The grey she cat smiled, "Thank you Daisypaw. You really are a very good best friend." Hazelpaw said, blinking her brown eyes gratefully at the cream she cat.
Daisypaw grinned back at her and puffed out her chest grandly. "I am, aren't I?" She said cockily, before blinking and lowering her gaze, suddenly looking melancholy.
Hazelpaw let out an amused snort before frowning at her friend's abrupt glumness.
There must be something I can say or do. How can I help Daisypaw lift her own burdens?
The grey she cat bit her lip. "And...um..Daisypaw." Began Hazelpaw hesitantly after a moment, "I know that everything, not just the murderer, has really been horrible and I know there's probably nothing I can really do to...to help and I can't really fix anything b-but…." Stop rambling!
Hazelpaw took a deep breath before continuing "...but I just want you to know that I will always have your back and be there for you as both your deputy and your best friend. We can get through this together…" The grey she cat held her breath as she waited for her friend's response.
There was a pause before a quiet pur filled the air and Daisypaw's face lit up, a soft grin on her features. It was the happiest Hazelpaw had seen the cream she cat in a while. The grey she cat blew out a breath of relief, glad that she had managed to bring some sort of comfort to her best friend.
Daisypaw, meanwhile, opened her mouth to say something when Hazelpaw's ears pricked at the sound of a familiar yowl. The grey she cat turned to see the distant figures of Lilypaw and Beanpaw padding back towards the nest, Beeflight just behind.
"Mousedung! Interrupted again." Said Daisypaw also looking in her denmate's direction.
The cream she cat cleared her throat. "Well, we might as well go now and have a proper detective meeting to discuss what we discovered this morning. We'll have it outside in the elm tree next to the cardinals, so that Eaglepaw and Mudpaw won't interrupt us. What do you say, Hazelpaw?"
"Are Lilypaw and Beanpaw in?" She asked.
"Yes," said Daisypaw with a sigh. "If you insist. Although they aren't really necessary. That is to say," said the cream she cat with a grin, "they aren't you."
Hazelpaw blinked at her friend in surprise, suddenly lost for words. "Oh…." Despite the chilly breeze, she suddenly felt warm under her fur.
Daisypaw head butted her shoulder gently with a pur. "Don't speak, just shake on it." she said, a gleam of amusement in her blue eyes.
The cream she cat stuck out her paw. "Flower and Leaf forever?"
"Flower and Leaf forever." Said Hazelpaw firmly, placing her paw on top.
And with that, the two detectives raced off to join their denmates.
…..
"Order! Order! This meeting of the Detective Society is hereby convened. Great StarClan Beans! Stop making the branch sway."
"I'm sorry Daisypaw. I'll stop." Replied the black she cat.
All four she cats were crouched rather uncomfortably in the branches of a small elm tree next to the cardinal maze, ready for another Society meeting.
Hazelpaw saw Lilypaw grimaced as a stray twig scraped her back. "This place is fearfully uncomfortable Daisypaw." Complained the white she cat. "Do we really have to be up here?"
"Yes," replied Daisypaw. "From up here we can see any cat coming - do you want the murderer to sneak up on us unawares?"
Beanpaw sighed. "I wish there hadn't been a murder in the first place." Said the black she cat unhappily. "I don't like it."
"Well, whether or not you like it, there has been one and now it's up to us to work out who it was."
"I know." Said Beanpaw with a resigned sigh. "I just don't like it."
Daisypaw rolled her eyes at Lilypaw who gave a small sigh in reply.
Hazelpaw snorted, flicking her tail in irritation at the two she cats' response.
There's a bit of me which understands how Beanpaw feels. I love detecting, but I also love feeling safe. All Daisypaw can remember from our last case is the glory. Not the times when your heart beats so fast you think it will jump out of your chest. Times when you're absolutely frozen with fear, unable to move - like in a nightmare. The horrible moon-high chasing. Sometimes I can't get the chasing out of my head.
"All right,' began Daisypaw. "We must now consider the new information we have gathered since our last meeting. What evidence do we have? The missing prey remains, the missing feather and the half ripped cardinal leaf. There is also the fact of Beeflight's witness of Whitefur's arrival to PineClan to consider."
The cream she cat flicked her tail. "First with the feather; why was it taken?"
"Because it's pretty and of high value in PineClan?" Suggested Beanpaw.
"It's possible." Replied Daisypaw. "Which of course could point to Jupinerbush, he was simply mesmerised by it! We must check his nest as soon as possible. Not to mention Whitefur's as well of course! How to do that?"
The cream she cat sighed, before sitting up straight with a jolt. "Nonetheless, I do know who's got an even better motive to steal the feather.
Daisypaw's tail swung down beneath the branch she was perched upon.
"Mudpaw."
Hazelpaw clenched her jaw, but she couldn't stop a small squeak from escaping.
Daisypaw rolled her eyes. "Hazelpaw doesn't think he could have done it, but even the society's deputy can be wrong. Now, Beeflight did confirm the fact that he still may have a slight acceptance problem, especially after that incident with Thunderboom she mentioned, so he still is a high suspect."
"But how do we check?" Asked Hazelpaw.
"Quite easily," said Daisypaw, "We use you. Go up to Mudpaw the next chance you get and ask him if…...he still has problems like that. He likes you after all. He'll be honest."
The grey she cat stared at her friend.
I will not! I won't do something like that, not even for you…..
But then Hazelpaw remembered who the other suspects were, and sighed.
If Daisypaw is willing to suspect her family, then I need to be brave enough to rule out her brother's friend.
"All right," said the grey she cat last, her ears flattened slightly in discontent. She picked languidly at the soft tree bark with her claws. "I'll ask him."
"Good," said Daisypaw with a satisfied swish of her tail. "Now to the other evidence, the ripped leaf. An obvious place it could have come from could have been from the cardinal maze, but we must look around to be sure. But the question is, "who's been near the cardinals recently?"
"Some cat we actually witnessed going inside those cardinals." Suggested Hazelpaw. "Some cat like…..like Falconflight."
Daisypaw frowned.
"I suppose so. Yes. And even I have to admit that Falconflight has been behaving in a…..thoroughly un-uncle like manner. He's still lying about what he thinks happened to Spiderstreak, and doing everything to stop Rosethorn alerting the Clan Guard."
"And Daisypaw,' Said Hazelpaw, "I think that he might be closer to Whitefur than we first thought. The way they looked at each other just now. I think there's more to their relationship than meets the eye. And Beeflight proved that."
The cream she cat scowled. "If you base everything on looks-" But then Lilypaw cut in.
"Oh yes, I thought so too! They looked awfully friendly just after the scene with Rosethorn, didn't they?"
Daisypaw narrowed her eyes at both she cats. She was outnumbered, and Hazelpaw could tell she wasn't used to it.
"Perhaps." She said at last with a huff. "We must watch Falconflight, but if Beeflight's witness proves anything, it makes Whitfur the more suspicious one. She appears to be here for some alternative motive and is incredibly reluctant to reveal anything about her past. Falconflight has been behaving oddly but I don't think it can be him; we know he's good just the way we know Spiderstreak was bad."
Hazelpaw frowned.
I'm not sure that we do know that. We can't be sure if anything.
"I do think it's less likely for it to be Rosethorn," continued the cream she cat, "just based on how upset she was and how she was absolutely determined to alert the Guard, but of course we must be entirely rigorous. We need proper evidence of her innocence."
Daisypaw let out a thoughtful hum, tail flicking back and forth contemplatively. "What we should do is conduct a recreation of the crime scene. We might be able to rule her or some other suspect out….yes, let's do that as soon as possible."
The cream she cat twitched her whiskers. "Now back to Whitefur. She appears to be at Cardinal Nest for some alternative motive; maybe even PineClan itself. The question is why? We witnessed Spiderstreak threatening her in the cardinals - did he know who she really was? And if so, did she kill him to protect her secret?"
Dasiypaw gave her tail a decisive flick and stared around at her den mates, blue eyes wide. "We must discover who she really is as soon as possible, and the best way to do that would be to search her nest."
"But how though?" Questione Hazelpaw with a tilt of her head. "When she's not with us she often hangs around near the warrior's den. Or if not her some other cat like Sparrowfeather or Jupinerbush. When-"
The detective was then abruptly cut off by a loud shriek from Lilypaw.
"Look! Another intruder!"
Hazelpaw followed Lilypaw's gaze to see a dark pelted figure in the distance nearer the cardinal maze. Almost immediately the grey she cat leaped from the tree and started toward the intruder and out of the corner of her eye saw Daisypaw do the same.
The two she cats raced side beside towards the cardinal maze, easily gaining on the dark coloured figure. Hazelpaw watched as Daisypaw then bounded ahead and leaped square on top of it. The grey she cat hurried over to her friend and the now immobilised intruder, very curious to see who it was.
"Hey ladies. It's me!" Wheezed a very familiar voice. "Can't a guy step foot into a valley without being torn about by two very vicious she cats - albeit very pretty - but still very vicious."
Hazelpaw could only blink as she stared at the now familiar face of a dark tortoiseshell tom.
"Haze?"
"In the flesh." Replied the rogue with a grin and a cheeky wink.
"What are you doing here?!" Exclaimed Daisypaw, looking just as surprised as Hazelpaw felt but much more furious. She glared down at Haze through scathing blue eyes. "Filthy rogue, you broke your promise."
"Hey, hey wait just a moment, princess." Wined Haze as he made a half-hearted struggle beneath Daisypaw's paws. "Don't leap to conclusions so fast! I thought that could be one of the worst things a cat trying to do a little sleuthing could do."
Hazelpaw watched as Daisypaw's blue eyes flashed in anger and a low growl began to rumble in her throat. Before the situation could escalate, the grey she cat stepped in.
"Fair enough," conceded the grey apprentice, moving to stand close to her friend and laying a calming tail on her shoulders, "but you better start explaining why you're here. Fast. Start talking."
"Okay, okay." Said Haze, waving his tail in a placating gesture before clearing his throat. "Well today I just received some more info which I figured would be beneficial to both your clan and your investigation. And being how honourably magnanimous a gentleman such as myself is, I decided to take the liberty to come and tell you such information."
Hazelpaw's snort of amusement at Haze's choice of words soon turned to a gasp of surprise and excitement. "Really? What?" Asked the grey she cat eagerly, brown eyes wide.
"Tell us!" Commanded Daisypaw and Hazelpaw glanced at her to see a similar eager and curious look apparent on her face; her earlier animosity at Haze completely forgotten.
"Woah, woah, woah. Not so fast." Admonished the tortoiseshell tom, his amber eyes gleaming mischievously. "Not till you, for one, get off of me, and two, introduce me to these two lovely ladies over here. You didn't tell me you had pretty friends!" Said Haze with a grin as he looked over Hazelpaw's shoulder.
The grey she cat turned to see none other than Lilypaw and Beanpaw now standing together hesitantly a few rabbit paces back from the other three cats, having apparently abandoned the elm tree.
"Oh, is that the rogue you were telling us about?" Spoke up Lilypaw as the white furred she cat peered curiously at the tortoiseshell tom, before slowly padding closer.
"Indeed it is. But not just any rogue." Said Haze as he smoothly got up after Daisypaw begrudgingly got off of him.
"The name is Haze, and the pleasure is all mine." Said the rogue tortoiseshell all suave as he dipped his head low to Beanpaw and Lilypaw.
"Lilypaw," replied the white she cat with a small giggle as she fluttered her blue eyes back at the tom. Beanpaw simply gave a shy smile. "I'm Beanpaw."
Hazelpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement but a long groan and an eye roll from Daisypaw suggest the cream she cat wasn't finding this whole scene very funny in the slightest.
"We let you up." Hissed Daisypaw through clenched teeth. "Now tell us what you supposedly know and it better be good!"
"Look, okay, let's do this in order then, shall we."
Haze cleared his throat as he sat up all straight and business like on his haunches. "First thing I'll say is that I've reported back to my group about Spiderstreak being, er, dead and basically any other plans to raid PineClan territory have gone to absolute slush. It was actually quick amusing seeing the reaction of the mission superior's when I told him the news." Said the rogue tom with a smirk. "I had no idea a cat's face could become that shade of purple."
"No kidding!" Exclaimed Lilypaw. The white apprentice appeared to be hanging off Haze's every word and Hazelpaw tried her best to stifle her purs of musement.
"So the rogue trouble with PineClan has stopped for good, at least in the meantime?" The grey she cat asked the tortoiseshell tom.
"Exactly." Confirmed Haze with a nod. "I really don't want to let on too much about my home group or I'll be the traitor but let's just say there's been a lot of squibble-squabble involving certain cats' capabilities." The tom began to explain, his voice dropping to a knowing, conspiratorial whisper.
"The leader of this failed mission is in a lot of gull poop with the higher superiors. Even Her Excellency, Supreme Superior! That's almost a guarantee that there's gonna be some cut backs. Literal and figurative. Which means there is now quite the power vacancy. In my humble opinion, I bet it's almost paws down, gonna be Galaxy, she is the Supreme Superiour's niece after all." Finished Haze with a proud raise of his chin.
The four she cats simply looked at him.
Presumably catching their clueless expressions, the rogue tom gave an exaggerated sigh of exasperation, before beginning to explain everything again more slowly as if talking to a young kit.
"Okay. There's gonna be a new leader in charge. Not a main, a smaller one that replaces the dude in charge of this whole operation. The new leader is gonna wanna get cooperation behind her before trying any advances anywhere, particularly in your territory. That is if she even wants to! I don't think she would anyway. Just not Galaxy's style." Said Haze with another knowing grin. He gave his tail a decisive flick. "Bottom line, your clan is safe. You won't be seeing hide nor hair of any rogues no more."
"Yay, that's great news!" Replied Hazelpaw, blowing out a breath of relief. The grey she cat felt very pleased that at least now one of the problems causing tension in PineClan for a quarter moon had been resolved. "Thank you so much for telling us."
"You're very most welcome. Only for you four lovely ladies," Replied the tom all silkily with a wink at Lilypaw in which the white she cat responded with a charmed sigh. Hazelpaw heard Daisypaw give an annoyed huff.
Haze simply grinned before continuing. "Yip, I even heard they're starting to evacuate the base right at this moment. So you can send someone to check it out if you don't believe me. Um yeah…" Trailed of the rogue tom, suddenly appearing rather subdued.
Hazelpaw frowned at Haze's stark change in demeanour, "What's wrong?"
"Well my other piece of news," began the tom, swishing his tail against the muddy ground gloomily," is that I found out how we got that other base before and I was right. He has indeed done this before. Totally Spiderstreak's work all over it. Apparently he, like, conned a young queen and her kit out of it." Said Haze with a shudder. Before an angry gleam suddenly appeared in his amber eyes.
"I heard he did it by pretending to be there for the she cat and look after her. Pretending to love her." Spat the rogue with a snarl. "Getting close to her on purpose just to get access to her territory, which included that clearing with the twoleg wall, before then chasing the queen and her only kit out."
Haze shook his head, amber eyes sombre. "I hate to think what happened to them afterwards. Especially the poor kit. I hope it's okay now…"
The four she cats all murmured their agreement. Hazelpaw noticed that Lilypaw, still appearing rather taken with the smooth rogue tom, had her mouth open slightly in outrage, Beanpaw's green eyes were wide with horror and sympathy, and Daisypaw's lip was curled in disgust and her blue eyes narrowed in ire. The grey she cat herself felt her fangs clench together and her unsheathed claws sink into the muddy ground.
I've never liked Spiderstreak and after the events over the last few sun-ups, I began to really despise him, but that was compared to nothing I feel now! Horrible doesn't even begin to cover what that tom was like!
Hazelpaw took a deep breath to calm herself down and felt Daisypaw's fur brush against hers. The grey she cat focused once more on what Haze was saying as the rogue tom continued.
"Again, I know you're not supposed to speak about the dead like this but, Spiderstreak really wasn't a pleasant cat to work with. Absolutely horrible to be exact. A really arrogant piece of work always flashing that feather of his around." Said Haze, making a face. "I honestly really hated being the messenger full stop. Hopefully a power change will make things better - hopefully."
Hazelpaw nodded sympathetically, "I really hope so too and at least now you don't have to deal with Spiderstreak any more. But.." Continued Hazelpaw suddenly struck by a horrible thought, "um..you aren't in any danger or anything are you from everything that's going on?" The grey she cat asked worriedly.
"Nope." Replied Haze confidently, before smiling a genuine smile. "I really appreciate you asking though. Right now my superiors, whoever they're supposed to be now, believe that I'm just doing an amazing job at damage control. And if I do say so myself," said the tortoiseshell tom with a smirk, "I think I'm doing a fine job."
Hazelpaw gave a huff of amusement at the rogue's rather healthy self-assurance but at the same time noticed Daisypaw give an unimpressed roll of her eyes. Surprisingly, however, the grey she cat also noticed a small smile gracing her friend's lips.
"Well in that case, if you want to do even better, we might have a small favour to ask you." Said the cream she cat.
"Mmmm," replied Haze, eyeing the cream she cat suspiciously, before swishing his tail grandly. "What sort of favour could a lovely lady possibly need from a gentleman such as myself?"
"Well," began Daisypaw with a quick glance at Hazelpaw, "I request for you to come here next sun-up and provide evidence against Spiderstreak with your testimony on our behalf in front of the warriors here at Cardinal Nest."
"What?!" Exclaimed Haze almost instantly, his face a comical mixture of surprise, shock and down right horror.
But while even Lilypaw and Beanpaw exchanged surprised glances, Hazelpaw was not at all surprised in the slightest. She knew that having Haze share his testimony would be the only way that - at this point anyway - they could prove evidence of Spiderstreak's dealings with the rogue group in front of the warriors. The grey she cat also knew her friend thought Spiderstreak's dealings was too much of a coincidence to not be important in some way to the overall investigation; as a possible motive to his murder at the least.
"Please," pleaded Hazelpaw as she looked earnestly into Haze's bright amber eyes. "We really need you too. It could be all the difference in our investigation. I know it's a lot to ask, but maybe there's something you can ask the warriors for in return."
"I'd get ripped to shreds first." Retorted Haze surely.
"No really, just ask for us." Replied Daisypaw just as confidently. "They'll believe you because my uncle, the yellow tom I keep mentioning, well he's been acting thoroughly un-uncle lately and would do something as mouse brained as think that I've been caught up in some dastardly rogue business. They'll ask questions, we'll vouch for you, you can get something in return and then you go home and never come back - every cat wins."
There was a pause as Haze tilted his head to the side thoughtfully, a very serious expression now on his face, and appeared to consider the two detectives' request. Once again, Hazelpaw could tell a lot of thought was going on behind his amber eyes and not for the first time wondered if the tortoiseshell rogue was as rock headed as he sometimes made out to be.
After a time, the tortoiseshell tom finally spoke up. "Alright the next sun-up eh." Said Haze with a casual flick of his tail. "Yeah, I can do that." Hazelpaw let out a soft sigh in relief. "What time specifically?"
"Say about mid morning." Stated Daisypaw with a flick of her ear.
Hazelpaw nodded her agreement.
Haze let out a thoughtful hum. "Mid morning. Yeah that'll work. I'll be there." Said the tortoiseshell tom with a twitch of his whiskers.
"Thank you Haze." Said Hazelpaw, blinking her brown eyes gratefully at the tom. "We really appreciate it."
"Anything for my favourite lovely ladies," replied Haze with a grin, the teasing gleam now back in his amber eyes.
"Well, I best be going now." Said the tom as he padded past the she cats and started heading towards the cardinal forest. He turned back to face them. "It was nice to see you two again, Hazelpaw and Daisypaw," he said to the two detectives with a polite dip of his head, "and nice to meet you two rather pretty she cats," said Haze next with a cheeky wink at Lilypaw.
He gave his tail a haughty swish before sauntering away. "I'll see you all next sun-up!" He called out at last before then bounding away into the forest.
Hazelpaw grinned at the rogue tom's theatrical departure before hearing a soft sigh of delight from Lilypaw.
"Isn't he lovely and so roguishly handsome." The white she cat declared wistfully. "And so utterly charming!"
"I'm not sure." Said Beanpaw, brow furrowed, as she gazed in the direction the rogue had disappeared off in. "He seemed nice but….. he was rather bold and not always polite and he kept looking at Lilypaw funny." Finished the black she cat rather indignantly as she moved closer to her friend. Hazelpaw almost laughed out loud. She had never seen her denmate look so put out.
"It's fine Beanpaw." Said Daisypaw with a disgruntled sigh. "He didn't mean anything by it. It was just his way of being nice. I think he quite liked Lilypaw."
"You really think so!"
Hazelpaw glanced at Daisypaw as she tried her best to smother her grin. The cream she cat simply met her gaze and groaned softly under her breath. "Foxdung, I said that out loud."
"Focus, assistant Lilypaw." The cream she cat then meowed to her denmate as she gave her head an exasperated shake.
"We don't have time to concern our minds with unimportant rock headed rogues. We now need to focus more than ever if we want to solve the case by next sun-up." Explained Daisypaw with a divisive flick of her tail. "We ideally want to have everything ready and figured out to present in front of the warriors along with Haze's testimony."
"I suppose it's time to try and figure out who the murderer can't be and try to narrow down our suspect list." Said Hazelpaw with a twitch of her whiskers.
"Exactly. Spot on deputy." said Daisypaw with a nod, blue eyes sparkling. "One of my favourite parts. Other than finding out who actually did it and unmasking the murderer in front of everyone of course."
Hazelpaw grinned her agreement.
And then suddenly, at that moment, it began to rain once more; only soft at first but then increasingly heavy.
"Inside!" cried Daisypaw. "And as Hazelpaw said, to our next bit in the investigation - ruling out suspects. Oh I do like this bit! But we really must hurry if we want everything wrapped up by next sun-up!"
As Hazelpaw ran across the grass back towards the nest, rain drops dripping down her whiskers and wetting her fur, the grey she cat couldn't help feeling elated with their progress - they had evidence with the leaf, the missing feather and prey remains plus Haze's witness and a plan to rule out the list of suspects. But then she remembered who the cats were they were investigating.
Her heart sank.
Do we really want to know what happened to Spiderstreak? He was a really nasty cat after all. Whoever killed him was far nicer than he could ever be - and they may be someone important to Daisypaw.
The grey she cat's pelt prickled with guilt at the thought, but it was still there.
I can't bear to think of what punishments wait for the murderer after Court of The Clans - do they really deserve it?
Hello everyone and yay I'm on time! And wasn't that quite a busy chapter from Rosethorn being a foxheart to Hazel finally having a heart to heart with Daisy about the warning to a meeting about the suspects and then to Haze having another appearance! And that sad story about a queen and her kit being kicked out of their home by Spiderstreak all to give the rogues a new base. Ring any bells? Hope you enjoyed it all and tune in next Thurs/Fri to see what they do next to narrow down the suspect list.
- Fastbreeze37 (Seven)
PS: And now we've made it to over 50 reviews! Thank you so much guys! I always really enjoy reading readers opinions about the characters, theories, and all your encouraging comments :.)
PPS: Check out the pic of the mysteriously dull Whitefur now up on my profile page.
PPPS: I have made a couple of edits on a few little details in the prologue and second chap just to make sure they're properly consistent because they may contain some very small clues. Have another read in you want!
QOTD – What do you think Ravenwhisker's warning is talking about and how do you think it ties in with the mystery? Is it a help or a hindrance?
Reviews:
Hissing Mist – Yay you're my 50th reviewer! Thank you so much and for reviewing so often! And yeah well from what he says next as well, Jupinerbush really, really doesn't like the idea of the clan guard coming and investigating the death of Spiderstreak for some reason. Whether it be for reputation's sake like he implied or something more sinister…..well we'll have to see. Yes, yes Falconflight is acting a bit stuck up like he knows better than everyone else….or maybe like a cat with something to hide? Nice theory. And lol I'm glad you liked that line. And there is potential especially with lily's character but no Lilypaw and Beanpaw won't be ruining the investigation. As for the other questions, the detectives will just have to find those out. The reason Whitefur mentioned Beeflight was mostly because she just happened to walk past at that time and from what the yellow she cat said, had actually talked with her once (even if she did abruptly cut her off). Ha, ha no I don't have a crush on Falconflight ;.) I mean I kinda do like his character as in his dialogue and character interactions are fun to write, but if I was a character in the story, then I wouldn't like him much at all. He's a bit stuck up and a snob to put it lightly. I hadn't actually finished writing that chapter until last week, so I didn't realise how prominent a character or suspect Falconflight was becoming. He is a bit of a pain in the tail. This probs isn't very realistic, but Eaglepaw is supposed to be three moons – ish older than Daisypaw so they aren't litter mates. Eagle is her older bro. And yes good old Lily for being the friend that tells everyone who your crush is lol. And yes glad you caught ThunderxRiver! Subtly implied, if I ever get to any other books, I might try and build on that but they were still a couple of foxhearts. Glad you like Riverrush though! And yes thankfully still alive and no disappearing shenanigans with other authors! Glad you enjoyed! :.)
thephantomreader - Yay glad you like Minty and Bee interactions. And yes the poor story of our little Mudpaw! I can confirm that place with the twoleg wall was the same place Hazel and Daisy first saw Haze, and is supposed to be a part of the rogue's base. He very well could have been close to finding it. Not a bad suggestion. Hazel would certainly be on board but Daisy wouldn't be keen because he is still technically a suspect. And yes rogues still continue to be tangled up in everything! We'll have to see how (if) they relate more to the main mystery other than what we've seen so far…..