Chapter Twenty Four - Accusations and Elimination

"Oh, it was absolutely dreadful." Said Rosethorn from where she was lounging on her side in the middle of the warrior's Nest Lay den. Everyone else was gathered around her like a clan around their leader during a clan meeting.

After Hazelpaw and her den mates had finally been allowed out of their den, they managed to overhear Mintpelt talking to Falconflight in the long den. "Thank StarClan she wasn't more injured." The medicine cat had said. "She must have hit her head and been knocked unconscious, causing her to go limp and roll. It's somewhat of a miracle really, that's what saved her from getting more severe injuries." Although Mintpelt's voice was light with relief, Hazelpaw was glad to her usual jolliness as well.

"How did it happen?" The black and white she cat asked.

"Carelessness," Falconflight had replied briefly (Lying again! Thought Hazelpaw, He surely knows this is no more of an accident than Spiderstreak's death!). "Nothing to worry about." His voice gave nothing away.

Hazelpaw noticed Mintpelt stare at the yellow tom unblinking for a moment.

Does she realise he's lying? That there's more going on and that this is something to do with Spiderstreak death?

"Are the Clan Guard on their way?" Asked the medicine cat. Hazelpaw noticed her green eyes watch Falconflight closely, as if sizing up his reaction.

I think the answer to both my questions is most likely a yes…

"They're on their way." Again the yellow tom's voice gave nothing away.

"That's very good," said Mintpelt, her usual warm lightness beginning to return to her voice. "In the meantime I shall be watching Rosethorn very closely and staying with her in the Nest Lay den. She needs complete rest, but other than that I expect a full recovery very soon. I'll go see to her now."

The black and white she cat padded toward the Nest Lay den before stopping mid-stride. "And Falconflight?" Spoke Mintpelt over her shoulder. "I do see you. Tread carefully. Remember why you choose the path upon which you walk upon."

Was that a warning to Falconflight that she knew more was going on? Or does she have reason to particularly suspect him…? Thought Hazelpaw as she sat in her loaf position with her den mates in the Nest Lay den. The grey she cat had been excited to get alibis from all the other warriors present, but so far Rosethorn had only complained about her aching head and cut. Mintpelt had to keep gently nudging her to stop her pawing at the cobweb dressing on her head.

"But what if I'm scarred for life?!" Cried the cream warrior. "Imagine! Oh, and my paw! I fear that I won't be able to do any warrior duties ever again!"

"I assure you it's not that bad." Said Mintpelt at the same time Whitefur said, "Don't try to talk Rosethorn, just rest."

Hazelpaw flinched. After everything they had discovered about the white furred warrior, everything she said seemed menacing. Whitefur's presence in the den made Hazelpaw's pelt prickle as though her brilliant green eyes were watching her every move.

Does she know we suspect her?

"How can I rest?" Cried Rosethorn dramatically, flicking her tail. "The most dreadful things happened to me. Every time I close my eyes, I feel it happen all over again. Those shadowy stairs - the silence - and then the feeling of these terrible paws, shoving my side - so cruel! I remember thinking - this is the end! - and then there was only blackness. I thought I had died!"

"Incredible," murmured Eaglepaw, "thinking while unconscious."

"Do be quiet, thankless kit!" Snapped his mother. "But what I want to know is, who did this to me?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Beeflight, amber eyes wide.

"It's perfectly obvious," said Rosethorn with a snort. "I wasn't attacked by a StarClan warrior. Some cat did this to me. Someone in this nest! Only imagine...what cruelty, what meanness - what have I ever done to deserve it!"

"That," said Eaglepaw, "is perhaps not a question you would like us to answer honestly."

Rosethorn ignored him.

Hazelpaw pricked her ears as she noticed Jupinerbush mutter something under his breath, shifting on his paws where he was sitting. A sickly sweet smell wafted from his fur, which looked messy and dirty, and Hazelpaw thought the tom looked slightly put out.

What's up with him? What is he irritated about?

Jupinerbush looked to Rosethorn. "I tell you I ain't pushed no cat down those stairs. 'at is if some cat actually did pushed you down that is." He added with a half smirk. Rosethorn glared at him.

"I was up stairs lookin' in that den with all them odd twoleg things." Continued the tom ignoring the warrior's glare. "Sparrowfeather was also with me, ain't that right?"

Jupinerbush turned to the brown tom with an imploring glare, tail flicking. Sparrowfeather twitched his whiskers awkwardly. "I..er...yes, exactly...I was with Jupinerbush in that….that twoleg den..yes..er that's what happened."

Hazelpaw saw Daisypaw give him a worried glance.

What is he and Jupinerbush playing at this time? It sounds like another lie.

"I was in the warriors den," spoke up Whitefur, "fetching something for the apprentice's training. When I ran out into the long den, I saw no one there."

"And I was outside near the cardinal forest." Said Falconflight. "And saw you lying at the bottom of the stairs when I came back inside."

So who did it? If Sparrowfeather and Jupinerbush were at the front of the top floor, Whitefur in the warrior's den, Eaglepaw with us, Mudpaw in the apprentice's Nest Lay den and Falconflight outside, then who pushed Rosethorn? Which cat is lying?

Hazelpaw wrinkled her nose as she caught a waft of the scent coming of Jupinerbush again.

And what's up with him?

"Yes, but that doesn't help me," said Rosethorn crossly. "We don't know who pushed me down the stairs, and until I do I won't be able to sleep for a heartbeat. I was attacked for StarClan's sake! I demand a guard at all times!"

"Mintpelt will be here," said Falconflight. "And so will the rest of us."

"But it was one of you who did THIS!" Yowled Rosethorn. "Who else could have done it? There's been no one else in the nest for the last three sun-ups."

Beanpaw whimpered, green eyes wide with fear before bursting into sobs. "Rosethorn!" Said Sparrowfeather, looking awkwardly at the black she cat. "The apprentices!"

Whitefur cleared her throat. "I think it's time for some cats to go up to their den," said the white warrior. "I'll ask Beeflight to have your evening meal brought up."

"But we want to stay with Rosethorn," said Daisypaw, grabbing Hazelpaw's tail with her own and squeezing it fiercely. At that moment Hazelpaw couldn't decide what was worse, being stuck in the dark den upstairs with Whitefur, or downstairs with Rosethorn, knowing the murderer might come to finish her off at any moment.

"Go on you young'uns off to your den." Spoke up Jupinerbush, standing up from his sitting position. "The warriors know best - most of the time anyway I suppose." Hazelpaw caught the tail of a sharp look in Sparrowfeather's direction.

"Anyways, I'm off to the warrior's den for some peace and quiet. Too much excitement for one sun-up." Muttered Jupinerbush. Hazelpaw wrinkled her nose as the brown tom passed and lumbered out of the den. His tail hit against the side of the entrance and dust and what appeared to be small green leaves rained down onto the floor.

Cautiously creeping forward and trying not to be noticed, Hazelpaw peered at the leaves. They looked awfully familiar somehow and carried the same scent that Jupinerbush did.

And I think those are vine leaves but where…..?

"All right apprentices," said Whitefur severely. "Den; now."

"Oh, Whitefur must we?" Asked Daisypaw.

"Yes you must." Replied the white warrior, expression stern and green eyes boring down on the apprentices. "Go now, and I'll send Beeflight up with some fresh-kill."

Ordinarily the prospect of prey after such a long day would have been enough to cheer Hazelpaw up, now however, given the circumstances, it sounded almost menacing.

What if Whitefur was to slip something in with the prey? There has already been one poisoning, after all.

The grey she cat badly wanted to stay in the Nest Lay den in the fine, light haze, and could tell the others did too, but with all the warriors watching them, all four detectives had no choice but to slowly pad upstairs and into the darkness of their den.

The apprentices walked closely together, gazing warily around their surroundings. It was now after sunset and the top floor was pretty much completely dark and Hazelpaw saw how easy it would been for some cat to creep up on Rosethorn - Hazelpaw could barely see her friends right in front of her.

The apprentices passed Spiderstreak's den, a twisting vine of leaves climbing the side of the entrance half blocked by a large twoleg sofa. Hazelpaw felt her pelt prickle uneasily before she was struck by a sudden thought. The grey she cat stopped abruptly, causing Lilypaw to run into the back of her.

"Keep going Hazelpaw," she said with an annoyed grunt.

"Wait, I've just had a thought! I know where Jupinerbush really was when Rosethorn was pushed!" Hazelpaw exclaimed excitedly. "If I'm right I mean."

"You usually are." Spoke up Daisypaw, turning around to face her. "Apart from when I am, of course. So where was he really?"

Hazelpaw took a deep breath. "In Spiderstreak's den."

Daisypaw blinked, her blue eyes flashing with surprise in the darkness. "Explain."

"We all know how much Jupinerbush wanted the feather. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off it. We've been hunting for the feather all sun-up, what if he has been too? He probably thought it had gone with Spiderstreak into the blue pelted den, so he went in to look. The reason I know is because of this; look at the vine!"

All four detectives turned to look at the vine which snaked around the side of the entrance way. Small green leaves grew out of each on each side. There was a patch where some appeared to be missing, and if Hazelpaw squinted, she could just make out scuff marks where dust had been disturbed recently.

"I don't understand," said Beanpaw, "brow creased in confusion."

"Just as Jupinerbush left the den down stairs, his tail brushed the entrance causing some small leaves to fall off him. Leaves which perfectly match these ones missing from the vine. And he was all dusty as well."

"But if he was looking for the feather just now, he couldn't have been the cat in the meal den den last night!" Said Lilypaw quickly, tail swishing with excitement. "And if he was up here in the den when Rosethorn was attacked - well, he couldn't have done that either. Jupinerbush can't be the murderer!"

"Very true!" Agreed Daisypaw. "Excellent detective work assistant Lilypaw and you too Hazelpaw."

"Urgh!" Added Lilypaw, pink nose wrinkling in disgust. "Imagine - going into a den with a dead body."

"So?" Said Daisypaw. "It's just a body, it can't attack you or anything. Come on Hazelpaw, I'm sure your theory is correct, but we need to double check." Continued the cream she cat as she started to the den.

"But Daisypaw, the body!" Hissed Hazelpaw, with a shiver.

The grey detective saw her friend roll her eyes. "StarClan, Hazelpaw." Muttered Daisypaw, before wrapping her tail around her friend and dragging her towards the den. The grey she cat let out a surprise squeak but let her take her. Peering around the twoleg object and trying to avoid the black form on the nest, Hazelpaw could tell there were signs of recent disturbance. The grey she cat could also smell the same sickly sweet scent which had clung to the senior tabby warrior.

I was right. Jupinerbush had been in this room the moment of Rosethorn's attack. He lied because he didn't want any cat to know he was after the feather. He couldn't have pushed her off the stairs - and therefore, he is truly not a suspect.

….

"All right everyone. I call this meeting of the Flower and Leaf Detective Society, to order." Began Daisypaw. After confirming the whereabouts of Jupinerbush, the four detectives had settled in their nests to hold out a detective meeting and cross out their list of suspects.

"It has never been more important to catch this killer." Continued Daisypaw, from where she sat on her haunches grandly in front of the other detectives. "This won't end unless we end it, don't you see? The murderer won't stop! And they've hurt my mother. She may be an utterly mouse brained mother, but she's mine and I won't have it!" The cream she cat lashed her tail fiercely.

"I'm going to do something, and you're all going to help me. All right?"

"All right," replied Hazelpaw, nodding firmly.

I'm bound to help Daisypaw right till the end.

"All right," said Lilypaw, glancing at Beanpaw and then back at Daisypaw and Hazelpaw. "Us too."

"Very good!" Said Daisypaw, a pleased gleam in her blue eyes.

"Let's begin. Now despite the attack being an awful experience for Rosethorn, it was quite useful for us because we can finally absolutely rule out some of our suspects."

"Like Eaglepaw," said Hazelpaw, knowing her friend would be particularly pleased with that outcome. "

"Exactly!" Agreed Daisypaw. "It is impossible for it to have been him pushing Rosethorn because he was with us. And quite unlikely for there to be two separate murderers about, so that means Eaglepaw didn't do the poisoning."

"And of course that eliminates Rosethorn herself as well." Continued Daisypaw. "She is simply not the type of cat to risk her 'beautiful looks' to try and make herself innocent by fabricating an attack. So she's out too."

The cream she cat twitched her whiskers before continuing. "Next is Jupinerbush of course, upstairs trying to nick Spiderstreak's feather - not pushing Rosethorn down the stairs."

"And Daisypaw," spoke up Hazelpaw, "we saw Mudpaw running from the apprentice's Nest lay den just after the push. If you add that with what he told me earlier, it isn't just me sticking up for him because he's nice - he actually can't be a suspect."

Hazelpaw felt her fur grow hot again as she pointed this out (I have no idea why - that's completely mouse brained! I'm just being logical. The grey she cat thought). She noticed Lilypaw grin at her and avoided her gaze, but Daisypaw just nodded.

"Yes, all right.' She said. Mudpaw's out too. That just leaves three: Whitefur, Falconflight…..and Sparrowfeather."

Lilypaw blinked. "But didn't you just tell us your father can't be a suspect?"

Daisypaw gave an exasperated sigh. "Yes, but I also told you those cleanpaws won't understand at all. They're such flea brains, they won't listen to us without any real evidence, so we must give it to them."

"But, if he loves your mother, why would he try to hurt her?" Asked Beanpaw, green eyes wide.

"Exactly!" Said Daisypaw, "Excellent point Assistant Beans. If Sparrowfeather wanted Rosethorn back so badly that he was willing to kill off Spiderstreak, then why would he push her down the stairs? But the Guard might think that he was cross with her and wanted to punish her - so even that doesn't let him off."

The she cats sighed.

"And we did see him standing on the first floor with Jupinerbush afterwards." Hazelpaw pointed out. "And he seemed to be lying about his alibi, do you think he was covering for his uncle?"

"Oh, what mousebrains for kin I have!" Exclaimed Daisypaw with an annoyed flick of her tail. "Sparrowfeather just keeps managing to make himself look guilty. He already has Jupinerbush covering him, and when the old tom does something mousebrained, he covers for him instead. Unbelievable!" The cream she cat huffed.

"But what all this really means," continued Daisypaw, "is that it is crucial we find evidence of his innocence or else he will be going to the Guard Camp and then…."

The cream she cat trailed off, and Hazelpaw understood why.

If we can't find evidence of Sparrowfeather's innocence before he's thrown into the Guard Camp, he'll have to stand before the Clan Court. If he's accused of being guilty then, then there is nothing we could do to save him.

"But what about Whitefur and Falconflight." Asked Hazelpaw, trying to divert her friend's thoughts. "They weren't just near the stairs when we came out, they were next to your mother. Whitefur said that when she went out into the long den after the scream, there was no other cat there. And there wouldn't be if she was the one who pushed Rosethorn."

"And Falconflight was acting suspicious again." Added Lilypaw, tail flicking in contemplation. "He didn't want any cat touching your mother."

Daisypaw frowned. "Falconflight was probably just trying to look after her," she said, "She is his sister, after all. But I admit it is concerning when added to all his other weird behaviour these last sun-ups. Oh I don't like it!" The cream she cat lashed her tail.

"It doesn't seem…..why is Falconflight spending all his time with Whitefur and seemingly in cahoots with her somehow to some degree? We know she has secrets and that she's here at PineClan for more reasons than she's letting on. Speaking of which, we must discover those as soon as we can. We don't have much time - the Clan Guard will be here soon! We need to search her nest for the feather."

With that, the meeting came to a close.

After a while, Beeflight came in with prey and then all four apprentices were soon curled up in their nest. But while the soft snores and grunts of her denmates echoed through the den, Hazelpaw found the sleep wouldn't take her. She lay awake thinking of all the events of the sun-up and wondering if the Detective Society could truly solve the case in time.

Will we able to solve the case before the Clan Guard arrives? Will we be able to find enough evidence of Sparrowfeather's innocence to keep him out of trouble? And will Haze keep his promise and come to provide evidence like he said he would?

Without warning, Ravenwhiskers warning from three sun-ups ago (StarClan! It feels like a lifetime ago) flashed in Hazelpaw's mind.

Beware the pure white feather which hides a hidden grudge, danger and death will come out from the sludge.

I still believe that the warning is actually true - and referencing Spiderstreak's murderer - even though I now know there couldn't have been anything I could have done to stop it. All the same, it seems to imply that the white feather is crucial to the case.

The grey she cat let out a breath as she turned to look at the den roof, imagining the bright expanse of stars beyond.

I only hope that the nest we find it in really is Whitefur's and not….StarClan please don't make it be Falconflight's….

Dum, dum, duuumm! Hello everyone, hope you enjoyed this chapter! Things are in a way looking up for our detectives. They've certainly crossed off some suspects and are now down to two (or three if you count Sparrow). But perhaps that makes it worse because depending on how you look at it, there is still at least a two out of three chance of it being one of Daisy's family members….oh boy. Nevertheless, we are certainly nearing the end game people! Anyway, tune in next Friday to see what the detectives' next action is, if they manage to survive the night that is…

-Fastbreeze37

PS: The map is still up for people to see in case you want to have a look and see who could've pushed Rosethorn depending on where the different suspects were (or claimed to be). Next week I'll post more character pics.

Reviews:

Hissing Mist – Thank you! I'm glad you noticed the chapter title, I didn't know if many people do but I'm glad you thought it was fitting :.) Lol, 'I'm sure she did buddy' is what you say to Falcon's excuse of Rosethorn 'falling' down the stairs. Falconflight's credibility really is lower than a Shadowclan cat stuck in a deep ravine…who can trust anything out of that cat's mouth? Anyway yeah so your theory is that he did it of course and lamely tried to stop Daisy from getting to close to Rosethorn so his waaayyy more intelligent niece didn't figure it out in case there were any evidence like..dunno fur tufts or something (maybe they should do a claw examination come to think of it.) Hilarious Falcon impression again but what I find really interesting, is that you ship White and Falcon together. (Catches her as close as cats can get to bridal style ;.) And poor Minty you are just traumatizing her! Funny that you don't particularly dislike Whitefur but it is true that they are spending a lot of time together. Meanwhile I presume you think they are totally working together, murdered Spider ect and pushed Rosey down the stairs together. How romantic of a pastime for them to both do….(maybe they both bonded over their shared utter dislike/intense interest in Spiderstreak lol). Not a bad theory, now just have to think if they had enough time to do it…though in thinking about it, it is decently plausible. Another very intriguing theory...you think Whitefur is a mean version of a spy – like haze. So I'm presuming another informant for the rogue group? (would explain her mysterious past) And that Falcon who did kill Spider is cleverly leading her astray on a different trail while covering his own dirty deeds? So I'm also guessing you think Falcon knew about the rogues and spider's involvement, so that was his motive? Or Falcon and White could just be working together. Whatever the case still very good theories and can't wait to see how it pans out. Yeah hopefully Hazel can talk Daisy round in the end to trusting that Gorsestep would believe and help them…hopefully. Glad you found the map helpful!