Chapter Twenty Seven - What He Witnessed

"Aren't we going to morning meal?" Asked Hazelpaw after Daisypaw had stopped abruptly outside the warrior's Nest lay den. Despite all the excitement, the grey she cat's stomach grumbled with hunger - she hadn't eaten much for evening meal the night before.

"No!" Said Daisypaw loudly. "The Guard will be here at any moment. We must speak to Jupinerbush again quickly and make him tell us what he's hiding."

Hazelpaw followed her friend into the warrior's Nest Lay den. The large brown tabby was there and looked up with a jolt as the she cats entered.

"Daisypaw." He grunted as he stood up. "What you group of young'uns doing making o'bunch a noise this morning." Hazelpaw thought she could detect a glimmer of unease in his blue eyes.

"Jupinerbush, we need to ask you a question." Said Daisypaw urgently. "It's important! We heard you talking to Sparrowfeather and we know you saw something he did at the evening meal and I know he's making you keep quiet because he thinks he'll get into trouble, and you believe him."

Jupinerbush had frozen and a look of utter horror crossed his face. Hazelpaw felt the sick feeling in her stomach increase, worse than ever. She badly wanted to get out of this den, Cardinal Nest, and the case itself from beginning to end.

I just want to go home - even if I'm not sure what home I'm referring to anymore.

"But, Jupinerbush, you know Sparrowfeather!" Exclaimed Daisypaw upon seeing the tom's reaction. "You know what a complete and utter mouse brain he is, and how he never knows what's important or what's good for him. I'm sure there was just a slight misunderstanding and that whatever you saw at evening meal had nothing to do with Spiderstreak getting murdered. If you only told us what it was, we could tell the Guard that he's innocent or else they might suspect him."

"No!" Growled Jupinerbush fiercely, stomping his paw down on the floor. All the apprentices jumped. Then the brown tom sighed. Hazelpaw had never seen him look so helpless.

"Daisypaw niece, I ain't saying nothing." Said the senior warrior, looking away from the apprentices. He glared down at the den floor as if it was a warrior from an enemy clan. "What I saw - it proves he was guilty." He muttered.

"What?" Said Daisypaw weakly, leaning against Hazelpaw's side. The grey she cat entwined her tail with hers and squeezed it fiercely. Behind them, she heard Beanpaw and Lilypaw gasp.

Jupinerbush suddenly sprang from where he was sitting and padded up close to Daisypaw. "You ain't saying nothing either!" Growled the tom fiercely, his intense blue eyes made him look truly terrifying. He stuck his face in close to Daisypaw's. "Aye! On the honour of the family name, of your kin! Don't say a word!"

As Daisypaw dipped her head to the tom, her eyes looked hazy and Hazelpaw felt her shivering against her side with shock.

"I was beside Sparrowfeather at the fresh-kill pile during evening meal. I was munching on me mice when I 'eard Rosethorn ask for a piece for em' Spiderstreak." Jupinerbush's blue eye looked distant, as if relieving the memory.

"The white young'un handed a shrew to Sparrowfeather and then, aye…..I saw him put something else into the shrew. Thought eh no cat coulda noticed but I did. Then that scoundrel ate 'tis shrew and went kaput."

The brown tabby shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry young'un. Sparrowfeather's guilty of murder."

"No," whispered Daisypaw, utterly shell shocked. "It..it can't be. He - it must have been a mistake. How could you Jupinerbush!" The cream she yowled, fur beginning to bristle, before running out of the room.

Hazelpaw ran after her, glancing over her shoulder just in time to her Jupinerbush groan and sink to the den floor, muttering crossly under his breath. The grey she cat desperately wanted to keep on believing Daisypaw - but despite what she said, the evidence was truly beginning to mount up on Sparrowfeather.

I don't know what to believe anymore…..

The apprentices congregated in the long den and that's when Hazelpaw realised there were new voices in the house, a whole lot of them, seemingly familiar and unfamiliar - and one of a deep and ironic tone which Hazelpaw recognised immediately. Her heart jumped.

"It's the Clan Guard!" Hazelpaw breathed. "Gorsestep's here at last!"

Hazelpaw recognised the Guard's heavy set and brown tabby form just to the side of the nest entrance. She suddenly felt a longing to rush up to him. She knew nothing bad could happen with Gorsestep here.

"Oh, now we'll be safe!" Cried Beanpaw happily.

Daisypaw, however, looked less than pleased, her ears beginning to angle to the back of her head and fur spiking as if she was cornered by a ferocious beast. "I won't have us seeing him." She stated. "If we simply go running down the long den and pour out everything to him, we'll simply look like a bunch of flea brained apprentices. And while we technically are apprentices, we are certainly not flea brained. That is the point. He must come to us."

Daisypaw lashed her bristling tail. "He's consulted us before. If he has any sense, he'll do it again. He knows who I - who we are, and this time more than ever, we are important. This is my nest, my family and my Detective Society!"

"But Daisypaw," spoke up Hazelpaw gently, "if we don't tell him what we've found, he'll still work it out. He's awfully clever."

"That may be but -" The cream she cat broke off with a whimper, burying her head in her friend's shoulder. "I can't just dob Sparrowfeather in as if he was anyone. You must see that Hazelpaw."

Hazelpaw felt her heart twist at the sight of her friend. Daisypaw's fur was bristled, blue eyes wide and glistening, and she was biting down on her lip so hard Hazelpaw could almost feel it herself.

The grey she cat took a deep breath. "All right,' she said. "We won't speak to Gorsestep. But, Daisypaw …...promise, whatever happens - you won't blame me?"

Hazelpaw heard Daisypaw give a slight purr of relief, before looking up at her friend. "Hazelpaw," she spoke solemnly, "I earnestly promise that I would never blame you for anything. Unless, of course, it's your fault."

Hazelpaw made a face back at her.

There's something comforting about the fact that Daisypaw, even in the most desperate situation, can still make a joke.

Oh dear…things aren't looking good for Daisy and co…or Sparrow. Poor dears. Anyhow, hello everyone and I hope you still enjoyed this chapter! Tune in next Friday to see how Daisypaw decides to cope with all of this and perhaps the long awaited appearance of our favourite deputy Guard - for better or worse…..

-Fastbreeze37 (Seven)

PS: Check out my profile to see our favourite sweetheart Minty!

Reviews:

Hissing Mist – Ta da! Low and behold some random maple leaf which suddenly means that Whitefur…is actually…an undercover Clan Guard. Though that is quite on point, yes perhaps the reason the infamous Falcon Foxheart and Whitey Plainheart get on so well is because they are both in kitty law enforcement lol (though not quite the same but close, Whitey's supposed to be an undercover cop and Falcon an unconfirmed spy). Though unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) our fav foxheart was absent that scene…and this scene. So maybe later but no promises (who needs him anyway? ;.) And Whitefur is still back in the neutral to-dislike-her-only-a-little-bit-when-hanging-with-foxheart-category in terms of the character popularity spectrum. Yes it wasn't looking good for Daisy with the last two suspects being Sparrow and Falcon (who probs isn't that great a detective either you point out, I mean he hasn't even figured out the murderer yet…..unless there's a reason for that.) But your theory is certainly intriguing that it's actually neither of them. Someone the detectives cleared too early. But the evidence is certainly mounting against Sparrow and the detectives need to do something…and fast! But of course if it turns out to be Falcon foxheart all along you're totally cool with that and (if she wasn't in on it that is) would be cheering on Whitefur all the way to divorce said foxheart and be her own she cat lol ;.) Thank you so much, and no worries thanks for reviewing! :.)

Beetlefur – Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying my fic and all the twists and turns :.) Yes Whitefur's occupation a bit of a surprise, but I hope it makes sense and is at least sorta plausible. I like that…so obviously not obviously Falconflight is out and I guess that leaves your #1 suspect as Sparrowfeather unfortunately for Daisy, but after this chap with Jupiner's revelation….the evidence is certainly starting to mount up. Thank you again and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!