Chapter Twenty Eight - Clan Guard Company

"Daisypaw?" Called a voice above. Hazelpaw's heart leapt as the one cat who she'd been hoping not to meet came down the stairs, a concerned frown on his face.

"Are you all right?" Sparrowfeather asked Daisypaw. "You seem to be upset about something. What can I-"

"Sparrowfeather!" Blurted out Daisypaw with a sob, scathing blue eyes looking the brown tom up and down. "You are a frog brain!"

Sparrowfeather blinked, looking very much agitated and concerned. "Daisypaw! Great StarClan, what is it?"

"Spiderstreak!" gasped Daisypaw. "Sparrowfeather, this is serious. You're in the most awful trouble."

And then another cat which Hazelpaw had been desperately hoping - to StarClan and back - to absolutely avoid, came striding down the den towards the group of she cats.

"Daisypaw, Hazelpaw," Spoke Gorsestep, his brow wrinkling. "Why am I not surprised to see you two she cats mixed up in this? And this time you've brought your friends."

Hazelpaw noticed how his dark brown tabby pelt gleamed in the streaming sunlight and how his muscles rippled underneath. His scar over his left eye was pink and visible and his dark amber gaze sized up the four detectives. The first time Hazelpaw had met him, he had looked like a glorious hero, descended from StarClan themselves - now, he suddenly seemed like a dangerous villain from the Dark Forest.

"Erm….Good morning deputy...er Gorsestep, is it?" Stuttered Sparrowfeather, twitching and staring around wildly at anything other than the Guard. "I hope…..that is if you need any help, I'm sure you know where to find my mate. Now if you'll excuse me…...clan business to attend to." And he made a dive for the entrance.

A group of guards blocked his way. "I'm sorry sir, but no one is allowed in or out of this nest." Spoke an oddly familiar she cat Clan Guard, respectfully. "Leader's orders."

Hazelpaw felt sick.

There's nowhere for him to go! We have to see it to the end now. Poor Daisypaw!

The four detectives were now alone with the deputy Guard. Daisypaw was refusing to look at him, but Beanpaw was gaping at him in awe and Lilypaw was considering him quite admiringly as well. With a jolt, Hazelpaw realised that the Clan Guard himself, however, was looking straight at her.

"The Detective Society certainly seems to have increased in size since last time I saw it." Said Gorsestep to her. "I suppose it's too much to hope that you've been keeping your whiskers out of Clan Guard business?"

"We don't have anything to say to you." Said Daisypaw, glaring fiercely at the Guard. "Apart from reminding you that we solved the case last time, not you, and you should be grateful."

"I am grateful," said Gorsestep. "It's only that murderers are quite dangerous, and I don't think your parents would like to lose you."

"Parents!" Cried Daisypaw. Hazelpaw could tell she was thinking of Sparrowfeather. "Much you know about it. Oh, I wish you never came."

"I come when called, even through fire and flood," said Gorsestep, cocking a slight grin. "I didn't mean to upset you, but if you know anything it's best to say so now. My Guards will be interviewing everyone this morning anyway, so we'll soon get to the truth."

"Oh no, don't!" Cried Beanpaw.

"Beans!' Hissed Lilypaw, nudging her roughly.

Gorsestep raised his brown, tail tip flicking. "I take it that you do know something then?" He asked, amber eyes boring down on the apprentices. "Something not very nice."

"None of your business," said Daisypaw rudely. "We aren't saying any more and we aren't going to be helping you with the investigation this time. You can't make us!"

"I wouldn't dream of making you do anything." Said the deputy. "But I am beginning to get a good idea of what's going on." Gorsestep's gaze moved towards the direction Sparrowfeather had just left in.

"Oh! No don't!" Cried Hazelpaw desperately. "Please."

Hazelpaw wasn't quite sure who she was pleading for - Sparrowfeather or Daisypaw.

"Unfortunately," said Gorsestep. "The warrior code is the warrior code. It can't be stopped just because some cat asked me too. No matter who that cat is."

Hazelpaw gazed up at the Guard's stern amber eyes and serious face.

And then, "Come on everyone," said Daisypaw, blue eyes still glaring scathingly at Gorsestep. "We're going upstairs. Let's leave the deputy to his investigation."

Oh dear. Well that reunion certainly didn't go the best…. Hello everyone and I hope you enjoyed today's chapter! Things aren't looking the best for Daisypaw though and Gorsestep really works fast! Tune in next Friday to see what the four detectives plan to do next to salvage this sorry situation.

-Fastbreeze37

PS: Check out my profile for a pic of Jupinerbush!

Reviews:

Hissing Mist – Yay, I'm glad you think so! Though yes lol that is very much apparent from the pic as well ;.) And hmmm…breakfast or get to the bottom of a murder mystery? Daisypaw chooses murder mystery any day of the week! Even when her family members are the last two suspects welp…..Meanwhile Jupinerbush is just…cracking under the pressure I suppose? He is older and perhaps not the sharpest claw of the bunch like he used to be perhaps, so I suppose that comes into play if what Jupinerbush thinks he saw really happened. He seems quite adamant but then again that could be an act in itself. But then why would he want to throw his nephew purposefully under the bus…er badger? Ahhh….every cat likes to be complicated in this mystery! His grammar isn't what it used to be like either but his eye health is still unconfirmed. (But imagine if this hoo-ha was all just because Jupinerbush didn't have his glasses on ;.) Yay for Gorsestep being back! And actually here in this chap too! But unfortunately the detectives especially Daisypaw don't seem awfully happy to see him…..but yes Gorsestep definitely has a better memory for knowing just which two very clever she cats, although apprentices, solved the last murder mystery. On their own no less. Though that could be because Daisypaw keeps reminding him every heartbeat. Maybe she should try that technique with her uncle, sigh…it still probably wouldn't work ;.) Thank you so much! And very much yes the pinnacle is extremely near for better or for worse….. As for another book, ha I actually have a few ideas for a few more books in this series but not nearly enough time to write them. After this book is finished I plan to at least get three to four one shots finished up (including the gathering one and the Beanpaw and Lilypaw friendship one) in Mice, Moles and Murder before taking a slight hiatus from fanfiction to focus on other things and decide what I do want to write when I come back eventually. (Too many fic ideas not enough daylight hours to write them all!) I can't make any promises, but I would really love to write at least one more MMUL book to make it a trilogy and will put it high on the writing priority list, but it might not be for a while yet…..

Beetlefur – Oh yes lovely theory there that Spiderstreak stole the white feather from the brown tom on top of everything else he did! And agreeing with Daisypaw that Spiderstreak's murderer isn't the bad guy here? And Sparrowfeather is still suspect number one, and it seems the Gorsestep is beginning to think along the same lines… Now the only questions that remain are if Sparrow did do it, did he know of the prologue incident, or was he part of it somehow? I'm afraid I can't say anything about that but perhaps all will be answered quite soon as we head rapidly towards the final climax. Thank you so much, I'm glad you're enjoying!