Swiftcloud emerged from the medicine den at dawn's first light. She was one of the very first cats awake in camp, besides the Guards posted outside the bramble tunnel. The clearing was silent, and cold; a foreboding scene after the nightmare she had suffered through the evening before. A cloud puffed from her lips as she heaved a sigh, blinking her heavy eyes. Though a lot of her wounds had healed, she felt sore all over. A product of being dormant for days. Swiftcloud yearned to leave the confines of the camp to do something productive and to clear her mind. Joining the dawn patrol sounded pleasant. Hunting would be even better. But Swiftcloud knew she had a much more pressing matter to attend to first.
Quietly, she picked her way over to the center of camp, approaching the occupied den within Tall Stone. As she walked, movement over by the honeysuckle bush caught her eye.
Swiftcloud suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, finding herself in the path of her would-be murderer for the first time since her poisoning. Her ears drew back in fear, a paw raising defensively to her chest. Her focus became trained ahead, locked upon the suspicious medicine cat. Snowfrost stood erect as she fully emerged into the clearing, head held high and confidently. Her eyes flickered as if she were lost in deep thought, before her attention was swiftly drawn onto a cat behind her.
Jaybird came rushing out from the nursery, a sour expression upon her face. She spoke with her sister in a hushed tone, a sense of agitation lingering in the air surrounding them. From this distance, Swiftcloud could not make out the words the queen was whispering, although she could pick up on the hiss in the silver tabby's mew. Snowfrost seemed annoyed by whatever the conversation involved, her icy blue eyes rolling with disinterest. Jaybird growled, sticking her snout into the air before taking off across the clearing. Snowfrost hesitated for a few moments, watching her sister leave the camp before her focus made it's way onto Swiftcloud. Her eyes rested upon the white and black patched molly like a snowstorm; dark and icy, chilling Swiftcloud just as the weather in her nightmare had. Swiftcloud had to shake out her pelt to remind herself that she was not still frozen there, to pull herself back into reality. The reality in which her attempted killer was standing face to face with her. Swiftcloud suppressed a shiver, slipping into Tall Stone before the medicine cat had the chance to confront her. That was close, Swiftcloud sighed and blinked, allowing herself to adjust to the dim lighting of the den.
"Whitestar?" She called softly as she lingered in the threshold. She caught movement by the boulder's back wall within a heartbeat, before a gleaming set of blue eyes fell upon her. A second pair of ambers shone along with them.
"Swiftcloud?" Whitestar breathed, as though she were astonished to see Swiftcloud up and about. Swiftcloud bowed her head respectfully in response.
"I need to speak with you urgently," the white and black patched warrior mewed, giving Tigerfang a wary glance, "alone."
Whitestar let out a loud yawn, nudging her mate with her shoulder. Tigerfang groaned quietly, rolling around. After a heartbeat he sat upright and rose to his paws, giving his haunches a good stretch.
"...s'ppose I could go on the dawn patrol," he murmured groggily, tiptoing out of his shared nest. Tigerfang gave Whitestar a few affectionate licks on the cheek before shuffling past Swiftcloud and out of the den. Swiftcloud tipped her head politely to the senior warrior as he passed, inviting herself in further.
"It's good to see you on your paws, Swiftcloud," Whitestar commented as she sat upright. "Snowfrost told me your condition had gotten worse, once you'd come home from battle. It's a relief to see that you have recovered. Starclan knows what the clan would have done if we'd lost you."
"I'd thank Mistyleaf if I were you. She's the one who saved my life," Swiftcloud responded, wanting her mate to be given proper credit.
Whitestar nodded acknowledgingly. "I'll be sure to do so. Are you feeling well? How are your injuries?"
"I'm a bit stiff from laying dormant so long. And my injuries are healing well, as far as I know. I hope to be able to go on some patrols soon. However, there's something that's still bothering me," Swiftcloud meowed. She was flattered that Whitestar cared about her so much. But she couldn't sit around and idly chat right now, as much as she'd like to.
"I suppose that would be the urgent matter that's brought you to my den so early, hm?" Whitestar asked. She began to groom, giving Swiftcloud the chance to explain herself.
"Yes, Whitestar. You see, I've been going over some things in my head. And as a result...I believe I've cracked a few of our cold cases," she began, puffing up her chest in an attempt to grow more confident.
"Have you?" Whitestar prompted. "Why have you chosen to present this evidence to me, then? Shouldn't you be telling Dewstone?"
"I will, but it's important that you're the first cat to know. This knowledge requires immediate action. Because I believe the clan is in danger...There's a murderer in our ranks."
At this, Whitestar perked up. She was intrigued for sure, but Swiftcloud couldn't help but notice the look of skepticism on the leader's face. She couldn't blame her for being doubtful. Whitestar knew each and every cat in Grassclan personally. It would be hard for her to consider that any one of her clanmates would kill in cold blood. Swiftcloud could hardly believed it herself. Had she not almost become a victim, she probably would have never suspected either. And that realization made Swiftcloud feel anxious. She began to doubt herself before she'd even presented her case. But she couldn't back down now. Someone had to find out the truth. With a deep breath, Swiftcloud continued;
"Whitestar...I have reasons to suspect that Snowfrost may be responsible for the deaths of some of our warriors."
Whitestar stared at Swiftcloud for a few tense heartbeats. Her expression was unreadable but her eyes were clouded as if in deep contemplation. Swiftcloud took this as her sign to press on.
"You see; I bumped into Snowfrost while searching for evidence of Waspwing's murder, back when I was an apprentice. I noticed she was acting strangely, but never really thought anything of it until now. Snowfrost was also the only cat who conveniently knew what prompted Butterflytail to start seizing. She was suspiciously absent at the time Ambereye came home poisoned as well. And... I think Snowfrost may have tried to poison me. She fed me a mouse, insisting that I eat it. But it must have been filled with deathberries. I saw this strange red liquid coming out of it. Afterwards I started choking, and my heart began pounding abnormally fast. That's when I passed out, and why I remained unconscious for three days."
Again, Whitestar didn't respond. But now her brows were furrowed. Her eyes had drifted away from Swiftcloud, staring off at nothing. They flickered slightly as if Whitestar were searching through all the information that had been given to her. A tense silence claimed the den, lingering only for a few moments more.
"Is that all you have to prove your claim?" She finally spoke, sitting up a little taller. Swiftcloud swallowed back the lump that had formed in her throat. He nubby tail wiggled anxiously as she tried to find a way to respond. "Is there any physical evidence? What happened to the mouse you were fed?"
"It-It must have been discarded. Other than that, and my theory, I...I don't have any other evidence," Swiftcloud confessed. "But do I really need any more? Everything that I've said should be evidence enough; at least enough start being cautious of Snowfrost."
"Maybe so. But if we do not have any solid proof, other than your word, then there is nothing I can do with the information you have given me. And it's not that's I don't trust you Swiftcloud. You are an honorable warrior, and a reliable cat. But...this accusation seems far-fetched. I might even dare say unjust. What you have presented to me can all be summed up as mere coincidence." Whitestar rose to her paws. "Snowfrost has never shown herself to be capable of such heinous crimes. She's a pacifist, as most medicine cats are, despite her occasional snappiness. And though at times she may be disliked, or a bit careless of her duties, she is still our senior medicine cat. It's very bold of you to come hereand make such harsh claims against her without something more tangible than an educated guess."
"Please. I mean no disrespect," Swiftcloud insisted, crouching to the ground, "but I'm sure of what I know. I wouldn't come to you and talk about something so serious if I wasn't. Snowfrost is dangerous!"
Whitestar heaved a sigh, looking away from the young warrior. Disappointment conquered the leader's features, her tail curling around her front legs. Swiftcloud felt her heart sink. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept this without any further proof. There is nothing I can do..."
"You can't," Swiftcloud challenged, "or you won't?"
Whitestar fell silent once more, continuing to avert Swiftcloud's gaze. Frustration boiled within the younger molly, the likes of which she'd never felt before. If smoke could bellow from her ears, then it would.
"Fine... I'll find a way to prove my claim. Before another one of our clanmates has to needlessly to die. I will save our clan, Whitestar. I swear I will."
Swiftcloud rose to her paws, quickly turning on her heels. Anger and upset burned inside her belly as she stormed out of the leader's den. She spared a glance over her shoulder as she went. Whitestar remained unmoving, unchanging in her stance and decision. Swiftcloud felt her belly twist into a knot and forced herself to look away again.
Outside the den, Swiftcloud allowed her head to hang heavy. Her mind raced with thoughts, of excuses for why her evidence wasn't good enough. It couldn't be possible that Whitestar would reject her idea so easily. Surely she would want to continue investigating, rather than dismissing the claim altogether.
Was Whitestar afraid of something? Of Snowfrost? Or perhaps even of Starclan's wrath? Did she fear that their warrior ancestors would become angry if she considered the possibility of her medicine cat being a killer? Swiftcloud could only assume so. Anyone in their right mind would feel the same. But to Swiftcloud, the anger of Starclan was not as upsetting to her. None of her kin resided within Silverpelt. Even if she'd fully placed her faith upon them, and in the systems that made up the Land's Star, it didn't make her blindly fear the scorn of countless dead cats. The wrongdoings which effected Grassclan were taking place in the living realm. That's all that Swiftcloud could allow herself to focus on. Why couldn't anyone else feel the same way? Why couldn't Whitestar?
"Swiftcloud is that you!?" A voice snapped Swiftcloud out of her thoughts, forcing her to stand upright with alarm. Tabitha came bounding over, her tail kinked over her back in greetings. Chicorynose was right behind her, a smile cast on her fawn colored face. Swiftcloud relaxed instantly at the sight of her mentor and apprentice.
"Tabitha, Chicorynose, it's so good to see you!" Swiftcloud greeted with a friendly nod to each cat. She felt like she hadn't seen them in moons.
"I can't believe it, you're alive!" Tabitha trilled, coming to a halt by the warrior. She let out a loud purr, beaming as brightly as the morning sun.
"How are you feeling?" Chicorynose asked with concern. "We were worried about you, you know."
"I'm feeling kinda down, if I'll be honest. But I think it's from being unconscious for so long," Swiftcloud replied, voice monotone. She yearned to tell Chicorynose about her ordeal with Whitestar only moments ago, hoping that her old mentor could provide some comfort. After all, Swiftcloud had come to see her as a second mother over the seasons. But she knew if she shared, Chicorynose's loyalty in this situation would go to Whitestar. They were sisters, and had a strong bond. Stronger than her bond with Swiftcloud. So Swiftcloud bit her tongue, keeping her true feelings bottled inside to handle at another time.
"Ooh, I missed you so much!" Tabitha cut in. "From the way Snowfrost was talking, I was scared you weren't going to make it!"
"What do you mean? What was Snowfrost saying about me?" Swiftcloud questioned, fur prickling slightly. What lies had Snowfrost been spreading in the time that she'd been rendered unconscious?
"I overheard her telling Rabbitstorm that your injuries were bad, and that you probably wouldn't last the next quarter moon. Something about an internal infection? I remember they were talking about it because Rabbitstorm was curious. You were the only cat who hadn't recovered from the battle yet, and he thought that was odd."
"I don't have any internal injuries, or an infection," Swiftcloud assured, though her tone came off as confused. Was that how Snowfrost was planning on covering up my death? As she thought on it a little more, Swiftcloud felt sure of it. It seemed to line up with how some of the other murders were played off, such as Butterflytail's. It wasn't out of the question for Snowfrost to lie about a patient's condition in order to take the blame off of herself.
"Well that's a relief! Ooh I'm so happy to have you back, Swifty. Hey, wanna come on the hunting patrol with us?" Tabitha asked.
"We already have Beetlepatch and Slugsnout coming along with us, but I don't see a problem with you joining as well," Chicorynose added, swaying her plumed tail.
Swiftcloud thought for a heartbeat. "That sounds great, actually, I'd love to come," she agreed. Tabitha quivered her tail with delight while Chicorynose gave a curt nod. She beckoned her apprentices, old and new, to follow her to the bramble tunnel. Swiftcloud happily padded after her, ready to leave the camp behind for the rest of the morning.