Chapter 12

Deathfire had certainly freaked us all out a little bit earlier, but she was back in the nursery with the kits. I think Tallblaze had called it an anxiety attack? Anyway, everything was okay and he had explained to me what had triggered it. It was no secret she hated Lightstar and had problems with her; no one would ever put together she was training in the Dark Forest. It wasn't heard of. She was still terrified of cats finding out, however minimal of a chance it was.

At least she was doing better right now. I couldn't pretend my life hadn't gotten easier thanks to the apprentices finally gaining respect for me. Everything was going pretty well for me. My main issue right now was making sure Deathfire was okay and safe. I think it was for all of us. I still couldn't get what Silentstorm said out of my head. How much longer could we keep her safe? The question had been eating at me. There was no denying how much worse everything was getting, how much harder things were getting, how much quicker things were getting this way. I heard moss rustling as someone attempted to quietly leave the den. Flurrytail. Maybe we could get some information. I got up and prodded Silentstorm.

"Wake up," I whispered.

"What?" she asked, annoyed.

"We're going to find out what Flurrytail is up to, that's what," I told her.

She got up, sighing. "Let's go," she responded.

The two of us left the den, following Flurrytail's scent out of camp and towards the SunClan border. We kept quiet as we began to hear voices.

"So, how's things going?" Coldclaw asked.

"Great," Flurrytail responded. "Deathfire's more on edge than ever and it's making it easier and easier to manipulate Wingstar. Deathfire is definitely evil and killed cats, sure. She can't even win a fight, how does Wingstar even think she could?"

Silentstorm and I kept ducked down in the underbrush, keeping deathly still.

"So Wingstar won't care at all when Deathfire mysteriously... disappears?" Grasstail asked.

So Silentstorm was right. They don't want to kill Deathfire. This all left a bad taste in my mouth.

"Definitely. She'll make it harder for the runt's friends to search," Flurrytail answered. "All we have to do is find the perfect time to do it. We just have to get her out alone with nobody's knowledge."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Murderscar asked. "Seems a little too difficult to me. Also do know you'll have to do this without me; I signed up for murder, torture isn't up my alley."

"Well, night is our best time. Wait for her to leave camp alone at night. That might be difficult with her nightly visits with Lightstar, but she'll help," Flurrytail answered. I suddenly regretted bringing Silentstorm. "After all, this will help get her what she wants."

"And do remind me why you're doing this?" Murderscar asked. "Seems like pointless trouble to me."

"Easy. It's something to hold over the rest of them when we try and take over the Clans," Flurrytail answered. "Not to mention, remind them what we're made of. Plus, it will be fun! Who can say no to a little fun?"

There was a rustling around us. Who caused that?

"Who's there?" Flurrytail asked. "I recognize those scents..." Oh no.

"Mouse-brain. I smell your daughter, they must have sent Darkpaw over here to hunt earlier today. Solo hunting assignment," Murderscar said. Murderscar has a great sense of smell, how does she not know we're here?

"You must be right," Flurrytail said. "The sound must've just been the wind." Wait, was Murderscar covering for us? But she was right, I scented Darkpaw and I know we didn't hunt here earlier.

I snuck around Silentstorm and towards where the sound was. Darkpaw was there! How much had she heard? I put my tail on her back and led her away from there until we got closer to camp.

"Hey Silentstorm? Can you go back to camp?" I asked. "I want to talk to Darkpaw."

"Okay," she answered, leaving us alone.

"What were you doing there?" I asked.

"I saw Flurrytail leave and then you two so I was curious," she admitted. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I told her. "How much did you hear?"

"That they're planning on kidnapping Deathfire and they wanna torture her and Flurrytail is framing Deathfire and manipulating Wingstar and they wanna take over the Clans," she answered. "And who was that tom Flurrytail had her tail twined with?"

"That tom is Coldclaw. He's a SunClan cat," I answered. "And your father."

"I'm half-clan?" she asked. "And both my parents plot kidnapping plans and how to take over the Clans?"

"Yeah," I responded. "It shouldn't matter who your parents are though. Who you are isn't defined by them."

"Is that why you don't get along with Flurrytail?" she asked.

I nodded. "She was just a bully towards me when we were younger. Her and her brothers actually. They didn't think I belonged in the Clan because everyone thought I was some random rouge's kit. However, thing's got worse as we aged. She began plotting to take over the Clans and then began trying to kill me and my friends. Eventually, after Deathfire found out, she tried to kill Deathfire and ended up killing our sister, Limppaw. That's actually the point Tallblaze and Boulderfang fully turned against her. She eventually began targeting Deathfire more and more until now we're here. I think she's been trying to kidnap Deathfire for a while now when I think about it. But now we know what she's planning so we can try to stop it."

"My mother killed a cat? She's been trying to kill cats for a long time? She's evil?" Darkpaw asked, heartbroken.

"I'm sorry, Darkpaw," I told her. "I really am. I was hoping you and your sister wouldn't have to find out yet."

"It's not your fault," she murmured. "I'm going to go to sleep."

"Goodnight then," I told her.

As we headed to camp, she paused. "Wait, what was Flurrytail saying about Deathfire meeting with Lightstar at night? Isn't Lightstar dead?"

"Lightstar is dead, yes. Just don't worry about it, okay? It's not some thing you have to worry about," I promised her.

"Okay," she responded.

The two of headed back to camp. She headed towards her den while I went towards Silentstorm who was sitting outside.

"Making sure you got back okay," Silentstorm told me.

"Thanks," I responded.

"Also don't worry about the Lightstar thing, I already figured it out on my own," she reassured me. "I'm not worried about it. Fox-dung, I wouldn't worry about it if Deathfire was evil."

"I guess that's a relief," I said. "Wait, you knew and didn't say anything? You know what? Never mind. I still won't tell Deathfire however, she'll freak out more if she knew someone figured it out on their own."

"Or you could just say we figured it out while spying when we share what we learned," Silentstorm told me.

"You're right. We can," I agreed. "We'll tell her, Boulderfang, and Tallblaze tomorrow. Then tell her and Tallblaze separately about all the Lightstar business."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Silentstorm stated. "Now I'm going to get some sleep."

I nodded in agreement before the two of us headed to our nests for the night. I couldn't go to sleep, however; not with what we just learned.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for not posting in a little while! I've been either sick or busy working on makeup work because I was sick. It's been chaos, but that is no excuse. Anyway, Darkpaw knows now! Rip to the kid, finding out her mom is mega evil and her existence is literally illegal. Also was Murderscar covering them or is her skill suffering? Welp, I should post another chapter next week. With any luck you'll see me then!

-Rowan W.