Chapter #14 The Deadly Smoke -

Dewkit told Mousefur and Rainwhisker all he knew. They nodded gasped and looked very interested. Creamkit, being deaf and blind, gave no interest and slept and suckled. Dewkit also told them about how Smokeshade sounded worried and sad about Wrentail's death and how it sounded like he didn't mean for it to happen. Mousefur commented about this.

"An accident, maybe?" She piped in.

Rainwhisker scowled, "Damn it, Mousefur, How is murder a accident? Huh? Dewkit, you should tell Firestar everything you saw, I'll come with you."

"No!" Mousefur cried out, "If Smokeshade finds out and really is deadly then I suggest you wait a while. If we banish him then when Dewkit is a apprentice, Smokeshade could be in the bushes watching for his chance to kill him!"

Dewkit shrank back and sighed, "I don't wanna tell, at least not yet."

Rainwhisker, still frustrated, sighed and shook his head. Mousefur tried to change the subject.

"In six moons I will be joining the elders. I'm tired of fighting and all this murder and I just wanna lay back and relax." Mousefur said in a carefree tone, trying to shoo her troubles away. Rainwhisker nodded.

"I'm still a strong fighter and I hope to take on you, Dewkit, as a apprentice."

Dewkit looked into the deep blue eye of the warrior tom. He gave him a comforting lick and padded to the other end of the nursery.

"Wait," Dewkit stopped, "Don't tell anyone else, this will be our secret." Mousefur whispered out of ear-shot of anyone else. Dewkit nodded and lied against the new moss and slept.

A moon later, a yowl awoke the whole camp Dewkit sped out with his kin and looked at the entrance tunnel where there were bodies on the ground, three bodies. Dewkit's blood ran cold. Ashfur was next to the two bodies covered in blood. He had many scratches and Leafstone and Cinderpelt ran over and started tending his wounds. The bodies, to what Dewkit could make out were, Littleraccoon, and... Sootfur! The family rushed over to his light gray body. Rainwhisker pressed his head against it and Blackrose did the same with her scarred, black face. Dewkit walked over to Ashfur who was staring wide-eyed, at his bloody paws. Dewkit looked at him oddly then nudged up against him, the pale gray warrior looked at the kit.

"I was Smokeshade, wasn't it?"

The tom nodded. Then uncalled for, yowled out, "SMOKESHADE!"

Blackrose's blood bubbled and Dewkit could see Rainwhisker grow angrier and angrier. He dashed off to the nursery to tell and warn Mousefur.

Ashfur, Smokeshade's old mentor shook his head back and forth, "It cannot be. He killed them all and I saw, helpless, he told me not to tell and he was sorry, that he could not help it. I... I attacked him. I had to. He was even my own kit. MY OWN KIT! A murderer! I shall kill him myself, for killing my friends, my clan mates! Murder!"

Leafstone bucked Dewkit away. "He is not over the shock yet. When he can talk normal and knows what in StarClan's name he is talking about then he can tell Firestar."

"You think he's crazy?" Dewkit asked, "You don't believe Smokeshade killed them?"

"Smokeshade only finished his training a few moons ago. I don't think he could kill three warriors, anyways he was on the dawn patrol with Sootfur, Little--" Leafstone shrieked. "It was him! It had to be. SMOKESHADE IS THE MURDERER!"

Firestar called for a meeting and looked at all the cats, "How many of you have known this or have heard anything, if so please speak up." Dewkit glanced at Rainwhisker, nodded, and jumped up the rock.

"I do."