Every Marshclan cat froze at Daisypaw's cry. Murmurs and cries. started to break from within them all. I whipped my head over to where Oddpelt stood. He looked at me with fear. One of the Laws of the Star, was that if the Eldest one was to be attacked, injured, or killed, it must be immediately investigated. Three cats from each clan, either the youngest warriors, or the oldest warriors would start an investigation to figure out who hurt or killed the eldest one. It was up to the leaders which did the investigation though. Once Forestclan arrived and was filled in, the four leaders took a stand in a large oak.
"Dear cat of all four clans. Someone among our clans has murdered our Eldest one, Humblehope. Loudstar's medicine cat, Buzzardlight, confirmed that this was murder." Fawnstar called to cats. Buzzardlight stepped forward.
"There is blood on Humblehope's claws, which shows she fought back. The kill isn't clean either, which shows it wasn't a surprise, or easy." The Forestclan medicine cat dipped her head respectfully to the leaders.
"Humblehope was in Marshclan territory this morning, but left early, and the two patrols that left since then had either me or Pebblestripe on them." Larkstar said in a quick defense to his clan.
"Of course, and no accusations will be made. As the Laws of the Stars says though, we must start the investigation as to who did this. We must discuss this; you may converse for now." Runningstar and the other leader jumped down and sat in a circle, their medicine cats joined them. Scorchbriar walked around, hoping to see a face she recognized. Very soon, she saw Mintpaw, a dark brown and white Rockyclan she-cat with emerald green eyes. She had met Mintpaw two gatherings back.
"Hey, Mintpaw." She smiled, trying to seem friendly. Mintpaw trotted over to her.
"Actually, it's Mintstripe now." She sat down in front of Scorchbriar.
"You got your warrior name? I got mine too. I'm Scorchbriar." Scorchbriar purred.
"It's a shame. I was looking forward to a nice first gathering as a warrior." Mintstripe sighed.
"Yea, I know. I feel awful for poor Humblehope, she seemed so sweet." Socrchbriar looked to where many older warriors were gathered around the Eldest one's body. Mintstripe hummed.
"I suspect we'll be the one's doing the investigation." Mintstripe deadpanned.
"Why so?" Scorchbriar turned her yellow eyes to meet Mintstripe's green ones.
"They've looked at us, and the other new warrior in my clan. They haven't set an eye on the older warriors." Mintstripe kept her eyes trained on the leaders and medicine cats.
"What happens if we- if the chosen cats can't figure it out?" Scorchbriar asked.
"They don't not figure it out. If they can't find the true attacker or killer, then you just make up facts against a cat and banish them. Did they not tell you about the first time Humblehope was attacked? The older warriors were the ones who were investigating, and they made a best guest, banishing a Marshclan cat. Every cat disagreed, but it had gone on for three seasons, the tention was high, and there was no other choice." Mintstripe dipped her head and closed her eyes.
"Wow... that's tough. I'd hate to be in that position, having to suspect your own clanmates of murder." Scorchbriar murder, scanning around the mass of cats for her clanmates.
"We may have to. Just think, the murdered could be here, sitting with us mourning. If they are, they're a coward." Mintstripe hissed, which startled Scorchbriar. Mintstripe noticed and softened up.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just upset." The Rockyclan cat mumbled.
"It's ok, I bet we all are." Scorchbriar smiled feebly. Oddpelt walked up to the two of them, with his tail between his legs.
"Scorchbriar, cats are saying they think it's the young warriors. It couldn't be us, right? This is our first day!" Oddpelt whined in fear.
"Hard to say. It could be any of us chosen to lead the investigation, even the one who we're after." Mintstripe shrugged. Scorchbriar threw a glare at her.
"Not helping." She growled through gritted teeth before turning to her brother," We'll be fine, and if we are chosen, we'll stick together."
"Will all cats please quiet down, we have made our decision." Larkstar yowled, hushing the cats below. All four leaders sat on a branch together. The silence was fear filled. No cat wanted to investigate. It was the harshest rule in the entire Laws of the Stars.
"I understand that no one likes this, and it burdens a leader to put this on their cats, but it must be done. Since the older warriors took the burden last time, it is up to the younger warrior, three from each clan, to figure out what happened to our dear Eldest one. If your name is called, come forward please." Larkstar glanced pitifully around at the cats.
"Rowanflake, Embertail, and Flowersnow, you will represent Forestclan." Loudstar called, and the three slowly stepped to the base of the tree, the young Forestclan warriors were shaking.
"Weaselbelly, Milkshine, and Silverfrost, you will be the Moorclan representatives." Fawnstar looked around for the three, who shakily walked up and sat beside the Forestclan cats.
"Mintstripe, Spottedjaw, and Splashflame, you stand as the faces for Rockyclan. Spottedjaw stayed behind, but she will be notified later." Runningstar blinked calmly. Mintstripe stood up to follow her clanmate.
"Best of luck." She murmered and walked to the front of the tree. Scorchbriar and Oddpelt exchanged fearful looks.
"Sadly, I have no choice, but to send out the newest warriors, made official warriors bright this morning. Firefang, Scorchbriar, and Oddpelt are the Marshclan representatives." Larkstar closed his eyes and flattened his ears. Scorchbriar could barely stand. First day as a warrior, and she was making a decision that could change the clans' course. Oddpelt pressed himself against his sister. Firefang joined to two and they sat side by side.
"The burden you all carry leads to the clans' future, so take all the time you need to get the facts straight. The medicine cats, leaders, deputies, and any clan cat are yours to question, as are each other. Please do your best. We are all mourning and tired, so go home and rest. The chosen cats must meet here at sun high to start the investigation. You will sleep on the island together, so pray Starclan protects you. May Starclan light the path your paws will walk, all of you." Runningstar said, raising his head to the full moon. One by one, every cat at the gathering of the clans repeated Runningstars last words.
"May Starclan light the path your paws will walk."
The walk back to the Marshclan camp was cold and fear filled. It was uneasy, and all of the cats stayed silent. No one was more fear filled than Scorchbriar, Oddpelt, and FIrefang. The moment they got to the camp, Larkstar pulled them aside.
"You understand that now that you are part of the investigation of Humblehope's death, you have no clan allegiance. Marshclan may be your home when this is all over, but until then, you are no-clans. This is your first and last night as a Marshclan warrior until the investigation is done. No matter what, find who did this. This is the second time an Eldest one has been killed in cold blood. They found Tumble Light's killer; it may have taken six seasons, but they did it. Now it's up to you three to help find the killer. Rest up, young ones." Larkstar dipped his head to them, and the three left to their dens.
"I'm starting to think we should have waited a day become warriors." Oddpelt whimpered.
"You think? We just got thrown into this without any warning!" Firefang growled, taking a step at Oddpelt. Scorchbriar stepped between them.
"Hey, we're all scared, but taking it out on one another isn't going to help us." She stamped her foot down. Firefang growled at her, but Scorchbriar kept her ground. Badgerfall raised his head from his nest.
"You are warriors now! You even have extra responsibilities now! Stop squabbling and let us sleep and sleep yourselves!" Badgerfall hissed. Firefang and Scorchbriar threw one last hiss at each other before turning to their nests. No body dreamt that night, not even the medicine cats. Starclan was silent, as was the plains, wetlands, forest, and rocky plains. The unrest and unsettle that laid like a blanket over the clans kept even the closet clanmates on edge of each other. Clouds covered the stars, leaving the sky pitch black. It was as the stars had abandoned the clans, and they were living on the other side of the star. The side that shone no light, and no warm and safety. That was the coldest night Scorchbriar had ever experienced. Even though it was cold, it was a welcome cold for the red-brown shecat. It was her home, and she would spend the night at peace in it. Night never lasts forever, though. Light hit the Marshclan camp, and minutes after, Scorchbriar, Oddpelt, and Firefang were gone. They walked quietly, not finding a need for words. The three who had squabbled and fought for all their kit hood and apprenticeship were now walking as one. No angry glares or snarky remarks, just a silence. A silence filled with a shared fear and respect. They were the youngest warriors to ever be in an investigation. They crossed the log onto the small island. The three Moorclan cats and the three Rockyclan cats were already there. Forestclan, as always, was late.
"Oddpelt, Firefang, Scorchbriar, welcome." Spottedjaw, a spotted yellow tabby, dipped his head. Mintstripe was pacing near the base of the large oak, Weaselbelly was laying on a flat rock with Milkshine at her side. The others were sitting and murmuring silently to each other.
"So, what are we supposed to do?" Firefang asked, looking around the groups of cats.
"Normally, the Eldest one would come and tell us what he or she saw and heard, and we'd go from there. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's not. In our case, we don't have anyone to tell us anything, so I suspect one of the medicine cats will come and explain." Mintstripe said from where she was pacing.
"You sure know an awful lot about these things." Weaselbelly said with awe filling her voice," We're lucky to have you on our team."
"My father taught me these things as a kit; he said one day I might need it. Seems like he was right." Mintstripe finally sat down. A wave of forest scent washed over us as three more cats bounded up.
"Sorry! It's a long trek from the forest to here." the Forestclan warrior known as Flowersnow called as the three came to a stop.
"It's fine. At least you are here!" Splashflame purred.
"Great, now we wait. Right, Mintstripe?" Oddpelt turned to the brown and white shecat.
"Why are you asking me? I'm not your leader and it's not like I've done this before." Mintstripe rolled her eyes.
"You were taught about this though, none of the rest of us have ever been told more than it's a possibility." Scorchbriar pipped up, stepping up to the Rockyclan cat.
"Well, fine," She grumbled," Yes, Oddpelt, we wait and hope someone comes to give us instructions."
"I guess we should get to know each other since who knows how long we'll be together." Rowanflake shrugged, sitting down. All of the other eleven cats came and sat in a circle. There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence before Firefang clicked her tongue.
"Alright, I'll start. My names Firefang. I became a warrior yesterday morning before the gathering with those two cats from my clan. I don't like and want to go be a real warrior in my clan so let's figure this out fast." Firefang's tail flicked behind her furiously.
"You'll be... fun. Anyways, I'm Weaselbelly. Milkshine is my sister. We've been warriors for half a moon. I do agree with Firefang, though. I want this to be over so I can go home." The brown Moorclan shecat said, giving her sister a side glance.
"Yep, as my sister said, we're both warriors from Moorclan. I don't like these circumstances, but I do like that I get to see all the other clans. I think we can find the killer." Milkshine's thick, fluffy tail swished behind her.
"Yea, those two are from my clan; I'm Silverfrost. Uh, I'm not that interesting and i am half a moon older than those two. Yeah..." The silver tabby tom shrugged.
"The name's Rowanflake. I've been a warrior for a moon." Rowanflake that turned to his clanmates.
"Oh! Us, sorry! I'm Flowersnow." The white shecat purred.
"Embertail. Rowanflake forgot to mention I'm his sister." The black and orange Forestclan clan smacked Rowanflake with her tail.
"I'm Splashflame! Willowflight and Spottedjaw are my siblings. Obviously, only Spottedjaw was chosen to do this." The yellow-brown tabby curled his tail around his paws.
"Yea, I'm related to that idiot. I'm Spottedjaw, and I hope that we can avenge poor Humblehope, because she didn't deserve that." The spotted yellow tabby blinked eye green eyes sadly.
"Hi, I'm Mintstripe. I'm an only kit, and I just want to find some cat and go home." The brown and white Rockyclan warrior rolled her emerald green eyes.
"Don't we all." Silverfrost growled, getting a shove from Milkshine.
"Oh, it's me! Sorry, um, I'm Oddpelt. Um, Scorchbriar is my sister. I kind of agree with Mintstripe in the fact I want to go home. Uh, yeah, that's me." Oddpelt averted him amber eyes from the onlooking cats.
"I guess that leaves me. My names Scorchbriar. As Firefang said, Oddpelt, Firefang, and I were all given warrior names yesterday morning. Oddpelt is my brother, as he mentioned. I plan to find who did this and make sure they pay. I understand many of you want to go home, I do too, but we need to figure this out. Just as the first investigation group found the killer of the first murdered Eldest one, we must do the same." Scorchbriar puffed her fur out, and the cats all murmured in agreement.
"Well, we're all acquainted now. So, why don't we get started on some suspicions." Splashflame's tail waved behind him happily.
"Why?! We don't even know what we're doing, and we don't want to aggravate anyone yet." Weaselbelly protested.
"Let's just be patient, surely someone will come and explain something." Scorchbriar walked between the two and glared at them both.
"Who proclaimed you leader." Silverfrost scoffed.
"Woah!" Mintstripe snapped.
"Silverfrost!" Milkshine growled.
"Hey, it's ok. Let's just stay with our clanmates for now, seems like we're just not trusting one another yet." Mintstripe nodded for her clanmates to follow her.
Scorchbriar followed Oddpelt and Firefang over to a small patch of ferns. The three laid in a circle next to one another. It wasn't the marsh, but it was ok for the time being. Scorchbriar knew she'd have to get used to it, because they had no clue how long they'd be there.
"I don't like Silverfrost, he's a jerk." Firefang spat.
"Ok, let's not talk behind the others backs. Can't we just sleep and try to be friends tomorrow?" Oddpelt whined.
"No! If we're going to try and get long, we need to understand that some of these cats are worthless, Oddbrain!" Firefang hissed
"Hush! Both of you! We're no use if we fight amongst ourselves! Now get to sleep!" Scorchbriar growled, glaring at Firefang. Firefang huffed and curled up. Scorchbriar laid her head on her paws with a sigh. This was going to be more difficult than expected.