Chapter 17

Duskpaw walked out of camp with Twigshade by her side. They were leaving for the Star Tree. Duskpaw's paws felt lighter than they had in moons. She finally felt like she was leaving the camp in perfect condition. Her sister was back, Whitefox had had her kits, and everyone seemed so happy. It was a truly perfect night.

"Are you ready to meet Starclan again?" Twigshade asked. Duskpaw nodded, to excited to speak. Twigshade smiled. He lead her to the Moonclan border. Silently they walked along it.

"Can I go ahead for a while?" Duskpaw asked. She felt full of energy and she wanted to walk faster.

"Sure but don't go too far," Twigshade warned. Duskpaw nodded and bounded away. Smiling she ran across the new grass and past the new-leaf trees. The forest was so beautiful in new-leaf. Duskpaw loved it.

Then a new smell hit her. It was cold and unfriendly. It was the smell of death and blood. Duskpaw froze. Laying ahead of her was a body. It was too mangled and bloody for her to tell who it was. "Twigshade," she screamed. The tabby ran to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She pointed to the body. Twigshade gasped. Silently he stepped forward. Duskpaw watched him inspect the dead body.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"I'm not sure but I think it's Orcafin," Twigshade mewed. Duskpaw felt sick. Was that family cursed to lose everyone. First Snowyowl was attacked, then Blackice was murdered, and now Orcafin has been killed. "Go get Maplestar," he ordered. Duskpaw turned and ran back to camp.

She went straight to Maplestar's den, ignoring the questioning glances her clanmates were sending her. Maplestar looked up when she entered. Creamfoot was sitting next to her. She looked up too.

"What's happened dear?" Creamfoot asked worriedly.

"Orcafin is dead," Duskpaw whispered. They gasped. Maplestar turned to Creamfoot.

"Go fetch Shardclaw, Tundrafoot, and Stormstep," she ordered. Creamfoot nodded and headed outside. Maplestar turned to Duskpaw now. "What happened?" she demanded.

"Twigshade and I were going to the Star Tree and we found his body," Duskpaw mewed. Maplestar looked at her paws.

"Go find your sister and tell her to break the news to Paletree. She should probably be the one to tell Snowyowl too. He might kill whoever tells him if it's not her," she mewed. She was only half joking. Duskpaw nodded and left the den. As she was leaving Creamfoot arrived with the requested cats. Duskpaw pushed past them and headed to the apprentices den.

"Silverpaw," Duskpaw called softly. Poking her head inside she saw her sister laying in her nest. She looked up at her. "I have some bad news," Duskpaw mewed. Silverpaw rose her head and looked at her expectantly. "Orcafin is dead," she sighed. Silverpaw gasped.

"No," she breathed. "You can't be serious," she growled.

"I am. Twigshade and I found the body," Duskpaw mewed. Silverpaw looked at her paws. Silver tears fell from her eyes. "Maplestar wants you to tell Paletree and Snowyowl." Silverpaw sniffed.

"Must I?" she checked. Duskpaw nodded. Sighing the silver she-cat rose to her paws and headed towards the elders den. Duskpaw watched her leave sadly. Poor Orcafin, she thought.

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Silverpaw ducked inside the den. Paletree was sleeping soundly. Silently Silverpaw walked to her nest and prodded her. Paletree yawned and stretched open her eyes. She looked at Silverpaw.

"What is it dear?" she asked sweetly. Silverpaw took a deep breath.

"I have some terrible news. I'm afraid Duskpaw found Orcafin's body and he is," she faltered. Taking another breath she continued. "He's dead," she whispered. Paletree closed her eyes. Her head fell into her nest.

"Leave," she ordered. Silverpaw obeyed her. Quietly she backed out of the den. She jumped when she bumped into something soft and fluffy. Whipping around she found herself staring into Snowyowl's blue eyes.

"Duskpaw said you had something to tell me," he mewed. Silverpaw coughed.

"Yes I do," she mewed.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Orcafin is dead," she mewed. Snowyowl looked taken aback. His eyes clouded over and he stumbled backwards.

"Orcafin is dead?" he repeated. Silverpaw nodded. Snowyowl looked at the ground. His claws flexed in and out. Silverpaw glanced around nervously.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"He did it. He did it again. But it was my brother this time," he mewed quietly. "He took Orcafin. My only brother. I never should have talked to him. I should have run," his voice turned to sobs. Silverpaw's heart wrenched as he cried. Hesitantly she pushed herself against him.

"I'm so sorry Snowyowl," she mewed. Snowyowl didn't say anything. He just continued to cry. Silverpaw found her own eyes growing wet as he sobbed. Soon they were crying together. Snowyowl wrapped his tail around her and she leaned on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Silverpaw," Snowyowl cried.

"For what?" Silverpaw asked.

"For letting you see me like this," he sobbed. Silverpaw smiled despite the current situation. She nuzzled him.

"I don't care," she purred. Snowyowl looked at her in surprise. Silverpaw rested her tail over his. Snowyowl smiled. "I think you look cute when you cry," she whispered.

"So do you," he whispered back.

A/N:

Sorry for a kinda short chapter. Hoped you liked it and thanks for reviewing on the last chapter. That makes me feel special and I didn't cry. Yay! Now please keep up the good work of reviewing and reading. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.