Chapter 18
Silverpaw watched as Maplestar, Creamfoot, Shardclaw, Tundrafoot, and Stormstep carry in Orcafin's body. She looked away from the body, it was to grotesque to look at. Snowyowl stared straight ahead, his eyes cold. Paletree sobbed next to him. Duskpaw walked over and sat next to her sister. She looked down, refusing to watch them carry in the body.
"I'm sorry Snowyowl," she mewed flatly. Snowyowl twitched his ear at her. "Paletree if there's anything I can do for you just let me know," she mewed to the white elder. Paletree dipped her head to her.
"When you see him in Starclan, tell him I love him," Paletree mewed. Duskpaw nodded. Then she rose to her paws.
"Speaking of Starclan I should probably be on my way to the Star Tree," she mewed. Dipping her head in farewell she walked towards the entrance to the woods and left. Snowyowl watched her leave through narrowed eyes.
"Isn't she going with Twigshade?" he asked.
"Twigshade wants to say farewell to Orcafin so he sent Duskpaw to go by herself," Silverpaw mewed. Snowyowl nodded and turned back to his brother. They had laid his body in the center of camp and had stepped back.
"Good bye Orcafin," Maplestar whispered before she stepped back. As she left the rest of the clan took her place.
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Duskpaw ran along the Moonclan border. She had scented Leafcloud farther back but the she-cat must have already left for the Star Tree. Duskpaw pounded along her trail. Eventually the other medicine cat's scents began to mingle with it as she passed the border into unknown territory. Their scent was still fresh so they must have just passed through. She quickened her pace.
Ahead of her she could see the faint glimmer of the Star Tree. It shone like a fallen star in the night. Duskpaw panted as she slowed to a halt beside it. The medicine cats looked up in surprise.
"Duskpaw," Sparklepaw greeted her.
"Where's Twigshade?" Thunderstreak asked.
"On the way over we found one of our clanmate's bodies. Twigshade returned to camp with it but ordered me to continue," Duskpaw panted. The medicine cats let out apologetic mews.
"Was the cat injured?" Sealfeather asked.
"He was murdered," Duskpaw said. They gasped.
"Who was it?" Leafcloud demanded.
"Orcafin," Duskpaw answered. The turned to their paws.
"Let us speak to Starclan about this terrible action," Leafcloud mewed. The others nodded and settled next to the Star Tree. Duskpaw joined them. Touching her nose to the smooth bark of the tree she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
"Duskpaw," Softsnow mewed. Duskpaw's eyes flew open to see the white she-cat standing over her. Her blue eyes were filled with worry. "Snowyowl is in grave danger. As is his mother and anyone he holds dear. That includes your sister," she mewed urgently. Duskpaw leapt to her paws in confusion.
"What's going to happen to them?" she demanded. Softsnow shook her head.
"I can't say. His future is to dark to see. When I look all I see is blackness and death. He has chosen a dangerous path and it will only lead to more death and destruction," she growled.
"Is he the murderer?" Duskpaw gasped. Softsnow was silent. "Is he?" she demanded.
"I can't tell. All I know is his claws are stained with his brother's blood," she mewed quietly. Duskpaw stumbled back with surprise.
"He killed Orcafin?" she asked.
"It was his decision that marked the end of his brother's life." Duskpaw was silent. How could anyone kill their own sibling? She couldn't imagine killing Silverpaw. They were bestfriends. Suddenly Softsnow whipped around. "Silver tears will fall when the feather destroys the shade," she mewed. Duskpaw blinked in confusion.
"What does that mean?" she cried out in fear. Softsnow stared at her with dark eyes. Then she faded. Duskpaw was left alone in the shimmering forest. She looked around. The forest was empty. Nothing moved or made a noise. Duskpaw shivered with fear. Suddenly everything went dark. Duskpaw stumbled around in confusion. Then dark claws ripped through her throat.
A/N:
Sorry this chapter is so short. It's too hot in my house to sit in front of the computer so I'm trying to type really fast. Well tell me what you think of it so far and what you think of Snowyowl. Is he really the murderer?