"And from this day forward, Dovekit, you will be known as Dovepaw." Rockstar scanned the area of warriors in the clearing. She nodded to a cat that Midnightgaze couldn't see. "Your mentor shall be Fireblaze," Rockstar mewed, "she needs that experience from an apprentice."
Fireblaze hissed with annoyance, but once Dovepaw touched noses with her, she perked up.
Rockstar smiled as the Clan shouted Dovepaw and Quailpaw's new names.
Midnightgaze would shout with them, but she couldn't. Splashheart had been gone a couple of days and Midnightgaze wasn't happy about at all. The Clan wasn't happy either, they were very shaken up. Midnightgaze sighed, and walked out of her den. She looked at Spottail and Silverdust, Dovepaw and Quailpaw's parents. They seemed happy, though Midnightgaze could see some sadness in Spottail's eyes. She remembered how Spottail was Splashheart's mentor. Midnightgaze went over to the fresh-kill pile, only to be stopped by a cat. Midnightgaze figured it was going to be Fireblaze or Bluestripe with a nasty thing to say, but it wasn't. Surprisingly, it was Quailpaw.
"Hello, Midnightgaze!" she mewed, her light brown fur ruffled with excitement.
"Hi," Midnightgaze mewed back.
"Quailpaw," Bluestripe, her mentor growled. "What are you doing with her?" he hissed.
"Saying hi?" Quailpaw mewed, confused.
"Why?" Bluestripe growled. "You know what she done," Bluestripe mewed, pointing his tail over to the queens den.
"Well, yeah," Quailpaw hesitantly mewed, "but she's still our Medicine cat, and she we need to pay respect to her." Quailpaw then dipped her tiny light brown head to Midnightgaze.
Midnightgaze was surprised to see a cat in her Clan that finally paid respect to her.
Bluestripe them cuffed his paw around Quailpaw's ear. She squeaked with pain. "Stop wasting time and let me show you around our territory," he growled.
"Ok," Quailpaw silently growled. Then she headed to the entrance, giving Midnightgaze a look of sympathy before she left.
Midnightgaze then felt her stomach growl, and she headed to the fresh-kill pile. Quailpaw's words made her a little happy. At least one cat respects me. She thought happily. She then picked a frozen sparrow, and headed to her den. Ugh! She thought as she tasted the sparrow. This has been the worst Leaf-bare yet! She thought, angered. She somehow managed to eat the sparrow by licking off all the ice, and eating the freezing bird. Though, it managed to fill her up and she felt a little happier. She decided to pay a visit to her kits. Midnightgaze and Whiteflame finally came up with names the other day. They named the black tom, with white spots, Gravitykit. They named him Gravitykit, because he didn't seem to stay on the ground. He would always try to get up and actually managed to stand up for a few moments. Though, it would fail, and he would squeak with annoyance, and he would keep trying again, and again. It would always fail though. Midnightgaze would keep telling him to wait till he was a couple moons old. Though, those words would go right pass his head and he would keep on trying. Midnightgaze was happy to have a kit that wouldn't give up. She knew he would have a hard future, along with his brother Splashkit, which was named after her missing sister, Splashheart. Midnightgaze thought with a pang if she would ever see her sister again. She kept on dreaming, to see if Splashheart was there, but nothing ever happened. Except the first night Splashheart was gone. Mistyleaf had appeared in front of her, telling Midnightgaze, that she couldn't connect with Splashheart because she was so far away. Mistyleaf also said another prophecy to Midnightgaze. That something dark will soon be in charge. Midnightgaze once again didn't believe what Mistyleaf had to say. All she wanted was her sister. Midnightgaze then got to the queens den. Only to see Brightfur wasn't in there, but Whiteflame. "Hi," she mewed.
Whiteflame lifted his white head, "Hello," he murmured.
"Where's Brightfur?" she asked.
"She had to make dirt," Whiteflame answered.
"Oh," Midnightgaze mewed.
"Wanna join?" he mewed, making a spot for her.
Midnightgaze nodded and padded over to him. She had already fixed up her herbs, so she was free all day. She made herself comfortable, and shared tongues with Whiteflame and her kits. But, as she rested her head, a yowl came from the training center. Then Midnightgaze ran out of the queens den, with cats coming out of the other dens at the same time.
"What was that?" Leaftrail mewed.
"I don't know," Shimmerfoot mewed. "But I do know, it can't good." His gray pelt bristled.
"It sounded like Quailpaw!" Silverdust yowled; her sandy-gray pelt bristled also.
Spottail hurried pass by his mate, and headed to the entrance. His white spotted tail followed him out.
Rockstar padded down from her den, and beckon her Clanmates to follow Spottail.
The whole Clan, except the elders and Brightfur dipped their heads. Brightfur slid back into the queens den and let Gravitykit and Splashkit suckle on her, while Dovepaw came out of the elders den and into the massive patrol. Midnightgaze felt a little worried leaving the camp without protection. She shook her head. Rockstar knows what she's d- But, before Midnightgaze could finish that thought, another yowl broke in the training center. But it wasn't from Quailpaw it was from, Silverdust… Midnightgaze then darted pass her scared Clanmates and into the entrance. What Midnightgaze saw, was shocking. Both Spottail and Bluestripe lied lifeless on the ground. Blood welled from the wounds on their necks. Midnightgaze nearly passed out because of the foul smell.
"Mother?" a cat mewed.
Midnightgaze saw Silverdust's ears perk up, "Quailpaw?" she mewed.
The small light brown she-cat then slowly walked out of the training center.
Silverdust gasped.
Quailpaw had a hug wound mark below her neck, and one of her ears were so battered, that it was nearly gone. "They were so fast!" Quailpaw mewed, while collapsing.
"Quailpaw," Silverdust mewed, while padding over to her daughter.
Midnightgaze came over to and put her paw on Quailpaw's chest. She sighed with relief when she felt a heartbeat. "Quickly, we need to bring her to my den," Midnightgaze mewed, while pulling one of Quailpaw's paws on her back. Silverdust did the same thing.
Just then, the rest of the Clan padded to them, they gasped with shocked.
"What happened here?" Redheart growled, eyeing Midnightgaze.
Is he accusing me of the murders? Midnightgaze thought, confused, and a little angered.
Rockstar padded to the clearing, a little shocked. Then she looked up to Midnightgaze. "Is that Quailpaw on your back?" she mewed.
Both Midnightgaze and Silverdust nodded.
"Get her to camp and do whatever you need to do to her," Rockstar ordered, "if she wakes up then ask her what happen."
Midnightgaze dipped her head.
"She did say something weird before she passed out, though," Silverdust mewed.
The whole Clan then had their eyes on Silverdust.
"What did she say?" Rockstar asked.
"She said something about someone being fast," Silverdust mewed.
There was a confused murmur spreading along the Clan.
Rockstar cocked her head, "Huh."
Then a moan slid through Quailpaw's mouth.
"We really need to get going, Silverdust," Midnightgaze ordered.
"Oh, yes," Silverdust quickly mewed. Then she and Midnightgaze ran to camp.
Once they got there, the elders were in the middle of the clearing. They gasped when they saw Quailpaw.
"What happened?" Sharpleap asked.
"Spottail and Bluestripe got killed, and Quailpaw is badly injured," Silverdust mewed.
"Who killed them?" Quietstep gasped.
Just then, Quailpaw gave out a yowl.
"We don't know!" Midnightgaze quickly mewed.
"Did you check their-" Sharpleap was then cut off by Crookednose.
"Let her take Quailpaw to the medicine cat den!" he growled. "She might die too if she doesn't get proper care soon!"
Sharpleap just snorted while Quietstep stood there, still shocked.
Midnightgaze dipped her head in thanks to Crookednose, and then she and Silverdust went to the medicine cat den. She laid Quailpaw down, and scanned her fully. Midnightgaze realized that Quailpaw had more scratches than she thought. "Silverdust," Midnightgaze called.
"Yes?" Silverdust asked.
"Can you get me some comfrey root please?" Midnightgaze asked. "Some cobwebs will be good too."
Silverdust dipped her head in acknowledgement and went to go get what Midnightgaze told her to get.
Midnightgaze looked back at Quailpaw and watched her flank rise up and down slowly. Quailpaw would look like a great apprentice for Midnightgaze. Midnightgaze then shook her head and saw Silverdust come back from the medicine cat storage with the herbs Midnightgaze needed. "Thank you," Midnightgaze mewed.
Silverdust dipped her head, "Whatever you need to do with my daughter, I'll help."
Midnightgaze nodded and started to make the comfrey root into a poultice. "Can you put those cobwebs on her scratches please?" Midnightgaze asked.
Silverdust nodded. "Of course!" she mewed, than she got the cobwebs, and applied them to her daughter's scratches.
"Good," Midnightgaze praised, almost done with the poultice.
"Thanks," Silverdust murmured,
Midnightgaze just smiled and put the poultice on Quailpaw's scratches. Quailpaw moaned with pain as Midnightgaze applied the ointment.
"Careful," Silverdust fretted.
"I'm being as careful as I can be," Midnightgaze mewed.
Just then, the Clan walked in, with Leaftrail and Shimmerfoot carrying Spottail, and Honeyleaf and Thornfur carrying Bluestripe.
"Can you stay with Quailpaw for a second?" Midnightgaze asked.
"Yes," Silverdust answered.
Midnightgaze then walked over to Rockstar. "Mother?" she asked.
"Yes," Rockstar mewed, with some shock in her eyes.
"Was there any fur between Spottail's and Bluestripe's claws? Midnightgaze asked once more.
Rockstar shook her head, "Surprisingly no," she mumbled.
Midnightgaze cocked her head. "How could two warriors in a battle like that didn't have any fur between their claws?"
Rockstar shook her head, "I don't know, maybe something else attacked them."
Midnightgaze shook her head. "Oh, they're cats alright," Midnightgaze mewed, remembering the claw marks on Quailpaw's chest. "I just don't see how they wouldn't have fur between their claws.
"Maybe these rouges killed them, and then they battered them up," Rockstar growled. "Those rouges have no honor!" Rockstar hissed.
"Calm down mother," Midnightgaze mewed. "We'll find them, trust me."
Just when Rockstar was going to reply, Fireblaze and Dovepaw came into camp.
"Rockstar, you need to see the prey that Dove…BLUESTRIPE!" Fireblaze yowled, running up to her dead mate.
Dovepaw then dropped the rabbit he caught. "Father?" he mewed, while slowly walking to his father's body.
"Bluestripe," Fireblaze wailed. "Oh my sweet, what happened to you?" she mewed, rubbing her head against his.
"Father," Dovepaw sobbed, while putting his tiny head on his father's pelt.
"Dovepaw, are you out here?" Silverdust mewed, walking out of the medicine cat den.
"Mother, what happened to father?" the small, gray-and-white apprentice asked.
"Yes," Fireblaze growled, "What happened?"
Rockstar shook her head, "We don't know, but we do know that they were killed by cats."
Fireblaze unsheathed her claws. "I'm going to find who did this to Bluestripe and Spottail, and ripe out their throats!"
Most of the cats in the camp murmured in agreement.
"I'm going to send a patrol, now!" Redheart mewed.
Rockstar nodded. "Yes, you do that Redheart." Then Rockstar turned her attention over to Midnightgaze. "I want you to prepare Spottail and Bluestripe's bodies please," she murmured to Midnightgaze.
Midnightgaze nodded, "Yes, mother," but just when Midnightgaze was about to walk over to her den. Silverdust yowled. Midnightgaze than ran to her den, with Rockstar and most of the Clan behind her. "Silverdust, are you ok?" Midnightgaze worriedly asked.
"Oh, Midnightgaze, it's a StarClan miracle!" Silverdust mewed, happy.
"Quailpaw is awake!" Dovepaw mewed.
Midnightgaze nearly gasped with shock. She was surprise on how Quailpaw awoke so quickly. "Let me see her!" Midnightgaze mewed. Midnightgaze quickly came over to Quailpaw, whose eyes were very tired looking.
"Midnightgaze, my mother has already told me what you had done," Quailpaw mewed, while dipping her head, "Thank you, so much!"
Midnightgaze grew hot with embarrassment, "Y-You're welcome," she mewed.
"Can you tell us who attack you, Spottail, and Bluestripe please?" Rockstar mewed, padding in the den.
Quailpaw closed her eyes. She looked like she was trying to remember what had happen. "Well, I was training with Bluestripe in the training center. When all of a sudden, a gray thing slashed Bluestripe in the throat," Quailpaw mewed.
"Was this thing a cat?" Silverdust asked.
"I think so, but it was hard to tell. It had a Clan scent though, I couldn't tell what Clan it was from," Quailpaw paused for a breath, and then she continued her story. "I try to hide in the shadows, but it still found me. It clawed my ear and then, a white thing slashed my chest. Then…" Quailpaw trailed off.
"What?" Rockstar asked.
"Then…Then I heard a noise from a she-cat. She said: You idiot! You were supposed to slash her throat! Then I heard a voice come out of a tom. He said: Who cares? She will lose enough blood to kill her."
"My poor baby," Silverdust mewed.
"Go on," Rockstar mewed.
"Then father came and started to yell for me. I was going to tell him to go away, but I was so badly hurt, I couldn't. Then the she-cat said: Look my apprentice…more live bait! The tom just smirked and I heard paw steps leave the training center. I heard a yowl from father. Then shortly after that, I heard a yowl from mother. I was scared that they got you! Then I realized you were ok when Midnightgaze came. Then you guys know the rest."
Midnightgaze nodded, she was little shocked. These rouges aren't only murders, but they're bloodthirsty too!
Silverdust came and licked Quailpaw on the cheek, and murmured something in her ear, that it was to quiet for Midnightgaze to hear. Silverdust then came over to Midnightgaze. "Dovepaw and I are going to see Spottail. I want Quailpaw to see him one last time before we bury him," Silverdust mewed, while looking at her daughter.
"I promise she will," Midnightgaze mewed.
Silverdust than left, with Dovepaw on her heals.
"I want their bodies done soon, Midnightgaze," Rockstar ordered.
Midnightgaze dipped her head. "Yes, mother."
Rockstar just smiled and left Midnightgaze's den.
Midnightgaze padded over to Quailpaw, only to see that she had fallen asleep. Midnightgaze purred, happily. She was getting ready to get the herbs ready for Spottail and Bluestripe's bodies, when something caught her eye. Midnightgaze then looked closely at Quailpaw's paw and saw some fur in it. She carefully pulled out the fur, trying not to disturb Quailpaw. Midnightgaze tensed when she finally pulled the fur out. It was gray and white! She gave it a good sniff. Midnightgaze gasped. This has Mistyleaf's scent on it! She thought. She then smelled the white fur, she gasped again. This smells like the same fur that was in Tanglepelt's claws…
