Chapter 7

Morning sunlight filtered through the warrior's den as Willowcloud was roused from her sleep. She blinked away the light that temporarily blinded her. Most of the Clan was still gathered around the fresh-kill pile, discussing what had happened at the Gathering. Ghostwind, Mistybird and Redflower had stayed asleep when the Clan returned.

Willowcloud forced back a sigh. Today marked the first day after Sparrowpaw had told her what Ghostwind had done. Willowcloud knew that he had to stop. His ambition was leading the Clans to their destruction. She wasn't sure how he would be stopped. All she knew was that he had to be. There had always been three Clans in the forest she grew up in. StarClan would not be happy if they found out what happened to PebbleClan.

She rolled to her side after realizing that StarClan must have known. Rainstar had killed Graystar and the Clan's deputy to cause confusion and chaos amongst the Clan.

No, Ghostwind did, she reminded herself.

Her eyes flickered open when she felt a paw poke at her side. Willowcloud blinked as she rolled over once more. She wasn't surprised to see Whitepelt standing behind her. The senior warrior was always bossing younger cats. He didn't encourage them, he only pushed them until they were exhausted.

"Brightfur wanted to speak with you," he meowed after noticing that she was awake. "She told me it was urgent."

Willowcloud glanced at the cats sleeping around her. None of them were awake yet. She gave Whitepelt a wary look before slipping out of her nest. The dark gray warrior took a step back as he watched her leave. She knew that he wouldn't leave until she was awake.

The deputy was standing near the entrance of the camp. Willowcloud's head tilted in confusion as she watched Brightfur pace. She looked over her shoulder to see that Thornstar was too busy with his own problems to notice what Brightfur was up to. The tortoiseshell bent her head when she spotted Willowcloud.

"Willowcloud, I was hoping to speak with you before the patrols were sent out," Brightfur murmured. When Willowcloud signaled for her to continue, Brightfur took an intake of breath. "I wanted to share a word with you outside the camp, where prying ears or eyes can't see or hear us."

When Willowcloud remained silent, Brightfur looked slightly embarrassed. The tortoiseshell led her out of the camp through the entrance, tail flicking from side to side.

Ferns brushed past Willowcloud's belly as she dropped into a hunter's crouch. She knew where Brightfur was leading her. Ruststripe must have told the deputy about the area where she had been attacked. Willowcloud's ears flattened when Brightfur stopped.

Brightfur's eyes were carefully guarded as she turned to face Willowcloud. The deputy looked so focused compared to other days when Willowcloud had seen her. Most of the time Brightfur spent her days trying to look her best in front of the Clan.

"I assume you know what this spot is," Brightfur murmured once the two were situated in front of one another.

"Why take me here?" Willowcloud demanded. Her fur was ruffled as she looked around. This was where her blood had stained the ferns and grass. Now she knew what Brightfur was up to.

"In light of the events that have happened, I think it's obvious why. We need to know what Rainstar is planning, and where she will strike next." Brightfur's eyes flashed for a brief moment before she looked down at her paws. "I can't allow my Clan to be destroyed by an enemy. Thornstar is a fool to not take her warnings seriously."

He also believes that Ghostwind is a savior, Willowcloud added silently. Her ear flicked in annoyance as she watched Brightfur pace.

"When I was speaking with the few PebbleClan warriors at the Gathering, they told me what I feared the most," Brightfur continued. "Rainstar is planning on taking over the forest, forming one Clan that she can rule over. I always knew that she was a fool. To think that she was once a good friend of mine." Brightfur spat the last line out, her hackles rising as her tail lashed from side to side.

"And where does this lead me?" Willowcloud asked. She kept her voice soft as she watched Brightfur through narrowed eyes.

"I want you to use…whatever it is you have to see what Rainstar will do next," Brightfur replied. Her voice was tart, but she remained calm as she held Willowcloud's gaze.

Willowcloud's fur stood on end when she glared at Brightfur. "I will not be used like this!" she spat.

"I am your elder, and deputy," Brightfur meowed calmly. "You will do as I say…or suffer the consequences."

I am not your puppet, Willowcloud thought. Pure rage coursed through her spine as she glared at Brightfur. She would refuse to do what Brightfur demanded.

Brightfur took another step forward, fur bristling and eyes narrowed coldly. Willowcloud stepped back, fear building in her chest when she realized that Brightfur meant what she said. She was determined to protect the Clan, no matter what happened.

"Do as I say," Brightfur hissed.

Willowcloud's ears flattened before she began running. She could hear Brightfur hissing in frustration. She knew that Brightfur would give chase once she recovered from the shock.

Her pelt brushed against the undergrowth as she the trees whirled by. Birds called out in alarm at the sudden commotion Brightfur had caused. The pale gray she-cat kept her paws on the ground as she looked around warily.

Brightfur's yowls died down when Willowcloud approached the boggy area near PebbleClan's territory. This was where frogs and lizards could be caught, if one were to decide to hunt them. Willowcloud's lip curled in disgust as she looked beyond the mountains.

Why is it that I am the one who gets in trouble? she wondered as she shook her head in frustration. Brightfur will likely tell Thornstar that I turned on her. If that happens I'm bound to suffer the consequences. The fur along her neck bristled as she glanced over her shoulder.

Sure enough Willowcloud saw the pale outline of Brightfur emerging from the shadows. The tortoiseshell's ears were flattened in resentment as she glowered at Willowcloud.

"Tracking you down is easier than I thought," Brightfur sneered when her expression changed. "Now, we will go back to that spot and see what—" Her words were cut off by a ferocious snarl. Willowcloud's fur stood on end when she recognized Ghostwind's snarl.

Willowcloud closed her eyes as she heard the sound of pawsteps approaching. Brightfur whirled around, hackles raised as she tried to see what had caused the noise. A screech erupted out of the foreboding silence that had followed. The sound of paws echoed around the trees, and the screech suddenly ended in a shrill cry of pain.

She opened her eyes to see that Ghostwind was standing over Brightfur's body. The pale gray tom's eyes were narrowed into tiny slits when he watched his sister.

"She was about to kill you," he spat. Blood splattered against Willowcloud's fur as she flinched from his harsh tone. "I'm not about to let someone else kill my sister," he added in a harsher tone.

"But you…what about the deputy?" Willowcloud stuttered. "Brightfur is…dead."

"She is. And the Clan will never find out," Ghostwind replied calmly. "Brightfur was always a bit too protective for her own good. She needed to be taken care of sooner or later. You gave me the opportunity to take care of it sooner." A grin fell upon his face when he looked at her.

Willowcloud's fur stood on end as she watched him. She knew that he was right. Brightfur had threatened to kill her in order to protect the Clan.

"You will not be thanked for this," she snarled as she rose to her paws. "I will find out what you are planning. You killed Graystar, and you killed Breezewind. No cat who does such a terrible thing deserves to live."

Without another word she padded past him, ignoring the stench of blood that rose in the air. Ghostwind's grin never faded as he watched her. His teeth were red, and patches of fur had been stained with blood after he wrestled with Brightfur. Part of the job had been taken care of. Now he needed to fulfill the second part of his job.