Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors.

Note: Da plot thickenz.

Âme Empoisonnée

Sandpaw followed Willowpelt and Dustpaw into the camp, a squirrel and a sparrow hanging from her jaws. The fresh-kill pile was getting bigger now that leaf-bare was history, and this made the atmosphere in the clearing more cheerful than before. Sandpaw had almost even forgotten about Brokenstar's attack earlier that night.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a meeting!"

The call startled Sandpaw, causing her sparrow to slip from her mouth. Her green eyes grew wide when she saw a decidedly tortoiseshell cat on the Highrock. And the voice was not Bluestar's. What in the name of StarClan is Redtail doing up on the Highrock? A metaphorical icy claw gripped her stomach for a second as she wondered if Bluestar were dead.

But she can't be dead! She was just talking with her senior warriors when we left! She didn't go on patrol, did she? The apprentice snatched up her sparrow and hurried over to the fresh-kill pile, where Dustpaw was waiting for her. Her whiskers drooped when she spotted Willowpelt with Runningwind; she had wanted to ask the warrior where Bluestar was.

"Does anyone know where Bluestar is?" Redtail asked, irritating Sandpaw slightly. There was no explanation or introduction. Just a question. Did he call this meeting together just to ask a bloody question?!

"I think I know," Lionheart called out, rising and padding a few steps toward the Highrock. "She spoke to me and Whitestorm about going hunting alone for a while after dismissing you and Tigerclaw to organize the duties." A shaft of moonlight gradually began to illuminate his golden fur, giving it a silvery look, as if he were a StarClan warrior. In that light, Sandpaw could see from his posture and the half of his face that was turned toward her that he was weary and stressed.

Redtail's hackles rose, and Sandpaw noticed a tired tone to his voice when he spoke. "And you let her?" he asked, a hint of a snarl in his voice. Sandpaw understood his anger; Brokenstar was on the loose, and no cat was safe alone. And Bluestar was one of the most valued cats in ThunderClan.

"No." Lionheart took a few more steps forward, his head held high despite his exhaustion. "We insisted that she take two or three warriors with her. She objected strongly, saying that she would not waste her warriors' time. We shot back with a question about her want to die. She shot back with a question about our want to waste our time. It went on like this for a while. In the end, we agreed on a one-cat escort. Whitestorm went with her. Has any cat seen Whitestorm lately?"

A chill went down Sandpaw's back as she realized that she hadn't seen Whitestorm since they returned from battling Brokenstar. What if he's dead, too? What if Brokenstar attacked them both?

"…should get some sleep," Redtail was saying when she withdrew herself from her thoughts. "The dawn patrol will wait until sun-high. If Bluestar and Whitestorm aren't back by the time the patrol leaves, then Lionheart and Dustpaw will come with me to look for Bluestar. Tigerclaw, you and Willowpelt will train Graypaw and Sandpaw." The ginger-tailed deputy took a deep breath. "Spottedleaf, how is Darkstripe?"

Someone in the medicine den—probably Darkstripe—emitted an impatient yowl. Spottedleaf came hurrying out of her den. "Not well enough to go on patrol, but well enough to be a night sentry, if that's what you're looking for."

"That's right." Redtail curtly dipped his head to the dappled she-cat. "He shouldn't be too exhausted; he did no actual fighting and was not allowed to perform any duties. Tell him that he must stand guard for tonight. If he sees anyone, he is to inform Graypaw, who in turn will tell me. The entrance to camp must be guarded for every instant up to sun-high. Tell him that, if he performs well, he can start his duties again the day after tomorrow."

"I'm not sure he's well enough for that," Spottedleaf replied. "And you know not to argue with a medicine cat, Redtail." Sandpaw wanted to claw Spottedleaf's ears off for that remark. If Bluestar's dead, Redtail will lead ThunderClan, not you!

To her satisfaction, Redtail hissed at the other tortoiseshell. "I'm afraid I don't know that, Spottedleaf. If he performs well, he'll be rewarded. Would you rather have it so that a good warrior is punished for his performance? I might not be leader of this Clan, but I am deputy, and you are not either one."

Spottedleaf glared at him furiously before retreating back into the depths of the medicine den. Conversation flew from the den for a while; then it came to a sudden halt. Darkstripe emerged, looking irritable but pleased with himself.

"Right, then." Redtail jumped down from the Highrock and hit the ground with a thud. "Everyone get some sleep. Darkstripe, stand guard. Graypaw, stand outside the warriors' den. Runningwind, Longtail, Ravenpaw—get some extra sleep tonight." He padded slowly over to the warriors' den, his paws almost being dragged. The ThunderClan deputy slipped into the den, nodding at the other warriors to follow suit.

Sandpaw shuffled to the apprentices' den, where Ravenpaw was already sleeping. The ginger tabby found her nest and curled up into a tight ball, hoping that her leader and her mentor would both return safely, that Brokenstar wouldn't attack the camp during the night, and that her warrior ceremony would be soon.

Life is hard, but hope can go a long way.