Anonymous ; Haha, thanks! ^.^ I hope you do.

Tallstar07 ; I'm so glad you like it! I know, ShadexMaple is pretty cute huh? (;

Spottedfern ; Thank you! I will right now, aha.

Chapter 19

"What?" Maplepaw yowled.

Birdkit nodded urgently. "I-I saw it right in front o-of my eyes!" The she-kit stared unseeingly at the ground, murmuring, "I still can't believe it."

Maplepaw paused. She remembered seeing Darkfur and Sunpelt leave camp right before she fell asleep. That must have been when the incident happened. "You went outside of camp?"

Birdkit looked guiltily at Maplepaw. "Uh, yeah. . . But only 'cause Stormkit dared me to! She said she had gone already, and she didn't think I could too. I showed her wrong!"

"Tell me what happened, from the beginning." Maplepaw could hear the steady pulsing of her heart.

"Uh, well, I went to the Great Sycamore. I set off exploring and even caught a mouse! It was limping though, so I guess it was pretty easy." Birdkit let out a purr, remembering the sensation of her first catch.

"But then the clouds started covering the moon, and I was worried StarClan was mad I had sneaked out of camp, so I scrambled back. On my way I found Darkfur and Sunpelt, and I didn't want to get into any trouble, so I hid. The deputy would have reported me to Silverpool as soon as possible! An-and then I waited until they would leave . . . and that's when I saw it all." Birdkit trembled violently, bringing to mind whatever she had seen. "Sunpelt was chasing a rabbit. H-he was lifting a claw to kill the prey." Birdkit's voice cracked on the word kill.

"Well, Darkfur was sneaking up on Sunpelt, and he h-had this l-look in his e-eyes, and . . ."

Birdkit fell silent, staring with alarmed eyes at the ground.

"Um, Birdkit?" Maplepaw mewed nervously.

"Uh, sorry," the kit mewled, shaking her head visibly as if to clear it. "Well, uh, Darkfur had his paw lifted w-with unsheathed claws. They were glinting in the light of the moon . . ." Birdkit suddenly shut her eyes tight. "And, h-he brought his p-paw down . . . and then Sunpelt was on the ground squirming." Suddenly her eyes shot open.

"Sunpelt let out this shocked noise, like he was in pain. They fought, but Darkfur had the . . . what is it? Advantage. Anyways, Sunpelt barely had enough energy to fight back, especially with his leg. I wanted to help b-but knew I couldn't do anything. I was too scared. And finally, Darkfur b-brought on the d-d-deathblow." She paused. "Then I scampered back to camp as quick as I could."

It was quiet for a bit. Maplepaw knew her dream was a memory of what happened in the forest while she was asleep. Birdkit gazed up at Maplepaw with scared and helpless eyes. "Maplepaw, what should I do?"

Maplepaw stayed silent. Then, barely whispering, she meowed, "I don't know."

Birdkit seemed to look at the apprentice with understanding. "Silkpaw told me that StarClan sent her a sign, th-that Darkfur murdered your father." Her murmurs were sympathetic.

Maplepaw thought she looked much wiser than her age. "Oh? When?"

"Just before the Gathering. She was talking to me and wondering what to do. But she still thinks Darkfur is good." Under her breath she mewed, "I can't wait to prove her wrong!"

Maplepaw leapt out of her nest, fur bristling. "Oh, no! You cannot tell anyone this, not even Stormkit. Not until we have proof to confirm it to them. For all you know, we might spill it out, and you know how news passes around camp!"

"But-" Birdkit sighed and hung her head. "I guess so. Stormstar would find out."

"Right. In the meantime, keep this to yourself. We'll have to—"

A howl of grief outside the den interrupted Maplepaw. She craned her head out of the entrance to reveal Darkfur carrying a limp Sunpelt in his jaws. Darkfur dropped the body on the earth, and the queens and remaining warriors slowly began to collect.

"What has happened?" Dawnflower meowed in puzzlement.

Maplepaw turned to Birdkit with urgent eyes. "Come – Darkfur is about to announce what happened! And keep quiet!"

The queens, warriors, Maplepaw, and Birdkit made their way towards Darkfur. "I'm so sorry. Sunpelt is dead," he meowed solemnly. Murmurs of astonishment and grief rose in the air.

"How?" Nightstripe wailed. Dawnflower and Silverpool were sobbing.

Darkfur waited a moment for his Clanmates to calm down. "Tonight Sunpelt came up to me and claimed his leg was feeling better, saying he wanted to practice hunting by the Great Sycamore. Although I was a bit unwilling, I didn't want to turn him down, so we left. We had an encounter with a fox, and though I fought the fox and eventually scared it off, the fox had taken Sunpelt's life." The dark warrior lowered his head. "Sunpelt was a loyal and courageous deputy, and we will honor him."

Maplepaw exchanged a doubtful glance with Birdkit. Who was he kidding? Meanwhile, the rest of the cats nodded somberly. They believed every word that came out of his mouth.

"Birdkit! Where's Birdkit?" Silverpool yowled, suddenly looking up.

"Right here, Silverpool," Maplepaw meowed, beckoning toward Birdkit.

"Oh, thank StarClan! Birdkit, do not leave the nursery again."

Silverpool's daughter dipped her head. "Sorry, Mother." If it hadn't been for the mood of her fellow warriors, Maplepaw almost would have mrrowed in amusement. Birdkit did more than just leave the nursery!

Just then Stormstar entered camp, along with several other Clanmates in tow, and Maplepaw turned to find Smokepaw gazing warmly at her. When he saw her sober face he stopped in his tracks.

"What happened?" he meowed.

"You'll see."

Stormstar was talking to Darkfur, face falling as his deputy's death sunk in. He was up on the Highrock in heartbeats. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock!" The Clan was pretty much already collected below the Highrock though, and their leader broke the news to any cats that had gone to the Gathering. Yowls of agony rose in the air once more.

"No!" Silkpaw wailed. She and Rainstorm were beside themselves at the death of a mate and father. Maplepaw wanted to comfort them, but felt she couldn't. She used to trust Silkpaw - but now Silkpaw trusted Darkfur.

An idea blossomed in her mind. Darkfur had murdered both their fathers! If she and Birdkit could convince her of what had happened, then she wouldn't trust Darkfur anymore.

Maplepaw joined Silkpaw and Rainstorm next to Sunpelt's body. She licked Sunpelt's neck and murmured, "Thank you for your wisdom. Although you weren't my mentor, I still learned many things from you." Maplepaw pressed against her friend's flank in comfort, and padded off in the direction of her den.

She wanted to get some rest before Stormstar named the new deputy, so she got into her nest. But she couldn't stop thinking about Darkfur and his bloodthirsty plans and ambitions. After a moment of hesitation, she left her nest to sleep beneath StarClan. Maybe they could give her some advice. She sure needed it now.

Trotting quietly to the center of the clearing, Maplepaw found a black shadow waiting for her.

"Hi Smokepaw," she mewed.

He nuzzled her in a friendly way. "Hello."

Looking at him made her so at ease. Right then and there, she knew she could trust him for anything. Redfur's scent came over her and she heard him whisper, "Tell him." Then he was gone once more, fading into the night like the wind.

"Smokepaw, I need to tell you something," Maplepaw began, staring at him with urgent eyes. There was a feeling like lightning prickling along her fur. She led him to a shady corner where they were well hidden, and, making sure they were sufficiently out of earshot, took a deep breath.

"I believe you."

"You do? You really believe that Darkfur . . . killed . . . Sunpelt?" she asked incredulously. Maplepaw thought that she would have needed proof!

Smokepaw hesitated, then nodded. "I really believe you. I don't see why you would ever lie about this sort of thing."

"You can't tell anyone, understand?" Maplepaw meowed sternly.

"Don't worry, Maplepaw, you can trust me!" Smokepaw promised, flicking his ear.

Silverpelt glittered up above just then, and the two apprentices exchanged a look of pleasure. StarClan approved.

And that, is the end of chapter 19. You readers make me so happy. I can't wait to post more! Review lovelies~