Chapter 3

Hailpaw and Dogpaw had been apprentices for three moons now, and not once had they been to a gathering until that point. With all the fuss about Eaglewing's death, the ShadowClan cats were surprised to learn on the death of another cat in ThunderClan had been found dead at around the same time, this they had learnt from previous gatherings.

When they arrived at the gathering, Hailpaw was shocked to see so many cats from each Clan in the same place. The place was buzzing with sound and laughter, as well as some worried mutterings. As the cats ventured onto the island that hosted the gathering, Hailpaw struggled to locate his sister, finding that she was talking with Jaypaw in the corner.

He padded over to them silently, steering his ears towards them to hear their conversation.

"As if! Hailpaw wouldn't have anything to do with it!" He heard Dogpaw say, her eyes narrowed at the grey tabby. Jaypaw blinked and grinned,

"All I'm saying is that he acts very strange, and didn't seem surprised at all when Eaglewing was found dead." He meowed, his voice was relaxed but Hailpaw could sense a tinge of suspicion.

"You know Hailpaw is different from the rest! He's not a murderer, Jaypaw. Besides, you clearly dislike him; you used to be horrible to him when he first became an apprentice."

"I know I was cruel, but Dogpaw listen-" Jaypaw was interrupted.

"Now who are you two talking about?" A grey tom asked, his eyes were dark blue and the scent that was carried towards Hailpaw by the wind smelled was that of herbs and berries.

"Greymask!" Jaypaw mewed, staring at the tom with confusion. "It is none of your business!"

"Relax. I was only asking." Greymask said, his voice calm, "And who is this, Jaypaw, a she-cat taken your fancy perhaps?" He purred, his voice joking. Jaypaw's back fur rose.

"Of course not!" He spat. "T-this is Dogpaw, she's a fellow apprentice!" Dogpaw looked confused.

"Greetings, Dogpaw. I am Jaypaw's kin, Greymask, medicine cat of RiverClan." Greymask dipped his head to Dogpaw.

"You're Jaypaw's kin? How?" Dogpaw questioned, her eyes narrowed.

"I'm his mother's littermate. She moved from RiverClan to ShadowClan for certain…reasons." Greymask meowed. Jaypaw glared at him.

Hailpaw veered away, tired of listening in on their conversation, as he walked away numbly, he felt eyes burning into the back of his neck. Shaking it off as any old Clan cat wanting a better look at him, he padded over to where Sunstripe was conversing with an old RiverClan she-cat. He sat silently next to her as he tried to unscramble all he had learned. Jaypaw thought he had murdered Eaglewing, though Dogpaw had disbelieved him, Jaypaw's mother was from RiverClan and he was related to the RiverClan medicine cat. Strange.

A yowling sound came from the large tree as the Clan leaders stood on top of it. Every cat on the island snapped their head upwards to see them. The ThunderClan leader stepped forward, his eyes bright and angry.

"There has been another murder! Rabbitfur has been killed! We have been investigating the kill, and it took place near the ShadowClan border!" He hissed, turning to glare at the ShadowClan leader, Birdstar.

"Just what are you trying to imply, Sharpstar?! That ShadowClan has been killing your precious warriors? May I remind you, ShadowClan has had a warrior die too? If anything, we should be working together to find the killer, not accusing other Clans with little to no evidence of guiltiness." She mewed, challenging Herbstar to continue. "There's nothing to go on for evidence. Rabbitfur, Eaglewing and Duskpelt have nothing in common, and I have no idea why they've all been targeted. There is no fox or badger scent, no scent of cat and no good reason why any cat would hate them enough to kill them." She carried on, scanning the cats below for any outcries. Hailpaw was enthralled with her professional take on things.

The WindClan leader, Sandstar, who had been silent until that point, stepped forward.

"It could be that we may need to check and keep an eye on anything suspicious going on within our own Clans. I must remind all you to keep an eye on things. " She mewed, gazing at the other leaders. "Unless RiverClan has anything to add, we'll put an end to this gathering, if anyone finds out anything, do not hesitate to tell your Clan leader." With that, the leaders all looked at Redstar of RiverClan, who shook his head as if to say he had no news, and with that they leaped out of the tree and began taking their Clans back to their territories.

But before Hailpaw could join his Clan, he felt his feet lift off the ground, and he yelped as he felt himself be thrown into a bush at the edge of the island. He landed with a bump into the plant, the twigs poking his fur. He heard a rustle and saw a grey tom following him inside. Greymask.

"You will be wondering why I took you here, Hailpaw." He meowed, his eyes cold, very different to the cheerful cat he had seen before. "I will explain everything in time. But I need to tell you, Hailpaw. Stop your warrior training and become a medicine cat. Ask Quickclaw to train you, he'll know why and he'll take you on. If you don't become the medicine cat apprentice, I will kill you and your kin. I am not above that Hailpaw. I must admit to you now, I am the murderer. It will be clear in time, why I am asking this of you, and you will be thankful. Trust me." And with that, he leapt out of the bush. Hailpaw heard his fading pawsteps as he raced away.