Aurorastar stiffened. Rainpaw had stayed close in her mind like a burr ever since she was attacked, but hearing in reality that the apprentice was awake brought surprise and confusion to the SunClan leader.
Rainpaw is awake, a voice in her head told Aurorastar firmly. She won't die, and she might be able to prove that you are not guilty.
Sudden energy and anxiousness caused Aurorastar to heave herself onto her paws. Her sickness and extra weight was hard for her, but she pushed it away.
I need to be strong at this time. I need to be strong for my Clan.
The leader stood beside Eclipsewing, waiting for Birchleaf to return with Starwhisper. It didn't take very long for the two cats to return, and each had an appalled expression on their face.
When Starwhisper met Aurorastar's narrowed gaze, she rested a paw on her leader's shoulder. "It's best we see to her first before she has any visitors. If she is up for it, you may speak with her later.
Aurorastar gave a brisk nod. "I understand."
Starwhisper rested her eyes on Aurorastar for a few more moments before darting towards the herb storage in the back of the den.
Aurorastar plopped down onto her haunches, releasing a heavy breath. Her eyes met Eclipsewing's, who was standing next to her.
"Eclipsewing, do you think that I attacked Rainpaw?"
Eclipsewing looked shocked at her sister's sudden question, but seemed to swallow down her expression. "I-I don't know. You were gone when Rainpaw was attacked, and your scent and fur was there when Rainpaw was found..." Eclipsewing stared at her white paws. "I just don't know what to think."
Aurorastar, pushing away her exhaustion, got to her paws again. "Don't you see? Nightglow has placed that doubt in your mind. I didn't attack Rainpaw, but she wanted everyone to think that I did." Aurorastar dug her claws into the moss underneath her. "She was clever about it," she mumbled, half to herself.
Eclipsewing sighed, giving Aurorastar a defeated look. "You're my sister. I would never think that you would attack a cat from your own Clan out of cold blood, but I just can't help but wonder."
Before Aurorastar could reply, Starwhisper darted out of the shadows from the back of the den.
"You two, follow me. Rainpaw has news and you should here it."
Anxiety burned within Aurorastar, but she ignored it and followed the medicine cat back to the herb storage. As she turned the corner, Rainpaw's light gray shape came into view. The apprentice was crouched in her nest, and her pelt was covered in cobwebs. Aurorastar screwed up her nose as the pungent scent of herbs enveloped her nose.
"Rainpaw," Starwhisper meowed, her voice now surprisingly soft, "can you tell Aurorastar and Eclipsewing what you told us?"
Rainpaw's eyes were wide and her body was shaking, though Aurorastar guessed it was not from being cold. She sat down beside the apprentices, giving her a warm, welcoming look.
"Well," Rainpaw started, her voice weak, "I was out hunting when I was suddenly attacked from behind. I blacked out very quickly after that."
"Do you remember anything about your attacker?" Aurorastar asked, trying to keep her voice as soft as Starwhisper's.
"I just remember seeing a flash of white fur," Rainpaw mewed. "I'm sorry I wasn't very helpful."
"It's alright, Rainpaw," Starwhisper meowed, resting her tail on the apprentice's flank while Aurorastar gave her a reassuring nod.
"Is something wrong?" Rainpaw asked, obviously noticing the look in everyone's eyes. Aurorastar realized that Rainpaw had no idea the SunClan leader was accused of her attack.
"Rainpaw, the Clan believes that it was Aurorastar that attacked you, since we found her fur next to your unconscious body," Starwhisper stated, though her voice was slow as if trying to explain something complex to a kit.
"That's mousebrained!" Rainpaw gasped. "I know Aurorastar has white fur on her, but my attacker didn't smell at all like her!" She tilted her head. "Besides, why would Aurorastar attack me?"
Aurorastar let out a breath, one she realized she had been holding in for a while.
"This is very good to hear," Eclipsewing meowed, sounding brighter. She turned to Aurorastar. "Rainpaw should tell the Clan this right away."
Aurorastar nodded. "Rainpaw, if you are up for it, the Clan needs to hear this news from you. The sooner you tell them, the better." I need to take care of SunClan, and I can't do that when I'm being accused of a cold-hearted criminal.
Rainpaw puffed out her chest. "You're right. I'm up for doing it now."
"Great," Birchleaf mewed, sounding relieved, and began leading Rainpaw towards the entrance to the den. Aurorastar, Eclipsewing, and Starwhisper followed them.
"Rainpaw!" Waterfall cried out when the little gray she-cat reached the den entrance.
"You can see her later," Starwhisper told Waterfall with a nod.
As they exited the medicine den, conversation immediately grew within the cats in the clearing. Many shot Aurorastar harsh glares and Rainpaw sympathetic ones, but they all seemed to ignore them as they leaped walked towards Brightledge.
With Birchleaf's help, Rainpaw climbed up onto the stone, Starwhisper and Eclipsewing following. Aurorastar jumped onto the first few stones, but growled when she could not reach the top of ledge.
"Let me help," Eclipsewing mewed, bending down to grab Aurorastar's scruff as the leader scrambled up.
"Thanks," Aurorastar mewed, fur prickling with embarrassment.
As she seated herself onto the stone, beginning to groom her thin, ragged fur, Starwhisper called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Brightledge for a Clan meeting!"
Curiosity loomed in the air as cats began to gather in the clearing below. Some held shocked expressions to see Rainpaw standing, awake and mostly healthy, atop the stone.
"We have gathered you here today because our recently injured apprentice, Rainpaw, has awakened and has news to share." Starwhisper gave a nod to the light gray apprentice to step forward.
Rainpaw did so, though her body was quivering, and Aurorastar guessed that it was not from the cold.
"Well?" Nightglow snapped, seated in front of the group of cats. "Speak!"
Rainpaw flinched, but after a few moments, she took in a deep breath. "You all currently believe that I was attacked by Aurorastar, but I do not believe so."
Several growls erupted below, but Rainpaw ignored them and continued.
"I only saw patches of white fur from my attacker, that's all. The scent of the attacker, however, definitely wasn't Aurorastar's."
Yowls of outrage and confusion sounded, but Nightglow's voice rose above all the chaos. "How do we know it isn't still Aurorastar who attacked Rainpaw?"
The cats began to quiet down, exchanging looks the SunClan leader was unable to see.
Nightglow smiled. She had gotten what she wanted: attention and the ability to place doubt in a cat's mind.
"Don't be ridiculous," Starwhisper growled.
"Aurorastar has white fur on her, not to mention how easy it it to hide your scent." The deputy's glare rakes the clearing, as is waiting for a challenge.
"I'm quite sure that Aurorastar did not attack me," Rainpaw mewed firmly, though her eyes glowed with fear as she met Nightglow's gaze.
"You also have white fur, Nightglow," Starwhisper said, narrowing her green eyes. "You found Rainpaw's injured body. Maybe you have something to do with her attack."
Nightglow's eyes flashed. "I didn't attack Rainpaw if that's what your saying!" Her furious looking eyes were now fixed on Rainpaw. "This apprentice wasn't sure who her attacker was! It could have been anybody!"
Aurorastar was surprised when a new voice arose. "We shouldn't doubt the word of Rainpaw," Dapplecloud meowed.
"She knows who attacked her, not you," Silvertail growled at Nightglow.
"My daughter isn't a liar," Waterfall said from the medicine den's entrance.
A snarl was heard on the opposite side of the clearing. "What about Aurorastar's fur?" Bluefire hissed. "It was there next to Rainpaw." His amber eyes raked the SunClan leader, and they were full of triumph. "If you ask me, our leader and medicine cat are plotting against. They probably scared Rainpaw to death just so she would say that her attacker wasn't Aurorastar."
"I would never plot against my own Clan!" Aurorastar snarled.
"My loyalty is to SunClan, and I would do nothing to hurt them!" Starwhisper snapped.
"Rainpaw believes that Aurorastar was not her attacker." Rainfall now spoke below them. "Aurorastar should return to her duty as leader, and we should have faith in her." His gaze raked Nightglow and Bluefire.
Murmurs of approval followed his words, and Aurorastar was appalled to see Nightglow eventually give a curt nod. The deputy's eyes, however, glowed with something more dark and dangerous, and she glared at the SunClan leader menacingly.
She has only just begun.
• • •
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Brightledge for a Clan meeting!"
Aurorastar felt satisfaction brimming within her as she was finally able to use these words herself. It was a moon after Rainpaw's awakening, and Aurorastar had recovered significantly. Her greencough had left her, and she now only had a small case of whitecough, though her body was still weak.
The cats of SunClan began to seat before her, gazing up at Aurorastar with shining eyes. She barely received any hostile glares now, and Nightglow had caused no trouble since Rainpaw's awakening.
Crystalclaw popped out of the nursery, herding Jewelkit, Dustykit, and Redkit. Nightclaw scrambled over to join them, pride shining in his eyes. The kits' fur was sleek, reflecting the sun's golden rays.
The snow of leaf-bare is dwindling down, and signs of newleaf are approaching.
Aurorastar gazed at the kits with warm eyes as they padded over to stand next to Brightledge. The kits' ceremony had been a moon delayed due to Aurorastar's leadership troubles.
They are now more than ready to become apprentices.
She leaped down from Brightledge, careful of her plump belly, and stopped in front of the three young cats. "Today, we welcome three new apprentices into SunClan. Jewelkit, Dustykit, and Redkit have become of age, and are more than ready for apprenticeship." She beckoned the kits forward with a flick of her tail.
"Jewelkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Jewelpaw." Aurorastar turned to face the crowd of cats before her. "Leopardsun, you have proven your warrior skill and patience, now ready to be a mentor. Your apprentice will be Jewelpaw."
Leopardsun leaped out from the clearing, looking surprised and pleased. Jewelpaw looked equally satisfied and rushed over to touch noses with her mentor.
"Dustykit," Aurorastar turned to face the kits again, "until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Dustypaw. Nightheart, you showed excellent skill mentoring Skypaw, and you will continue that skill in mentoring Dustypaw."
Aurorastar noticed a flash of grief cross Nightheart's amber eyes, but was pleased when it was quickly replaced by cheerfulness. She padded forward to touch noses with Dustypaw.
Aurorastar returned her gaze to the remaining kit. Redkit looked up at her expectantly, eyes full of wonder and excitement.
"Redkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Redpaw. Your mentor will be Falconstrike."
Aurorastar turned, searching for Falconstrike's reddish brown pelt in the crowd of cats. When her deep blue eyes met his green ones, she continued. "Falconstrike, since you have joined SunClan, you have proven to be an exceptional warrior. I trust you will pass on all you know to Redpaw."
Falconstrike, looking appalled, bounded forward to greet Redpaw.
"Jewelpaw! Dustypaw! Redpaw!" the Clan cheered. The new apprentices glowed with pride, and soon followed their mentors out of camp with high tails.
Aurorastar gazed around the clearing, startled to meet Nightglow's harsh yellow gaze.
Our short peace will not last for long, and Nightglow will make sure of it.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know, you're probably all freaking out at me since I haven't posted a chapter in almost a month. I had a terrible writer's block for this story. Yes, I know, not a very good excuse, but the good news is it's gone now, I know exactly what to write for the rest of the story, and the last few chapters will be posted quite soon. :)
Question: What do you think Nightglow is planning to do next?
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