Chapter 11
Smokeblaze woke up gasping, finding himself almost unable to breathe. The anxious eyes of his sister looked down at him. "Breezestep!" He mewed, struggling to stand. His sister touched his shoulder with her tail, her eyes clouded.
"What's wrong?" Smokeblaze blinked. "Where's Mintpetal?" He asked.
Breezestep ducked her head, not showing her face. "She-she's being treated to…" She mewed finally. The gray tom frowned. "I don't see her in the medicine den." He mewed after a long silence.
"Smokeblaze, she's not in the medicine den. She's in isolation, Smokeblaze oh Smokeblaze, she's gone insane, her mind it's not working, I don't know!" The black she-cat's face was ashen as her sentences were broken up into chunks.
The tom's breath caught in his throat.
"I can do anything I want. I'm not scared of anything. I killed a fox!" A gray she-cat screeched. Then she cackled. "They won't come near me! I'm not here! I need something one…" Her words got tangled.
She looked older than the oldest elder, more disheveled than the dirtiest rogue. More mad than a rabid dog…
This wasn't the Mintpetal from before. This was something - someone, scary. Rosestar gazed helplessly at the insane she-cat.
"Yes, yes, Mintpetal." She managed to croak out weakly.
Oh Snowhaze, I promised you… I promised I'd look out for your kits… but Mintpetal… she…
With her feverish, dying promise still remaining in her mind, Rosestar fell into a dizzying sleep of stars and silver shadows.
"StarClan!" Rosestar burst out when she recognized where she was. "Please, please…" She rasped.
A large tom materialized in front of her. "Do not worry." He spoke. "Yes, we know of Mintpetal. I am sorry, but she will have to go to StarClan early…"
"But not now." The tom mewed after a pause.
The leader relaxed. "Thank StarClan."
"But it will be soon." The tom amended. "For now, you must keep your paws where they should be…
The next day, all the journeyers were ready to head out again. "Bye-bye, Smokeblaze!" Sorrelpaw squeaked. Behind her were Feathersky and her three kits, Dewkit, Songkit and Icekit, their eyes wide as they witnessed this big, strong warrior leaving their camp.
Smokeblaze was proud, very proud to be part of DuskClan.
"Right, where was it, this way?" Littleflower took charge of direction as soon as they got out of DuskClan territory. "Yep." Oneshadow dipped her one-eared head.
"Single file, everyone." Yellowclaw commanded. The cats were bustling with business and excitement as they began. Smokeblaze liked it that way.
After a few fox-lengths, Littleflower - who was leading the group - stopped. "I scent an odd smell." She announced, letting Smokeblaze squeeze in beside her. The authoritative tom bent his head to sniff the ground.
"You're right!" Smokeblaze was surprised. He'd thought it'd take them one moon to find the killer!
"The scent carries on this way!" Boulderfoot called from a few tail-lengths away. Rapidly, Oneshadow, Smokeblaze and Yellowclaw dashed past the rest of them towards the scent.
"Come on!" Oneshadow squealed with her nose to the ground. Everyone laughed at her enthusiasm, the events from yesterday forgotten.
Herro!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next update may be 2 or 3 weeks later, since homework is VERY time-consuming.
Hopefully, seeya soon!
- Kay xx