Huh. Wow. Chapter 40. Long story. Longest one I've ever written, that's for sure. I apologize for the bunches and bunches of mistakes in that last few chapters. My problem is that I finally get an idea for how to write the chapter, so I spit it out really fast, and then I publish it before I really edit it because I'm way too excited to finally finish another one. Just to let you know that I realize how many typos there are, and my writing isn't really as sloppy as it seems, I'm just really bad at revising my work. Hope you enjoy this next one!'
Also, shout-out to Nightshade07 for doing exactly what I want everyone else to do – yell at me until I post another chapter. Thnx ;)
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It was only a mound of dark mud, tucked under the low boughs of a pine tree. A thin layer of snow had already dusted across the earth, and soon there would be no indication at all that the ground had been torn up between the roots. No signs; not even a drop of blood.
"I can't smell it anymore," Redpaw called from the other side of the three. She emerged a moment later, droplets of water hanging off the tips of her whiskers.
"Neither can I. I wish Eaglepaw were here – she'd be able to tell us if the scent was truly gone," Icefang mewed wistfully, raising her nose to the air again and sniffing. She could no longer taste the metallic tang of blood in the air, but that didn't mean that a keener nose couldn't. Neither she nor Redpaw had the best sense of smell.
"Speaking of which," chimed in the apprentice, her voice seeming old for her age, "are you going to tell Eaglepaw about Brightpool?"
Redpaw did not flinch as she spoke the name of the deceased deputy, though Icefang felt a prickle between her claws. She didn't mind the killing, but she preferred to forget about it quickly afterwards. Recalling her crime made Icefang think too much, brought back the confusion of those last moments, fogged up her mind.
"I don't know yet," she growled irritably, flicking snow from her ears. "I haven't given it much thought."
Redpaw seemed to take this as an invitation to make a suggestion. "I think we should wait, see how the news affects her before we confess."
Icefang felt a twinge of regret. Before Redpaw came along, Eaglepaw had been her best friend, and before even her, Robinwing. Thinking on the ginger tabby warrior made Icefang aware of that empty place again, where she was sure her gentle conscience would be, if she had one to speak of.
"It feels wrong to leave her out like this," Icefang thought aloud, waiting for her apprentice's opinion. Redpaw had undoubtedly aged in the last few hours, already talking and thinking like a warrior although she as yet lacked the skills.
"But what do you think she would do if you told her? She's never been like us, not really."
Icefang liked how she said 'like us', as though she and Redpaw were already a flawless team, and their thoughts were the same. But still, Icefang felt a pang when she considered excluding Eaglepaw like this.
"Just don't tell her yet, is all I'm saying," Redpaw amended, watching Icefang's changing expression. "When the time comes, Eaglepaw will be a valuable ally, and she's already close. We just want to wait and see before we confide too much in her."
The red-furred she-cat's wise advice was a little eerie coming from her tiny mouth, her small, sharp fangs protruding on either side. Her eyes, flecked with gold, were quick, all-seeing. Much like Icefang had been as an apprentice.
Lashing her tail, the white warrior agreed to this plan, already moving on to the next obstacle. "Our tracks are hidden by the snow," she said quietly, gazing out into the alien world of ice that surrounded them. "And soon even the evidence of the burial will be covered. By the time the snow melts, the skeleton will be unrecognizable." She turned to Redpaw with a smile. "Good thinking about dragging it to where elders are buried. No one will ever guess that the bones belong to Brightpool."
"How're we going to say she died, anyway?" Redpaw asked, a slightly irritated edge to her voice. She was itching to return to camp, as he pelt was soaked through and she'd been running around the forest all morning hunting prey in a useless contest.
"We won't say anything," Icefang meowed matter-of-factly. "There's no evidence to suggest she was killed by another cat, and certainly not by me, so there's no reason to bring it up at all. What will do," Icefang continued, turning to pad in the direction of camp and flicking her tail for Redpaw to follow, "is fake a fox."
"Huh?" the apprentice grunted, bounding to her mentor's side and arching her brow in confusion.
"We'll just casually mention to Cinderstar that we thought we found a fox's den before it started snowing, but no sign of the creature itself. When Brightpool never comes back, well, what else could it be? Fox's can carry their prey a thousand tail-lengths before they eat it and strip the bones clean. Anything goes with a fox." She purred as she outlined this flawless lie.
Redpaw harrumphed loudly, ruffling her pelt.
"What?" Icefang snapped, her reverie interrupted.
Redpaw flashed a sideways glance at her and then meowed in a low voice, "Well, that's not very… interesting."
"Of course not," Icefang scoffed. "It's practical."
"Couldn't we say a rogue caught her or something? A good story, you know, something spooky." She was gazing intently at her paws as she strode forward, barely blinking.
"No," Icefang retorted, "No we can't make up a good story. What do you think this is, a game? It isn't funny, and if you're careless cats will get suspicious. They're not stupid, you know, and if they sense something fishy they'll investigate." As she noticed Redpaw's crestfallen expression she amended, "It's just best not to risk it, especially now, with everything that's already happened to ThunderClan. Everyone's on edge and one more death that might not have been an accident will get them digging. And I mean that literally."
They'd arrived at the ravine by now, so Redpaw didn't speak any more, but Icefang could tell that she was pouting. Still, she felt ridiculous having to explain the simplicity of this issue to her apprentice who, a moment ago, had seemed so wise in these matters. Maybe I'll need Eaglepaw now after all, she thought to herself. She wouldn't even suggest something so stupid.
"Now go get some freshkill and some sleep, and don't say a word about Brightpool," Icefang said quietly as they slipped through the bramble tunnel. She could scent that no one was nearby, but still she whispered. "Just stick to the half-truth: you and Eaglepaw had a hunting contest, we met up by the training hollow and came straight here, expecting Brightpool to take care of Eaglepaw herself. We haven't seen either of them since the morning. Got it?"
Redpaw sighed and nodded, twitching her whiskers in acknowledgement of the promise. Then she peeled away towards the fresh kill pile.
Icefang trotted in the opposite direction, crossing the camp and stopping outside the cave den where Cinderstar was lurking. She called his name in the shadows, softly, listening for movement.
"Who's there?" came the rasping reply.
"It's me…" She hesitated. "Icefang?"
"Of course, of course," came the gravelly reply. "Come in."
Slowly, Icefang entered the darkness, relying on her whiskers to tell her where the walls of the den closed around her.
"What's the matter?" Cinderstar asked as she rounded the corner. As always, Icefang had to stifle a sorrowful cry at the sight of the old gray tom. His pelt was dull and patchy, his ribs standing out strikingly beneath the fur, his eyes hollow and flat.
"I just wanted to come tell you that Redpaw and I found a fox den in the forest this morning," she said. So many moons of practice controlling her emotions made it easy for her to lie, her voice staying steady with just the right amount of apprehension that would trouble an average warrior who had discovered a possible threat to the Clan.
"I see," murmured the leader, nodding his head, although it didn't look like he was thinking too hard about the news. "I'll have Tanglethorn give it a sniff at dusk patrol."
Cinderstar was doing this more and more often these days. Though he usually recognized Icefang when she came to see him, the rest of the Clan was on shaky ground. Some days it was Tanglethorn, others Oakshadow, even warriors that Icefang had never met became part of the conversation. One day he had vehemently ordered her to take Cloudfur, Kestrelwing and Brackenpaw on patrol, and when she had explained that she had no idea who these mysterious cats were he had exploded in her face, hissing about ignorance and laziness. The next day, when she had brought it up, he had no recollection whatsoever of the incident.
In some ways Icefang looked forward to her visits with the aging leader. She knew that his time was coming, and had no qualms about (all things according to plan) taking his place when he joined the ranks of starry warriors above. However, on his more lucid days Cinderstar often imparted tidbits of delicious knowledge, sometimes intelligence on Clans, fighting techniques or good hunting spots, and Icefang felt like a tiny kit listening to an elder's secrets, an experience that she had never had as a young cat.
"Also," Icefang meowed, her voice echoing in the dark, cramped den. "I was thinking that Eaglepaw might be ready for her warrior assessment. If there's any chance that you could come with us one day, just for a quick patrol…" she trailed off, watching his whiskers twitch as he slowly processed this information.
For a minute Icefang thought he had understood and he was about to agree, but then confusion clouded his gaze, and he cocked his head and meowed, quietly, "Isn't Eagleheart already a warrior?"
Icefang withheld a weary sigh and gave a slow nod of her head. "Yes, of course Cinderstar, I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. I'll check on you before nightfall." Her paws heavy, the white she-cat turned and left her leader in the peace of his lonely den, where she knew he would quickly fall into a restless sleep. She tried never to interrupt these fitful periods of rest, as she knew that Cinderstar slept badly even when he was healthy. There was no doubt in her mind that he had a paw in the stars, so any bit of extra strength was merely a kindness now.
As she was making her own way towards the fresh kill pile, hungry after her long day's work, she felt a warm pelt brush against hers and looked up into Stonepelt's dark blue eyes. He wore a slight smile, and quickly entwined his tail with hers, purring deep in his throat.
Icefang greeted him carefully, feeling the familiar prickle in her paws as he curved his body close to hers and his purr thrummed through her bones. It wasn't that she necessarily resented Stonepelt's attentions. Even a murderess felt love. What scared her about Stonepelt's affections was what would happen between them when she became leader and had no need for pretenses any more. She wasn't if she would feel the same about him when she didn't need him, but what truly frightened her was the possibility that he would hate her when he saw her true self. Some subconscious part of her wanted him to love her for who she really was instead of the mask she wore.
They shared fresh kill as the sun set over the trees, chatting about vague things like the weather that Icefang found useful for taking her mind off things.
Right before the sunlight faded entirely, Icefang heard a rustle in the bramble tunnel. She and Stonepelt were about to head towards the den for a well-earned rest, when Icefang heard a tentative cry echo across the empty clearing.
"Does anybody know where Brightpool is?"
Eaglepaw had finally returned to camp, alone.