Anyone else ever hit the equals key when you want to hit the backspace key?
Chapter Three
Ivypool padded out of the warriors den, yawning. She glanced around and noticed cats clustering around Squirrelflight, who looked happy to be back on warrior duties, as of four suns(days) ago. Her two kits were apprenticed to Jayfeather and Dovewing.
"Where's Dovewing?" piped an orange tabby nearby. "She said we would do battle training today!" Sparkpaw reared into the air and executed a clumsy series of swipes, then fell back to all fours.
"That's a good question." said Squirrelflight, looking annoyed. "I need her for a border patrol." Cloudtail padded over and meowed, "She went for a walk last night… I don't know why she isn't back."
"Where did she go?" asked Whitewing, looking troubled. "This isn't like her, to wander away."
"She went down to the lake." mewed Cloudtail. "Should we go look for her?"
"Hmm. Whitewing, Cloudtail, Squirrelflight, Ivypool, you go look for her." ordered Bramblestar.
The patrol left and headed down to the lake. As they padded through the undergrowth they all stiffened. Nearing the lake, there was a strong scent of blood. They broke through onto the shore and Whitewing let out a shrill wail. A pale gray shape lay slumped in a pool of thick blood. No! Ivypool thought. She darted forward. Dovewing's eyes were closed and her fur sticky with red. Her neck was at an awkward angle and there was an odd mark on her flank. The whole patrol crowded forward, talking.
"How did this happen?"
"Was it a rogue?"
"Who would have killed her?"
"I don't understand."
"No! Dovewing!"
"How could any cat do this?"
Because it was clear a cat had done this. No fox or badger or dog could have done it. They solemnly carried her through the trees, to the camp. When they reached the camp, cats crowded all around, babbling. Sparkpaw wailed.
"What… how…" Bramblestar stared in horror at the body. Then he sighed. "Leafpool, Jayfeather… clean her up for the vigil please. We need some hunting patrols."
Jayfeather nodded and the medicine cats headed across the camp to clean her up.
At dusk cats gathered to sit vigil for the dead warrior. Whitewing, Ivypool, Birchfall, Lionblaze, and Sparkpaw sat beside her. Nobody noticed Bumblestripe slip into the warriors den silently, eyes half-closed in a frown.
He curled up in his nest, ready to sleep while outside Dovewing's relatives cleaned the last of the blood from her ruffled gray pelt. "Not keeping vigil, huh?" a mew came from across the den. He jerked his head up, startled. "What?" He glared at the tortoiseshell she-cat watching him with an amused expression. Blossomfall smirked and curled up, calling, "I don't blame you, she was a bit odd." Bumblestripe snorted, and lay back down, to go to sleep.
He opened his eyes into the Dark Forest, sighing. Mapleshade padded toward him and mewed, "Wait to draw Jayfeather out into the forest until after the Gathering. I want to see what the other Clans have to say about that little brat's death. Now let's work on the death blow. I want to see you improve this time." She padded toward him and he readied himself for another night's hard training. For vengeance. For power.
The dawn came and the three elders came and carried Dovewing away. Whitewing wailed, pressing against Birchfall as the elders vanished through the thorn barrier.
"The Gathering is tonight." Bramblestar spoke. "The cats who will be going are Squirrelflight, Ivypool, Cloudtail, Bumblestripe, Mille, Snowbush, Ambermoon, Dewnose, Jayfeather, Alderpaw, Lionblaze, Cinderheart, and Hollypaw."
As the day went on, cats hunted and did all the regular patrols. Sunset grew close and the Gathering patrol clustered by the thorn barrier. Finally it was time, and Bramblestar led the patrol toward the island. Ahead of them WindClan was crossing the bridge. As ThunderClan drew closer WindClan pointedly turned their backs. Behind them ShadowClan was arriving. They crossed the tree bridge and headed into the island. Bramblestar leapt up into the tree with Onestar and Mistystar. Rowanstar arrived and then leapt into the tree.
Mistystar let out a yowl to announce the beginning of the Gathering, then announced RiverClan's news. She then sat down and Onestar announced a fox which had been driven off of WindClan's territory. Rowanstar announced a new litter of kits. Bramblestar felt butterflies in his stomach as he stepped up and announced, "One of our warriors was murdered. A patrol found Dovewing on the lakeshore yesterday morning."
An outraged babble broke out. Cats yowled and hissed, and Onestar said, "I hope you aren't accusing WindClan of doing such a thing!"
"I'm not." Bramblestar growled. "But I want to know who did it."