The Fall of Featherstar (DROPPED)

A New Arrival

 Featherstar sat on Highrock, observing her Clan. Flametail, as always, was sending out patrols. He walked up to her.

"The Gathering is tonight. Who will we bring?" he asked.

Featherstar scanned the cats below. "Dustpaw..."

"Who else?"

"I'm thinking."

"Can you think faster?"

Featherstar gave her deputy a look.

"I'm kidding!" he said quickly, noticing her gaze.

"Starpaw, Silverpelt, Goldenpaw-"

"Goldenpaw? Are you sure?'

"Yes I'm sure," Featherstar snapped. "Hazelpaw, Sandpelt, Jayflight, Ravenpelt, Moonlight, and Blossomleaf."

"Shall I gather them?"

Featherstar looked up at Flametail. She hadn't realized that it was already sundown.

"Yes."

Flametail hopped down and began rounding up the cats Featherstar had just named. Featherstar stood and stretched. She yawned and hopped down. She quietly padded to the medicine den. Featherstar poked her head in. Silverpelt and her apprentice, Starpaw, were nowhere to be seen. Featherstar walked out of the den.

"Flametail!" she called. Flametail came hastily padding over.

"Featherstar?" he asked, whiskers twitching.

"Have Goldenpaw, Dustpaw, Ravenpelt, and Moonlight go out on a search patrol. Silverpelt and Starpaw are missing!"

"What about Sandpelt's kits? Didn't Starpaw go out to find them?"

Featherstar paused. Starpaw had gone to look for missing kits?

"Nevermind. You and I will go search for her."

"But-"

"No buts."

Featherstar and Flametail had not been searching long when they caught Silverpelt and Starpaw's scent trail. They followed it to a clearing. As they walked in, Featherstar saw Starpaw lying on the ground, blood all around her. Silverpelt was sitting over her, working furiously. Starpaw was unconscious and stuck in something. A.. rope trap? Featherstar had heard the name once from a kittypet. She tried to remember what the kittypet had said about getting out of them. Then she remembered. Featherstar quietly padded next to Silverpelt. Silverpelt's face was wet and tears were streaming down her face. She was struggling to get her apprentice out of the rope trap between the tears and the tightness of the rope.

"Can I help?" Featherstar asked.

"It's too late. She's gone," Silverpelt choked. "I just want to move the body... To-to bury her."

"I'm so sorry," Featherstar sat next to Silverpelt. She placed a paw on Starpaw's body. She expected to feel a cold body, but instead, she felt warmth.

"Silverpelt-"

"Please. Let me work."

"She-She's not dead," Featherstar told Silverpelt. Featherstar placed a paw on Silverpelt's, stopping her. "Let me help."

Silverpelt's shoulders stopped heaving. Featherstar worked delicately, swiftly removing the rope trap from Starpaw's throat. Starpaw shuddered.

"I was going to ask you to come to the Gathering.. But this is more urgent. Take her to camp and care for her. Flametail, gather the others." Featherstar rose, helping Sliverpelt carry Starpaw to camp.