𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗧

> Nine <

The mouse slid from Acaciapaw's outstretched paws and into the safety of its burrow. "Mouse dung!" He spat.

It had been over a quarter moon since he'd rejoined BrineClan, and was finding it extremely difficult to hunt in undergrowth again. He'd been out hunting since dawn. It was sunhigh now, and he hadn't caught anything yet.

"Acaciapaw?"

Frustration welled inside him as Cedarfrost approached. Had he seen his apprentice's sixth miss?

"How 'bout you head back? I can see you can't get used to being in the forest."

Acaciapaw nodded. "Thanks." He turned and raced through the forest. I should tell Olivestar about Silverstreak! He decided as soon as he reached camp.

Several cats looked up lazily, but none seemed that bothered. Brindlesky and Hazelthorn were settled in a shaded area of the camp, paws tucked under chests, meowing quietly. Apart from that the camp seemed relatively empty; Honeyshade led Applepaw and Aloepaw out of camp, while Fawnpelt padded over to Nettlenose, who was sunning herself outside the nursery while Pidgeonkit and Doekit wrestled beside her.

Acaciapaw trotted to the corner of the camp and called up, "Olivestar?"

A brown head looked out of a hollow in the wide tree. "Come on in, Acaciapaw."

Acaciapaw tensed then sprang, digging his claws into the bark and clawing his way onto the Brinebranch. His tail lashed for balance as he padded carefully into Olivestar's den.

Olivestar flattened herself against the wall to give him more room, and settled in the moss. "What is it?"

Acaciapaw took a deep breath. "While I was in WhisperClan, I had a dream. I was in BrineClan territory and saw Azrael - a big black rogue - speak with Silverstreak as an apprentice. When Silverstreak went away, I chased after him to ask him if he really was Silverstreak, but Embercloud stopped me."

At first Olivestar had been curious, but once he mentioned the name Azrael she had stiffened, her fur bristled, and her ears flattened. A snarl rose in her throat. "Out. Out!"

Shocked and scared, Acaciapaw tumbled backwards. His paws slid over the edge edge and Olivestar had to haul him back to safety.

Now there was pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Acaciapaw. I promise to watch Silverstreak closely, but don't ever mention Azrael to me again." She turned away from him, her eyes growing glazed.

As he slid down the tree, Acaciapaw began to feel sick. Olivestar's reaction had both shocked and stunned him. He still couldn't understand why Olivestar had acted so strangely when he mentioned Azrael. The glazed look in her eyes still haunted him...

"Let all cats old enough to stalk through the undergrowth gather beneath the Brinebranch for a Clan meeting!"

Cedarfrost's patrol - him, Canaryflight and Flashpaw - padded into camp and placed three rabbits and six mice on the fresh-kill pile, then joined the meeting. Brindlesky and Hazelthorn trotted over too. Fawnpelt pressed against Nettlenose, who was guiding Pidgeonkit and Doekit. They must be six moons by now.

Olivestar's cold gaze landed on Silverstreak, who sat beside Canaryflight. Is she going to exile him?

"Today I have learned who is the murderer of Piperstorm, Pearwhisker and Ashwhisper." Olivestar meowed, glancing slightly at Cherrydusk, who was looking worried. He's worried she'll exile Acaileaf.

Olivestar's tone hardened. "Silverstreak. I sentence you into exile."

Silverstreak sprang to his paws. "What!"

Canaryflight began to yowl protest. "Silverstreak would never harm his Clanmates!"

Flashpaw was looking uncomfortable. "I agree. I don't believe that Silverstreak is the murderer."

Olivestar snarled and leapt down. "Leave."

"I'm coming with him." Canaryflight meowed boldly. "Flashpaw?"

Doubt flickered in the black apprentice's sharp yellow eyes, but he dipped his head. "Call me disloyal, but I feel no loyalty towards a Clan who exiles innocent warriors."

Koipaw narrowed his eyes. "I'm going, too."

Brindlesky stared at her apprentice in disbelief. "This isn't how I raised you, Koipaw!"

Koipaw turned on her. "I refuse to stay here anymore!" He yowled and stalked towards the entrance. Flashpaw, Silverstreak and Canaryflight followed him in silence.

Acaciapaw stared as the tip of Canaryflight's tail disappeared into the forest. Silence engulfed the whole clearing; no cat said a word.

Olivestar was stunned, too. Without a word, she turned and sprang up the Brinebranch, then disappeared into her den.

-

Almost three moons had passed.

Acaciapaw had finally adjusted to the forest.

Hazelthorn was dead.

Pidgeonpaw and Doepaw were apprentices of Brindlesky and Cherrydusk.

Nettlenose was a warrior again.

Ever since Silverstreak's exile, Acaciapaw had felt doubt swell in his chest with every day. His dreams were dark and empty, without the familiar scents of Embercloud or Pearwhisker. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore and went to consult Acaileaf, hoping his mother would be able to make sense of his frenzied emotions.

When he blurted the entire story, a look of worry began to grow on Acaileaf's beautiful silver-striped face, her eyes - a brilliant blue, almost cyan - concerned. "Maybe Olivestar exiled the wrong cat."

Acaciapaw focused on the memory of his dream, taking in every detail of the apprentice: silver pelt, with slightly darker stripes, blue eyes with a twinge of cyan. It was Silverstreak for sure. "I know it is Silverstreak on my dream, but maybe we didn't have to exile him?"

"I don't know. How about you try and find him, speak to him?" Acaileaf suggested. "I'll talk to Cedarfrost. You go."

Acaciapaw dipped his head and raced out of camp. Hope began to fill him like warm water - maybe it wasn't too late to save BrineClan yet.

He slowed when he neared the SplashClan border; the scents of the former BrineClan warriors were stale here, but he knew they had crossed the border. It's what rogues do. Swallowing his fear, he stepped over into SplashClan territory.

After several pawsteps the reek of water and swampy mud hit him. He could also smell fish, and shuddered, imagining the slippery bluish creatures. How do SplashClan stand it?

Despite the rivers that he constantly had to leap over, SplashClan territory was relatively solid. The only muddy areas were around the rivers, but when he landed it was quite easy not to slip on the mud. After several leaps he began to speed up until he was running through SplashClan territory. His paws thumped quietly.

The border - a wide river - began to loom infront of him. Acaciapaw knew he couldn't simply jump across, but luckily SplashClan couldn't either, so there was a log to cross. His claws gripped the damp bark as he padded across.

Acaciapaw stiffened as the log shifted beneath his weight, but it didn't collapse. As quickly as he could he scampered across and into neutral territory - beyond the Clan lands.

His paws twitched anxiously as he loped across the strange pebbly floor. Ahead he could see a large Twoleg nest; dark red, with big bales of spiky yellow stuff. He neared and sniffed one of the bales, wincing as one of the sharp strands poked his nose.

"You."

Acaciapaw turned, unsheathing his claws. A yellow-and-black tom stood at the entrance of the den; he looked tiny beside it. The tom's eyes were narrowed in fury. "You'll be coming with me."

"I come in peace," Acaciapaw explained hurriedly. "I need to talk to someone-"

A heavy paw clouted his head - not the yellow tom, someone else - and his vision went dark.