Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Eighteen

     Night fell and the camp bore the stench of sorrow and fear and anger. Beetlestar had still not gone out to address his Clanmates. He knew that he should, that they would need and want comfort after the attack on the very heart of their territory, but he could not bear to drag himself away from Troutpaw just yet. The apprentice lay stretched across the den's floor, moss packed around him and herbs and cobwebs coating his wounds. He was a sleek cat, but now he just looked small and helpless, and he whimpered in his poppy seed-induced sleep. 

     Beetlestar hung his head over his apprentice and gave his ear an affectionate lick.  

     "You two should go and pay your respects to Shatteredstone," Dustfoot suggested in a soft, careful voice. Beetlestar glanced to Badgerpelt, who opened her mouth to protest as she laid against Troutpaw's back. But his friend simply closed her jaws and stood. "I'll be here with him," Dustfoot added. "He won't be going anywhere." 

     Beetlestar walked out of the den beside Badgerpelt, the cool night air startling him a bit. The Clan had surrounded Shatteredstone's body, those most close to her sitting in the front rows. Mudfleck, her only surviving kit, laid against her cold body. Flutternose, once Shatteredstone's elder half sister, sat beside Mudfleck and purred gently to her. Badgerpelt took her place at Acornpelt's side, the two being related to Shatteredstone by their mother Flutternose, and Acornpelt bowed her head deeply to her dead kin. 

     Beside her was Yellowfoot, and at the very sight of him, disgust and hate began to broil under Beetlestar's pelt. Before TreeClan invaded the camp, Yellowfoot and Kinkedtail had left to fish, and had not returned until after the battle. He wasn't here. Bile rose in Beetlestar's throat. He wasn't here to protect his mate and kits from Rippletail. He wasn't here to fight for his Clan.  

     He left just in time. He left the camp just before we were attacked. He fled. He knew. He had to know. He remembered how he saw Yellowfoot and Rippletail speaking at the gathering, how Yellowfoot had left Beetlestar to fight alone in a border skirmish when Rippletail arrived, how Beetlestar himself had caught the traitorous warrior secretly meeting Rippletail in the darkness of night. And he had left the camp just before TreeClan swept through, led by Rippletail once more. 

     Rippletail's voice hissed in his ears, repeating what he had said to Yellowfoot at their meeting. "You've been a big help." 

     Beetlestar settled beside Swiftcreek. His fur had begun to bristle and he scored the earth with eager claws. He knew that he was meant to give a speech to honor Shatteredstone, but all he could think about was Yellowfoot, whom Acornpelt pressed against, unaware of her mate's treachery. "Beetle," Swiftcreek whispered, "what is it?" 

     Beetlestar shook his head and sat in strained silence. Everything screamed in him to jump up, to rush Yellowfoot and spring on him like a rabid fox, but the angry buzzing in him made his legs feel like spongy wet moss. In time, cats began to disperse. Beetlestar stared at Yellowfoot now, who met him with an amber gaze. The stars reflected in his yellow eyes, and the big warrior got to his paws and nuzzles Acornpelt's cheek before splitting away and starting towards the warriors den. 

     "Beetle!" Swiftcreek hissed, but Beetlestar ignored her entirely and jumped up. He hurried towards Yellowfoot, weaving between Reedtail and Piketooth and jumping in front of his target. Yellowfoot froze, locking eyes with Beetlestar. 

     "What-" 

     "Where were you?" Beetlestar snapped. He could see Reedtail just beyond Yellowfoot and the confusion in the old tom's face. "You weren't in camp when TreeClan attacked." 

     Yellowfoot took a step back. "I went fishing with Kinkedtail! Didn't Swiftcreek tell you?" 

     Beetlestar took a step forward. "You left just before the attack! I'd say that that's pretty convenient."