Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 9

(Cat above is Cricket)
"I Nightstar, leader of IceClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She had trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code, and I commend her to be a warrior in her turn" Nightstar yowled.

"Foxpaw, so you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" he meowed, his yellow eyes flickered like fireflies.

Foxpaw meowed strongly "I do"

Nightstar snorted "Then by the powers of StarClan. I give you your warrior name. Foxpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Foxgaze. StarClan honors your excellent fighting skills and braverey despite the difficulty you have gone through your whole life".

Nightstar rested his head on Foxgaze's head and she licked his shoulder. She backed away quickly after doing this because she didnt like to get close to Nightstar.

The cats cheered "Foxgaze! Foxgaze!"

Foxgaze's pelt had grown long and kinked from so many moons of hard training. She already showed the signs of a fully grown warrior: a long scar and a ragged ear edge. She didn't really care about her appearance much.

Foxgaze chewed on a mouse as the sun began to set behind the pine trees. She wouldnt be sleeping tonight, she had to sit a silent vigil until the sun rose. The warm green-leaf was beginning to turn to leaf-fall which meant for a pleasant night. Foxgaze wished her brother, Adderpaw would have joined her during the vigil. He would have made an excellent warrior. Of Foxgaze could have, she would have named him Adderfur because she faintly remembered his fur having a snake-like pattern. Foxgaze looked up at the moon. It was a thin crescent, barely showing up against the night sky. It will be a dark night she thought.

The cats began to pad towards their dens to sleep. Foxgaze lay on the HighRock, her tail was wrapped around her paws. She saw Nightstar do something odd, Instead of padding to his den, he went to the freshkill pile. Foxgaze didn't move a muscle while she watched him intently. Nightstar grabbed three rabbits off the freshkill pile.

What is he doing? He can't eat all of those Foxgaze his back a growl. He must be the reason of the disappearing freshkill pile thing that happens once in a while.

Nightstar picked up the three rabbits in his mouth and looked around. The moon had risen and the camp was silent. Foxgaze ducked behind a boulder to hide from his gaze. Nightstar reajusted his grip on the rabbits and padded through the bushes surrounding camp.

What is he doing? Is he going to eat those three rabbits in the woods at moonhigh. What in StarClan? I should follow him.

Foxgaze jumped silently off the HighRock and landed neatly in the dust. She looked around and followed his path out of camp. Foxgaze paused Wait, isn't this against vigil? She looked into the woods He could be a traitor. I should follow him.

Padding silently through the woods, Foxgaze followed Nightstar's scent. He seemed to be in a hurry, as if to get back before the sun rose. After what felt like hours of walking, Foxgaze realized she wasn't in IceClan territory anymore. The border was close but behind her. What the heck?

The dark forest loomed around her like vultures. She recognized this being that they were heading into the hills beyond clan territory. Foxgaze noticed that Nightstar's scent was growing stronger.

She paused when she heard hushed meowing. Foxgaze recognized Nightstar's high pitched voice but the others seemed deeper.

Creeping forward Foxgaze caught sight of Nightstar. The ragged black tom was sitting in a clearing talking to two other cats, one a ginger tabby she-cat and the other a huge pale brown tom. The she-cat and the tom were gorging themselves on a rabbit. Nightstar shifted his paws and looked around nervously. In moments, the rabbit was a pile of bloody fur and bones. The ginger she-cat licked her lips and burped.

Nightstar meowed gruffly "You've had your meal Cricket, now can we make the truce?"

Cricket chuckled "You know the deal Nightstar, Bear and I asked for a portion of your territory, not something you caught on it" her voice was scratchy and deep, like if a badger spoke .

So Nightstar has been working with rougues this whole time! That foxheart!

The brown tom, Bear as he was called growled "Don't make us take it by force Nightstar, remember that day we found you in the woods? We spared your life because you promised is territory".

Nightstar sputtered "But we need that territory!".

Cricket growled "Our kits need food Nightstar. Our warriors could easily overpower all of your measly Clans on the lake shore. Face it Nightstar, it would be your doom for you to deny us".

Is she saying that she and Bear have a Clan of rouges that want our territory. That's not good! Foxgaze wanted to gasp but she held her breath.

"Get out of here Cricket! I gave you food now leave" Nightstar hissed. The black tom was bristling in fury. The ginger she-cat said nothing. She sighed and blinked one yellow eye, almost like she was winking at Nightstar.

Bear glanced at Cricket's face and turned to Nightstar. The huge tom unsheathed his claws and glared at the lanky black tom. The leader began to back away, his tail between his legs. Bear suddenly shrieked in fury and threw himself at Nightstar. Nightstar yelped and raised his paw to attempt to defend himself. It was futile, Bear grabbed Nightstar by the neck in his jaws. Foxgaze looked away as she heard bones snap and flesh torn. She was shaking and she feared the bush would rustle. Bear grunted and padded away with Cricket and the two remaining rabbits.

Foxgaze dared to look at Nighstar. She retched. His head was nearly torn clean away from his body, the neck wound was gushing blood and turning the grass slippery and red in the moonlight. She gasped and took a huge breath, right after she threw up the mouse she had eaten. Nighstar's leg jerked in spasms as each of
his lives were torn away. Finally he lay still. Dead at last.

Foxgaze got to her shaking paws and turned to run back to camp. The early dawn light was starting to filter through the trees as Foxgaze ran back to camp. Nighstar is dead. Nighstar is dead kept repeating in her mind. As she arrived back at camp Foxgaze sat beside the entrance. She took a ragged gasp and watched as the first cats began to stir at dawn.