𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘 ──── 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯.

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚒.

DOVEPAW WAS ROUSED from her sleep when she heard a rustle a few fox-lengths away. She sat up in her nest and narrowed her eyes to the outside of the den. She spotted a shadow coming into the apprentices' den. She couldn't tell who it was because of the darkness or the earthy scent that covered this cat. She kept her eyes only half-open so that this cat wouldn't see that she was awake.

When her eyes adjusted to the darkness she realized that the cat entering the den was Spottedpaw. The apprentice glanced from side to side before she slipped inside the den. She looked like she'd seen a ghost; her eyes were wide and she looked fearful. She carried a very faint scent, but Dovepaw was certain she knew what it was.

Suspicion rose in Dovepaw. What was she doing? Why is Moonclaw's scent on her? Can she help me with my investigation? Is she dealing with the same thing that Sparrowfeather was? Desperately wanting her questions answered, Dovepaw curled back up in her nest, planning to talk to Spottedpaw about this the next day.

***

The next morning Dovepaw awoke when she felt the warm sun shining on her white fur. She opened her eyes and stretched in her nest. She sat up and began to give herself a slow, precise grooming. Whilst she looked around to see if Spottedpaw was anywhere in the camp.

Afterward, she left the den to see if Spottedpaw was anywhere outside the den. She went on patrol yesterday, so she was bound to still be at camp this morning. Plus, Flypaw and Icepaw needed to do their first round of training today, so they would probably be on patrol anyway.

Dovepaw felt her heart warm at the thought of her brothers—though they weren't her biological brothers, they still meant so much to her—being apprentices already. They were quick learners; they would become great warriors some day.

Spottedpaw was sitting alone at the front of the apprentices' den, giving herself a neat wash. She looked up when Dovepaw approached. "Oh, hi. What do you want?" Her voice was quiet and tired. It was unusual for a perfectionist like Spottedpaw.

"I need to talk to you. Where no one else can hear us. It's urgent." Dovepaw nodded to a little space behind the nursery. "There. No one goes there."

Nervousness flashed in Spottedpaw's eyes as she followed Dovepaw behind the nursery. "What is it?"

"What were you doing last night?"

"I can't tell you, It's secret. You can do your investigating yourself," Spottedpaw growled stubbornly.

Okay, she's obviously not going to tell me as hard as I try. Let's start with something small. Something that is in the center of this investigation. "Is Moonclaw related to this?" she asked steadily. She silently and desperately hoped that Spottedpaw would be open to answers. Not that it was very likely.

Spottedpaw glared at Dovepaw angrily and stubbornly. "If I told you, it would be giving away too much."

"So she is? I don't see how it would be giving away much if you said that she wasn't," Dovepaw pointed out slyly.