Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 3- Golden Fire

Chapter Thirteen

Most of the moon-high dwellers were out of their dens. Twistertail walked past them briskly, but she recognized a few sleepy pelts who were staying awake to gossip. Bumblebounce, for example, was a cat who rarely was seen out of his den at night. But Twistertail registered his patched brown pelt as she passed him and Mosscurl talking quietly outside of the medicine.

 On second thought, Twistertail glanced over. Parsleystar was just inside the den listening to someone, but the healer's pelt was obscured by the shadows. The voice belonged to Sagepool. It was another reminder of Twistertail's idea. But now she also realized that she knew all of her Clanmates well. And her daughter had been made deputy. Her father and brother had briefly been leader. And her grandmother was an excellent leader of the Clan. Leadership, for her, was instinct.

 Speaking of Chickadeechirp, the black-and-white she-cat was pacing in front of the leader's den. "Mom, what are we supposed to do with her? We've got a kit-poisoner in our leader's den? There's something wrong with that."

 "Don't move her yet." Twistertail said as she came closer. "I want to speak with her."

 "Wait. Or at least let me come with you." Chickadeechirp had no choice but to follow her mother as she slipped quickly into the den.

 The den wasn't very spacious. It was a bit bigger than the leader's nest, which was an average size. Twistertail hadn't been here in a long time. Maybe even since the kind old Poppystar was leader. No, wait. It was Sandystar (Sandyfur at the time) who had lectured Twistertail after the raid on the MireClan nursery. Or after Poppystar was murdered. Yes, that was it. And now, about three years later, the co-conspirator of the murder was here. All grown up. Sitting in Poppystar's den.

 "You don't deserve her den." Chickadeechirp spat. "After all you've done to your Clan."

 Pumpkin had been lying with her paws tucked under her fluffy chest. "Um... Parsleystar?"

 "Poppystar. You let a crazy kitty-pet slice open her belly in front of the whole Clan. Twistertail was the only cat to comfort you." Chickadeechirp stepped closer to the nest, looming over the prisoner. "Every cat in this Clan has done something nice for you. You've been sharing our prey, our nests, our Gatherings for years. And you repaid Twistertail by trying to kill one of her grandkits."

 Grandkits?! Twistertail's ears flattened, but her firm gaze remained on Pumpkin. Twistertail's thoughts were streaming through her head as her daughter spoke. I don't like how Chickadee's handling this. Her language is all wrong. She's going off topic. She's projecting her feelings. She wasn't even alive when Poppystar was killed, and her details of the story are off. Poppystar's throat was ripped, by her exiled brother, while she was sleeping in her den! And worst of all, grandkits? I'm not that old. I'm what, five? Whatever. I'll talk to her later. Not in front of Pumpkin.

 "...So don't say you're sorry. Because you clearly had so much time to think about what you've done and you were planning it since at least this leaf-fall."

 "Chickadee."

 "Yes."

 "Can I speak to Pumpkin alone?"

 Chickadeechirp's head swiveled around to face her mother. "Alone? With the Kitkiller?"

 "Well. I'm not a kit, so."

 Chickadeechirp leaned in and hissed. "I'm not comfortable with that. Who even knows how evil she really is?"

 Pumpkin stood up suddenly. "Please, Chickadee."

 "Don't talk to your deputy like that!" Chickadeechirp lunged forwards. She swatted with one paw, claws out. But she wasn't swiping. She grabbed a pawful of whiskers and pulled hard. The much bigger cat collapsed, eyes watering.

 What is this? Twistertail was shocked. Where did I go wrong in raising this cat? I didn't know my daughter was like this. Who hurt her?

 "Say my name." Chickadeechirp growled in her face.

"Chickadeechirp! Deputy of ForestClan!" Pumpkin pleaded. Chickadeechirp let go and Pumpkin shrank back.

 "Chickadee! What has gotten into you?" Twistertail used her mother voice. Chickadeechirp, startled, flattened herself against the wall. But her shock was momentary.

 "What? She's trying to honey me up! Don't listen to a word she says!" the small cat yelled defensively.

 "Are you serious?" Twistertail was furious. "This isn't about you! You've assaulted a prisoner because they called you by your Paw name? You're ridiculous. But I guess it's my fault. I knew you were going to do something like this. It's too unprofessional. Get out of this den! I was right when I said I wanted to talk to her alone."

 Chickadeechirp's eyes teared up in rage. She jerked her head down and stormed out of the den. But she paused just before her head broke through the moss. She growled a deep, guttural growl at Pumpkin. Then she was gone.

 "Thank y-"

 "If it was just me, I would have been in and out of here by now. I have two questions for you, Pumpkin." Twistertail said, not bothering to sit down or ask if Pumpkin's whiskers were okay.

 "Oh. Yes?" Pumpkin finally sat down in the moss again. This time, she didn't settle all the way.

 "We've been asking cats. I myself don't know all the details, but you've obviously been planning this attack since leaf-fall. So I just wanted to know if any of it was ever real since then. I'm not talking about when you showed me the neighborhood and your kitty-pet friends. I'm not even talking about this longsun when we found that clutch of turtle eggs. I'm talking about you. Telling stories to the kits. Was it even real?"

 "Yes!" Pumpkin sounded genuine. "I loved the kits. I loved telling the stories. I swear, it was someone else's words in my h-"

 "That's enough." Twistertail said, some tiredness slipping into her voice. 

 "Uhuh." Pumpkin lowered her head. Then her yellow eyes flicked up. "Your other question?"

 Twistertail closed her eyes and sighed. My eyes are so dry. Whatever, it's this cold weather. "Cardinalheart."

 "Huh?"

 "He's my friend. You said he was sick. Were you lying? I'd like to make sure he's well."

 "Oh." Pumpkin seemed disappointed. As if her friend was about to offer her the opportunity to escape with no punishment. "No. I don't remember saying that. Sorry. I guess I lied. I was a bit out of it after I did it. Immediately I had this horrible feeling of-"

 "Thank you for your time." Twistertail got up, turned, and walked out of the den. Just outside, Chickadeechirp had been listening the whole time.