RisenClan Book Two: Evermore

Chapter Six

Soaringpaw set down the fresh piece of prey next to the sickly loner. He was a young tom cat, only just older than himself. His long gray fur lay matted and dirty as he leaned over to begin eating. He moved his brown eyes up to look at the red tom. "Thank you buddy." The loner meowed as he began to chew.

Soaringpaw sat down and watched him slowly. This is where he had been going all those mornings. a bit south from where the steep hills lay. Hunting by himself one day he came across this tom who was sick and knew bringing him back to camp would cause issues so he told no one. Not even his favorite sister Dawnpaw knew. He had been trying to get him better, but he could only do so little without herbs. The toms name was Putsu. Putsu had told him he had a family once, a son a bit younger than Soaringpaw, and a lovely daughter the same age, and a beautiful mate. He woke up one morning and they were gone. He told Soaringpaw he had gotten sick about two moons ago and could not shake it.

Putsu seemed grateful for Soaringpaws help and asked him many questions about clan life in the time they spent together. Soaringpaw told Putsu everything. Putsu was an honset tom with a great charisma. He reminded Soaringpaw a lot of Spiritsong. Soaringpaw hoped he could get better soon though.

"I must leave." Soaringpaw meowed as he ruffled his red pelt and sat up.

"Very well buddy!" Putsu purred sort of weakly. "See you tomorrow buddy?" He asked.

"Of course!" The tom meowed as he began to pad back towards camp with a large vole and three mice in his jaws.

As he got closer things seemed very quiet, much more quiet then normal. Not even a wind was blowing the snow that lie covering the ground. It was weird and the silence made Soaringpaw nervous and uncomfortable. He could not wait to get back into camp and curl up next to his siblings and get warm.

Moments later he pawed through the bracken and saw many cats gathered in the middle of camp.

"Why do we leave her here?" A sad voice cried out. By the sweet nature of it he could tell it was Gentleheart.

"Who could have done it?" Roaringlight meowed.

From a distance Soaringpaw saw Margaymask shake his head and look away. Margaymask turned to face him and could not seem to look the tom in the eye. He turned away and leaned down to whisper something in Finchpaw's tiny ears. Finchpaw turned to look at me and padded over slowly, his ears not perked.

"Soaringpaw." He meowed in a sad voice. Finchpaw was never sad, the brown tom always had perked ears and a bright smile.

"What is it?" Soaringpaw asked with a tilt of his head.

"Dawnpaw... She is...." He did not have to finish the sentence.

"No." Soaringpaw said and raced over towards the cats. "NO." He pushed his way through them to see her broken body laying in the center of the group. Spiritsong leaned over her body with a wad of cobwebs, it had been to late for that though. Much to late.

Glancing up, Soaringpaw saw Sparrowstep with her tail wrapped clumsily around Soulpaw, Grizzlypaw, and Ensoulpaw. Next to her sat Robinripple, who for the first time looked worried. Risenpirit and Ruinstar sat somewhere close by too, they both looked at Soaringpaw with sadness. None of them knew how close he was to Dawnpaw. She was all bloody now, her back legs were bent funny and her neck was lying at a weird angle. "What happened?" He asked as he looked at Spiritsong, who licked the toms head softly.

"She must have fallen." Sunnyside meowed from nearby.

"She was pushed!" A voice rang out from not to far away. Hallowstorm was speaking. "I was stopping her from going to far when all of a sudden I was thrown backwards behind the bushes and I heard her scream as she was pushed off the ledge." He said, a bit of sadness in his voice. "I-It all happened so quickly." Hallowstorm swallowed roughly and took a step back.

Looking at her made Soaringpaw sick. He turned away and saw Sunnyside speaking to Ruinstar calmly. Ruinstar looked at Saoringpaw, then back to Sunnyside. Sunnyside nodded and padded over. "Come with me." She whispered and wrapped her tail around Soaringpaw. "B-but she...." He protested, sadness keeping his paws in place. The strong she-cat grabbed his scruff and half lifted half dragged Soaringpaw into the apprentices den. There the sunny she-cat licked Soaringpaw's red coat and comforted him softly. It was there in the privacy of the den that Soaringpaw bean to cry for the loss of his sister.

"May I watch her burial?" Soaringpaw asked. "I should sit vile."

Sunnyside shook her head. "No, you will stay here with me tonight okay?" She asked and told him.

"That's my sister!" Soaringpaw whimpered.

"Soaringpaw, you may visit her tomorrow. Sleep now, it will be just us in here tonight."

Soaringpaw rested his head down and stared up through the bracken into the stars. Was she there now? Had StarClan already brought her home? Little did he know, outside rumors were spreading like wild fire over who really pushed Dawnpaw.

Hallowstorm sat in a small group of cats including himself, Robinripple, Tidepool, and Running-gaze. "I am telling you, Soaringpaw was the only cat out at the time." He spat. "I thought I caught a flash of red as well."

"Why would Soaringpaw push his sister off a cliff?" Running-gaze meowed.

"Who knows. But he has been gone the last few weeks every morning. He could have been planning!" Hallowstrom meowed. 

Not even Soaringpaw's adopted father stood up for him. "I never trusted the kitty-pet." Robinripple whispered.

Tidepool shook his head and hissed. "I never trusted any of them!" 

Risenspirit was now strolling by and seemed to overhear the four toms conversation. "We cannot make accusations warriors. We do not know who pushed Dawnpaw off the cliff and you should not be accusing a helpless apprentice. Understand?"

"Yes Risenspirit. Of course." Hallowstorm said.

"Now all of you should get some rest. It's been a long day for everyone and you all have duties in the morning. Goodnight." He said as he began towards the leaders den to sleep with his mate.