RisenClan Book Two: Evermore

Chapter Ten

The young tom could not believe what he had just witnessed. His paws shook violently and his head spun. His world as he knew it was crashing and breaking into pieces. First it had been his sister, his best friend in the entire world and a huge part of his life. Now it was the very she-cat who had saved his life after running from home when his siblings had lost their mama. She had taken them in and given them names, had placed them with a new mom, she had given them a life worth living and had thanked him and Sunnyside each day for what they had done for her clan when The stone had tried to claim RisenClan's land as their own.

He was crying with his head placed in his paws as he curled up next to Ruinstar's body that was getting colder by the minute. He looked like a frightened kitten curling next to his mother for their protection. He felt so broken and torn down. He wanted to stay with her forever and just hope she has another life left in her even though she told him she was on her last. He wondered if she was still standing here and watching him sob. The thought of that embarrassed him. He sat up slowly and licked Ruinstar's ear for the last time before rising to his legs shakily and backing away from her with hard breaths.

Hallowstorm knew his plans had gone perfectly. Now it was just a matter of making sure the clan believed the lies he told them. As he raced back to camp he was in a lot of pain. His right eye was closed tightly and he was pretty sure he would never see out of it again. Ruinstar had put up a fight but Hallowstorm knew she would not win. So even though he was in so much pain he still managed to smile because his plans were falling into place perfectly. 

He worked up tears as he almost made it home. It took a lot to pull them from his insides. He just needed to be convincing. He thought about what to say as he barged into camp screaming. "HELP ME, HELP ME!" He cried as he got about three fox tails into camp before crashing into the ground. He made his breaths heavy and quick as everyone began to rush to him. He saw Tulip-paw come out of the medicine cat den, her jaw dropped and she raced back inside hollering for Spiritsong and to find herbs.

The first person to come over to him was his she-maggot of a sister, Sunnyside. She was panicking and crying out for the medicine cats. Even if they were not close anymore he could tell the she-maggot still cared for him a lot. The fact that they were still family would always be there no matter what he did. He made a mental note for her to be the first one he punishes after he has done what he has set out to do. For now he would have to tug at her heart. "Sunny-sunnyside." He cried out. "You, you are here." 

She began to lick the blood from her siblings bright pelt. "What happened; by StarClan what happened." She was crying as Tulip-paw came over with Spiritsong close behind; they carried herbs in their maws with all sorts of junk. Tulip-paw and Spiritsong began to treat his wounds. He had not spoken yet. He would wait until a bigger crowd had gathered. They rubbed Celandine into his eye to ease the pain and Comfrey Root for the wounds as well as Dock. The Dock stung badly as it was rubbed into his scratch marks. And lastly they had him chew some sort of leaves as they applied cobwebs to his face and body. Tulip-paw then offered him Poppy. He refused right away. He could not go to sleep. Everyone was gathered and he needed to speak. 

"W-Where is Risenspirit?" He asked loudly. Risenspirit pushed his way through the clan.

"Here I am here." He meowed as he rushed to Hallowstorm's side. 

"I-I need to tell you." He coughed dramatically and he could see one of Ruinstar's kits flinch and step back as Finchpaw stood over the protectively. "W-We were attacked." Noise rang out from everyone.

"Who?!"

"What attacked?!

"Are we safe?!

"Where is mama?!"

"I-I was hit from behind. I did not see much but a sort of ginger blurr. I was knocked out and beaten up. I think whoever it was was trying to kill me. I woke up a few moments later and, and..." He dramatically paused to build suspense. "Ruinstar was dead, she lost her last life." He said as a tear slipped his face.

"Mama?" A sweet and innocent voice cried out as Hallowstorm spoke loud enough for the whole clan to hear.

Hallowstorm saw every ones jaws lower. Risenspirit was completely still. He was already in a state of shock. His legs crumbled from under him and Margaymask raced to help catch him before he hit the ground hard. Margaymask helped him sit as he stared in shock at Hallowstorm.

"Where is her body?!" Whitefrost spat out as she stared at Hallowstorm.

"She is by the steep hill where Dawnpaw was pushed!" He said.

Whitefrost looked around to call out for cats. "Margaymask, Robbinripple, Ensoulpaw, and I will go bring her back here. Running-gaze, Mossypath, Tidepool, Soulpaw, and Grizzlypaw go patrol around that side of camp to make sure whatever attacked is not headed this way. Remember that Hallowstorm says he thinks he saw a ginger pelt."

"I know I saw a ginger pelt." He called out as everyone began to scatter.

Roaringlight, who was once part of The Stone was comforting Finchpaw and Ruinstar's kits. They were just old enough to understand what death really was and it had happened to their mother... Hallowstorm sat up slowly as Sunnyside stood by him, she was also in shock and tears ran down her face. Hallowstorm comforted her as an act. It did not matter if the patrol found little Soaringpaw or not because if they did he would be brought back and Hallowstorm could blame him for killing Ruinstar just as he did Dawnpaw. If they did not find him it would prove his guilt more, he would be 'hiding' from his guilt before returning later that day. Hallowstorm would say he probably thought no one would think he did it but Hallowstorm was sure that is who knocked him out. That's what he would say. The timing was perfect and he was one step closer to doing what he wanted to do with no known blood on his paws.

Soaringpaw could not just go home. He had to make sure Hallowstorm did not know he had witnessed him killing Ruinstar. He ran through every possible idea as to why he would kill his leader. As he raced towards Reflection Lake the idea that Hallowstorm had also killed his sister hit him like a rock and he stopped in his tracks and Shook his head unbelieving. How could he? Why would he? Cats needed to find out, but how? Hallowstorm would kill him, just as Ruinstar had said in her last moments. There had to be a way to prove Hallowstorm's guilt without him knowing. 

As he reached Reflection Lake he stopped at the shore and peered at the ice that covered the water. It was thin and he knew he would have to climb the rocks the middle of the lake rather than walk across. He jumped the rocks and stopped at the one in the middle. He could see his reflection on the ice and as tears streamed his eyes they fell onto the ice and froze at the touch. As Soaringpaw leaned forward to far he felt his bodies weight carry forward and he fell the short distance to the ice that cracked right away as his body hit it. He was greeted by freezing cold water and he struggled to swim to the surface. His body shook in the frigid water and he opened his eyes to try and find where he had broken the ice.

When he saw it he swam upwards and broke the surface, sucking in a chilly breath and trying to find a place for his paws. He struggled against the slippery rock before somehow managing to pull himself back up. He collapsed on the rocks shaking and tried to shake the water from his body. He laid against the rock and took hard and cold breaths as he tried to warm himself. He could not move after a few minutes and he felt sleepy all of a sudden. He tried to fight it but the sleep overcame him and he fell into slumber.