Millie's Death

Chapter 4

Millie padded slowly to the elders den.

Graystripe was curled up in a tight ball in his nest, his back to Millie. She could tell he wasn't asleep. Purdy was snoring loudly.

"Graystripe," Millie whispered. "Please can we talk?"

"Graystripes head shot up, knocking Millie out of the way. "No!" He snapped. "We cannot talk. I have nothing to say to you expect that you are a horrible mate and mother. We are no longer mates." He tucked his paw over his head.

Aww, Millie thought. He looks so cute doing that. If only I could get him to like me again....hmmm, maybe I could save his life or something.

"Millwood!" Graystripe hissed, loud enough to wake Purdy. "Go away! I don't love you anymore, and I never will!"

"What's going on with you two, youngsters?" The old tom rumbled. "Had a fight, did ya?"

"It's nothing, Purdy," Graystripe muttered.

"Doesn't look like nothin'," Purdy mewed. "And did I hear you call Millie Millwood? If that her real name?"

"Yes, Millwood is my real name, but I was called Millie my whole life. I just told Graystripe this now, thinking it wouldn't really matter, but apparently, it does. Seriously Graystripe, you need to learn to grow up. Seeing that you already are an elder, you have have a lot of work to do. You're acting like a spoiled apprentice."

Graystripe just snorted and lay back down in his nest.

Purdy glanced up at Millie, sympathy in his eyes. "He'll pull through, you know. Hey, you know, Millwood is a nice name. Kinda sounds like some kinda tree, or somethin'-" Suddenly, the elder passed out.

"No!" Millie gasped. "Graystripe, help."

"No," Graystripe hissed. "I won't help you ever, Millwood." He said her name like he was spitting out a tough piece of fresh-kill.

"No! Not me, Purdy! Don't you understand? He passed out!"

Graystripe said nothing.

"Leafpool, Jayfeather!" Millie yowled as loud as she could. "Help!"

Within seconds, Leafpool and Jayfeather slipped into the den. Leafpool pressed her paw to Purdys chest. "He's dead," she whispered.

"H-How did he die?" Millie asked, dreading the answer.

Jayfeather stepped closer to the elder, sniffing. "I smell....mouse....and, oh no, deathberries!"

Millie gasped. "Graystripe..."

"I can't take it any more!" Graystripe hissed. "I stuffed the mouse with deathberries and gave it to Purdy! I had to take my anger out on someone! And now I'm so angry, I feel like I could just...just kill any cat that takes a step into my path!"

He slashed out his claws, ripping flesh from Leafpool's cheek. The medicine cat screeched in pain, then raced out of the elders den.

Jayfeather's blind gaze swept over Graystripe, almost as if he could actually see. He took a step back, frightened, then mewed quietly, "We have to bury Purdy, but first, Graystripe come with me. We need to speak with Bramblestar."