Criminal Claws [UnitedWarriors]

Sixth Exile

Graystar watched with sorrowful amber eyes as Iriswhisper placed Redpaw's body down into a hurriedly made nest. It was dark in the medicine den, but Graystar could still see the lifeless apprentice's limbs splayed in awkward directions, his legs bending in places they shouldn't bend. She winced at the sight of his broken and bruised body. His reddish brown pelt was covered in dust and dirt from the bottom of the cliffs, and his yellow eyes, still open in a dead stare, were dull and lackluster. Several small patches of fur along his right side were caked with dried blood from wounds that hailed from his impact against the rocky ground. When Iriswhisper had carried him into camp, it had been difficult to see the injuries inflicted upon the young tom, but with him laid out on the ground like this... They could behold the horror of it in all its glory.

Redpaw's body would not be set out in the clearing tonight.

Dawnpetal quietly reached out to close the apprentice's eyes. Graystar let out the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Morningrose was sitting to the side, one paw over her muzzle to hide her eyes from the heartbreaking sight. Iriswhisper quietly stepped away from the body, her head bowed.

They could hear voices from outside the den. Graystar pricked her ears, recognizing Icespark's stern voice and Blackpaw's answering mew. The medicine den's occupants listened in dark silence to the conversation going on outside.

"Please, you have to let me see him!" That was Blackpaw's voice.

"No, Blackpaw. Graystar expressedly told us that no one is allowed in," Icespark's voice was heard in reply.

"I was his best friend!"

"Trust me, kid, you don't want to see this." A new male voice sounded, belonging to Smokeflash. The tom had been on the search patrol along with Iriswhisper and Lightdream, so he had seen Redpaw's mangled form at the bottom of the cliffs. Graystar could imagine the sight all too well. That was why she had posted Icespark and Smokeflash as guards outside the medicine den to prevent others from entering. No one else needed to see this.

There was a long silence, during which Graystar gestured with her tail for Iriswhisper and Morningrose to follow her out of the den.

Then Icespark spoke up again. "Blackpaw..." she said warningly.

"I have to see him! He's dead because of me!" Blackpaw howled.

Graystar emerged from the medicine den just in time to see Blackpaw make a run for it; he launched himself towards the den entrance only to be cut off by Smokeflash, who jumped in front of the apprentice, using his own body as a wall. Then Icespark leapt on the young time from behind, pinning him down.

"I'm sorry, Blackpaw. But you can't see Redpaw's body," Icespark told him through gritted teeth as she tried to immobilize the wildly struggling tom.

Graystar motioned for Smokeflash to keep blocking the entrance, and then stepped towards the warrior and apprentice. "Let him up," she ordered quietly.

Icespark bared her teeth as she lifted her head, as though she were about to refuse, but then quickly changed her mind before saying anything. The tabby she-cat relaxed her hold on Blackpaw and stepped back.

Blackpaw, finally calmed, stood up and looked at Graystar with his ears flattened completely back against the top of his head. His green eyes shone from the film of moisture overtop of them.

"Please," he begged, "I want to see Redpaw's body. He died because he tried to find me." The desperation if Blackpaw's voice broke Graystar's heart anew. But she couldn't grant his request.