(Warrior Cats)SmokeTrail's fire

Chapter 26- Accidents happen, but was it really?(2)

A/N: This chapter is different from the previous one that had the same title. Just in case it wasn't clear.

I couldn't believe my ears. "You...you What?" I asked, trying to properly comprehend what the leader had just said to me. I looked down and saw the dry blood on his paws. I looked back into his wide fear-struck eyes.

It hadn't occurred to me that he was younger than me until now. I didn't know what to say to the young leader. "Show me..." I managed.

He hesitated before nodding, leading me out of camp. We walked for a while until I recognized the thunderpath, and hesitated to go any further. "That's the thunderclan border! You couldn't have possibly-" but I stopped talked when he looked back at me.

I continued to follow. He stopped along the edge of the thunderpath, and in the dim moonlight I could make out a figure...no, two, lying motionless on the smelly path. "What happened?" I asked.

"I was just walking around and skirted the border. They were hunting on our territory.  Even though I'm a leader and have nine lives, they were bigger, stronger, and older. They would have no trouble taking them. I killed one with my own paws....and I pushed the other one onto the thunderpath....I didn't mean to..."

I felt a chill go down my spine. Could the deaths of these two cats really be at the paws of such an innocent leader like Softstar? I sighed. I saw a glint flicker from the other side. "Softatar....go back to camp and rest, we can talk about this in the morning....I need to think for now..."

Softstar opened his mouth to object, but decided to walk away.

I sprung to my paws as a dark silhouette approached me from the other side of the thunderpath.

"Mint!" I called. I could see him smile through the darkness. "Hey, Smoketrail. What did you need? And hey, you never actually told me how the last request ended."

I shrugged with a deep sigh. "It worked to some extent....I killed them both, but the tom stopped. He killed himself in the end. Now I'm left with their son and his and my kit.."

Mint shifted his paws uncomfortably. "I see. What is it this time?"

Mint was the street cat who helped us find Icestar's kittypet mate and daughter. In return we gave him whatever he asked for.

"I want some cats killed...." I whispered. Mint flinched, Amber eyes wide. "What!? It's not like you to request an assasination...but....whatever to feed my family....What are the specifics....?" He reluctantly meowed.

"These apprentices have been bullying my son for a long time to the point where he's attempted to take his own life. I want them gone. Someone young had to do it so that they aren't suspicious. Can you do that?" I asked.

Mint nodded somberly. "My daughter...she's the only one I have capable of killing in cold blood....alright...I'll leave her to you tommorow night...." and with that he rushed back through thunderclan territory to return to his rouge family who lived in an abandoned house in twolegplace.

I nodded as he left nd began to hesd back to camp. It gave me a brief sense of relief to know that Waterpaw would no longer have to deal with the torture they delivered. Even though the whole clan wasn't very fond of him, at least the main problems would be out of the way.

✴✴✴

I was almost shocked that Mint actually came through with it. The next sunset he brought her to me. A thin young she-cat with matted gray fur, around the age of an apprentice. Perfect.

"This is Ash. She's at the time my youngest kit until my mate has her litter soon. Please, whatever you do, make sure she comes home safe."Mint begged. I scanned over his own thin silver body. I couldn't refuse.

"Of course. Come on ash, follow me." I meowed and started to make my way back, the frail little cat stumbling behind me, coughing and sneezing. I figured I would have to get her healed up before introducing her to her targets.

When we reached camp, Ash was exausted to the point where she collapsed. "Come on, just a little further..." I urged her to continue, but she was too weak and tired to even get back to her paws. I gave in with a sigh. "Stay here, I'm going to get someone to help you."

I ran off to the medicine den. "Dreamheart!" The medicine cat instantly had her attention on me from the urgency in my voice. "I found an apprentice abandoned at the thunderpath! I told her to follow me and she collapsed outside the camp. She's too weak and sick to walk anymore."

The elderly cat nodded and helped me get ash back to camp. She treated her quickly and efficiently and had Ash back on her paws by morning.

When I went to get her, Dreamheart was interrogating her, so I hid and listened.

"Where did you come from?"
"Twolegplace.."
"With who?"
"My daddy..."
"Why?"
"We needed food for my momma, she's going to have kittens soon and she needs to eat a lot....the other clan chased us out, so we came here.."
"What about the rest of your family?"
"My mommy and brother aren't able to hunt. Mommy is having kittens and my brother is very weak...."
"I didn't know Mint had a family....I met him when I was young and grew up with him though he was a rouge. Suddenly he left....and you're why..."
Ash began to get watery eyes.

"Your parents were friends and partial lovers, but became official mates when they found out they were having you. Your mother already had a son. Judging by the bruising, he beats on you, doesn't he?"

When I saw Ash beginning to cry, I stepped in. "I think that's enough about that, don't you? I don't think it's a good time talk about that..."