Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 2, Part 4

Sparrowpaw counted the votes, then looked to the targeted cat. "Blizzardpaw, you're guilty," she choked out, angry tears filling her eyes. "Get out. GET OUT!" The tom opened his mouth to argue, but remembered what had happened with his father.

"Fine. But I'm telling you exactly what the truth is," he spat, hackles raising as a cruel smile spread across his face. "I'm the murderer! Well, the first one, anyways. My mother was a horrible cat, she never cared about me!" Mosspaw let out a terrified squeak, burying his face in his mother's fur.

"Why would you do this?!" Kestrelstorm hissed angrily, comforting Mosspaw and Mistpaw. "You horrible, spiteful cat!" He had conspired to kill her mate, and the father of her kits. She hated him with a passion.

"Oh, I didn't kill my mentor. There was no way I could beat him in a fight. But Owlfeather and Thrushwatcher? They were easy," he told the clan, gaining more horrified looks.

"You killed Thrushwatcher?" Leafheart asked, voice filled with a cold fury. He had killed her son? Sparrowpaw's brother? She wanted him to pay.

"I c-can't believe you! Thrushwatcher was my f-friend!" Foxwish yowled, eyes narrowed in anger. Hollysong left Stormwhisker's side, going to comfort her brother.

"Blizzardpaw, you are hereby exiled from SnowClan. We never want to see you again. If we do, you will be immediately executed," Doestep told him coldly. The fluffy tom shrugged, unconcerned.

"Fine. I don't care about this stupid clan anyway," he retorted, before padding out of the camp. The clan watched him go, angry glares pointed at his back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Blizzardpaw wandered along the Thunderpath, unsure where to go. He was sure that his clan mates would tell the other clans about him. That would be no good. Twolegplace? Nah, he didn't want to be a kittypet. He looked across the Thunderpath, and noticed the old cabin right outside SnowClan territory.

"Of course! I can stay there," he mewed, towards no one but himself. He started to cross the Thunderpath. When he was in the middle, a monster came around the curve, speeding. He didn't even have a chance to dodge before it rammed into him. Slowly, he closed his eyes, and let himself go.

"Huh? Where am I?" Blizzardpaw asked, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It was dark, dead pine trees and marsh everywhere. He found it completely unappealing.

"Welcome, Blizzardpaw. We've been expecting you," a dark brown she-cat greeted, slinking out of the shadows. "You did great work. But it's up to your partner, now".

"This is the Dark Forest," he realized, when he glanced up into the sky. No stars. He was dead. The monster had killed him.

"Yes, it is. But don't worry, you'll fit right in. There aren't many murderers as young as you. You're a prodigy!" she told him. A prodigy? Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he thought.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Larktuft raced over to Thrushwatcher's body once Blizzardpaw had left. She knelt down by his head, closing her eyes and pressing her nose onto his head.

"StarClan, I know I'm asking a lot. I know this has never been done before. But please, give this tom another life. He has a family, and is too young for his life to be over," the medicine cat pleaded. She held her breath, eventually losing hope when nothing happened.

"I agree. We both do," a voice mewed. Larktuft looked up anxiously, only to see the silvery forms of Lynxtail and Owlfeather standing across from her. She let out a sigh of relief, as a silver glow surrounded Thrushwatcher's body.

"Take care, Larktuft. We will see you in your dreams," Lynxtail told her, as he and Owlfeather slowly faded away. Thrushwatcher woke up with a gasp, neck wound completely healed.

"Thrushwatcher?" Sparrowpaw asked with disbelief, reminding Larktuft that she was still there. "You're . . . alive?"

"I am!" he exclaimed, standing up shakily. This was a miracle! "I really am!" He strode over to his sister, immediately burying his face in her fur. Various cats heard the commotion, and immediately came out to greet Thrushwatcher. But there was still a murderer out there, and they weren't done.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The murderer crept slowly towards their target, who was in the dirtplace. It seemed to be one of the few places to get a cat alone. Just like what they wanted to do with Mistpaw. They tackled the grey tom, claws outstretched, and shoved his face in the snow. They held him down until he stopped struggling, then let go and backed away. That was one of the easier kills, as they had expected. They normally left the apprentice killings to Blizzardpaw, but that wasn't an option anymore. Apparently, the old saying that if you wanted something done, you had to do it yourself was true. They padded away, not a shred of remorse in their body.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"No, Mistpaw!" Kestrelstorm yowled, seeing her son lying in the same spot her mate had just two nights before. She collapsed next to his body, sobbing. More cats ran into the dirtplace, hearing the mother's stricken cry.

"Oh, no. Right after Lynxtail too," Hollysong muttered to Stormwhisker, as Mosspaw joined his mother at Mistpaw's side. Stormwhisker nodded in agreement, upset.

"Kestrelstorm, he's in StarClan with Lynxtail now. At least you know that much," Leafheart mewed, trying to comfort the she-cat. Kestrelstorm stood back up, glaring.

"Easy for you to say! You got your son back! In fact, I think you were betting on it!" the tortoiseshell she-cat exclaimed. A few cats drew in shocked breaths, as Leafheart's eyes widened.

"What are you saying? You think I did this?" she asked, horrified. Kestrelstorm nodded, standing taller. Her hackles raised, and her tail lashed back and forth.

"Yes, yes I am! I call for a vote! We need to exile this monster!" Kestrelstorm exclaimed. Once a vote was called, it would happen. Leafheart waited, breath held, for the results.

Murdered: Mistpaw
Healed: Darkblaze
Accused: Leafheart
Returned: No one
Revived: Thrushwatcher
Murderers Left: 1