Book One of the How the Mighty Fall Trilogy
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Stonetail is a headstrong young warrior and the daughter of Greystar, a formidable she-cat known for her strict adherence to the code. All her life, she has practiced honor, valor, and fait...
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ShadeClan's activity is hidden somewhere beyond a pale haze. The rising sun rains down in pieces, illuminating one thing at a time, and a murmur rises into a crescendo before falling again and again in the background.
Stonetail wants none of it. She wants peace. She wants stillness. She wants the dark and the quiet so she can mourn without everyone's eyes passing over her hunched form. There is pity out there, hollow pity that is weightless next to the grief and fear snaking its way into every cat's heart, not that Stonetail can quite feel those things now. Beside Thrushpaw's body, even with Streamheart pressed close at her side, the grey warrior is rigid, face set into a stare that might kill a mouse on the spot. And she wants to kill. Her expression does not betray the desire, but she wants to find whoever murdered Thrushpaw (murdered! this is no accident, it cannot be, it cannot be, it cannot be...), and when she does, she wants to rip them in two. StarClan help their soul, whoever they are, because her revenge will not be swift. It will be slow, she promises herself, and it will be every bit the justice the small apprentice deserves, and then some. She failed Thrushpaw in training, but she won't fail her in death.
No matter the sympathies extended to her for the first hour or so, no matter the wailing from Morningfur and Grasspelt, no matter the gentle reassurances from Streamheart, Stonetail stubbornly remains unresponsive. When Robinfoot trudges out, ritual herbs clamped between his jaws, the grey warrior glances his way. After a fleeting moment of eye contact, they both decide to carry on as they were. Stonetail retreats behind her invisible wall, and the medicine cat sets about dressing the body with herbs, sans the lavender Thrushpaw never brought back, the lavender Stonetail can't bear to smell any longer. However, he pauses while placing the chervil and coltsfoot at Thrushpaw's feet. With trembling paws, he tugs at something between her claws only to crawl back with a horrified expression on his face as he peers at what he has discovered.
It is Robinfoot's wide-eyed stare that calls Stonetail back to full consciousness. His stance mirrors that of a cornered rabbit, all weak knees and trembling whiskers. "What?" she snaps, her first word since arriving in camp. But at that, Robinfoot drops his gaze and scampers off, leaving behind whatever he has discovered. He starts heading towards Greystar's den, but paralysis washes over him for a long moment. After that, he peels away to the medicine den, fur standing on end.
The harried actions, unusual even for Robinfoot's nervous nature, draw the attention of those closest to Thrushpaw's body, including Morningfur and Grasspelt. The golden queen, whose body looks heavy with the weight of loss and exhaustion, turns away, but her mate sniffs at the spot where Robinfoot stood moments ago. Squinting at the ground, he hooks a tuft of grey fur between his claws and lifts it up for all onlookers to see.
"What is it?" Streamheart asks softly, looking over Stonetail's shoulder to see what Grasspelt holds up. The older warrior does not answer immediately, studying the fur with intense concentration. Something eventually falls into place. With a long look at it, he sets the scrap down gingerly.
