Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 3, Part 12

"Rugido, you're guilty! Leave!" Machupo shouted, tail lashing angrily. The elder snarled once, but stood up slowly. He looked to Preto and Masaya, then motioned to Kapok.

"Fine, you take care of him! See how it works out!" he spat. The angry male then turned on his paw and strode away. He could go to Macaco's tribe, he supposed. He couldn't survive on his own at his age.

He left the camp, hearing the low muttering of the remaining tribe. All he felt was scorn. Only four members? It was not the proud tribe it had once been. It barely even counted. Then again, he supposed the tribe he was heading to didn't count either.

After a while of walking, Rugido arrived at the location Macaco had spoke of. Towering palm trees were clustered together on the bank of the river, with large, smooth rocks intermingled between them. He tried to look around for Macaco and Chuva, but couldn't find them.

"Don't worry, one of us is always here at this time of day. We know they always exile us at the same time," Macaco called down from the top of one of the tallest trees. Her name was very fitting, he supposed. He sat at the base of a tree as the young hunter wound her way down, and padded over to him. She looked around in confusion, tail flicking. "Nuvem didn't come with you?"

Rugido lowered his head, fighting back the urge to start sobbing. "She was the victim," he choked out, voice hoarse. "Only Kapok, Masaya, Preto, and Machupo are left". Macaco placed a comforting paw on his shoulder, and motioned towards the cluster of boulders.

"Come on, Rugido. I'll show you to your den. You don't have to worry anymore. We'll take care of you".

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

Kapok stared drowsily at the den wall, curled up between Preto and Masaya. He could tell it was going to be him tonight. He was a cub. No one would think he was the killer. He felt himself grow more and more tired, but he wasn't ready to give up yet. Quietly, he whispered, "Shaman's apprentice, save me. I am the target". Then his eyes closed, and he fell asleep.

He awoke in a dark jungle, which frightened him to the very core. It was ugly, horrid, black, swampy mud making up the ground. He didn't want to be here. The shadow cat that stepped out of the trees just made him even more terrified.

"What, Kapok, are you scared? Xingo was braver than you. Look at your pitiful shivering," it hissed. It crept closer, a delighted look in its creepy, solid blue eyes. He backed up, but hit a tree. He could only wait as the murderer padded closer.

"Kapok, wake up. I heard you. Wake up, Kapok. Wake up," a wind whispered through the trees. Kapok let out a gasp of relief, as his body began to fade. The murderer let out an angry screech and leapt, but it was too late. The cub was gone.

Kapok's eyes shot open, and he looked around the fighter's den. Everything was normal. He was curled up between Masaya and Preto, who were both sleeping peacefully. He could hear Machupo's loud, rumbling snores coming from the hunter's den next to them. He furrowed his eyes in confusion, but didn't linger on it. He just set his head on his paws, and waited for morning.

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

Masaya and Preto woke up at the same time, eyes half closed to block the blinding sunlight. When Masaya saw Kapok with his eyes open, she let out a sigh.

"It was Machupo, wasn't it? Has anyone checked his nest?" she asked. Kapok shook his head, and got to his paws tiredly. The lack of sleep meant he still didn't have a full amount of energy.

"It was me. I was saved," he replied. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped slightly.

"So . . . we're safe? No one died? We're all still alive?" she asked, as though she couldn't believe it. Kapok didn't blame her. Someone had consistently died for so long now, it had become normal.

"Yes, we are. Come on, let's go meet with Machupo. We still have to vote," Preto told her. The three jaguars left the den, and went to meet with Machupo. This changed things. Many, many things.

Murdered: Kapok
Healed: Kapok
Accused: No one
Revealed: No one
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 1