Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 4, Part 2

Emberstrike watched as almost every single cat in the clan voted to exile her, and almost every single cat voted to keep Rushstripe. They all waited, as though expecting a confession or for her to attack them.

"What do you want me to say? That I did it? Because I didn't. You knew that there was plenty of time for any cat to return to camp, yet you chose to exile me. I don't know whether it was because of my black fur, or because me and Beetlestream weren't born in the clan, but I'm disgusted," she told them harshly. Some of the cats who had voted guilty hung their heads, but others, like Lionfrost and Sootpetal, met her cold gaze. "Beetlestream, Reedsplash, and Rushstripe were the only ones who voted innocent. Only my closest friends. So I'd like to thank you three for being there, and Rushstripe, I'm glad that they let you stay. If any of you are exiled, you are welcome to join me". Emberstrike headed towards the camp exit, and all of the cats began to talk again. However, Turtlepaw and Gullpaw followed after her, and had a conversation that none of the others could hear by the exit. Then Gullpaw led the black she-cat out of camp, and Turtlepaw returned to the grieving group of cats around Splashpaw.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore! Splashpaw can't be dead! She can't!" Stripefur yowled. He knelt down beside his apprentice, lowered his head, and closed his eyes. "StarClan, please, have mercy on this she-cat. She was too young to die. I know that I can only ask this of you once, but please, revive my apprentice". There were a few moments of silence, and right when Stripefur had lost hope of reviving Splashpaw, she began to glow with a silver light. The small she-cat let out a gasp, and with a cough, the poison was expelled within a silver cloud.

"Splashpaw?" Turtlepaw asked, looking hopefully at her sister. The small, tortoiseshell she-cat coughed again, then weakly forced herself to her feet.

"Before you ask, I don't know. There will be two, with paws stained red, whose every step leaves a trail of the dead. Trail of the dead, trail of the dead, trail of the dead," Splashpaw muttered incoherently. Then she collapsed back to the ground, sound asleep.

"I'll take her back to the den," Stripefur mumbled. He grabbed his apprentice by the scruff, picked her up, and padded into the medicine cat den. By this time, it was already dark. As the rest of the cats dispersed into their dens, Cloudpaw, Gullpaw, Turtlepaw, and Shellpaw met in the apprentices' den.

"I'm calling a Society meeting. Doesn't this prophecy seem strange to you? Plus with the murders?" Cloudpaw mewed quietly. The other three nodded, then Turtlepaw and Gullpaw shared a look.

"Cloudpaw, there's something we have to tell you. We decided to take Emberstrike to the cave," Gullpaw told him hesitantly. Cloudpaw cocked his head to the side, not angry, or confused, but just thinking.

"That's probably smart. We can't tell anyone though. If the murderer found out, then Emberstrike wouldn't be safe anymore," Cloudpaw replied. Shellpaw looked at the other three, an odd look in her eyes.

"Unless one of us is one . . . "she warned quietly. Turtlepaw shook her head, in denial of the statement.

"We can't think like that, Shellpaw," Turtlepaw scolded. Then she settled down in her nest, and wrapped her tail around her paws. "Goodnight, everyone". A chorus of goodnights echoed throughout the den, as they all settled down to sleep.

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

"Whitepath! Whitepath, no!" Morningfire wailed, backing out of the elders' den. Dawnshine looked up from the fish she was eating, and immediately stood up to go comfort her sister.

"Morningfire, please, you can't let this break you. When Sandnose died, I almost decided to leave the clan. But you have to understand, life will go on without Whitepath. He'd want you to stay," she murmured. Morningfire let out another wail, and buried her face in her sister's fur.

"Someone, get Thornstar!" Redfoot ordered, moving over to stand by his mate. Reedsplash, Lionfrost, and Rushstripe were the only warriors awake at the early hour. Rushstripe padded into the leader's den and let out a screech.

"Rushstripe, what -" Paleflight began from inside the den, then presumably discovered Thornstar's dead body. "Thornstar! Thornstar, wake up! Please!" The combination of sobbing, wailing, and screeching had awoken the entire clan at this point, except for Splashpaw, who was still asleep in the medicine cat's den recovering as the rest of the cats gathered in the center of camp.

"Stripefur, can you tell what the cause of death is?" Lionfrost asked, after the medicine cat had examined the two bodies. The tom nodded, avoiding the gazes of Morningfire, Paleflight, Nightrunner, Cloudpaw, and Shellpaw, who were all mourning in a group slightly apart from the others.

"It was choking, Lionfrost. The murderers must've pressed down on their throats until they stopped breathing," Stripefur replied. Nightrunner let out another cry, as Gullpaw tried to comfort her.

"He would know! After all, Lionfrost was one of the murderers! Almost everyone else was asleep, but he was awake!" Paleflight yowled. Sootpetal gasped in shock as the white she-cat accused her mate, and Turtlepaw stepped forward.

"He would never! My father is innocent!" she spat. A cacophony of arguing began, as almost all of the clan got into a heated debate over Lionfrost's innocence. Nightrunner stood up as well, glaring at Reedsplash.

"It was Reedsplash too!" she announced, causing Rushstripe to let out a cry of objection. The black and white she-cat ignored the tabby, and continued. "He was awake as well!" That revived the arguing all over again, this time about Reedsplash.

"Enough! This is tearing us apart! We have to be civil!" Beetlestream cried. The cats shut up, looking at him with impatience, annoyance, and a hint of shame. "We'll vote".

Murdered: Whitepath, Thornstar
Healed: Turtlepaw
Accused: Lionfrost, Reedsplash
Revealed: No one
Revived: Splashpaw
Murderers Left: 2