Blood Shadows || A Warrior Cats Mafia

R1 - Scene Five

-Note, if there is no successful result after Voting Seven (if we get that far) there will be a deciding chapter-

Duskstar growled. "Littlewhisker has been voted guilty! You will leave the Clan immediately and if any of my warriors spot you on Clan territory you will be killed!" he hissed.

Littlewhisker started sobbing, tail down and eyes watering. "I'm innocent! I wouldn't kill I swear, I love my Clan even if I'm just a little rebellious sometimes, but aren't we all?" she begged.

"Silence!" the leader snapped. "Leave, now." The brown tabby miserably dipped her head, sprinting out of the camp with an aching heart. Wishtail glared at her mate for his lack of sympathy, padding into the warriors den. The Clan stood there in silence for a while, shocked, before the leader flicked his tail in a symbol for them to leave.

~ L I T T L E W H I S K E R   W A S   I N N O C E N T ~

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The queens were sat outside of the nursery, staring down at their paws as the clouds above their camp darkened. Breezekit and Dapplekit were playing behind them inside, the young kits attempting to rid their minds of the event that had just unfolded. Mousekit squeezed between his mother's slightly spread paws, the little black ball of fuzz pressing against her and lying down.

Marigoldsun smiled fondly at her kit, licking him slightly before turning to Wishtail. "I'm really sorry your friend got exiled Wishtail..." she murmured gently. Wishtail dipped her head in thanks, before turning to stare at the high rock. "It's alright. I suppose Duskstar made the right decision now that I think about it, we can never be too careful," she whispered softly. Marigoldsun nodded in agreement.  "I couldn't stand it if any harm came to someone else I loved," the queen muttered.

As the she-cats continued to talk, the sky continued to lose light until eventually miniscule drops of rain began to fall to the ground, increasing in intensity by the minute. "I can't stand the rain," Marigoldsun grumbled. "Lets go back inside."

Mousekit looked up at his mother miserably. "But mother, I want to play in the rain!" he squeaked in protest. The ginger tabby stared at her son, before sighing. "I suppose no-one can hurt you in camp, and you are getting older, but don't wander too far!" she ordered. The little tom nodded in delight, pouncing on the raindrops as he stumbled forward. The queen chuckled slightly, ducking her head as she walked back into the nursery.

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Leafwhisper was gently tending to Blossompool in her den, who was now wide awake and attempting to go outside. The medicine cat shook her head in amusement. "I know you're stubborn my friend, but you must stay here, its for your own good health." The sandy she-cat groaned, falling back down again, before beginning to cough. 

The medicine cat was confused for a moment, before asking, "Did you fall into the water when the murderer pushed you?" she asked. Blossompool hesitated for a moment, before replying. "I honestly barely remember, but they may have-" she started coughing and Leafwhisper waited patiently before she continued, "pushed me, I think I managed to g-get up though."

Leafwhisper nodded, "that's probably why you're coughing then, if I'd have known that I would've done more to warm you up. Give me a minute, where's my..." The medicine cat cut off and groaned. "I haven't got any catmint, I'll have to go and pick some. Wait here Blossompool, I won't be gone long." She ducked her head out of the den, before calling, "Marshstep, would you stay here and watch your mate please?" she asked politely. The tom nodded, walking over, and the medicine cat headed towards the camp's outskirts.

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Mousekit continued to run around in the rain to the best of his ability, squealing happily, until he fell into a large mass next to the camp's entrance. The cat looked down at the small kit, irritated. The black kit looked up with wide blue eyes. "I'm sorry..." he squeaked. The figure in front of him was shrouded by bushes, Mousekit couldn't make out who the cat was. "Hm... You have good manners for someone so young," it began, and Mousekit puffed out his chest from the praise. "My mother always taught me to be polite!" he announced.

The cat rolled its eyes in the shadows. "You should always address somebody by their name as well," it muttered. "Did your mother teach you that?" Mousekit flattened his ears. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name, I only know the ma's, the kits, Leafwhisper's and Duskstar's" he squeaked. The cat shook its head. "Well then, as a reward for your apology, how about I give you a special treat?" it murmured. Mousekit squealed with joy. "Yes please! Although... ma told me not to go too far..." he whispered.

"Don't worry, we won't be long. Keep travelling forwards from the entrance until I meet you," the cat said, darting off.

Mousekit beamed happily, eyes shining with excitement. He padded off in the direction the cat told him to.

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Leafwhisper had just finished grabbing the last of the catmint, when she heard a branch snap behind her. "Huh..." she muttered in confusion. She then saw a figure in the bushes, quickly making its way through the undergrowth. It had the same outline as Blossompool's attacker.

"Oh StarClan..." she whispered. The medicine cat waited for the figure to go forward by a few paces, before swiftly following it.

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Mousekit had barely left the camp when he came to a clearing next to a few trees and bushes. He heard the snap of a twig and turned to see the silhouette of the cat he had bumped into, and smiled at it cheerfully. "Are you going to show me my treat now?" he asked, giddy with joy.

"Of course," the cat laughed sadistically. "Come closer." Mousekit tentatively took one step forward, before excitement took control and he sprinted towards the hidden figure, eyes still shining. He then stopped still, frowning in confusion as the cat began to unsheathe its claws. "B-But y-you said you were going t-to give me a treat," he whimpered fearfully.

"Mousekit! Mousekit!" Leafwhisper came charging into the clearing as she saw him, and he whirled around. The figure in the bushes cursed, sprinting off before the medicine catch could catch sight of it.

"Leafwhisper!" the kit wailed in relief, dashing towards her. The medicine cat smiled at him, before checking the bushes where the silhouette had been. All that remained were tufts of light and dark fur, just as Puddlepaw had described. She turned to the kit and gently comforted him until he was ready to go back to camp.

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Leafwhisper returned Mousekit to his mother as soon as they got back to FlickerClan, the queen sighing in relief and pulling him closer. She thanked the medicine cat gratefully, who smiled at her before sprinting towards Duskstar's den to tell him what happened.

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The leader stood atop his rock, staring down at his Clanmates below.

Any one of them could be the murderer...

The cats slowly finished gathering around him after his call for yet another clan meeting, Marshstep helping Blossompool out of the medicine cat den to sit and watch nearby. Marigoldsun kept her eyes on Mousekit as she took him with her, not trusting him to sit alone in the nursery, Wishtail following suit. 

The ginger tabby took a deep breath to steady himself and relieve his stress, before making his announcement. 

"Another cat was attacked today, this time the victim was little Mousekit, although Leafwhisper managed to save him in time," he began, sympathetically looking at the trembling black fuzz. The Clan murmured amongst themselves, phrases of horror and hate towards the attacker being thrown around. "This means that Littlewhisker must've indeed been innocent, though she will not be allowed back, and that the murderer is still within this very clan."

A familiar voice then called out, "I accuse..."