Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 7, Part 6

Shadeflight ran up to Batwhisker and touched her nose to his. She was glad that her brother wouldn't be exiled. Sure, he might be safer in StreamClan, but . . . he was all she had left.

Berryleaf laid down and placed his head on his paws. There was no one left to be happy about his presence. Badgerpath and Sedgeheart were discussing who might be the murderer, and Blossompaw was playing with a butterfly. His cousin would rather play with a butterfly than talk to him.

However, Ivywing padded over to the ginger tom and sat down in front of him. Berryleaf looked up in confusion.

"Hey, Berryleaf. I know we've never been close, but I'd just like to say that I'm glad you get to stay. I know it's safer in StreamClan, but . . . LeafClan is home," the tom mewed quietly. Berryleaf nodded gratefully, then put his head back on his paws. Ivywing stayed next to him, but didn't say anything.

The clan had given up on patrols now. The cats all went out to hunt their own prey, not trusting anyone else after what had happened with Mottledthorn.

Blossompaw padded through the forest cautiously, sniffing for a mouse. They were plentiful in this area, and she only had to feed herself.

She caught the scent of a sparrow to her left, and immediately perked up. She loved sparrows, and would much rather have one of them than a mouse.

She followed the scent, only to be confused when she spotted the bird lying dead on the ground. Then, she heard the rustle of the undergrowth, felt the claws in her pelt, and let out a yowl.

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

Ivywing padded silently towards a mouse hidden among the leaves, tail twitching slightly. He crouched to pounce, but another cat leapt out of the trees and landed on it. He moved to protest, but noticed that it was a clanmate.

"Oh, hey. Sorry, I didn't know we were in the same area," he apologized. The cat set down the mouse, and looked sadly at him.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this, but my partner — it's better that you die at my paws instead," they replied. His eyes widened, and he tried to flee, but they tackled him. His head slammed down onto a rock, and he lost consciousness.

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

Ivywing woke up to see a familiar face hovering above him. What was happening?

"Don't move, Ivywing. I'm the medicine cat apprentice, I'm fixing you right now," they told him. They lightly pushed him back onto the ground, and applied cobwebs to his head. "You were attacked by a murderer. Do you remember who?"

Ivywing tried to say that he didn't, but it just came out as a groan. The medicine cat apprentice nodded sympathetically, then backed away from him.

"I'm sorry, I have to go now. I hope that it isn't the murderer who finds you," they murmured. Then they turned around, and dashed into the forest.

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

Ivywing had managed to get himself back to the camp, through a method of dragging himself by the forepaws. Luckily, he hadn't been far when he was attacked.

When he arrived, Berryleaf and Sedgeheart were already eating. They looked up, shocked, as he dragged himself through the entrance.

"Ivywing, what happened? Are you okay?" Sedgeheart exclaimed. The grey-pointed tom collapsed to the ground, as the world spun around him. The two cats tried to talk to him, but he had already faded into unconsciousness.

The two cats sat with Ivywing, waiting for the others to return. Shadeflight came back first, carrying a squirrel. She dropped it when she saw Ivywing lying in the dirt, cobwebs bound around his head.

Badgerpath and Batwhisker came after her, carrying the limp body of Blossompaw between them. Sedgeheart let out a wail and ran to her daughter. Badgerpath and Batwhisker backed away, to let her have time to grieve.

The rest of the cats gathered together, surrounding the unconscious Ivywing.

"I know this might sound insensitive, but I think that Sedgeheart might be a murderer. She could have killed Blossompaw to garner sympathy, or she could be the killer who is making quick, humane kills. Either would fit," Badgerpath declared. The others nodded. Berryleaf spoke up next.

"I think it could be Shadeflight. She's stealthy, and maybe she was the one who killed Mottledthorn, as some sort of revenge for the death of her parents," he mewed quietly. He stared at the ground, shuffling his paws.

Batwhisker looked pained at the thought of his sister being a murderer, but nodded. "I guess that's who we vote on then. I just hope we make the right choice".

Murdered: Blossompaw, Ivywing
Healed: Ivywing
Accused: Sedgeheart, Shadeflight
Revealed: No one
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 2