Blood Shadows || A Warrior Cats Mafia

R2 - Scene Four

Hazelstar inhaled deeply as Onefeather whispered the votes to her, Tansymouse also informing her of the injured cat's votes. She met her daughter's eyes, and opened her mouth.

"Icywhisper you've been voted innocent," she began, and the she-cat breathed a sigh of relief. "However, Stormpaw, you are exiled from this clan!" 

Stormpaw looked up at her mother in shock, before her mouth twisted into a bitter grin. "Well then. I suppose good times can't last forever," she giggled, the cats turning to her with a mixture of shock and disgust. "I regret nothing, they deserved to die!" the apprentice laughed manically.

Hazelstar gaped in shock, not expecting these words to come from her daughter's mouth. She closed her eyes, and growled. "Get out."

Stormpaw snorted. "Mother knows best."

The she-cat ran for the entrance, never to be seen again.

STORMPAW WAS GUILTY, THEIR CHOSEN CAT TO KILL HAS BEEN SPARED.

ONE MURDERER REMAINS.

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

Hazelstar looked down at her silent clan, all still frozen in shock. She took another deep breath, before shaking her fur slightly and getting to her paws. "Alright, we need an evening border patrol."

The cats slowly broke out of their tension and nodded, all forcing themselves from their sitting positions and looking at her attentively. "I would like Flickerheart, Elmpaw, Icywhisper, Shellpaw and Rainypaw to go." she ordered, and the cats nodded to her and each other, walking towards the entrance. A voice then spoke up.

"I'd like to go too Hazelstar. I know I'm an elder but I need to clear my head," Gingerdawn murmured, and Hazelstar looked at her kindly. "Of course, Gingerdawn."

The cats gathered together, and headed towards the forest, illuminated by the setting sun's light.

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

Shellpaw and Rainypaw ran ahead together, childishly bumping into each other and laughing. Elmpaw watched them in confusion with narrowed eyes, while Gingerdawn fell back to talk with Flickerheart.

The forest was quiet and tranquil, apart from the squeals of the apprentices, and Gingerdawn felt like she could finally breathe away from the tension of the camp. Flickerheart smiled at her, and they continued walking until they reached the clan border. "Thank StarClan its empty tonight, I don't think I could do with any more conflict," Flickerheart purred. Gingerdawn nodded in agreement, Icywhisper coming up beside her to listen.

They then heard a crash in the silence, and the she-cats turned in confusion. Flickerheart gulped. "Rainypaw, Shellpaw, Elmpaw, stay there a minute!" she called, and the apprentices stopped obediently.

Gingerdawn shook her head. "I'll have a look, you stay here," she ordered, and Flickerheart began to protest. "But-" The elder shot her a look, and the young warrior silenced.

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

The ginger and white she-cat looked around with narrowed amber eyes as she followed the noise of the crash. "If you're a BlazeClan cat, you better not be on our side of the border!" the she-cat warned. 

"Borders... Invisible, yet so protected by you. Imagine if we didn't have to have them anymore, living without boundaries. Imagine having complete freedom to be friends with who you wish, want who you wish, love who you wish," a voice began. Gingerdawn scowled. "Nice poetry mate, now where are you?" she grumbled.

"You'll never know."

Gingerdawn's last thoughts as she was hurled to the ground slowly dissipated as her mind whispered, 'StarClan save us.'

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

Flickerheart let out a horrified shriek.

"Help!" The apprentices sprinted over, faces filled with horror. "Rainypaw, get back to camp now!" she ordered, and the tom nodded, running to Tansymouse's den.

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

Tansymouse dipped her head in shame. "I'm sorry, her body is too old to fight it. She's dead.

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

Sunnytuft was sobbing, Fernspeck trying desperately to comfort her friend. "Shh, she's in peace now," the she-cat whispered gently.

Hazelstar stared at the sky mournfully, thinking of the elder who had been there since she was merely an apprentice. She hung her head, and Onefeather looked at her sympathetically.

"Gingerdawn has been murdered, meaning there is still a murderer in our clan. Flickerheart says she heard talks about borders, meaning whoever this cat is doesn't want the clans to exist anymore."

The cats gaped in horror. No clans?

A voice echoed across the camp. "I accuse..."

(There is a clue in this chapter, but you'll only find it if you read carefully. Also, Stormpaw had dark fur, meaning this murderer must have light fur).