Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 11, Part 1

As trickles of sunlight filtered their way through the leaves of BanyanClan's camp- a massive banyan tree- two cats, sending each other harsh glances, bounded down from their meeting place in the tree to take their place among their clanmates. The two cats in turn nestled into their branches, closing their eyes for a brief moment before being woken by their neighbors. And as such, the day began.

Most of the cats of BanyanClan made their way down their home, milling at the roots as groups began to form. Most of the cats began chatting softly to their family members and friends.

"I want to go on a hunting patrol!" Spottedpaw meowed loudly, his loud, slightly commanding tone making his sister, Hazelpaw, roll her eyes. "Of course. That's all you ever want to do." The apprentice muttered back, cuffing her brother over the ear. Next to them, Vinepaw perked up, offering nicely, "I wouldn't mind hunting with you, Spottedpaw!" Before a sharp glare from his sister shut him up.

The trio of squabbling siblings were interrupted by Eveningmist, who had padded over to restore order. "We might go hunting, if everyone else agrees." The she-cat told her kits, "It would be great if one of you can actually get Alligatorpelt up and moving for once, to see if he wants to come as well." She commented, with a chuckle. Spottedpaw was immediately on the job, giving a quick nod to his mother before racing back up the tree to find his father. He pranced along the branches to where the warriors slept, the tips of his paws skipping along the bark.

"As for you two, why don't you grab Palmpaw, Mangrovepaw, Grassfall, Pantherheart, Marshgaze, and Swampbrook? We should see if the others are up for a huge hunting party." Eveningmist told her remaining kits, who nodded in turn. Hazelpaw did so little grumpily.

Vinepaw climbed the tree once again, aiming to head up to the clump of branches where the apprentices slept. However, as the gray tom padded along the wide branches of the banyan tree, he couldn't help but overhear an argument a few tail-lengths below him. Coonfoot's angry tones, telling Wildstrike to just leave him alone for once, seemed to crash through the air.

"I'm telling you, I don't need you to fuss over me!" Coonfoot's harsh snarl caused Vinepaw's fur to stand up. Wildstrike, riled up, yowled back, "Why won't you just calm down and listen to me for once?!"

The skittish tom's ears flattened, and he sped up in order to make his way to the apprentice-branch before Coonfoot might yell at him as well. Upon clambering up on the branch, he came upon Palmpaw and Mangrovepaw huddled together, whispering about something. His paws scuffed on the wood, alerting the pair of best friends to his presence. The two she-cats turned around simultaneously, Palmpaw in particular looking quite flustered. "Morning, Vinepaw." Mangrovepaw called out to the tom, yawning briefly before continuing, "Did someone send you to get us?"

The gray-pelted tom nodded quickly, flicking his tail back down to the roots. "Eveningmist told me we're going to go on a hunting expedition, with all the apprentices and their mentors." Vinepaw explained, offering the two she-cats a quick smile. "I decided to go ahead and get you two."

"Well, what're we waiting for?" Palmpaw meowed, her voice tinged with excitement as the she-cat bounced to her paws. "We could make it a competition, tom apprentices vs the she-cats! Losers have to get new moss for everyone." She continued on, grinning slightly. Mangrovepaw rolled her eyes good-naturedly, pointing out, "You'll probably have to take it up with the others if you want that to happen. Let's go see if everyone will agree."

The trio of apprentices bounded down the tree, dodging Spottedpaw as he made his way down the tree. "Alligatorpelt said he's going to stand watch today!" The brown tom informed his brother, as Vinepaw scrambled down the tree ahead of him. Vinepaw cracked a soft smile, not surprised their father had opted for a job in which he could sunbask.