Murder in the Woods: A Warrior Cat Mafia

Round 11, Part 4

Coonfoot snarled in anger, as the Clan voted against him. Despite the vote being so close that only by a margin of one he was being exiled, the ever-present rage within the tom was not subsided. "Why would I care about Cypressbreeze?" The tom hissed, his tail lashing back and forth.

Eveningmist's gaze met the suspect's steadily, as she meowed evenly, "Cypressbreeze had a crush on Heronfeather. Her death made it so your brother lost a potential mate, which is my reasoning behind it."

Coonfoot snorted in mirth, a humor-less smile gracing his expression. "You idiots. I'm not the murderer." With that, only stopping for one moment to sorrowfully glance at his brother and his crush, Palmpaw, the young warrior bounded to the ground and raced off into the woods, apparently on his way to find Hazelpaw.

Eveningmist looked crushed. She had been so sure that Coonfoot was the murderer, and that this nightmare would be ended before her own death came to pass- for she was surely going to die next, as Mangrovepaw had called for her demise. Alligatorpelt murmured some comforting words into her ear, but the she-cat shrugged him off. She had no interest in being comforted.

Pantherheart padded to Marshgaze's nest, easing the black tabby's body onto his shoulders. "We need to bury him." The black cat declared unflinchingly, to which everyone agreed.

After their medicine cat had been buried, Eveningmist broke the silence. "I'm going back to the clearing Wildstrike and Hibiscusblaze died in, to look it over some more to find some clues." She announced to the Clan, who nodded in response. The murderer still among them had a large grin split across their face- this would be the perfect moment to kill Eveningmist, the only threat. The leader and the deputy posed none, it was only this one warrior. With her gone, no one would be able to figure out who they were, and they could continue their revenge.

The Clan dispersed into the banyan tree. However, Eveningmist's family watched her go, their gazes locked onto the undergrowth. As the time slipped by, however, Spottedpaw and Alligatorpelt became convinced no one was going to go after her. "C'mon, Vinepaw, there's nothing there. No one would dare touch Eveningmist, she's the strongest warrior in the Clan." Spottedpaw told his brother, nudging his shoulder. Alligatorpelt nodded in agreement, but Vinepaw shook his head rapidly. "N-no! W-e c-c-can't-t leave yet!" He stuttered, his paws shuffling along the bark. Due to the stress and shock of everything happening, the young tom had lately developed a stutter.

Spottedpaw rolled his eyes, meowing nonchalantly, "Vinepaw, she's fine. Stop being such a scaredy-mouse."

Vinepaw's gaze shot to some bushes near the ones Eveningmist had left in, and suddenly leapt to his paws. They had just moved, as if a cat had brushed by them. "T-the b-b-b-bushes!" He yowled, turning around to bound down the tree and go after the potential murderer.

Spottedpaw got in front of him, not looking very impressed. "Vinepaw, it was just the wind. Besides, did you even see a cat?"

Very hesitantly, Vinepaw shook his head. "N-no, b-but-t-"

Spottedpaw cut him off. "It's fine, Vinepaw. There's no way the murderer would have the gall to go after mom." Alligatorpelt nodded in agreement, the lethargic tom's face spread over in a soft smile. "Eveningmist is strong and capable, she'll be fine." The tabby reassured his son, "Let's go sunbathe on the higher branches, it'll be good for you to relax." Vinepaw didn't look very convinced, but nodded hesitantly. "Okay." The gray apprentice meowed softly, as his father and brother turned to go back up the tree.

The murderer had continued on their merry way, after silently congratulating themselves on their escape from camp. The cat swiftly made their way through the marshy forest, though slowed down as they reached the clearing.

Eveningmist was sitting in the center, her gaze cast down at the ground beneath her paws. "I can't find anything." She muttered under her breath, her ears beginning to flatten.

The murderer merely smiled, catching sight of her disappointed expression. She wouldn't need to worry about it for long. They thought with some mirth. Making no efforts to conceal their presence, the cat bounded out of the concealing foliage.

Eveningmist's head whipped up to face the murderer, her fangs glinting as she snarled, "You alligatorheart, of course it was you." The murderer merely grinned, slowing down to a stop right in front of her. "Quite obviously, it is I." They meowed, a smile curling across their lips.

Eveningmist lifted her snout, leaving her throat exposed. "Make it quick." She growled. "And if you touch my kits, mate, or sister, I'll haunt you from StarClan, and torture you in the Dark Forest when your worthless body finally passes on."

"Oh, feisty words for a cat who's practically dead." The murderer commented, the ever-present smile not faltering from their lips. "You see, you revealed my partner. And I don't take very lightly to that. Though, it can't hurt to honor your last wish." They padded up to Eveningmist, placing their paw at her throat. Their claws pricked her skin, though the she-cat did not flinch. "Then again," They continued, "Do I care about your last wishes? Not really." And with that, they slashed their paw down, traveling from her throat through her soft underbelly.

Eveningmist's expression turned horrified, as she attempted to meow a retort, but only a choked, hoarse snarl echoed from her maw. The strong warrior slumped over, groaning in pain. She held her paws to her stomach, attempting to stop the flow of blood now spilling out of her. The murderer laughed, and continued on their way.

It took a while, but Eveningmist's eyes lost their determined spark, and dulled over.

Back at camp, Vinepaw was becoming increasingly more and more anxious. The young cat's fears were eventually expressed enough times for Pantherheart to suggest leading a patrol to the clearing to look for her.

Pantherheart, Swampbrook, and Grassfall were able to reach the clearing with no trouble. Though, upon seeing Eveningmist's body, all the cats let out a resounding gasp of horror. Swampbrook looked the most effected, as she ran over to her sister's prone form with a howling sob.

"We can't let Vinepaw and Spottedpaw see her like this." Grassfall meowed, to which the other cats nodded in agreement. It wouldn't be right to let the two toms see their mother in such a state, her stomach slit open, crimson staining her belly fur and her paws.

The group of three cats were able to carry Eveningmist to where the Clan buried their dead, and dug a grave out quickly. After their task was done, they padded back to the Clan to tell them their news. Vinepaw, Spottedpaw, and Alligatorpelt understandably freaked out. Vinepaw glared at his brother and father, and moved over to stand next to Swampbrook. "I-if y-you b-b-believed-d-d me, s-she w-would be a-alive." The young tom stuttered, though his voice was firm.

Spottedpaw and Alligatorpelt did not reply to his statement.

Eventually, Rootwatcher stepped forward. "I think it's Ibissong. He may have been saved from exile once, but I don't believe he should be a second time." The brown-and-ginger splotched cat's angry gaze locked onto him, the distaste in her eyes clear.

"Let's vote." Grassfall meowed softly, to which everyone agreed.

Murdered: Eveningmist
Healed: No one
Accused: Ibissong
Revealed: No one
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 1