Willowstar's Love

Chapter Twenty-Four

That night, Willowmist opened her eyes to find herself in a misty, shadowy forest. She tasted the air, but she couldn't find any scents. Where am I?

She heard voices and ducked behind a tree, listening.

"Thornbite, Deadmoon, go show Kinkwhisker the killing bite," a low voice growled. "I must speak with Oakstorm."

Willowmist tensed. I'm in DarkClan, she realized, her fur bristling. And it's the middle of a training session. Then something occurred to her. Oakstorm promised me he wouldn't come here anymore! That liar!

But she couldn't leave now. She had to find out what Oakstorm was up to. She listened harder.

"Oakstorm," the deep-voiced cat hissed. "I'm aware that you're in love...with a cat who could be a threat to DarkClan."

Oakstorm let a snarl. "Sorrelfang, what are you talking about? She isn't a threat at all."

"I believe Willowmist is a threat," Sorrelfang growled.

Willowmist stopped. What? Oakstorm loves me?

She heard the scrape of claws against a rock. "How dare you! What could she do to harm DarkClan?"

Sorrelfang thrust his muzzle up to Oakstorm's face. "I sense you told her. And I know she wasn't happy about it."

Oakstorm bristled. "So? It's not like she can come here."

Willowmist flinched.

Sorrelfang snorted. "Mosscreek! You want to prove your loyalty to us, correct?"

A small she-cat nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I do."

"Kill him."

Mosscreek backed away, looking startled. "W-what?"

"Kill Oakstorm," Sorrelfang repeated.

Willowmist's eyes widened in horror. They can't kill my Clanmate!

Mosscreek shifted. "But...but he's part of DarkClan."

"So?" Sorrelfang looked annoyed. "How much clearer can I be? I want you to kill him, understand?"

Mosscreek looked at Oakstorm. "I'm sorry," she whispered. There was a blur of brown fur and Mosscreek leaped onto Oakstorm. She closed her eyes and lunged for his neck. Blood welled from the wound, and she stepped away.

Oakstorm weakly looked up at the she-cat. "Why, Mosscreek?" he croaked. "How could you do this to me?"

Mosscreek looked away.

Blood was still oozing from Oakstorm's neck. None of the DarkClan warriors made any move to help him. Willowmist desperately wanted to leap out of the bushes and save her Clanmate, but she knew she couldn't reveal herself.

Willowmist watched in horror as Oakstorm's eyes glazed over. He was dead.

***

Willowmist's eyes shot open, and she found herself in her nest. Surely it was only a dream?

But when she glanced over her shoulder, Oakstorm laid on the floor, lifeless.

How can they kill a living cat? Willowmist thought, tears welling in her eyes with grief for her dead Clanmate. They're just evil dead cats.

Dawn light was streaming through the den, and the other warriors were waking.

Brackenberry nudged Oakstorm's body. "Wake up, dormouse," he purred.