Birdpaw watched as Toadfoot paced across the medicine den, murmuring to himself, his eyes huge amber saucers.

"This can't be happening. Who could have killed her?"

Birdpaw shivered. Just before sunhigh, her sister had run into camp, screaming. The whole clan had woken up and followed the black she-cat to the scene of a horrible crime; the clan leader and a new warrior were murdered by a mystery cat. Blackfrost explained that she and Pebblestream watched the clan leader leave to go on a walk, and followed when he didn't return. The she-cats had split up to cover more ground, and by the time she heard Pebblestream's shriek, Blackfrost was too late.

A tabby tom suddenly pushed through the bramble entrance.

"Eagleshade! What's going on? Is Riverclan attacking? No, it must be rogues! Oh, Starclan help us!" Toadfoot shrunk to the ground whimpering, still murmuring nonsense about intruders.

"Birdpaw, may I speak with you, alone?" Eagleshade meowed, stealing a glance at the Shadowclan medicine cat writhing on the ground.

Birdpaw nodded and followed Eagleshade outside the camp under the shade of a tall pine.

"Sorry about Toadfoot; Pebblestream was his niece. He's also quite old now," Eagleshade wrapped his tail neatly around his huge paws. "I think it might be time for you to take his place as Shadowclan's medicine cat."

Birdpaw was taken aback by this sudden decision. "I'm not sure if I'm ready! What if some cat is sick an-"

"You'll be fine, Birdpaw. I've seen you working under pressure; calm even at the worst time. So," Eagleshade watched the young apprentice. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to have your ceremony as soon as possible."

Birdpaw could've leapt with joy and fainted with apprehension at the same time, but she just nodded, smiling despite the earlier events of that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blackfrost watched Nightwind closely. He seemed to be mourning just like the rest of the clan, but she couldn't trust him just yet. Wasn't he with Pebblestream when she was looking for her? Blackfrost leaned up against Stormpelt and suddenly felt dizzy.

What's wrong with you?

A little voice seemed to ask her.

Why are you killing your clanmates?

Blackfrost shivered, but not just because of the late leaf-fall air.

"Are you okay?" Stormpelt asked. He sounded worried, but Blackfrost had no idea what was going through the gray warrior's head.

"I think so." She answered doubtfully.

For a heartbeat, both cats just watched the rest of the clan; every cat had drooping tails and ears, sadness was so evident Blackfrost could almost smell it.

Stormpelt broke the silence. "I'm pretty trusted by Eagleshade...hopefully he chooses me as deputy."

When Blackfrost was an apprentice, she would've rolled her eyes at this statement. But now it was very important in the continuation of her plan.

"He will," Blackfrost purred. "He'd be stupid not to."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nightwind watched Blackfrost closely. She seemed to be mourning just like the rest of the clan, but he couldn't trust her just yet.

The black she-cat was growing closer to Stormpelt every day, and that just made Nightwind hate him more.

I will get him soon. Then I won't need to be jealous.