A/N: Thanks Heather for writing Snowsong's part!

It was the morning after Laurelgaze's exile, but the clan cats found themselves in the same position as the night before -- Graystar had started the day with another clan meeting. She used her tail to signal to the gathered cats that the meeting had begun, effectively bringing the felines to attention.

"Warriors, this has gone on long enough," Graystar announced. More cats are going to die. Good luck, Laurelgaze had said last night. The golden-eyed tabby's parting words were echoing in the leader's mind. Well, Graystar refused. No more of her clanmates would be killed if she could help it.

"From now on, no cat goes out alone or in pairs," the leader decreed. "Patrols must be composed of at least three cats, preferably more."

Cats shifted and exchanged glances upon hearing the new rules. Basilwisp in particular looked dejected, and Kestrelberry had one ear flattened back, while Smallcloud seemed relieved.

"Also," continued Graystar, "we will have a rotated guard watching the camp at all times. Three warriors must always be on guard together, and every cat has to serve part of each day or night, along with their hunting and patrolling duties." She nearly cringed as she spoke. This would be a necessary, but exhausting, rule.

Rosepool, who was still sleep deprived, looked scandalized. Low mutters circulated through the gathered cats.

"Three cats? At all times? No one will ever have time to rest," Echoleaf protested loudly.

"I know this will be difficult to keep up, but they are necessary measures if we are to get through these trying times without losing more cats," Graystar meowed, responding to Echoleaf's comment while addressing the whole clan. Her amber eyes slowly scanned her clan until her gaze settled on Iriswhisper. The pale gray warrior had been right yesterday -- not about attacking Laurelgaze, traitor or not -- but about Graystar neglecting her duties as the leader of the clan, there to protect and guide her clanmates.

Iriswhisper held her gaze for a long heartbeat, then dipped her head in acknowledgement.

Graystar felt confidence rise up in her as she received the silent acceptance of her outspoken clanmate. Now she was truly doing her job, the leader thought as she dismissed the crowd.

She had no sooner stepped down from her place on the Highrock when she was confronted by Dewpaw, Tinypaw, and Redpaw.

"You didn't say anything about Blackpaw," Dewpaw accused her immediately.

Graystar swished her tail. She was still emotional from exiling Laurelgaze; did the arguments really have to start already? But she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, facing the apprentices head on. "You're right, I didn't. We don't know yet what truly happened to Blackpaw, and I do not wish to alarm the clan until we have a better idea of what transpired."

Tinypaw bristled furiously. "So a missing clanmate just isn't important enough? He has to be dead for sure for you to care?"

"I did NOT say that," Graystar said sharply.

"It sure sounded like it," Tinypaw retorted.

Dewpaw squeaked and slapped her tail over Tinypaw's muzzle, trying to stop her from saying anything else to offend the leader, but the small ginger apprentice pulled away and glared at Graystar. "If you won't do anything about it, then we will," Tinypaw warned before turning her back on the leader and stalking away.

Dewpaw stared after her with panicked eyes, then looked at Graystar. "Please don't listen to her, she's just worried about Blackpaw," the blue she-cat pleaded.

Graystar sighed and let the tension leave her shoulders. "I know, Dewpaw. It's alright."

Redpaw scuffed a paw against the ground. "So... What are you going to do about Blackpaw?"

"I'll send out a few more search patrols. But if they don't find him by tonight... I'm afraid we'll have to move on."

Both Redpaw and Dewpaw looked down, their ears flattened back. Graystar could only imagine how much they were hurting for their missing denmate. She touched her tail-tip to Redpaw's shoulder. "We won't give up hope just yet."

Redpaw nodded, and then the two apprentices went to follow Tinypaw.

Graystar turned to watch what was happing with the rest of the clan.

Morningrose was already busy organizing the guard and various patrols. At her command, a hunting patrol composed of Crowtail, Shademask, Smokeflash, and Rainsong went out, followed by Smallcloud, Icespark, Tigersplash and Snowstrike on a border patrol. Lightdream, Honeyrose, and Featherwing were sent to various spots in the camp to keep the first watch.

Snowsong had apparently intercepted Tinypaw before the apprentice could leave camp, and was speaking to the younger she-cat in reassuring tones. Graystar wasn't close enough to hear them, but she watched as Tinypaw gradually relaxed from her tense, fluffed up pose after losing her temper with Graystar. Snowsong gave Tinypaw's forehead a comforting lick, and Tinypaw, now much calmer, smiled back at her. They parted with friendly flicks of their tails, Snowsong heading towards the warrior's den, and Tinypaw walking in Runningstream's direction.

Kestrelberry was watching Snowsong as she disappeared into the den, but he didn't follow her. Instead he went to sit beside Lightdream, who was keeping watch over the camp from the base of the Highrock, and the two toms quickly struck up a conversation.

Rosepool and Viperpaw were leaving camp together, but they were held back by Honeyrose, who was guarding the camp entrance.

"Hang on, you two. Didn't you hear Graystar? You can't leave camp alone or in pairs," the Sphinx she-cat reminded them.

Rosepool looked taken aback. "I thought that only applied to patrols," she replied.

"We're only going to train, not set traps for our next victims," Viperpaw grumbled, earning herself a disapproving glare from her mentor.

Honeyrose was looking at the apprentice through narrowed eyes too. "Sorry, but rules are rules," she told them. "You'll need a third cat to go out."

"How about four?" Dewpaw meowed, bounding up at Iriswhisper's heels. "My mentor and I are going training too! We can go together."

"Make that six," Iriswhisper commented, looking over as Runningstream approached along with Tinypaw.

Honeyrose nodded and stepped aside to let them pass. "Have fun training," she told the apprentices and their mentors.

Graystar couldn't help but feel reassured that her new rules were being followed. Now the traitors won't have a chance to attack anyone, she thought hopefully.

She padded over to Echoleaf, Featherpath, and Smokefern, who were sitting with ample space between them but still in conversation together. Echoleaf was chattering on, looking immensely pleased, while both Featherpath and Smokefern had expressions on their faces as though they didn't want to be listening to her but didn't know a way to politely excuse themselves.

"I think it got pushed out of the riverbed somehow," Echoleaf was saying happily. "I had to go back for it after we finished the hunting patrol. It was really difficult to carry, because I didn't want to accidentally scratch it with my teeth."

"What is this?" Graystar asked, coming closer.

Echoleaf's green eyes were aglow as she turned to the newcomer. "I found this at the edge of the river!" she purred, and moved her paw, revealing a small blue stone, nearly translucent and polished to perfection. "Isn't it just the smoothest thing you've ever seen?" the warrior wanted to know, gazing admiringly at her treasure.

"That's... lovely," Graystar said awkwardly.

"I'm going to place it beside my nest, so that I can look at it every day when I wake up," Echoleaf declared.

Featherpath and Smokefern exchanged glances that said all too clearly they both thought Echoleaf was turning into a mouse-brain, but Echoleaf was too preoccupied to notice.

"I had no idea you were so interested in rocks," Graystar confessed, grasping for something to say.

"Well, it's not rocks, really," Echoleaf clarified, "I just love how smooth it looks."

"I see," Graystar replied. She decided to offer Featherpath and Smokefern a chance to escape. "Anyways, I meant to talk with you three. Echoleaf, could I ask you to take over Lightdream's position when the guard rotates?"

"Certainly, Graystar," the named warrior agreed with a dip of her head. "I'll just go take this to my nest now." She proceeded to pick up the river stone in her mouth, and walked off towards the warrior's den, her jaw visibly stiff as she moved with the rock held beneath her tongue.

Graystar didn't bother watching her go, and instead spoke to the other two warriors with her. "Featherpath, Smokefern, would you be willing to come on a search patrol with me? I'm afraid Blackpaw has been missing since yesterday."

Featherpath's large ears flattened backwards and her eyes went round. "He's been killed?" she exclaimed with a gasp.

"We don't know that yet," Graystar denied.

"I was wondering why I hadn't seen him at the meetings," murmured Smokefern. "I suppose that explains it. Of course I'll come with you."

"Yes, I'll come too," Featherpath said quickly.

"Excellent. I'll just speak to Morningrose quickly, and then we'll be on our way."

Featherpath and Smokefern went to wait at the camp entrance while Graystar ran over to tell her deputy that she'd assigned Echoleaf to the next round of the watch.

~†~

In the warrior's den, Snowsong lay in her nest, her chin rested on the edge, her usually bright green eyes staring out of the den. The sun was high in the sky, and many cats were milling about the clearing, most of them enjoying meals together.

The hunting patrol was entering the camp, their heads held high, with prey hanging from their jaws. Snowsong could hardly remember the last time she had gone hunting.

In fact, she could hardly remember anything. She had been so miserable lately, with the death of Pinestep. She had hardly been able to sleep without having nightmares of waking up to find Pinestep dead beside her all over again. And so it was difficult for her to find the energy to do much.

Dawnpetal had done the best she could, but the herbs weren't working. No herb could bring back Pinestep.

Talking to Tinypaw had helped a little bit, made her feel like her old self, always there for the clanmates that needed her. She didn't know where that motherly cat was now.

Snowsong closed her eyes, only to open them again at the sound of pawsteps near the front of the den. She opened one green eye, expecting to see Dawnpetal with her usual poppyseeds. But instead, standing in front of her was Kestrelberry.

The tom's golden pelt was almost as brightly colored as the sun, and Snowsong had to blink to adjust her vision as he stood in front of her, blocking the light. She slowly sat up, dipping her head.

Kestrelberry did the same, and his green eyes met hers. They looked at each other awkwardly for a few heartbeats before Snowsong cleared her throat.

"Did you hear about Graystar's new patrols?" She asked, willing herself to not lie on the ground and ignore him.

Kestrelberry almost looked surprised that she was going to speak to him.

"Umm," he said, looking down. "Yeah."

Snowsong sighed inwardly; it would to be difficult to get a conversation going. But she had to try. That's what Pinestep would do, she reassured herself. But before she could continue, Kestrelberry spoke up.

"I got you this," he said, pushing a squirrel towards Snowsong. "The hunting patrol just got back, and this was their best catch." Snowsong noticed it was quite large -- it must've been so heavy that it couldn't run away.

Snowsong didnt feel hungry, however. She pushed it back towards him with her nose.

"I'm not hungry. Thanks for thinking of me, though," she said quietly, giving him her best smile.

Instead of seeing the kind, shy look in Kestrelberry's eyes, she was returned with an angry, upset glare.

"You need to eat!" he hissed, his long tail flicking behind him fiercely. He stared at her this way for a couple of heartbeats when suddenly he seemed to realize what he was doing.

"Sorry," he whispered, his tail drooping behind him. "I just don't want you to starve." Snowsong sensed sincerity in his voice, but there was something else shown in his eyes, too... Regret?

"It's f-fine," she stammered, reaching out with her paw to pull it closer.

She bent down to take a bite out of the squirrel, but stopped. She hadn't even offered some to Kestrelberry!

"Would you like to share with me?" She offered, beckoning for him to sit beside her.

Kestrelberry shook his head, but he settled down next to her anyways.

"I already ate with Lightdream," he said ruefully, as if he had wished he'd waited to eat with her. Snowsong shrugged and was about to take a bite when Kestrelberry tapped her on the shoulder with his tail.

"I know you're still mourning Pinestep," he said cautiously, "but I promise you, it won't get better if you lie around and do nothing." He grimaced and shook his head. "That came out wrong, I'm sorry. I don't blame you for grieving. But I was wondering, umm..." He paused once more. "Would you like to go hunting with me tomorrow? The clan needs your help. We've lost many warriors." 

Snowsong opened her mouth to refuse, but something inside her told her not to. Kestrelberry was right. Pinestep wasn't going to be coming back any time soon.

If she didn't do something with her life, then it would all fade away and be for nothing.

"Okay," she said plainly, giving him a warm smile. Kestrelberry returned the smile with a grin, and looked down at the squirrel.

Snowsong took a bite of the prey, savoring the meaty taste on her tongue. She ate another mouthful, and then another. Then she paused, uneasiness filling her belly. The third bite didn't taste right. Perhaps it had just been a bad part of the squirrel? She took one more bite, and once again swallowed a bitter taste.

Moments later pain pulsed through her veins, blossoming from her stomach to her head and limbs, and she crumpled to the ground, shaking with discomfort. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. What was wrong with her? She had never felt so much physical pain before. She knew injuries only from the occasional thorn infection and battles with rogues, but this was different; it came from inside her, not from a superficial wound, and she cried out as her muscles were seized with spasms. She began to cough and splutter, as though her stomach itself was trying to escape from its place in her body. It contracted and twisted and Snowsong gasped for air.

Through the haze of panic and pain she could just barely see Kestrelberry stepping back, his eyes widening with fear, and hear his cries of "Snowsong? What's happening? What's wrong?"

Snowsong took one last shuddering breath, closed her eyes, and turned her face to the sky, ready to join Pinestep.

Kestrelberry screamed.

~†~

Graystar overturned a fallen leaf with her nose and sniffed carefully. A few different scents registered; the earthy aroma of leaves and dirt, first of all, but she could also smell where Shademask had passed not long ago, chasing a mouse. There was no sign of Blackpaw.

The fluffy feline lifted her head to check on her two companions. Smokefern had his muzzle to the ground, trying to catch a scent as Graystar had been doing, and Featherpath was staring into the distance with a fretful expression.

"Any luck?" Graystar questioned.

"None," Smokefern muttered with a frustrated sigh.

Featherpath closed her eyes. "He's been killed, I know it," she moaned. "The traitors took him and hid his body so that we could never find it, and then we stress over the fact that he's missing! It's just another way they're getting to us!" Her voice was steadily rising to a shrill cry.

"Calm down," Graystar told her, moving so that she could touch her tail-tip to the paranoid she-cat's shoulder. Featherpath jumped, startled, then quickly subsided.

"We've looked over almost the entire territory at this point," Graystar observed. Her tail drooped. "If we haven't found any trace of Blackpaw by now... I don't think we will."

"Even if there was a scent, it would be old by now," Featherpath pointed out. "You said he'd been missing since yesterday."

The leader nodded. "Right. As much as I hate to admit it... I think we should go back. I'm worried about the camp, and we're not doing any good chasing our tails out here."

Featherpath flattened her ears. "So... Blackpaw really is dead?"

"Yes, I believe he is," Graystar murmured, her voice heavy with grief. "The traitors did a good job of covering up their tracks this time."

Smokefern, although evidently saddened by the prospect of yet another lost clanmate, also looked relieved at the thought of going back to camp. He didn't say anything, but Graystar imagined that the introverted tom was probably ready for a nap. They had been out in the forest for quite a while now. Graystar wouldn't mind some time to rest herself.

The group was making their way back to camp when a piercing cry rose above the trees. A scream. Graystar, Smokefern, and Featherpath exchanged glances. It was coming from the direction of camp.

Without saying anything, all three cats broke into a sprint, making a beeline for the camp entrance. Graystar skidded to a stop in the middle of the camp clearing and looked around wildly for the source of the screaming.

Kestrelberry had just backed out of the warrior's den, his golden fur standing on end, his expression telling tales of unspeakable horror. Multiple cats were running towards him, including Graystar. Honeyrose and Echolight reached him first, and after taking one look at his face, they both darted into the warrior's den to find out what had horrified him so.

Graystar shouldered her way past several curious warriors to reach Kestrelberry's side. She stepped in front of him, turning to face him so that he was forced to look directly at her.

"Kestrelberry. What happened?" Graystar demanded.

The tom's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Echolight poked her head out from the den. "It's Snowsong," she announced.

A minute later Honeyrose appeared beside her. "Snowsong is dead," she decreed.

Once again, the world dropped out from under Graystar's paws. She felt like she was falling, falling far even though she was standing on solid ground. She must have swayed a little, because Lightdream pressed into her side to steady her.

Shademask went in to help Honeyrose pull the body out into the clearing; Echolight trailed after them carrying a half-eaten squirrel by the tail.

Dawnpetal appeared then, taking over and skillfully assessing Snowsong's body. Her snow-white pelt was unmarked, though the fur was streaked with dirt and bits of bedding clung to it. Her once-bright green eyes were dull and glassy.

Dawnpetal sniffed cautiously at Snowsong's mouth, then recoiled. "Poison," she meowed.

Echolight had been examining the squirrel she'd brought out from the den. "Her prey has deathberries in it," she called to Dawnpetal.

The medicine cat went to investigate the claim, nudging the half-eaten prey with a single claw and then sniffing it. "You're right," she murmured in a quiet voice that everyone strained to hear. "Someone poisoned Snowsong's prey."

Arguments broke out immediately; Graystar could hear Featherwing say, "but who would want to hurt Snowsong?" and Honeyrose called out "it must have been someone on the hunting patrol!"

As Dawnpetal ordered Echolight to go wash her paws in the river, Whisperdrizzle pushed his way through the crowd to stand in front of Kestrelberry. The two toms faced each other uneasily, then Whisperdrizzle jerked his chin in the direction of Snowsong's limp form.

"You brought the prey to her, didn't you?" Whisperdrizzle asked quietly. "You killed her, just because she didn't want to be with you." 

Kestrelberry shook his head adamantly and stepped back. "No! I didn't want to hurt her, I swear! I- I- I just wanted her to eat!" he insisted, his voice a sob. He sounded as though he were on the verge of tears. "I didn't know about the deathberries!"

Whisperdrizzle continued to stare critically at Kestrelberry. "You killed Snowsong."

"No!" Kestrelberry yowled. Suddenly he narrowed his eyes as his accuser. "You! You don't think I haven't noticed you sneaking around, following me wherever I go?" the golden tom exclaimed. "I bet you did it because you were- you were- jealous! You put deathberries in the squirrel!"

Whisperdrizzle's blue-green gaze hardened. "I never touched Snowsong's prey."

"Enough," Graystar commanded, moving between them. "Yelling accusations at each other will not solve anything."

Whisperdrizzle lowered his head and stepped back, as if to disappear back into the crowd, but Smokeflash and Basilwisp were closest to him and they moved away, keeping the blue-gray tom in the center.

"What do we do now? How do we find out who did it?" Rainsong murmured to Leafsky beside her.

"I don't trust either of them," Leafsky replied.

Graystar thought fast. She needed to talk to both toms, but seperately, otherwise it would be all too easy for another fight to break out. And she wanted to keep them seperate from the rest of the clan until they'd calmed down, just in case some headstrong warriors tried to take matters into their own paws.

"Kestrelberry, I want to talk to you in my den, please. Morningrose, you too," she meowed, gesturing to the deputy. "And Whisperdrizzle... You will wait for me in the medicine den with Dawnpetal."

Morningrose gave the leader a wide-eyed stare, and when Graystar looked uncomprehendingly back at her, the deputy darted over to whisper in her ear, "don't leave Dawnpetal alone with him. Have someone else keep guard too."

"Oh, alright," Graystar agreed, and glanced around for someone capable that she trusted. Lightdream was still beside her. "Lightdream, you'll go with Whisperdrizzle and Dawnpetal, please," Graystar ordered the fluffy white tom.

Lightdream puffed out his chest, proud to be chosen by the leader, but then he told her "there's really no need, I trust Whisperdrizzle," before turning and trotting towards the medicine den.

Graystar shook her head and looked around. Morningrose was escorting Kestrelberry to the leader's den, and Whisperdrizzle and Dawnpetal were following Lightdream. The rest of the cats in the clearing were just beginning to disperse when a loud voice called out "hey, what's going on here?"

Snowstrike, Tigersplash, Smallcloud, and Icespark were standing at the camp entrance, having finally returned from the morning's border patrol, much later than expected. Snowstrike was the one who had spoken. Graystar was about to ask what had taken them so long when she noticed that Smallcloud was leaning into Tigersplash, lending support from the big black tom. Smallcloud's left flank was bleeding freely from an open gash.

Graystar gasped and rushed towards them. "What happened? Were you attacked?" she demanded, horrified by Smallcloud's wound. Closer inspection revealed that a whole patch of fur and skin was missing from his flank, sticky with blood and decorated with bits of rock and rubble.

"No, nothing like that," Snowstrike said with a casual roll of her eyes. "I wish I could say that he revealed his traitorous nature and we jumped him for it," she continued, shooting a dark look at the injured tom, "but no. You know that rocky hillside at the border, where there's a really steep drop to the dry riverbed? Blunderpaws here just decided to trip while walking along the top of it. He went skidding down the rocks on his side. Scraped his flank right off."

Icespark nodded, agreeing with her clanmate's explanation. "That's why it took us so long to return. We had to rescue Smallcloud, and then we couldn't move very fast, with him being injured."

"If we'd had any sense, we would have left the back-stabber there," Snowstrike grumbled so that only Graystar could hear her. Evidently the snowy she-cat shared the opinion that Smallcloud had assisted with Cascadefall's murder.

Smallcloud tried to smile, but it turned into a wince of pain. "Sorry to worry you, Graystar," he squeaked. "I didn't mean to hold up the patrol, honest."

Graystar shook her head. "I'm just glad you weren't hurt worse," she told the little tom. "Will you three help him to the medicine den? Dawnpetal should see to his wound immediately. Tell Lightdream to have Whisperdrizzle wait for me outside my den instead."

Tigersplash, who had been silent so far, narrowed his eyes. "What happened with Whisperdrizzle?"

Graystar had to take a deep breath before she could answer. "Snowsong was killed," she meowed finally. "With deathberries. Whisperdrizzle and Kestrelberry are the two most likely culprits."

All four of the patrol cats reacted at that. "Snowsong is dead?" exclaimed Icespark. Smallcloud gasped and nearly toppled over, while Tigersplash just furrowed his eyes even more. Snowstrike said, "Kestrelberry? Really? I thought he, y'know, liked her."

"So did I," Graystar confessed. "But I suppose sometimes those feelings can make us do irrational things."

"Like killing the cat we love?" Tigersplash muttered skeptically.

Graystar flicked an ear. "That's what I'm going to find out."

The powerful tom held her gaze with a concerned stare. "Graystar, don't you think you could use some help with questioning them, if one of them really is a traitor?" Tigersplash asked. "I can help you."

"Thank you, but I'll have Morningrose with me," the leader declined politely. "Please stay with Smallcloud for now. I need to go."

After making sure that Smallcloud was well supported by Tigersplash and Icespark on the way to the medicine den (Snowstrike had volunteered to go forewarn Dawnpetal), Graystar turned and ran back to her own den, eager to get this whole questioning thing over and done with.

Inside the leader's den, Kestrelberry was seated at the back, staring at his paws, while Morningrose paced back and forth in front of him. The deputy looked up with relief as Graystar entered. "What took you so long?" she wanted to know.

"The border patrol's back. Smallcloud's injured. I'll tell you about it later," she promised Morningrose when the blonde-furred she-cat tilted her head curiously.

Graystar sat down, gesturing for Morningrose to do the same, and turned her attention to Kestrelberry. "So," she began. "Tell me about it."

"I didn't do it," Kestrelberry insisted immediately. "The hunting patrol had just returned, and I knew Snowsong hadn't eaten yet today, so I took her the squirrel. She only ate a few mouthfuls before she started shaking and crying out, and she... she..." he ducked his head, but not before Graystar could see the shine of tears in his eyes.

"You didn't share the meal with Snowsong?" Morningrose asked.

He shook his head. "No. I'd already eaten with Lightdream. You can ask him," he supplied. "I hadn't thought of Snowsong until the hunting patrol got back, otherwise I would have waited to share with her."

"A good thing you didn't, then, or we would have one more death on our paws," Graystar murmured quietly. She was still reluctant to believe that Kestrelberry had poisoned the prey.

"Why didn't you notice that the prey had been stuffed with deathberries? Wasn't it heavy?" questioned the deputy.

Kestrelberry looked surprised, as if he hadn't thought of that before. "Yes," he said, "but I just thought that it was heavy because it was fat. The best prey on the pile."

"Do you know who brought in the squirrel?" Graystar ventured.

"No, I wasn't watching who had what catch."

Morningrose hummed disprovingly, as though she didn't believe the answer.

Kestrelberry shrank back, making himself look smaller than he actually was. "Please, Graystar, you have to believe me. I would never hurt Snowsong."

"I know," Graystar sighed, ignoring the look Morningrose shot her. "But you were the only one with her at the time. You gave her the prey. You have to know how that looks for you."

Kestrelberry just nodded mutely.

Graystar sighed again, then glanced at the den entrance, where she knew Whisperdrizzle was waiting just out of sight. "Alright," she meowed, deciding to change the mood of her questions. "Why do you think it was Whisperdrizzle?"

The golden tom flattened his ears, looking embarrassed. "He's been following me for days," he told Graystar. "I think he must blame me for Pinestep's death, too."

"He does," Graystar agreed, remembering a previous conversation she'd had with Whisperdrizzle, before thinking a heartbeat later that maybe she shouldn't have said that.

Kestrelberry shrank lower, but continued talking. "I think, well, I think he poisoned the prey either for me, or to put the blame on me. I think he wants me dead."

Neither Graystar nor Morningrose had anything to say to that. After a few long moments of silence, where neither could think of any more questions, Graystar finally flicked her tail. "Alright, Kestrelberry, you can go," she meowed, dismissing him. "Please tell Whisperdrizzle to come in as you leave."

Kestrelberry nodded and hurried past the two she-cats with his head down.

Graystar and Morningrose had barely a minute to exchange hopeless glances with each other before Whisperdrizzle entered, his blue-green eyes cautiously guarded.

Graystar started the same way as she had with Kestrelberry. "Tell me about it, Whisperdrizzle," she ordered gently.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Start with what you know happened to Snowsong," Graystar prompted.

Whisperdrizzle stared steadily at her for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Alright," he meowed.

"I know Snowsong was in the warrior's den, and I know Kestrelberry took food to her. I watched him do it. I don't know what happened inside, but after a while Kestrelberry came out screaming, and then Snowsong turned out to be dead." Whisperdrizzle explained all this in a quiet, stable voice.

Morningrose repeated one of Graystar's earlier questions. "Did you see who had caught the squirrel?"

Whisperdrizzle tilted his head. "Shademask, maybe? No, they had a mouse... Sorry, I'm not sure."

"What were you doing when Kestrelberry took the squirrel to Snowsong?" Graystar asked.

"I was on guard with Echoleaf and Basilwisp. As she knows," he answered, indicating Morningrose with his tail.

Morningrose nodded. "Yes, that's true," she told the leader. "I assigned him to the base of the Highrock."

Graystar twitched her ears. That was a good alibi; someone would have seen him leave his post to poison the squirrel, if it had been him. "Okay, then tell us why you believe Kestrelberry killed Snowsong."

"It makes the most sense," the tom replied sensibly. "He gave her the food. He was with her when she died. And he killed Pinestep, why not Snowsong too?"

Graystar narrowed her eyes. That had always been a point of contention for him. "Why do you insist that Kestrelberry killed Pinestep?"

"Because he was jealous," Whisperdrizzle explained. "He's always been in love with Snowsong, and the traitor kills were a perfect excuse to get her mate out of the way, so that he could have a chance."

"If that was the case, then why turn around and kill Snowsong?"

"Simple. Snowsong rejected him yesterday. He couldn't bear it, got angry, and put deathberries in her food so that she would be gone, but Kestrelberry wouldn't have had to touch her with his claws."

There was a false, practiced tone to Whisperdrizzle's voice that Graystar picked up on immediately.

"I can see where you're coming from, but everything just doesn't add up. And I'm not so convinced you believe your own explanation, Whisperdrizzle," Graystar accused him. "Why do you continue to say this, when Palefern and Troutstripe and Laurelgaze were all proven to be traitors? Why are you so determined that Kestrelberry is one of them?"

Whisperdrizzle hesitated for the first time, shuffling his paws and twitching his tail-tip. "I can't tell you that," he muttered finally.

"Why not?" Morningrose demanded.

"I just can't."

"'Can't' because you don't know, or because you don't want us to know?" Graystar queried.

Whisperdrizzle stayed silent, giving nothing away. They sat, staring at each other, until finally Whisperdrizzle lowered his gaze. But he still said nothing.

Graystar exhaled heavily and lashed her tail. "Fine, Whisperdrizzle, you're free to go," she told him.

Morningrose jumped up, surprised. "Just like that? But he hasn't told us anything!"

Graystar gestured for her to calm down. "I know, Morningrose. It's alright." She couldn't explain why she was ending the questioning already, when they were no closer to reaching a solution. Perhaps the same force that stilled Whisperdrizzle's tongue was holding hers back, too.

Whisperdrizzle bowed his head gratefully to the leader, stood, and began walking out of the den. As he passed Graystar, however, he murmured a single word, quiet enough that only she could hear.

"Both."

There was a long silence after Whisperdrizzle had left the den. Graystar could tell that Morningrose was slightly upset that both toms had been let off without revealing a clear answer, but she didn't say anything about it.

"What do you think?" she asked her deputy after a long minute.

"They're both suspicious," she declared. "The fact that Whisperdrizzle couldn't answer your question was fishy. And not in a Troutstripe way."

Despite the situation, Graystar nearly snorted a laugh.

"But Kestrelberry definitely had the means, and maybe the motives," Morningrose continued, trying to stay serious. "The whole thing has jealousy written all over it."

"Agreed," Graystar sighed. She thought for a moment longer, then asked, "who all was on the hunting patrol?"

"Shademask, Rainsong, Crowtail, and Smokeflash," the deputy answered promptly. "But I don't think any of them would have a reason to kill Snowsong."

"Why have any of the traitors killed anyone?" Graystar retorted, starting to become irritated. "Snowsong, Longclaw, Cascadefall, Pinestep, Mallowheart, did they all have reasons to die?"

Morningrose's response was silence.

Graystar shook her head. "And don't forget poor Blackpaw."

"Wait, Blackpaw was killed too?" Morningrose gasped.

"It seems so. But his body has disappeared without a trace."

Morningrose's gaze dropped to her paws. "Even the apprentices aren't safe..." she murmured.

"Perhaps we should have some warriors sleep in the apprentice den," Graystar suggested. "To keep them safe."

"Maybe."

Graystar sighed one last time. "Well, we have to make a decision. Someone is responsible for the deaths. The question is, who?"

~★~ Comment your vote down below who you think is a traitor! The cat with the most votes will be exiled in the next chapter! ~★~