[header art drawn by me]

"Mosspaw! Mosspaw, wake up! Now!"

The apprentice curled up tighter in her nest. "Go away," she she-cat mustered.

"No, wake up! This is important!" The cat speaking gave her a hefty shove, startling Mosspaw fully awake. Her open eyes revealed a dark figure. Four black paws stood at her side, and as she glanced upwards, Mosspaw spotted Sootpaw standing above her. She immediately rose to her paws, giving her pelt a shake.

"Sootpaw? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly. Some of his wounds had been treated with a sticky green substance, others just wrapped with cobwebs. It was visible that he was favoring one foreleg over the other. His eyes also betrayed anxiety as he gazed down at his sister.

"It's Hollyflame! He's dead! The whole Clan is in shock!"

Mosspaw's green eyes widened. A quick glance around the den showed that nobody was still inside. Pushing past Sootpaw, she darted outside, fur on end and still ruffled from sleep. Her littermate followed soon after, bushy tail swishing. Mintstar was crouched by a body in the middle of camp. Her tail drooped and her ears were flat against her head. Snowbranch stood by her, a frown on her face. Berryheart sat on the opposite side of Hollyflame's body, paws feeling his ginger fur and examining injuries.

"There you are!" came a voice from near Mosspaw. She turned her head to see a tortoiseshell she-cat, her eyes filled with fear. The young cat was Doepaw, one of Mosspaw's denmates and a rather sweet molly. She never looked down upon Mosspaw or Sootpaw for their rogue ancestry, and believed they were perfectly innocent cats. She was one of the only friends Mosspaw had made recently, and appreciated her companionship.

"Oh Mosspaw, I'm so worried! First a rogue attacks Larkwhisker and Sootpaw, now someone died," she mewed hurriedly, tail lashing. "I hope everything is okay! I can't imagine another rogue battle." Doepaw, like many other young cats, had been told the story of Ripple's attack. The youngest kits were taught to fear rogues and the past they had created.

"It's okay," Sootpaw mewed comfortingly beside Mosspaw. "It won't come to that."

"I hope," Mosspaw admitted. Her attention was drawn towards the Fallen Tree as Mintstar climbed it. Her commanding yowl broke silenced the talkative cats and all attention was turned to her.

"As many of you know, Hollyflame was found dead this morning. He was posted guard last night and must have been killed on the job."

Doepaw and Mosspaw exchanged nervous looks. Why would a guard be killed, unless...? Was someone trying to sneak into camp?

"We examined the body and are unsure of who killed him," Mintstar meowed. "It's possible that it was a cat from our own ranks, or an outsider." Only silence followed the leader's statement.

Another cat's voice piped up, their tone accusing and angry. "Does anyone else think it might have been Sootpaw or Mosspaw? They're parents were evil cats. For all we know, they could be too." Mosspaw gasped, her eyes searching for the cat who spoke. The voice sounded like Ashnose, and the molly's face did hold an irritated frown.

"Yeah!" shouted Scorchthorn. "Maybe they want to finish what the rogues started!"

Mosspaw's eyes widened. "No!" she shrieked. "It wasn't us at all!" Mintstar's green eyes focused on the apprentices before surveying the rest of the Clan.

"Nonsense," Mintstar hissed. "They have no reason to betray their Clan and their is no evidence that they did this. I assume you remember that just yesterday Sootpaw fought off a rogue."

Mosspaw blinked gratefully. Snowbranch appeared on the tree beside Mintstar, her white pelt contrasting the dark wood.

"There is no proof that a rogue, Clanmate, or apprentice did this," the deputy agreed. She looked to Mintstar for approval, who nodded.

"We will investigate further. For now the Clan will have more defenses and sent out extra patrols," Mintstar announced. "Once the killer is found, they will be severely punished. I have faith in my cats that they wouldn't hurt one another." At this, Mintstar glanced at Mosspaw and her brother.

"But of course, you never know."

a/n — ahh! chapter 5! i hope you're all enjoying this so far. who or what do you think killed hollyflame? i'd love to hear your thoughts! ❤️