Slightly longer chapter again but it is difficult to keep these scenes short. I know we've been going with this since September so apologies for how long this round has been, but if the voting doesn't find the killer by Voting 7 then Voting 8 will be a decider chapter.

Cloudeater listened carefully to his clanmate's discussions, occasionally shooting nervous glances at Sunnystar before the discussion finally came to a conclusion. He padded back towards the leader and quietly meowed the results to him. Sunnystar nodded, his expression somewhat unchanged, but there was clear relief in his eyes at the result.

"Pinerunner has been voted innocent, she will stay in SolarClan. Now, for StarClan's sake, make sure to follow the rules and stop leaving camp alone!" the leader snapped, earning murmurs of annoyance from his Clan as he walked off, with Cloudeater following him awkwardly.

The Clan continued to talk among themselves, but Birchmask sighed, refusing to leave his daughter's side. Eveningpaw gazed sadly at Oakpaw's limp form. "We should move her for the vigil," she murmured quietly, and the tom nodded, swallowing as he tried to hold back his misery. Together, they moved the small she-cat's body, and walked away from the crowd.

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A moon had passed since the death of Oakpaw, and it had been fairly quiet within the Clan, with each cat making sure to heed Sunnystar's warning. With time continuing to pass, the nursery had become more active as Splinterwood's kits grew.

As the sun began to set, the queen watched her kits playing with tired amusement in her eyes, wrapping her tail around her paws as she tried to stay awake.

"I'm Beestar, and I'll protect SolarClan no matter what! You'll never get past me, evil badger!" Beekit squeaked, and Cloverkit looked at his sister anxiously.

"O-Ok Beestar, I'll go then," he mumbled, shifting his paws. Beekit squinted, letting out a huff of annoyance.

"Badgers can't talk! I'm so bored, why can't I play with Oakpaw? It's been forever!" Beekit asked, turning around and looking at her mother in confusion. Splinterwood sighed, unable to meet her kit's puzzled gaze.

"I told you Beekit, Oakpaw moved away, to StarClan. She can't play with you anymore," she lied, and Beekit scowled.

"It's not fair! I want to visit StarClan then!" Beekit wailed, as Cloverkit shrunk away from his sister's yowling, settling down beside his mother as he closed his eyes.

Splinterwood grimaced, struggling to come up with another lie to calm her kit down. Before she could speak, she noticed Cloudeater padding into the den, having heard the kit's wailing from outside. He gave his mate an affectionate lick, and then leaned down slightly to look at his daughter.

"I'm sorry, little one, but StarClan is such a long way from here, you would be too tired for the journey. Perhaps one day you can see her again, but not now," he meowed softly, trying to reassure the kit as he pushed down the guilt in his chest.

The kit groaned, but nodded, too tired to complain any further. She purred as her father nuzzled her gently, before nudging her slightly and moving the kit to lie beside her brother.

"Sleep well," he murmured. His mate shot him an appreciative look, and he walked out of their den.

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A little while after her father had left, Beekit felt her mother and brother relax beside her, and she knew that they had fallen asleep. With an idea forming in her head, the kit opened her eyes and carefully climbed over her mother's tail. She began pawing her brother, and he let out a confused mumble, opening one eye as he glanced at his sister.

"What do you want...?"

"Let's sneak out and visit StarClan! Then I can see Oakpaw again," she whispered, and Cloverkit shook his head.

"I'm too tired, and you shouldn't go. Cloudeater said you can't visit her," he replied, his eye narrowed at the suggestion.

"But I want to see her again, I miss her," Beekit whined, and Cloverkit closed his eyes again, ignoring his sister as he tried to go back to sleep. Scowling again, Beekit huffed.

"Fine. I'll go find her myself," the she-kit whispered, and began to quietly make her way out of the den.

The she-kit held back a gasp as she looked at the sky, with stars dotted across the horizon, and she tilted her head as she looked at them.

'Are those stars? Maybe they lead to StarClan! But there are so many of them... Maybe the ones furthest away are StarClan? Cloudeater said it was a long journey... '

With a plan in her head, the small kit began stumbling through camp, trying not to fall over as she navigated the ground while staring upwards. As she looked at the sky, she didn't notice a cat watching her, quietly slipping into the darkness as they began to follow the kit. After a while of trying to find her way out, she managed to slip through a gap in the trees, and continued heading forwards.

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Beekit felt like she had been walking forever, and she panted in exhaustion, her tiny legs shaking as she struggled forwards.

"I don't understand, why can't I find StarClan? Where is it?!" Beekit wailed, and she finally collapsed. She turned her head around, and let out a squeak of frustration as she noticed she could still see the slightly twisted trees from camp that she had walked through. Without realising, the she-kit had been following the stars in circles, and had ended up back where she had started.

"You're looking for StarClan?"

Beekit would've jumped in fright if she'd had the energy, with the silhouette of a cat standing in the shadows. As they walked forwards, they became more visible in the moonlight, staring at the kit with narrowed eyes.

"Y-Yes. I want to find Oakpaw!" the kit squeaked, and the cat's expression changed.

"Well, that's easy. I know exactly where she is. I can take you to her if you want?" they asked, and the kit felt a surge of happiness within her.

"Yes please!"

The cat considered her words for a moment, thinking for a few seconds as they nervously glanced at the close camp entrance, and then back at the excited kit.

"Alright then. Don't worry, it isn't too far from here."

The cat grabbed the kit by her scruff and lifted her from the ground, and they walked quickly through the trees, beginning to head west as they made their way down the hill.

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After a while of being carried, Beekit had regained some of her energy. She squirmed, trying to get a good look at the cat carrying her. "Is it much further?" She complained.

The cat let out a sigh through their nose, readjusting their grip on the small kit. When Beekit pressed again, the cat shook their head, continuing on without answering.

The little kitten had just about had enough, and was about to ask if they could turn around and head back to camp, when the cat put her down. "Now, look that way," they meowed. Beekit followed their gaze, seeing a huge stretch of water.

"StarClan is just down that river," they murmured, green eyes gazing down at Beekit.

The young she-kit hesitated. She wanted to see Oakpaw, but... "But mama always says the river is dangerous! She says I'm not allowed to go near there yet."

The cat sighed, their eyes narrowing in annoyance. "But you want to see Oakpaw, don't you?"

Beekit gazed at her paws for a moment, fluffing up her fur as a cold breeze flew by. "Of course I do! But daddy told me he'd show me the river when I was old enough to swim, he doesn't want me to get hurt..." she squeaked, looking at the cat pleadingly. "Can we go back to camp? I... I don't think I want to see Oakpaw anymore..."

The cat sat down beside her, pressing their fur against hers to keep her out of the rising wind. "But think about how surprised Oakpaw will be! Think of how pleased she'll be when you find her by yourself! You don't have to tell her you had help, you know. It'll be your achievement, and she'd be so proud!"

A small frown on her face, Beekit studied the river more closely. The stars shone down upon it, reflecting in the water. Didn't her mother always say that if StarClan was mad, they'd cover the stars with clouds? Then... this should be okay right? 'I do want to see Oakpaw...'

Making up her mind, the young cat looked back up at the figure next to her. "You're right..." she slowly mewed.

"Then come on!" The cat stood up, gazing at her excitedly. "I'll show you how to do it!"

Beekit followed more slowly, her legs still tired from all the walking she had already done. When she reached the side of the river and glanced down, she saw a grey cat staring back at her. With a squeak, she jumped back. "There's a cat in there!" She exclaimed, her fur bushed up.

The cat next to her chuckled. "That's you, silly little Beekit. Water shows you yourself when you look down in it."

Reassured, Beekit slowly approached the water again, raising a paw when she gazed down at it, and saw the other cat, herself, do the same. "Wait until Cloverkit hears about this!!" She squeaked proudly.

Slowly, she put one paw into the water. "It's... wet..." she trailed off.

"Well of course it's wet, it's water!" The other cat snapped. Beekit jumped in shock at the harsh tone, splashing herself with water. The cat shook themselves, sending Beekit an apologetic look. "Sorry, I'm a bit jumpy. Your mother will have her nest lined with my fur if she finds out about this."

Nodding in understanding, Beekit edged further into the water, until she was standing in it with all four of her paws. The cat came to stand next to her, gently steadying her against the slow current. "Now, all you need to do is keep walking forwards with confidence. At some point, the ground will disappear beneath your feet, but if you continue making those walking movements, you should be okay."

Beekit nodded, determined to get this right and see Oakpaw. She stepped forward, deeper into the river, and continued wading even as the water reached her belly fur.

The ground disappeared from underneath her paw as she tried to take another step, and she lurched forward, swallowing a mouthful of water as she tumbled into the river.

She flailed, tumbling over and over again in the water, until she had lost track of which way was up and which was down. At one point, her head broke the surface and she drew in a breath of air, being able to look around long enough to see a tail disappear over the hill. Then, a wave swept over her, and she tumbled back into the cold, dark wetness of the river.

'Someone help me!' She thought, her tired paws slowing down. She gasped for breath, only to inhale more water. The river seemed darker than before. Her vision blurred, her paws completely stopping as she was swept with the current.

'Mama... Save me...'

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The sun was rising, and Romeo padded at the head of the dawn patrol, proud Cloudeater had trusted him enough to lead it. Next to him, Peachpaw trotted, his apprentice scanning his surroundings for anything out of the ordinary. Nectardust followed the pair, with Adderspark taking up the rear.

When they neared the river, Nectardust let out a gasp, rushing past them to something on the riverbank. When Romeo caught up, Nectardust was pressing his ear against a scrap of grey fur. The black and white tom got up, shaking his head sadly, and Romeo made out the small figure laying on the sand.

"Beekit!" He exclaimed, sniffing the small she-kit.

Nectardust shook, and Peachpaw pressed himself against his father, comforting him as much as being comforted himself. "I..." the tom's voice faltered. "I was afraid it was Cloverkit at first. But this is just as bad, and there's nothing we can do anymore. She's gone..."

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Splinterwood was frantic as she paced across camp, her mind racing as she thought about where her lost kit could've gone. Beside her, Cloverkit watched her with confusion, wondering why his sister hadn't been there when he'd woken up.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the patrol walking into camp with the tiny kit's body, until Cloverkit cried out from her side.

"Mama! Is that Beekit? Why isn't she moving?!"

Fearful, the queen turned towards the camp entrance, and her eyes widened as she spotted Romeo carrying the limp kit, and she raced over to him, heart pounding.

"What happened to her? Is she alright?!" Splinterwood shrieked. Romeo looked at her with sad eyes, lowering himself to the ground and putting the kit down gently.

"I'm so sorry, Splinterwood. She's gone. It was too late to do anything by the time that we found her, but she was soaking wet and washed up on the riverbank," he meowed.

The deputy noticed his mate's shrieks, and Cloudeater made his way over to the queen. As more cats began to notice the commotion at the front of camp, it seemed a crowd had started to gather behind the patrol.

The deputy let out a horrified sob as he saw his daughter's tiny body laid out in front of him, and nearly fell against his mate as he struggled to accept the sight of her limp form.

"I- I don't understand, she knew the river was dangerous. It's not exactly close to camp... there's no way such a young kit could've found the river on her own!" Splinterwood stammered, before anger began to take hold of her, and she turned to the anxious crowd of cats gathered around them.

"It was one of you, wasn't it?! One of you killed my innocent kit!" the queen screeched, rage in her eyes as she scanned each cat one by one.

Watching the distressed she-cat, Cypressberry and Sycamoresight exchanged a glance, and padded quietly towards Splinterwood.

"W-We know what it's like to lose a kit, too. I-I'm sorry this happened to you, she was so young..." Cypressberry meowed. Sycamoresight nodded, trying to brush her tail over the she-cat's flank in comfort.

"Leave me alone! Your kits might be gone, but they weren't murdered, you couldn't possibly understand this!" Splinterwood snapped, and the she-cats winced, but stepped back.

Sunnystar walked up to Cloudeater, and for once, the tom seemed calm.

"No cat should have to bury their own kit, especially not with a kit so young. I agree this may have been a murder, but I can make the accusation if you need me to," the leader murmured, quiet enough so only Cloudeater could hear him. The tom swallowed, but shook his head.

"No. I won't let the killer get away with this. I will get justice for my kit," he began, looking at his kit with grief one more time, and then he raised his voice as he directed his attention to his clanmates.

"I accuse...!"

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Attacked: Beekit

Healed: Birchmask (incorrect)

Accused: ...?

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