Fennelnose sat down in a corner of camp, pining after Tulipfur. The black she-cat was laughing at something that Daisyshine had said, sitting on the other side of the camp clearing among flowers.

Orchidwhisker padded over to his friend, and sat down next to him. He nudged the other tom, and motioned towards Tulipfur. "Come on, Fennelnose. You like her, just go ask how she feels," he advised.

"No way, Orchidwhisker! What if she doesn't like me back? That would make everything awkward," Fennelnose replied, as though he couldn't even imagine confessing his feelings. Orchidwhisker rolled his eyes, and pushed Fennelnose with his paw.

"Whatever you say," the grey tom mewed dismissively. Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, Tulipfur and Daisyshine were talking about the same thing.

"He's staring at you, Tulipfur," Daisyshine told the black she-cat quietly, "he and Orchidwhisker are talking about something". Tulipfur glanced back at the two toms, and watched as Fennelnose quickly averted his gaze.

"I know. He does that a lot," Tulipfur replied. She waved at the tabby tom with her tail, and he waved back happily. "Maybe one day he'll actually be brave enough to walk over here".

Daisyshine snorted, and shook her head with a glance back at Fennelnose. "For some reason, I don't think that that will be happening anytime soon". Tulipfur shoved the white she-cat back, and pointed towards Marigoldleap, who was resting in a patch of flowers.

"I'll go over to Fennelnose if you go over to Marigoldleap," she retorted. Daisyshine shook her head, refusing to look at the ginger tom. Tulipfur turned away from the tom, and continued. "Okay then, new topic".

Meanwhile, Thistlestorm and Iristuft were talking to each other, as they watched Daffodilsong and Azaleawing race each other to the top of a tree.

"Those two are very competitive. Sometimes they act like friends, sometimes they act like enemies," Iristuft mewed. Thistlestorm watched as the two young cats tried to push each other down the tree, and nodded.

"Definitely. I'd say they act like siblings, but me and Rosefern never tried to shove each other out of a tree," he agreed, making an attempt at a joke. Iristuft laughed, and he felt his pelt grow warm with a kind of happy shyness.

Azaleawing made it to the top first, and looked down at Daffodilsong victoriously. "Wow, look at that! Another win for me! What's the score now, fifteen to zero?" she taunted. Daffodilsong stuck his tongue out at her, as he reached the top.

"Whatever, you may win every time we do a climbing competition, but I still beat you at running!" he declared. Azaleawing rolled her eyes, and they returned to the base of the tree.

"Climbing takes more talent and skill than running," she retorted. Daffodilsong shoved her with his paw, and the two cats started play-fighting in the grass.

Meanwhile, Lupinepaw, Tansypaw, Pansypaw, and Petuniapaw were playing a friendly game of hide-and-seek. Lupinepaw was hiding in one of the flower bushes, close to where Iristuft and Thistlestorm were talking. He shuddered, and tried to ignore the conversation. "This is weird," he muttered to himself. All of a sudden, he was tackled out of the bush by Pansypaw.

"Got you!" she exclaimed, jumping around triumphantly. Lupinepaw grumbled, and she playfully shoved him. "Maybe next time, you shouldn't use your catchphrase while hiding".

"I don't have a catchphrase!" he argued, shoving her back. Petuniapaw bounced out of the trees, and joined the two apprentices.

"Sure you do!" she mewed, then lowered her voice and made her tone less cheerful. "This is weird". Lupinepaw gaped at her, outraged.

"I do not sound like that!" he exclaimed. Tansypaw showed up as well, although none of the others could figure out where he had come from.

"No, that's definitely what you sound like," Tansypaw declared. Lupinepaw let out a humph, and sat down on the ground as the others hid again.

Tansypaw returned to hiding in the elders' den with Yarrowstrike, staying completely silent. Lilytail entered the den, and began talking with Yarrowstrike.

"I was thinking that I should maybe retire soon, Yarrowstrike," Lilytail began, "I am well within the normal range, and honestly, I've been getting tired much easier than normal". Yarrowstrike nodded sympathetically.

"I understand. It's a hard decision to make, but once you do, it's relieving," he told her. He motioned to his nest, which was lined with lamb's ear leaves. "Plus, you get the bonus of the most comfortable nest in the clan".

In the forest, Rosefern and Asterheart had gone for a walk. They stopped in a shaded, mossy area, which had been their spot ever since they were apprentices. They curled up together between the roots of a tree, purring.

"I'm glad we get to spend time like this together," Asterheart purred, nuzzling Rosefern. Rosefern nodded, and closed her eyes happily. The two cats soon fell asleep.

Sagepool and Lavendercloud were most likely the only cats actually hunting. It was green-leaf, so the clan didn't really need to send out hunting patrols. Instead, whenever the prey pile got low, cats would go out by themselves or in pairs.

The two mates worked quite well together, and ended up catching two large hares. Lavendercloud would chase them towards Sagepool, who would proceed to grab and kill them. They returned to camp proudly.

Violetfrost was also sleeping, like Marigoldleap, Rosefern, and Asterheart. However, unlike the others, she was sleeping in a tree. She had the odd talent to sleep precisely as long as she wanted to, and to never move. That made her a great watchcat, which she was proud of. It also sometimes freaked the others out, because she would watch them as well.

During what seemed like a normal day in the clan, things were not as they seemed. Two murderers were out and about, ready to enact their plan. As the cats went about their day, and the sun began to set, they struck. One of them snuck into the elders' den, and killed Yarrowstrike as he napped. The other one ambushed Thistlestorm as the tabby tom went out into the woods to clear his thoughts.

When Thistlestorm didn't return from his walk, and the sun was almost hidden by the horizon, Iristuft went out to look for him. It didn't take long for her to find his body. She shrieked, then ran back to camp, trying to get help.

"Someone! Please! Thistlestorm, he's dead!" Iristuft wailed. Rosefern rushed over and began to ask questions, as though she couldn't believe that her brother was dead. Asterheart went to go comfort his mate, as Marigoldleap, Daffodilsong, and Sagepool went to retrieve the body.

"I should go tell Yarrowstrike," Lilytail mewed somberly. She padded into the elders' den, and let out a shriek. "No, Yarrowstrike! No!" Some more cats pulled her out of the den, and moved Yarrowstrike's body to the center of camp. Thistlestorm was laid down next to him, when the others arrived.

"This was murder. Look at the marks on the throat. Those were made by a cat," Sagepool pointed out. He leaned down and sniffed the two cats, then stood up straight. "They smell of our clan. It was one of us". Murmurs spread throughout the clan, accusing and defending various cats. Eventually, Violetfrost stepped forward.

"I think it was Marigoldleap. Think about it. Yarrowstrike was trying to convince his mother to retire to the elders' den, and he didn't want that," Violetfrost pointed out. Marigoldleap gaped at her, shocked. Reluctantly, when no one else stepped forward, Orchidwhisker did with his head hung low.

"Well, since no one else is going to voice their accusations, I suppose I will," he mewed uncomfortably. "When you revealed that it was one of us, I heard multiple cats suggest that Tulipfur murdered Thistlestorm to stop him from courting Iristuft". A few cats gasped, but most of them just shuffled their paws and looked to the ground. It was true, they had said that. And although Marigoldleap was popular, a few of them were considering Violetfrost's argument. She had made a point, since no one else had any possible reason to dislike Yarrowstrike.

"Very well. Let's vote," Sagepool declared. The cats glanced at Marigoldleap and Tulipfur, then turned back to Sagepool and voiced their opinions.

Murdered: Thistlestorm, Yarrowstrike
Healed: Sagepool
Accused: Tulipfur, Marigoldleap
Revealed: No one
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 2