Pebblefang woke up to a dull light streaming into the warriors' den, and let out a satisfied sigh. Today would be a good day. She had planned a joint training session with Ivywing, her mate. Oakpaw and Blossompaw would get to work together, which they were generally excited about.

With a yawn, she rolled over to look at Ivywing, who was sleeping soundly next to her. He looked peaceful in the morning sunlight, his chest rising and falling at a steady rate. She almost didn't want to wake him up.

With claws sheathed, the grey she-cat reached over and batted at her mate. Ivywing let out a groan, and opened one eye to look at her. Then he gave her the silly grin that she loved, and pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Are you ready to get the apprentices up?" he asked, as she got up and joined him. He lazily wound his tail around hers.

"I'm sure they're already awake. Robinclaw woke Bluepaw up to go on the dawn patrol, along with Brackentail," she replied with a purr. The two cats got up, making sure to avoid waking Feathersong and Badgerpath, who had sat vigil last night.

They passed by Mottledthorn on their way to the apprentice den, who was carrying a bundle of wet moss to the nursery for Heathershine. Because her kits were not yet three moons old, the queen had to have warriors bring her water. Mottledthorn didn't mind doing it, as she was getting old enough to where getting up early was a strain. The tortoiseshell she-cat dipped her head towards the pair, then ducked inside the nursery.

Pebblefang silently padded into the apprentices' den, with Ivywing close behind her. She nudged Oakpaw repeatedly. Ivywing did the same to Blossompaw. Eventually, the two apprentices woke up . They looked at each other excitedly, then hopped out of their nests.

"Can we do hunting today? Please? No wait, we're both pretty good at hunting already. Fighting?" Blossompaw begged, as she and Oakpaw trotted after Pebblefang and Ivywing. Ivywing chuckled at his apprentice's excitement, and looked at Pebblefang, eyes glinting.

"What do you say? Battle moves today?" he asked. She nodded with a slight smile on her face, causing Blossompaw to start bouncing up and down.

They headed out the camp exit, where Batwhisker and Ravenfeather sat guarding it. Ravenfeather dipped her head towards the group. Batwhisker scoffed when no one responded, and continued talking to Ravenfeather about his catches the day before.

When they reached the training hollow, Pebblefang had the two apprentices continue to practice the leap-and-hold on each other. They had practiced it a few times before, but were still getting a hang of it. Every so often, Pebblefang and Ivywing stopped them to correct their positioning.

Pebblefang had fun. While the apprentices were fighting, she got to talk with Ivywing. When they had to instruct them, Oakpaw listened with awe and admiration. He was a great apprentice.

They eventually returned to camp, satisfied with the progress of Oakpaw and Blossompaw. The two apprentices ran excitedly over to Bluepaw and Willowpaw, who had already arrived back from their respective patrols.

The clan helped themselves to some of the prey brought back by Sedgeheart, Shadeflight, Cedarblaze, and Willowpaw. Pebblefang shared a squirrel with Ivywing. Overall, it was turning out to be a good day.

Badgerpath came over to ask Ivywing to join the dusk patrol, which he did. Pebblefang watched as he left with the tom and Feathersong, then finished off her portion of the squirrel.

She padded into the dirtplace, relieved to see that no one was in there. Then, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and collapsed to the ground. She watched as a blurry form of a cat padded out of the dirtplace. Her breathing grew more and more labored, and her eyes closed.

It . . . had been . . . a good . . . day.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Heathershine drowsily woke up when Mottledthorn padded into the nursery, carrying a bundle of soaked moss. The tortoiseshell she-cat set in down in front of her, then sat down expectantly.

"Drink. You need to keep up your energy," she told Heathershine. Heathershine leaned over and began to lap at the moss, taking care to not disturb Applekit or Twigkit, who were still asleep.

"What's Cedarblaze doing right now?" she asked. She knew that her mate couldn't come in during the mornings, but she hoped that he would come in after his duties.

"He took Willowpaw on a hunting patrol with Sedgeheart and Shadeflight," Mottledthorn replied. She collected the now-dry moss, and flicked her tail towards the kits. "I'm sure when they get back, the apprentices will be willing to play with the kits to give you and Cedarblaze some time together". Then she left, and Heathershine settled down to rest.

True to Mottledthorn's prediction, Willowpaw and Bluepaw were happy to play with the kits. Heathershine watched happily as Applekit begged Willowpaw for a badger ride, while Bluepaw gave Twigkit one. Cedarblaze settled down next to her, and nuzzled her cheek.

"How's your day been?" he asked. Heathershine leaned into him, starting to purr.

"Mottledthorn brought me water multiple times. I had to move Applekit and Twigkit to the apprentices' den for a bit so Berryleaf could clean the nests. Other than that, they just napped and played," she replied. Cedarblaze purred happily. He looked out of the nursery at their kits.

"That's good, I'm glad things are going well. Willowpaw caught a squirrel today, which was a pretty good catch. She prefers fighting, but when she can think of the prey as an opponent, she does good," he told her. They continued to talk, until Applekit and Twigkit came back in, tired. Cedarblaze left them to nap with Heathershine, and promised to come back later.

A bit later, after the training group had arrived back, the murderer padded into the nursery holding a wet ball of moss. They set it down in front of Heathershine, who lapped it up gratefully. She looked up at the murderer thankfully.

"How was your day?" she asked. The murderer unsheathed their claws without her noticing, and smiled darkly at her.

"Oh, I would say that it's turning out great".

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bluepaw padded into the dirtplace, after finishing his mouse. He intended to return quickly, to finish his conversation with Blossompaw. But then he saw his sister's body lying before him, and he collapsed to the ground. He pressed his face into her grey fur, and let out a sob. Pebblefang had been the only family he had left. After their parents had died from greencough, she had taken care of him. She couldn't be gone . . .

His body stiffened, and he realized that Pebblefang had to have been attacked. He needed to go get help. He shakily stood up, then ran out of the dirtplace to the nearest cat he could find.

"Ravenfeather! Ravenfeather, help! Pebblefang has been attacked!" he yowled. The black she-cat immediately shot up from where she had been eating a sparrow, and strode over to him.

"Bluepaw, go get the others, I'll check on Pebblefang," she ordered. The blue apprentice ran towards his mentor, and told her what happened. Robinclaw soon had the entire clan gathered, while Mottledthorn and Berryleaf brought Pebblefang's body into the center of camp.

"I have to go check on Heathershine and the kits," Cedarblaze told Bluepaw guiltily, as he backed up towards the nursery. But, right when he reached the exit, he let out a roar of fury and despair.

"Cedarblaze, what's wrong?" Brackentail asked worriedly. Cedarblaze turned around, clearly dismayed and empty of hope.

"Someone killed Heathershine!" he yowled brokenly. Brackentail immediately rushed into the nursery to check on his sister. His cry of pain was enough confirmation. Brackentail came out with Applekit in his jaws, and set the tom-kit down in front of Cedarblaze. Then he went back in to get Twigkit.

"Where can we take them?" Brackentail asked solemnly. The two kits were drowsy and out of it. They didn't even know what was happening yet.

"The apprentice den is open," Willowpaw answered quickly. She dashed in to make a spot for the two kits. Berryleaf, head hanging, went into the nursery to mourn for his mother.

"This is clearly the work of cats in our clan! There is no scent at all of another clan anywhere in camp or on Pebblefang," Mottledthorn declared.

Muttering spread throughout the group, musing about who it could be. Oakpaw and Bluepaw sat vigil by Pebblefang, while Cedarblaze, Brackentail, and Berryleaf stayed by Heathershine. Willowpaw and Blossompaw brought the kits out to sit vigil as well, with their tails wrapped around the small figures solemnly.

Then the dusk patrol returned, and everyone went quiet. Ivywing looked at them cheerily, tail twitching.

"What's going on, everyone? Are you just glad to see us?" he mewed teasingly. Sedgeheart stepped up to him.

"I'm sorry, Ivywing. Pebblefang was murdered. So was Heathershine," she told him gently. Ivywing's face fell, and he began to shake his head.

"No. No! Pebblefang, where is Pebblefang?" he yowled. The cats cleared, and he ran to his mate's body. He buried his face in her fur, letting out choked sobs. Bluepaw and Oakpaw didn't try to comfort him. They knew there wouldn't be a point.

Feathersong joined Heathershine's vigil, head hanging low. As the cats mourned, Robinclaw brought the unaffected cats into a quiet corner of camp.

"This was clearly the work of two of our own. We need to decide who it was, since it would be unfair to ask the others," she mewed quietly. Sedgeheart glanced at her mate, Brackentail, then turned back and nodded in agreement.

Ravenfeather, Batwhisker, Shadeflight, Mottledthorn, and Badgerpath nodded as well. Badgerpath was the first to speak up. He looked at Robinclaw, then flicked his tail towards Batwhisker.

"I think it was Batwhisker. He's stealthy, and could easily sneak in to kill either of those cats," Badgerpath declared. Batwhisker gaped at him, shocked.

"Look, I know that I'm arrogant, and I rub a lot of cats the wrong way, but that doesn't make me a murderer!" the black tom exclaimed. Sedgeheart looked at him sympathetically.

"Batwhisker, you've been accused, there's nothing we can do. But why don't you choose the second cat to accuse?" she suggested. He looked around the camp, trying to decide on a cat.

"I don't know, Blossompaw? Maybe she didn't like how much time Pebblefang was taking away from Oakpaw, since it meant she got to see her brother less?" he suggested. Mottledthorn nodded.

"I think that settles it then. Let's tell the clan".

Murdered: Pebblefang, Heathershine
Healed: Batwhisker
Accused: Batwhisker, Blossompaw
Revealed: No one
Revived: No one
Murderers Left: 2