Blood pounded in Lightblaze's ears as he hared through the undergrowth. A flurry of fragmented thoughts flashed through his mind; Pebblestar Whisperstone murder death bloodshed Clans No No No No!

Adrenaline surging through his body, the hazel-eyed tom stopped and spun around, ears pricked.

What was that?

A flash of brown by the roots of a tree, and the tom's overexcited body flinched into action. A claw swiped, and a mouse laid, curled in death, at his feet.

The tom moved instinctively to bury it. He dug a small hole near the tree moving leaves and debris out of the way. As he sank his teeth into the creature, a bitter taste covered his tongue.

Lightblaze spit out the mouse, tongue curdling. He used his claws to open the side of the mouse. Maggots began to spill from inside its tiny body, more than could have feasibly fit in the creature.

But it was alive a second ago! Now it's rotting? Is this a sign from StarClan?

Lightblaze cringed away from the maggots, but he knew that he should bury the mouse anyway at this point, to prevent scavenging predators from being attracted to the remains.

He carefully hooked the body on a claw and set about pushing it to the hole. But as he did, the maggots, all the squirmy creatures in the body, disappeared.

The hazel-eyed tom flung the body away from him with a shriek, stumbling backwards. Every trace of the little white bugs had vanished, replaced by nothing. Scenting the air led only to a rich, delicious scent of freshly killed prey. The mouse itself looked normal, any sign of internal rotting gone.

The only thing that remained was the disgusting taste on his tongue.

Pebblestar! PebblestarPebblestarPebblestar Gogogogo! His mind cried, making him focus once again on the task ahead.

But what about the omen? Because it must definitely be an omen, Lighblaze thought frantically, else he was going mad. But then again, every cat in the Clan was convinced he was crazy. Maybe Whisperstone's evil deeds were just as fake as those maggots were.

A cry sounded, a painful yowl in the distance that made his fur stand on end. Was that an illusion as well?

Lightblaze shook his head and doubts away, springing to his feet. He ran towards the sound, ears picking up murmured conversation along with the whimpers of pain. 

"You just don't get it, do you?" A familiar voice hissed. "Quietstar and I will join our Clans together, creating one group that will rule over both territories, commanding power and respect. I wouldn't expect you to understand. You don't need to understand. Regardless, you don't feature in our vision."

"You won't get away with this," Pebblestar replied, followed by the sharp sound of slicing claws and another high pitched yowl of pain.

Lightblaze felt the thick sound of blood pumping in his ears. He had been right. He had been horrifyingly right. And now, Whisperstone was going to murder the Clan leader.

Once again, his head clouded and he put his head in his hands. Should he say something? Who would believe him? Whisperstone would probably come home crowing about rogues or some sort of predator, his fake tears trailing down his face, hiding the satisfied smirk from his newly 'found' leadership.

Liar! Liarliarliar. Betrayer! A loyal tom would tell the clan. COWARD.

Lightblaze keened, curling in a ball. He couldn't take hearing his Clanmates once again calling him a liar. Besides, the one tom who could have done anything was now dead, replaced by Whisperstone himself.

I need to try anyway! 

The brown furred tom clawed at the ground, before stilling. There was still someone he could tell.

Dewfrost.

Written by Blaze.