I felt my heart stop beating. I was like a kit standing in the middle of a Thunderpath, helpless and unable to do anything to save myself. It seemed like it was an eternity that he was looking at me with those amber eyes...he looked so much like Tigerheart...I tried to move my thoughts away from that name.

Bramblestar's gaze was cold. "I'm sorry, Bumblestripe. I think you're a nice cat and I genuinely like you..."

The whole Clan was looking at me, uncertainty in their eyes. I waited for the words that would ban me from ThunderClan forever. I would lose my home, my friends, and everything that used to matter to me.

But the surprising part? I couldn't feel anything. I had no emotions of any kind anymore, and if Bramblestar killed me for murdering Icecloud, what did it matter? I had nothing to live for...I was already dead inside anyways. Dovewing and Tigerheart had done that to me.

"But Dovewing is the murderer. I'm sorry to break your heart." Bramblestar whipped around to look at Dovewing, whose green eyes widened in terror.

I shook my head. "No! No, it couldn't be her!"

Dovewing gave me a grateful look. "Bumblestripe is right! This must be a mistake!"

Those eyes...they still melt my heart.

Whitewing rushed over to her daughter. "Why would you make such a foolish accusation, Bramblestar?"

"I can't allow myself to believe my daughter is a murderer!" Birchfall came and stood protectively by the gray she-cat, who was shaking with terror. "Why would you speak such nonsense, Bramblestar?"

"Come and see for yourselves," Bramblestar meowed.

Whitewing guided her kit over towards the ThunderClan leader. "What so-called 'proof' do you have?"

Bramblestar looked down at the body. "Look between her claws, and also at the fact that your daughter has scratches on her sides."

There, wedged between the white-furred she-cat's claws, was the scrap of gray fur. My plan had worked! Dovewing had been framed. Good riddance, you pathetic she-cat...

Dovewing shot me a panicked look; her eyes sent me a silent plea for help. "The scratches are from thorns! Bumblestripe you remember when you...when I..."

I stepped forward. "Don't look to me for help you...you fox-heart! I can't believe you of all cats would kill Icecloud!"

Ivypool marched over to her sister. "And to think you used to call me a traitor. It turns out that you are the one who's a traitor."

Dovewing watched as even her mother backed away from her in horror. "Ivypool...Whitewing..."

"What are you going to do, kill them too?" Birchfall sneered.

Ivypool wrinkled her nose in disgust. "You're a disgrace to our family and Clan. I guess I never knew you as well as I thought I did."

"I didn't do it!" Dovewing wailed.

"Yeah, sure." Bramblestar's voice was filled with sarcasm. "And we're supposed to believe that."

Birchfall turned away from his daughter. "I hate you."

Bramblestar glared at the she-cat. "I exile you from ThunderClan. If any of my warriors catch you on our territory after sunhigh, we will kill you, which is what you deserve. We will tell the other Clans not to let you on their land either at the next Gathering."

"Wait!" I wasn't really sure what I was doing. "I challenge Dovewing to fight me. If she beats me, we won't tell the other Clans what she did. If I win, we will send a messenger to go and tell all of them tonight."

"Who died and made you deputy?" Squirrelflight muttered. "Bossy know-it-all just like Bramblestar was."

Bramblestar hesitated. "Okay, but if I even suspect you went easy on her, the deal is off."

I looked at her, glad that I'd never have to see her again after this. "Do you accept?"

Tigerheart can have her. I don't want her anymore.

She nodded. "Okay."

"I hope Bumblestripe kills you!" Birchfall screeched from the crowd.

Whitewing just gave her daughter a long, sad look.

A/N: This book isn't even close to over there's still about 15 more chapters (possibly more) left. Hope you enjoyed as always, please share your thoughts with me in the comments!