Murder at Midnight

 This is a fanfiction by Eevee. It is the first book in the Death by the Hour series.

Chapter 1
Stoneclaw watched as his friend's body was dragged into the clearing. A FlightClan warrior, Dawnstorm, had reported that Splashwing had been dead since last night. She had also said that there were only two bitemarks in his throat to prove that his death was sudden. Only Splashwing's blood was in the area where he was found.

That meant the noble deputy was ambushed. Splashwing wouldn't have let himself be killed so suddenly without drawing the attacker's blood first.

Stoneclaw blinked his orange-yellow eyes as Otterstar slowly padded forward. Now he was standing over Splashwing. He sniffed sadly.

"I'm so sorry, Otterstar. . ." Dawnstorm mewed. Stoneclaw recalled that the dead tom was the leader's son. Otterstar would be shaken by the sudden death of his only kit.

His mate, Frostpelt, was already in StarClan due to being hit by a monster after Splashpaw had become four moons old. Now his only kit was dead.

Darkscar, the medicine cat, lay his tail gently over the tan-brown leader's shoulders. "Come on. The vigil doesn't start until dusk."

Otterstar snarled, "He's my son! I want to mourn for him now!" He stepped toward the medicine cat threateningly. Stoneclaw's eyes widened. He leaped to his paws, ready to defend the small Darkscar from the angered leader's claws, which were scoring marks in the grass.

Darkscar looked startled at his sudden anger. "Sorry, sorry! You can do that now!" He scuttled away, his tail lowered submissively.

Relaxing, Otterstar padded stiffly back over to Splashwing and lay down beside him. He dug his nose into the former deputy's pale grey fur, sobbing silently.

Stoneclaw stood up as he noticed Runningstep beckoning him from across the clearing. Runningstep was angling his ears at Stoneclaw.

Stoneclaw mouthed a word to Runningstep: ''What? ''The dark grey tabby watched as the other tom mouthed something back. Squinting, Stoneclaw thought he could make out the words: ''Come here! ''Puzzled, he walked over to Runningstep and growled, "What is it? I was about to eat."

The pale brown tom meowed, "We need to talk!"

"About what?"

"You'll see."

The two toms (Stoneclaw throwing a last glance at the large fresh-kill pile) headed out of camp through a secret exit behind the warriors' den, and Runningstep led Stoneclaw toward the creek.

To be continued.