Stained of Deathberry

''By: Warriorlover12345. Call me Cleverpelt.''

I looked down at Tinypaw. I searched for her snow white paws and beautiful pink pads. Instead they were stained scarlet with her own blood. The fresh claw marks on her fur proved she had been murdered not long ago. The remains of deathberry still new on her small tongue.

My mate, Swiftpine, padded up to me. The hot tears rolled down his cheeks and on to the ground below him. I fought back tears but rage boiled in my throat like mouse bile. Who could have done this? I looked over to my son, Beechpaw.

Anguish was coming off him in all directions. It raised my sorrow. I looked over to Cloudshadow. Strong remorse was wafting off of him. He couldn’t have killed my daughter. He always did what was right, helped his clanmates, and listened to Streakstar, our leader. Though another emotion was hidden deep in his regret.

Untruthfulness.

He knew who killed Tinypaw! I next looked over to Darkash. Darkash was one of Cloudshadow’s friends. He had a feeling stirring in him like Beechpaw and Cloudshadow, but it was different. Was it... could it be... Pride? Could he be proud of what happened? Could... Darkash been the one who murdered Tinypaw?

Streakstar climbed up to the Tallstone. “Clanmates,” he yowled, “one of our apprentices have been murdered and fed a deathberry in an act of cruelty. Whoever has killed Tinypaw will be banished. And I will find out who committed this crime.”

He leaped down from the Tallstone and padded to the leader’s den. It was late at night. Rowanleap, the deputy, padded after him. I could see the flickering silhouettes dancing against the bushes as they talked. I retreated to the warriors den. The elders were already nearing Tinypaw for burial and the ritual. Darkash was already sleeping. I couldn’t sleep, so I rolled over. Darkash’s paws were facing me.

They were stained the colour of deathberry.