My Dirty Little Secret

  -my dirty little secret-



 "the only thing that can hurt me, brindlefrost... is being away from you."

allegiances ;

 * leader: Fawnstar - Slim dark brown she-cat with battle scarred ears
 * deputy: Sycamorebranch - Handsome, powerful brown and white tom
 * medicine cat: Seedwhisker - Pale brown she-cat with glowing green eyes
 * warriors:
 * Mistyrain - Grey and white she-cat with yellow eyes
 * APPRENTICE : BRINDLEPAW
 * Frozenfoot - Dark grey tom with white paws
 * APPRENTICE : BROWNPAW
 * Breezerush - Sleek black tom
 * APPRENTICE : ASHENPAW
 * Blizzardsong - Silver and white she-cat with bright blue eyes
 * Gentleflight - Pale, long-furred tabby tom
 * Rowanscar - Rough-furred ginger tom
 * Leafshine - Tortoiseshell she-cat with a white muzzle
 * Hawkwing - Dark brown tabby tom
 * Brightsky - Ginger and white mottled tom
 * Ivyclaw - Battle-scarred silver and white tabby she-cat
 * Strikestripe - Grey and white tom
 * Dewspots - Blue-grey tom with white appendages
 * Brokenstep - Grey-brown tabby tom with a pale underbelly and disfigured paw
 * Soilflight - Creamy brown she-cat
 * Whitepelt - Off-white tom
 * APPRENTICE: SWIRLEDPAW
 * Muddypelt - Brown and black tom
 * apprentices:
 * Brindlepaw - Grey tabby she-cat with blue eyes and a white underbelly
 * Ashenpaw - Dark grey flecked tom with dark blue eyes
 * Brownpaw - Brown and white tuxedo tom with bright amber eyes
 * Swirledpaw - Light brown classic tabby tom with one blue eye and one yellow eye
 * queens:
 * Clovermark - Black and white she-cat, mother to Stormkit and Vixenkit
 * kits:
 * Stormkit - Pale grey she-kit
 * Vixenkit - Ginger and black she-kit
 * elders:
 * Dustspeckle - Dusty brown tabby tom
 * Shimmerstream - Silver flecked she-cat
 * Duckwing - Golden tom with a stubby tail

prologue ; premonition

 * “wanted to be a better brother, better son,
 * wanted to be a better adversary to the evil i have done.”
 * -twenty øne pilots, polarize

Seedwhisker was not a special cat, by any means. She was a medicine cat at the young age of twenty-one moons who had been faring on her very lonesome since her mentor died before she completed her training. So, for such an ordinary cat, why would anyone be out to get her? She hadn’t sinned. She took care of her Clan and provided advice to her higher ups. She did her job well. Murder was usually committed against someone who had wronged the perpetrator, wasn't it?

Not in this case. And, whoever did this was incredibly messy- blood pooling around the victim’s chest wound, paw prints leading from the scene, and the scratches left were thin and jagged, obviously from a cat or similar animal. The murder clearly was a jittery act of instability rather than a premeditated crime done of pure malice. The body had been tossed to the side, hidden under a clump of foliage, like she was nothing more than a soiled piece of fresh kill. Above and around her, life still buzzed. Crickets hummed in time to the rushing stream and birds chirped in the trees. Mice skittered around in the soft, damp soil and bugs darted around in the air. Everything seemed so alive. Unbeknownst to the singing birds and wide eyed voles, a story caused by an untimely demise was beginning to unravel.

chapter one ; whispers

 * “and i slept in last night’s clothes and tomorrow's dreams,
 * but they're not quite what they seem.’”
 * -fall out boy, uma thurman

Brindlepaw stirred awake early the next morning, bursting with anticipation. Her den was still dark but she could still make out the outlines of three other cats- Brownpaw, her best friend, Ashenpaw, her brother, and Swirledpaw, a young but promising former loner. She shifted and jabbed Brownpaw in the side. “Wake up, Brownpaw! Wake up!” The tomcat grunted and tucked his nose further into his curled tail without opening his eyes. With a sigh, Brindlepaw stood, shaking the dry miss from her pelt. She nudged her neighbour again. “Come on B, wake up!” “Five more minutessss…,” Brownpaw grumbled. “No, not five more minutes.” Brindlepaw paused her incessant prodding for a moment and thought. Then, with a slight grin, reared back and came down on her friend’s tail with all her might. “Augh!” Brownpaw exclaimed with a yelp, immediately hopping to his feet. The fur on the back of his neck bristled as he glared at Brindlepaw, betrayal flashing in his amber eyes. “Why’d you do that?” he snapped. “I was having and amazing dream, you and I were-” he was quickly cut off by and enthusiastic Brindlepaw. “Newsflash, I don't care!” she quipped. “It’s our warrior ceremony today! Did you forget?” Brownpaw looked at her blankly, and then his eyes widened. “Oh, yeah!” he took a moment to compose himself, quickly giving himself a groom behind his ears. After a minute’s time, he faced her again. “Burr, we’re gonna be warriors!” he meowed excitedly. “That we are, B!” Suddenly they were interrupted by a hiss. They turned and noticed a pair of blue eyes scowling at them from the darkness. It was Ashenpaw. He snarled at the pair. “Can you guys be any louder? I don't think they can hear you in FrostClan!” he sounded angrier than usual. With that, he whirled around and stuffed his chin deep into his moss, dismissing them both as if miffed. Brownpaw’s gaze met Brindlepaw’s, and the two started giggling. With another glance in her brother’s direction, she headed out of the den, her best friend beside her. The dawn light was mellow but it still stung Brindlepaw’s eyes as she faced the glowing sun, the warmth falling over her shoulders. Brownpaw looked at her, pride mingling with adoration in his gentle gaze. “It’s so quiet, Burr. Sycamorebranch must have just sent out the patrols.” he mewed. Brindlepaw murmured some sort of agreement before she spotted three cats standing outside of Fawnstar’s den. She made her way over to them, smiling. “Hello, Mistyrain, Frozenfoot. Hi, Breezerush.” She dipped her head respectfully in the presence of the warriors. “Good morning, Brindlepaw,” Mistyrain responded. “How are you? Excited?” “Very!” She grinned widely. “I’m also a little nervous. I’m going to be a warrior!” “Don’t be, you’ll be an amazing warrior. You’ve trained hard,” Frozenfoot added. He flicked his tail and looked at his own apprentice, Brownpaw. “You as well, Brownpaw. You’re fast on your feet.” The tom straightened up slightly, pleased with the praise. “Is Ashenpaw awake yet?” Breezerush interjected nervously. He was not a brash cat, and Fawnstar had made him mentor Brindlepaw’s hot-headed brother to balance out his stubbornness. He had tried his best but was unsure if his apprentice was satisfied with his training. “He’s just waking up. He was a tad grumpy.” Brindlepaw batted an ear towards the den. Breezerush nodded slightly, shrinking backwards. Frozenfoot lightly tapped his back with his tail and gave him a small, reassuring smile. Mistyrain nodded. “Maybe he didn’t sleep well? I know Frozenfoot was anxious the night before our ceremony.” She cast a glance towards her brother, who puffed up his chest in defiance. “If I recall correctly, you were also up half the night, pacing around,” Frozenfoot added snidely. Mistyrain snorted. “Yeah, but you-” “Good morning.” A voice came from behind the bickering pair. They whirled around and Fawnstar walked out of her den, her soft eyes shining. “Morning, Fawnstar.” Breezerush was the first to speak, dipping his head respectfully in the company of a higher up. “Good morning, Fawnstar!” Brindlepaw sputtered. Embarrassed, she curled her tail around her back. Fawnstar smiled fondly at the tabby. “Ah, Brindlepaw. Good to see you up and at ‘em. And you too, Brownpaw. Are you two ready to become warriors?” “Absolutely!” Brownpaw exclaimed, while Brindlepaw chipped in with her own “yes.” “It’ll be exciting to join Blizzardsong, won't it? I’m sure you'll be just an amazing warrior as she is,” Fawnstar added. Brindlepaw flushed with pleasure at being compared to her older sister. She really was great- A strategic fighter and a stealthy hunter. She wasn't one to focus on mates but she already had a strong suitor- a young tom named Gentleflight. “Et tu, Brownpaw. Hawkwing is one of my most trusted warriors, I'm sure you'll follow in his pawsteps,” the brown molly continued, addressing her friend next. “Aw, shucks,” Brownpaw mewed. “Well, I think it's just about time to get this ceremony started.” Fawnstar indicated the dens with her muzzle, where bleary-eyed cats were emerging from the foliage. Ashenpaw had finally woken up and was heading towards them. Nodding her head to the group, she began her ascent up the High Tree. A mixture of excitement and nerves bubbled inside Brindlepaw’s gut. “All cats old enough to climb a tree gather under the High Tree for a Clan meeting!” she called. With Ashenpaw and Brownpaw in her tow, Brindlepaw made her way over to the High Tree and took a seat on one of the roots. “Today we are gathered here to honour three cats who have passed their respective assessments.” Fawnstar took a small breath and looked over her Clan. “Brindlepaw, Brownpaw, and Ashenpaw, please step forward.” Legs shaking, Brindlepaw moved to the front of the tree. “I, Fawnstar, leader of ForestClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend to them warriors in their turn.” “Brownpaw, step forward.” The tom edged in front his peers. “Brownpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your very life?” Fawnstar’s green eyes bore holes into his own. “I do,” he pledged. “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brownpaw, from this moment forward, you shall be known as Brownfire. StarClan honours your steadfastness and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of ForestClan.” “Brownfire! Brownfire! Brownfire!” chanted the Clan. Brownfire stepped backwards, bashful. Brindlepaw nudged his shoulder. “Nice name,” she whispered. “Thanks,” he responded. He was glowing. “Ashenpaw, please step forward.” Confidently, he strode to the front. “Ashenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your very life?” Ashenpaw’s blue eyes were alight with fire. “I do.” “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ashenpaw, from this moment onward your name will be Ashenblaze. StarClan honours your cleverness and ferocity, and we welcome you as a full member of ForestClan.” Fawnstar smiled down at him. “Ashenblaze! Ashenblaze! Ashenblaze!” Ashenblaze was flourishing in the spotlight. Brindlepaw itched with anticipation. “Brindlepaw, please step forward.” The she-cat sprung forward. “Brindlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your very life?” Brindlepaw flexed her claws. “I do.” “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brindlepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Brindlefrost. StarClan honours your forethought and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full member of ForestClan.” Brindlefrost shrunk back to be beside her friends, teeming with pleasure. “Brindlefrost! Brindlefrost! Brindlefrost!” she grinned broadly, tail held high. Fawnstar looked as if she was about to speak again, but paused. “Ah, it looks like the patrols have returned just in time for-” she froze. Her eyes widened. “What is that?” The crowd shifted as Fawnstar leapt from her perch, rushing up to the solemn patrol. Gasps rippled around the surrounding cats and Brindlefrost tried to push her way through the pressing Clan, attempting to see what had captivated everyone. Her heart was in her stomach. “What is that?”

“Who is that?”

“Oh my, StarClan… Is that Seedwhisker?” Brindlefrost’s blood ran cold, her fur stiff on the back of her neck. What had previously been a clearing of excited cats had a thick blanket of dread and silence now swept over it. “That’s Seedwhisker!” someone shouted from the front of the crowd. Wails of sorrow and screams of confusion circled Brindlefrost. She swallowed hard but nothing was able to push down the lump that had formed in her throat. “Come on, B,” she grunted. Brownfire was on her tail, amber eyes slanted in concern. “What happened?” he murmured. Eventually she was able to push to the front of the cats and get a glimpse. And what she saw horrified her. Seedwhisker’s body was caked in dirt, and dry blood matted her ungroomed chest fur. Her eyes, previously so gentle and full of life, were glassy and dull, devoid of light. The patrol had rested her body on the ground, and Brindlefrost caught sight of the wound that had caused her teeth- four claw marks from her chest to the side of her neck. She turned away, her nausea mounting. “Brownfire…,” she weeped. She looked up at the tom cat, who was staring straight ahead with a grim look. Once the initial shock faded, panicked tones caused a kerfuffle amongst the crowd. “How did she die?”

“Is the murderer still out there?”

“Who is going to be our new medicine cat?” The last statement sent every cat into a flurry of distress. Without a medicine cat, the Clan would surely fall into disrepair. “Who will teach the next medicine cat?” a worried queen inquired. Fawnstar solemnly bowed her head. Though she stayed calm and collected outwardly, the fear and sadness glinting in her eyes was telltale.“Seedwhisker was a gifted medicine cat. She will be sorely missed.” As the leader spoke, her voice cracked and the Clan fell into a hush. “But we must move on. Our first priority is a new medicine cat.” Her eyes were misty. “Stormkit and Vixenkit are our only kits right now, and they're much too young to undergo any training, especially medicine cat training,” she added, casting a glance at Clovermark, the mother of the two. Rowanscar, their father, had brought in the body. “Is there anyone willing to bear this burden and receive medical training from a medicine cat from another Clan?” Fawnstar looked desperate. Her Clan averted eye contact, gazing awkwardly at the ground, holding their breath. Suddenly something seized Brindlefrost. Her heart was drumming against her chest, her blood was racing. Seeing Seedwhisker’s body had been such a horrific sight, so maybe she wasn't thinking straight. Maybe it’s because the gravity of situation just hit her- without a medicine cat, the Clan would surely suffer. They needed one. Whatever the cause, whether her brain fused or no, there was no denying what she said. With her stomach tied into knots and gaze fixed forward, voice cracking, she spoke. “I'll do it.”