Parade of liars

A fan fiction by Birchpaw001

Prologue
The brambles rustled, the leaves of trees shook and fell on the windy night. A she-cat slipped out of the warriors den, the warmth of her clan mate's sleeping breath left behind on the cold, leaf-bare night. Her green eyes gleamed in the darkness as she headed towards a blue-gray tom with white paws sitting by the entrance. "Unable to sleep, Redfoot?" The tom asked her, his gray eyes showing he was intrigued by her presence in the night. "unfortunately not, Swiftstorm." She meowed calmly. "Where did Windybrook go? Wasn't she supposed to guard with you?" Redfoot questioned.

"She went out for a drink. She'll be back in a bit." Swiftstorm replied, his gray eyes narrowing. "And what are you doing out here, Thunderclan deputy?" He asked her. Redfoot shrugged. "I'm out for a walk, get some fresh air. And don't address me as that." She told him. Without a reply, Redfoot trotted out of the entrance, thick snow seeping into her pads as she went out into the dark, leaf-bare cold forest.

Redfoot slipped into the undergrowth, taking a short route towards the river. The wet leaves brushed her side, snow clogging up her long, thick underbelly fur. Great. That would take forever to get out, and it would slow her down too. The river soon appeared into sight, the quiet sound of rushing water soothing in even the most troubling times. Across the river was Shadowclan, the dark proud and fierce clan, disliked by most. "So Windy's out here too, huh?" She murmured. Windybrook was indeed her best friend, they had been close since Windybrook and Swiftstorm joined, uncountable moons ago.

Her claws unsheathed in the darkness, gleaming as she looked at them, swiping her tongue over the sharp claws that got her through many battles alive. She crouched down, slamming her paw into the thin ice. The ice broke, floated away and cleared the area where clean, cold water lay unmoved underneath. She dipped her head down, lapping up the freezing cold water, relishing the water. Redfoot rolled over, stretching under the moonlight. Redfoot closed her eyes, peace flooding her in the breezy night, Silverpelt stretched infront of her, close but so far away.

The bushes rustled beside her.

Redfoot opened her eyes, alerted and sat up, eyes fixed on the bracken, narrowing them slowly. "Behind you." A voice whispered in her ear, but too late she turned around. Claws pierced her neck, ripping her throat open with one cut. Redfoot stumbled, fell to the ground and let out a cough. Blood dripped from her mouth, her green eyes searching desperately to determine who the attacker was. The pitch black darkness couldn't hide the blue eyes like they hid the pelt. "Why?" She choked out. The cat moved in, moving their face closer to hers. "Shh..." a mouth open and whispered so quietly.

This was bad. She could feel her heartbeat slow, blood pulse out of her wound. She would not be going home tonight. She didn't utter a sound, just stared coldly into the killer's eyes. So blue. So beautifully blue. She should have known. Alarm filled her senses as she realized. With a killer in the clan, no one would be safe. Then she relaxed. Her cats were smart. Her murder would be figured out. But who else would die before it was figured out? Fawnstar? Whitewater? The form moved away, leaving her alone in the darkness. "Redfoot." Words formed, sounding gently in her ear.

Redfoot lifted her gaze, her green eyes softening. "Oakclaw." She whispered.

She stretched her paw out, reaching to the sky as the dead lover loomed before her.

And she touched his face, transparent, but there in her heart.

And with that, the loyal deputy closed her eyes for the last time.