The Exile wrote:It didn't take long for the patrolling party, after they'd caught the scent of death, to spot Jadestar's limp form, caught against the rocks at the base of the waterfall far below. Unfortunately, it was immediately clear that, with the strength of the raging waters and the force of the waterfall pounding down, it would be impossible to retrieve the blind leader's body. At first, the patrol thought it must have been a terrible accident. Perhaps, when the storm struck, she'd gotten confused and stumbled off the edge? The rain had almost washed away any signs of foul play. The killer almost got away with a clean kill.
Key word, almost.
Unfortunately for our murderer, though any signs of a struggle were gone, there were pawprints left behind. For while much of Riverclan territory was not sheltered from the rain, as it had rather fewer trees than Thunderclan, Jadestar had passed through one thick stand of trees on her way to the gorge that wasn't far from it. And the killer, while tracking the soon-to-be-dead leader, had also passed through this stand of trees. They had returned the same way, too, leaving another set of pawprints. Though all three sets had been deformed by water, leaving them too unclear to see exactly whose they were, the sharp eyes of the warriors had spotted these prints while on the way back to camp to break the news. Two sets of prints going to the gorge... and one fresher pair returning, imprinted more deeply in the wet ground. What's more, as it had been raining, the prints had been sunk in the mud and had held out more against the rain- the returning pair was found coming towards camp, though they weren't traced all the way to a den, as they had been trampled by cats going and coming that morning. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. This was no accident- it was murder, and by a fellow clanmate, no less.
With heavy hearts, the patrol returned to camp to break the news to the clan. Mud-spattered, sorrowful, in shock, distrustful of each other and those around them, they were a sorry lot to look at- but nevertheless, Twistedblaze knew that, as the deputy, he had to take charge. He padded over to the entrance of the leader's den, and sitting down in front of it, yowled "Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!"
Those who hadn't come on patrol quickly came over, curiosity, confusion, and concern all showing in their faces as they wondered why Jadestar wasn't the one calling the traditional meeting words. But the ones who had been on patrol sat in grim silence, knowing exactly what was going to be said. Once everyone had gathered and found a place to sit, Twistedblaze stood, and addressed them all with remarkable composure. "First, most of you must be wondering why I'm the one addressing you, rather than Jadestar. I will address this first, so that no one has to wonder. Jadestar is-" The new leader's voice cracked, and he had to take a few moments to compose himself before breaking the news- "Jadestar is dead." This immediately caused everyone not in the know to pipe up, asking the obvious question, and the dark grey tabby had to raise his voice to be heard. "She was murdered by a Riverclan cat!"
The uproar was immediate, with every cat demanding to know how he knew this, what had happened, and- above all- who it was who had done such a terrible thing. Cats turned towards each other, warily gauging each other's reactions, suddenly distrustful of the cats they had known- or thought they'd known- all their lives. "Quiet!... Quiet!... BE QUIET!" shouted Twistedblaze at the top of his voice, not heard the first two times over the din- but his third cry was heard, and quiet quickly returned. Anxious faces turned the former deputy's way, hungry for comfort, for answers- and for someone to blame. "All we know is that Jadestar, who was likely on a walk, went in the direction of the gorge- and that another cat followed her. We can assume that this cat snuck up on her, and pushed her over the edge- her... her body is at the base of the waterfall. Then this cat returned to camp. We found two pair of pawprints going towards the gorge, and one returning. And because we cannot allow this act to go unpunished, I have decided- as a clan, we're going to vote for the cat who we think did it. That cat will be exiled, and will be killed on sight should they ever be seen in the territory again." Twistedblaze's voice had hardened. It was clear that the new leader intended to follow through on this statement. "You may begin discussing among yourselves who to vote for."
Despite the knowledge that one of their clanmates was a killer, most still discussed with those they trusted most who they thought it might be, and it took a while before everyone decided. But one name that was being said more and more often? "Cinderpaw." "She's so cold..." "Look at her, she's built like a tank- she could have shoved Jadestar off the ravine..." "The only one she had to sneak past was Sunnypaw, and he sleeps so heavily..." Slowly, everyone's gaze turned towards to the dark grey apprentice, who stared right back with defiance. Her family remained on her side, though; all three were looking at quiet Firefeather with suspicion.
Eventually, Twistedblaze came back to the front of the grouped-together clan. "Alright, everyone- listen up!" Silence quickly fell, and everyone turned to look at the amber-eyed tom. "I've asked every cat about their thoughts, and the clan has decided. Cinderpaw, please step forward." The apprentice stood up slowly, and made her way to the front of the clan. Hostile whispers and glares followed her progress- only Breezefire and Nightwatcher weren't against her, at this point, and both watched with increasing distress. "The clan has decided, Cinderpaw," Twistedblaze said slowly. His gaze was searching as he met his apprentice's eyes, as if to look for murderous intent there, but his voice was firm and decisive. "You are the cat who followed Jadestar to the ravine last night and pushed her over the edge. Do you wish to confess your guilt before you're driven out?" The apprentice stared at her mentor for a moment before turning her piercing gaze over her clan. "I did not murder Jadestar," she said, her voice even at first. "You're... you're exiling the wrong cat. Why would I ever want to do something as horrible as that? How could you think that?" The apprentice's voice was rising, and she was starting to tremble with distress. "I-I'll leave. If you really think that, I'll leave on my own. You don't have to drive me out. But it wasn't me. It wasn't!"
Twistedblaze shook his head sadly as she said this. "Even now, you won't confess... I don't understand why you did it, and I can hardly believe it, but nevertheless, the clan has decided. So... you must leave. Now. Or we will drive you out." Upon hearing this, Cinderpaw's ears flattened, her tail drooped, and a deep sadness filled her eyes. Even her mentor wouldn't side with her? And her family wouldn't speak up in her defense? "A-Alright... I-"
"Wait!!"
Everyone looked towards the source of the cry in surprise- it had come from Breezefire, who pushed her way through the others to stand by Cinderpaw's side. The medicine cat looked furious. "I can't watch this in silence any longer. I WON'T. It wasn't her! Don't any of you have ears? My sister is the most easygoing cat I know! She's got a sweet, caring heart! She breaks up fights between warriors, for Starclan's sake!! I KNOW that she's not a murderer. And if you bunch of fish-brains insist on exiling her, then I- your only medicine cat, keep in mind!- will go with her!" This unexpected action sent a wave of murmurs through the clan. Breezefire was, after all, their only medicine cat- she had no apprentice. If she left, then there'd be no cat to heal them, and no cat to tell them signs from Starclan... But the clan's minds were still set against Cinderpaw. No one retracted their vote, and no one changed it. "If you leave the clan with a murderer, so be it. We cannot stop you, but you cannot return, either," Twistedblaze said evenly. "Fine!" spat Breezefire, tail lashing. "Then we're leaving. Now. Good luck with that murderer, because they're still in the clan!"
Cinderpaw turned to look at her older sister, eyes filled with both gratitude and worry. "Thank you," she whispered. "But are you... sure? The clan needs you. Dad needs you." Both cats turned to look back at Nightwatcher, who was completely frozen in horror as he lost both of his daughters at once. "...Yes," the medicine cat murmured back. "I can't let you leave. Not alone. Together for life, remember?" The apprentice nodded, and purred as her heart flooded with gratitude. They then both turned back towards their father. We love you, Breezefire mouthed across the camp, eyes filled with sadness. We always will. Cinderpaw smiled shakily for him, which was clearly a huge effort, and nodded in agreement. Then, side by side, both turning their backs defiantly on their former clan, they padded out together.
The two sisters would go on to leave clan territory, looking for a place to go; despite the dangers they faced while on the road, they came safely to a barn where a few other cats lived and joined them as loners. Cinderpaw became Cinder, and Breezefire became Breeze; Breeze used her skills as a medicine cat to help others, teaching Cinder, too. And though the sisters didn't always get along, they never stopped loving and caring for each other, no matter what, and they stayed together for the rest of their lives.
You exiled one of your pairs, Riverclan! Two innocent cats are gone, one of them your medicine cat- and the murderer still lurks among you...
.png)
.png)
