zephyrine wrote:Frigidrose woke that morning with a plan. She needed to get a move on with avenging her lost daughter, but she knew if anything horrible happened to one of her Clan-mates, she would instantly be suspected of the crime. She needed to convince Emberstar to trust her. It might take a few moons, yes, but the silver tabby knew just how to go about it. After she got to her paws, she gave Frostpath a light prod in the shoulder. "What?" the white warrior grumbled. "Come with me. I have an idea." Frostpath let out a heavy sigh, "Right now?" "Yes, right now," Frigidrose snapped. "Come on." The two she-cats quietly stepped out of the den. The sun was just barely up. "Can I ask why you need to talk at this wonderfully convenient time of the morning?" Frigidrose's eyes narrowed. "I told you - I have a plan," she meowed, emphasising the last four words. Frostpath stared at her a moment, afraid of what she thought the other was speaking of. Willing her voice not to shake, she asked, "What plan?" Frigidrose smirked. "You and I are going out on a patrol. I will be asking Featherpaw to accompany us -" "Why Featherpaw?" Frostpath interrupted. "She's never done anything to us...." The silver tabby simply purred, "Oh yes, Frostpath. It will be less suspicious then." Frostpath felt her eyes growing wide. They were going to ... murder Featherpaw? The sweet, lovable, innocent apprentice? "Now Frostpath," Frigidrose was mewing, "Don't do anything, don't say anything. I will take care of it all." "Well you two are up early, aren't you?" Ashenclaw. Frostpath whirled around frantically while Frigidrose calmly turned to face the deputy. "Ah, good morning, Ashenclaw. I was just hoping to lead the dawn patrol today - would that be alright?" she meowed smoothly. Ashenclaw nodded. "Sure thing. Finally, someone who wants to help out with patrols. You're welcome to choose whoever you want to go with you." The silver tabby smiled. "Thank you, Ashenclaw." She then turned to pad toward the apprentices' den, signaling with her tail for Frostpath to follow. The white warrior did so, but uneasily. This was wrong. This was really, really wrong. Before they could reach the den, Featherpaw skipped out, a huge smile plastered onto her face. At the sight of the two warriors approaching, she chirped, "Oh, hi there! Good morning!" The reason for her sheer happiness was that she was hoping last night would be the last time she had to sleep with the apprentices. Patchthorn had mentioned to her how she was ready to be a warrior and he was going to talk to Emberstar about it very soon. The fluffy white she-cat couldn't wait. "Good morning, Featherpaw," Frigidrose purred. "Frostpath and I were just about to leave on the dawn patrol. Would you like to join us?" Featherpaw nodded eagerly. "Sure! I'm all done with my training, so I don't think Patchthorn will miss me." "Wonderful." That one word from Frigidrose sent a chill down Frostpath's spine. She seemed unable to think or comprehend anything as they made their way out of the camp. Suddenly she recognized where they were headed: the ravine. It wasn't too far away. All the apprentices had been warned about the ravine because of it's sheer drop where one could fall to their death if they weren't watching where they were going. The numb feeling swarmed Frostpath's nerves once again as they approached the area. Featherpaw, stopping in her tracks, also realized the direction in which the patrol was going. "Careful, the ravine's just a few fox-lengths away," she mewed nervously. "Oh, it's fine, sweetheart," Frigidrose assured her. "We won't let you get hurt." She gently nudged the apprentice forward. "Don't you want a look at it?" Featherpaw hesitated ... then slowly stepped forward. No, Frostpath thought, no, Featherpaw, don't do it. Please.... She was too scared to speak. Frigidrose had told her to keep quiet, and only StarClan knows what she might do to her if she spoke up. Frostpath only gulped as the apprentice inched closer to the edge. "That's it, just a few more steps," the silver tabby coaxed. "I won't let you fall, I promise." A bit more confident after hearing those words, Featherpaw quickened her pace just the slightest, and was soon staring down at the bottom of the ravine. Before she could step away, Frigidrose gave her a sharp push, sending her falling down to the rocky ground below. The apprentice let out a shriek just before she hit the hard, rock-littered surface with her head, and her body continued to tumble for another couple fox-lengths. Frostpath stood frozen, eyes scrunched shut as she tried to block out the sound of Featherpaw's scream. Such a blood-curdling cry was going to haunt her forever. Finally she dared to step forward to the edge of the ravine. Featherpaw lay in a crumpled heap, her beautiful snowy pelt stained with blood, and her side no longer rising and falling with her breaths. The warrior was speechless - what could she say after having let such a terrible event take place? A shaky sob forced its way out of her. "Now, now, Frostpath," Frigidrose mewed almost in an annoyed manner. "We need to bring the body back to camp. We will tell everyone that she slipped and fell into the ravine, understand? Act as innocent as you possibly can. Do you hear me?" Frostpath could only nod for she didn't trust her voice at that moment. Her companion sighed loudly. "Come on, get your act together. We can't show up with you looking like this." They carefully descended into the ravine, Frostpath grabbing hold of Featherpaw's scruff and dragging her behind Frigidrose toward where the ravine wasn't so deep. The older she-cat scrambled up the side and reached down to take Featherpaw from Frostpath as the younger tried to push the body up to her. They were soon back out of the ravine, Frostpath again dragging the apprentice's body. Frigidrose ran ahead of her into the camp, calling out, "Emberstar! It's Featherpaw!" The leader, who had been speaking to Ashenclaw, turned to her, a concerned look growing on her face. "What's wrong?" she meowed as she hurried over. "We were on patrol and passing by the ravine. She was bouncing around, carefree, being her usual Featherpaw self when she slipped and fell into it. She hit her head hard, and..." Frigidrose paused, allowing herself a small sniffle, "...she's gone. I did all I could, I swear. It was just - it was too late." Emberstar stared blankly at her for a moment before they noticed Frostpath bringing the apprentice's body into the camp. The white warrior stopped in the middle of the clearing, letting go of Featherpaw's scruff and quickly bounding out of the camp. Frigidrose scrambled for an explanation for this behavior, "F-Frostpath's certainly devastated.... The poor thing." She glanced out the camp entrance after the younger warrior, fire in her eyes. She had told Frostpath to act 'normal,' not go running away from the situation. She hoped desperately that Emberstar wouldn't suspect them. The leader, however, had no words. She slowly padded toward Featherpaw's body, staring at her for a moment before sinking to her paws and burying her nose in the long, soft fur. "What?!" came Breezepaw's cry of disbelief. She came bounding over to where her friend's body lay, her eyes wide. Then she looked up, straight at her mother. Frigidrose gave her a hard stare, warning her not to say anything else. Breezepaw responded with a cold glare. With a slight sigh, the warrior beckoned for her kit to follow her out of the camp. Once they were out of earshot, Breezepaw began to yell at her, "Why? Why?! Why did you do that? - how could you have done such a despicable thing as murder an innocent apprentice? All she's ever done is love and care for everyone, and then you go and end her life?!" Frigidrose waited patiently for her daughter to finish before meowing calmly, "It needed to happen -" "What? No! Are you kidding me? Do tell - why did Featherpaw, of all cats, have to die?" "Because I need to convince Emberstar trust me - to trust us. If there is a murder and I can get her to believe that I am completely innocent, she will start to stop suspecting us of everything that goes wrong in the Clan. Do you understand me?" Breezepaw's fur was bristling, her lips drawn back in a snarl. "I can't believe you! Why do we have to live with lies like these? Why are you putting this horrible burden on myself and my brother?" "Don't you remember," Frigidrose growled. "the day Shadekit died? It was all Falconpaw's fault - and Emberstar's for raising him to be so reckless. She cannot lead LeafClan any longer. Such a mother could in no way make an ideal leader. We need to get rid of her." Then her tone darkened even more so, "Or have you forgotten your dearest sister? Do you no longer care about her at all?" Breezepaw gasped. Did her mother really think she could have forgotten Shadekit? The day they lost her, Breezepaw had been absolutely devastated. She wouldn't speak for days. How could she possibly have forgotten her? She lowered her head, a single tear escaping her eye. "I-I'm sorry," she whimpered feebly. "You better be. Now, you must keep that mouth of yours shut. Am I clear?" Breezepaw nodded.
[ Prey eaten: 2 robins
Murderered by Frigidrose: Featherpaw
Training: Falconpaw, Pinepaw, & Heatherpaw
Hunting: Patchthorn, Briardusk, Dustfall, Cloudtalon, Stormbreeze, & Honeydapple
Herb hunting: Willowcloud & Appleheart ]
