Chapter 10

To even her own surprise, Ivypaw was the first to awake. She stood up, careful not to disturb her sleeping love beside her. Ivypaw glanced out the barn doorway. The sun had barely begun to rise on the horizon. Immediately, Ivypaw was filled with a sense of dread. This could be her final sunrise. It could be the last one for many of her clanmates as well if Eaglefeather wasn't defeated. What chance did four apprentices have of defeating and exposing a cunning murderer who now had full control of the clan?

"You're up early." A voice commented. Ivypaw turned to see Lightningpaw, padding toward her.

"I've been thinking." Ivypaw admitted. "About a way to defeat Eaglefeather." The thoughts came to her as she spoke. "We have to expose him for what he really is, so we can have the rest of the clan behind us."

"How though?" Lightningpaw asked.

"I don't know!" Ivypaw gasped. Suddenly, two yawns sounded from behind them. Ivypaw whipped around, her warrior instincts kicking in. It was just Shrewpaw and Mistpaw, emerging tiredly from the piles of hay.

"What are y'all talking about?" Shrewpaw asked.

"Our plans to defeat Eaglefeather." Lightningpaw informed. "Ivypaw says we need to expose him first, so the clan will know what he really is."

"And how do we do that?" Mistpaw questioned.

"We could set up a situation that will reveal his true colors." Lightningpaw suggested. Ivypaw bit her lip. It wasn't a bad plan but something about it bothered her.

"How?" Ivypaw asked.

"Eaglefeather wouldn't like it if someone opposed him. Shrewpaw stepped up. "I could do that to get him to attack me."

"No!" Ivypaw snapped immediately. Shrewpaw flattened her ears and backed away. Lightningpaw and Mistpaw gazed at Ivypaw in shock. Ivypaw took a step toward her sister. "Shrewpaw, I don't want any of you to come in harm's way. Besides, even if you did that, he'd just kill you in secret and lie about it like he's done to everyone and…" Ivypaw's tone turned somber. "Then I'd just lose my last sibling."

Shrewpaw gazed up at Ivypaw, then nodded in understanding. Ivypaw looked back at Mistpaw and Lightningpaw. Mistpaw had a troubled look in her eyes.

"Hey…Ivypaw…" her tone was nervous.

"Yes?" Ivypaw prompted.

"Amberpetal opposed Eaglefeather yesterday." It took Ivypaw a few moments to get it. When she did, Ivypaw let out a horrified gasp.

"Amberpetal could already be dead!" Ivypaw realized.

"We have to get back to camp now!" Lightningpaw ordered. Ivypaw nodded and bolted out the barn door. Lightningpaw and Shrewpaw followed suit. Mistpaw went slower to get out of the barn, but once she was out of the open moor, Mistpaw ran just as quick as the three moor runners. Ivypaw's heart pounded so hard she thought her chest was going to explode. The group skidded to a halt in front of Windclan camp before walking in as casually as they could muster so they wouldn't draw any unwanted attention. They looked around. Shrewpaw pointed in one direction. Ivypaw followed it. Amberpetal was chatting casually with Eaglefeather. Ivypaw tried to listen to what they were saying but they were too far away. After a few moments, the two stood up. To Ivypaw's horror, they made their way toward the camp exit. No! A million thoughts buzzed through her mind. Ivypaw turned to her friends, who all shared her panicked expression. Plan! Her mind screamed, Think of a plan!

"I'm going after them." She announced.

"What?!" Her friends exclaimed.

"Eaglefeather trusts me the most out of all of us." Ivypaw exclaimed. "It will be less suspicious if I'm caught." Her friends clearly didn't like the idea but they nodded anyways. "Lightningpaw, you're with me. Watch my back, but stay out of sight from Eaglefeather. Be as inconspicuous as you can."

"I'm on it!" Lightningpaw replied boldly.

"Mistpaw, Shrewpaw." Ivypaw's gaze turned to meet their's. "Stay in camp, be ready to fight." Ivypaw paused to think. ���In the meantime, search Eaglefeather's den. There could be evidence in there we can use later." If I come back alive later. Shrewpaw and Mistpaw nodded and padded toward Eaglefeather's empty den. Ivypaw glanced at the camp entrance. Eaglefeather and Amberpetal were long gone. Ivypaw dashed out of camp, Lightningpaw right on her tail. Her head panned around. Finally, she saw Amberpetal and Eaglefeather, walking and talking so casually any casual observer would assume they were friends. Ivypaw and Lightningpaw crept after them. Their claws were unsheathed and their muscles were tense. They followed Amberpetal and Eaglefeather until they reached the gorge. Ivypaw and Lightningpaw ducked behind a nearby bush.

"If anything happens." Ivypaw whispered. "Don't help me. Go get a patrol."

"What?!" Lightningpaw whispered back.

"My life is not as important as the clan knowing about Eaglefeather's treachery."

"It is to me!" Lightningpaw insisted. There was desperation in her eyes. Ivypaw's gaze softened.

"I know," Ivypaw murmured. "and I hate to do this to you, but you have to do it." Lightningpaw sighed and nodded reluctantly. Ivypaw peered back over the bushes. Amberpetal and Eaglefeather were still chatting. Then in swift movement, Amberpetal was shoved off the cliff. Ivypaw gasped. Eaglefeather peered over the cliff. Ivypaw emerged from her hiding place.

"Eaglefeather!" She demanded. The medicine cat shipped around in surprise. For a brief moment, Ivypaw noticed fear in Eaglefeather's eyes.

"Ivypaw?" He asked, faking an innocent demeanor. "What are you doing here?"

"Exposing you!" Ivypaw hissed.

"You've got it all wrong!" Eaglefeather insisted. He seemed genuinely panicked. "Amberpetal...she slipped. I tried to help her!"

"That's what you always say!" Ivypaw snapped. Eaglefeather's eyes were wide with shock. "Drop the act, I saw you murder Amberstar and I know you also killed Snowpelt and Applefrost and you poisoned those cats in their sleep!" Eaglefeather's shock turned to hatred.

"Fine! You got me!" Eaglefeather snapped. His answer didn't shock Ivypaw at all. Yet, Ivypaw now felt the urge to cry.

"Why?!" Ivypaw demanded.

"Vengeance!" Eaglefeather snapped back. "Against Amberstar!"

"Because she banished your mother?!"

"She didn't banish her, she murdered her!" Ivypaw's eyes widened. She was frozen with shock. Amberstar murdered someone in her own clan?! "And she wasn't even leader at the time! And she forced me into a job she knew I hated while my sister got to be a warrior!"

"S-sorry…" Ivypaw stuttered.

Eaglefeather's gaze softened. "Always so compassionate…" He mused. "I don't want to kill you, Ivypaw. I truly value our friendship. Why don't we go back to camp and pretend none of this ever happened?" Ivypaw gazed up at Eaglefeather. No! This was another trick. Even if he was telling the truth about not wanting to kill her, he was only doing this to keep her silent.

"NO!" Ivypaw shouted. "YOU'RE NOT MY FRIEND!" Eaglefeather stared at her, completely stunned. Ivypaw glared back. The shock and possible sadness in Eaglefeather's eyes was then replaced with cold hatred.

"Fine." He snarled. The medicine cat's claws unsheathed as he lunged at Ivypaw. She jumped away at the last possible second. Ivypaw gazed up. Lightningpaw was already rushing toward camp to get a patrol. Before she could turn around, Eaglefeather lunged at her, pinning her to the ground. Ivypaw jerked up in surprise. She kicked and thrashed wildly at him, struggling to get free. Eaglefeather wrestled her, aiming his teeth at her neck. Ivypaw tilted her head back, trying to get away from his teeth. As she did, Ivypaw noticed that her head was tilted toward rushing water.

"NO!" Ivypaw screamed, realizing what was going on. She kicked against Eaglefeather's stomach, as hard she could. The attack left him stunned for a few moments. Ivypaw used the opportunity to slip out of his grasp and move to land much further away from the gorge. She stared at him in horror. Eaglefeather was no strong warrior, but he was clever! He stood up, flashing her a deadly glare before launching again. This time, Ivypaw intercepted the movement. She raked her claws across Eaglefeather's face. The medicine cat let out a cry of pain. Then all of a sudden, he rammed into her. Head hit chest, and Ivypaw fell to the ground. Before she could get up, Eaglefeather pinned her to the ground, sinking his claws into her shoulders. Ivypaw let out a whimper. She kicked violently but Eaglefeather didn't budge. He stubbornly kept his grip on her and glared at her, his eyes completely engulfed with rage.

"Face it Ivypaw." Eaglefeather sneered. "You can't win." Ivypaw glanced up then back at Eaglefeather with a smirk.

"What about them?" Ivypaw asked. Eaglefeather looked up and gasped. Lightningpaw was there, with Mistpaw, Starlingfeather, Harepelt, Shrewpaw, Dawnflower, and Sunfur! The horde of cats lunged at Eaglefeather, knocking him off Ivypaw. She stood up and looked up at Lightningpaw.

"You came just in time!" Ivypaw panted.

"Thank Starclan I did!" Lightningpaw exclaimed. They briefly pressed their muzzles together before turning back to the fight. Eaglefeather battled the entire patrol fiercely even as he was backed up, closer and closer to the edge of the gorge. Starlingfeather lunged at Eaglefeather. He ducked and shoved her toward the edge.

"Starlingfeather!" Ivypaw cried. The queen grabbed the edge of the cliff. Ivypaw rushed toward her. She grabbed Starlingfeather by the scuff and dragged her to safety.

"Thank you, Ivypaw." She gasped. Ivypaw nodded then turned to Eaglefeather, who was corned by Sunfur and Shrewpaw.

"Why would you do this Eaglefeather?!" She demanded. "What Amberstar did was wrong, but how is this any better?!" Eaglefeather stared at his sister, too stunned to speak. Ivypaw leaped toward him, slashing her claws across his face. Eaglefeather glared at her. She slashed her claws wildly, hoping to land at least one strike but Eaglefeather kept backing away. Then, his back paws scraped the edge of the cliff. Eaglefeather leaped toward, pushing Ivypaw backward. Ivypaw glared up at him. In that moment, every cat that had been killed by him came to mind. The elders, Longstripe, Squirreltail, Larkwing, Applefrost, Amberstar, Snowpelt, and Amberpetal. She glanced down at the cliff. This is for all of you! Ivypaw let out an angry growl before ramming her head against Eaglefeather's chest. The medicine cat was thrown over the cliff. He let out a yelp and grabbed the edge of the cliff. The patrol watched in shock as Eaglefeather clung desperately to the edge for only a few moments before plummeting down to his doom. Ivypaw looked away as Eaglefeather's screams of horror became fainter. Then there was silence. Ivypaw's eyes widened in horror.

"I murdered someone!" She gasped.

"Eaglefeather was acting outside the warrior code." Sunfur replied. There was a tear in her eye as she spoke.

"If what you claim is true." Dawnflower added.

"He really did push Amberpetal off the cliff!" Lightningpaw argued. "And killed Amberstar, Applefrost, and Snowpelt! And poisoned those cats!"

"You saw him attack me!" Ivypaw argued. "And if we search the river, we would find Eaglefeather and Amberpetal's bodies."

"They probably would've washed up on the shore by now." Sunfur suggested. "Let's go check." The patrol followed Sunfur down the hill, toward the shore of the ravine. Ivypaw glanced around warily, expecting a Riverclan patrol to jump at them at any moment. Just as Sunfur has predicted, Amberpetal's body was washed up on the shore. Ivypaw rested her paw on Amberpetal's chest. She couldn't make out a heartbeat, or even a breath.

"She's long gone." Ivypaw sobbed. "I'm so sorry…"

"We'll take her body back to camp to grieve." Dawnflower sighed.

"Did Eaglefeather's body turn up?" Sunfur asked.

"So what if it did?!" Harepelt hissed. "He should be paying for his crimes." Ivypaw gazed at the water. There was a brown object in the distance. As it got closer, she could see tabby stripes adorning his pelt.

"Right there." Ivypaw pointed her tail at the body. Sunfur dashed into the water until it was up to her belly fur. She grabbed Eaglefeather's floating body and dragged it onto land.

"He's dead." Sunfur sighed, dropping his body.

"Bury him." Harepelt ordered.

"Out here?" Sunfur asked. Harepelt nodded. Sunfur sighed and began digging a hole in the ground. Ivypaw let out a sigh. Sunfur probably felt even more betrayed than Ivypaw, since Sunfur had known Eaglefeather her whole life.

"Let's go back to camp." Sunfur sighed. The patrol padded after her back toward camp. Dawnflower carried Amberpetal on her back the whole way. Everyone was silent. They all seemed to be wrapped up in their own thoughts. Ivypaw strangely enough felt...grief. Not because of Eaglefeather's death, rather his betrayal. Ivypaw hated to admit it, but he was a good friend, and a good medicine cat. However, he wasted all of that for revenge. He could've had a great life, but instead he decided to hold onto his hate. What a fool. What did he even gain out of this?! Once the patrol made it back to camp, the remains of the clan immediately began to crowd around them.

"What happened to Amberpetal?!" Ravenfeather gasped.

"Where's Eaglefeather?" Antfoot asked.

Sunfur silenced the clan with a flick of her tail. Everyone looked up at her expectantly.

"Amberpetal was killed." Sunfur announced. "By none other than Eaglefeather." Gasps arose from the clan.

"He also murdered Amberstar, Applefrost, and Snowpelt! And he was the one poisoning our cats!"

"He also tried to kill Ivypaw by the gorge!" Lightningpaw added.

"That's insane!" Ravenfeather gasped. "Why would a medicine cat do such a thing?"

"He wanted revenge on Amberstar." Ivypaw explained. "So he forced her to watch all her clanmates die and got her killed eight times with a snake."

"I don't believe it!" Antfoot snarled. "You're just saying all this because you don't want a medicine cat to be a leader!" Ivypaw turned to Mistpaw and Shrewpaw. They nodded in understanding.

"We found deathberries in Eaglefeather's den!" Shrewpaw announced.

"Medicine cats don't keep those." Mistpaw added. "And deathberries were the poison that killed our clanmates!"

"Show us." Fuzzytail ordered. Mistpaw and Shrewpaw nodded. They disappeared inside Eaglefeather's den. There was complete silence until they emerged from the den, carefully holding leaf-fulls of deathberries. The cats in doubt gasped.

"He really was killing our clanmates in their sleep!" Ravenfeather gasped. Now every cat in the camp nodded in agreement.

"We shall hold a vigil for Amberpetal tonight." Fuzzytail sighed. "She was a great friend and tunneler."

"Wait," Ivypaw meowed aloud. "Who's going to be our leader now?" Everyone became deadly silent. They all had troubled and even horrified looks on their faces.

"Sunfur was Eaglefeather's second in command." Harepelt meowed. "She is the only logical option we have." Sunfur's eyes widened.

"I-if I must." She stuttered. She seemed overwhelmed by the prospect of being leader. However, the clan nodded in agreement. Sunfur would make a great leader, and she was just what they needed to help them recover from all this.

"Then my first act as leader will be to name a deputy." Sunfur leaped on top of the Highrock, gazing down at her clanmates. "I say these words before Starclan so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. Dawnflower, will be the new deputy of Windclan."

Dawnflower took a step forward. "Windclan, I never expected to gain such a high rank but I vow to serve you as best as I can." Ivypaw nodded approvingly. Dawnflower would make a good deputy.

"As for a new medicine cat, I'm afraid we must ask one of the other clans for one of theirs." Sunfur sighed. Yowl of protest rose from the clearing. "It will only be until they train an apprentice." She promised. Most of the protesting died down but it was clear not many cats liked the decision. To Ivypaw, it seemed like their only choice.

"Before I go to the Moonstone to receive my nine lives, there is one more ceremony that must take place." Sunfur took a step forward. "I Sunfur, leader of Windclan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these four apprentices." Ivypaw felt as if her heart exploded. We're all becoming warriors! "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Ivypaw, Lightningpaw, Shrewpaw, and Mistpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do!" Ivypaw gasped.

"I do!" Lightningpaw squeaked.

"I do." Mistpaw meowed. Ivypaw glanced at Shrewpaw. She remained silent, shifting her paws uncomfortably.

"Shrewpaw?" Sunfur prompted.

"I...I don't." A chorus of gasps exploded from the camp.

"What?!" Ivypaw asked.

"Shrewpaw." Sunfur's voice wasn't angry, but stern. "What do you mean?" Shrewpaw gazed up at Sunfur nervously.

"I'm glad I was able to make myself useful to Windclan by helping to stop Eaglefeather." Shrewpaw remained nervous, but Ivypaw could tell she meant what she was saying. "But now I wish to rest."

"You wish to join the elders?" Sunfur asked, utterly confused.

"No," Shrewpaw replied. "Clan life just isn't for me."

"You're leaving the clan?!" Ivypaw gasped. Shrewpaw nodded and cats began whispering amongst themselves.

"I will live in the twoleg barn just outside Windclan's territory." Shrewpaw explained. "If you ever need my help again, I'll be there but I don't wish to be a clan cat anymore."

"You may leave then." Sunfur replied. Yowls of protest broke out. "You would have been a great warrior, but your decision to leave will be respected."

"If I may," Shrewpaw replied. "I wish to leave right after my sister's warrior ceremony." Sunfur nodded. Ivypaw turned to her sister.

"Shrewpaw," Ivypaw sighed. "I'll miss you." Shrewpaw nudged her sister's side.

"Hey, it's not like you'll never see me again." Shrewpaw's tone was light. "I'll see you around." Ivypaw faked a smile as Shrewpaw padded off to say goodbye to Harepelt. The truth was, Ivypaw felt as if she were losing more kin and that her only kin left were Harepelt. Lightningpaw pressed supportively against Ivypaw. She smiled at her. I suppose Lightningpaw is kin as well though.

"Now, where was I?" Sunfur meowed aloud. "Oh yes, then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names. Mistpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Mistshine. Starclan honors your intelligence and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Windclan."

Sunfur rested her chin on Mistshine's head, who licked her leader's shoulder in response. Mistshine then backed away. "Lightningpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lightningmoon, Starclan honors your enthusiasm and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Windclan." Lightningmoon has a nice ring to it. Sunfur and Lightningmoon did the same thing before Lightningmoon backed up to join Ivypaw.

"Ivypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ivyheart. Starclan honors your bravery and cleverness and we welcome you as a full warrior of Windclan." Ivyheart approached her leader. Sunfur rested her chin on Ivyheart's head. Ivyheart licked her shoulder and turned to face the rest of the clan.

"Mistshine! Lightningmoon! Ivyheart!" The clan cheered the new names.

"Now, the three new warriors will sit vigil until dawn." Sunfur announced before leaping off the Highrock. For the first time in so long, Ivyheart felt happy. She, Mistshine, and Lightningmoon were finally warriors! Then she felt a wave of anxiety. The clan had lost so many cats during her apprenticeship. Their leader and deputy, both medicine cats, all the elders, Longstripe, Silvermist, Applefrost, Cedartail, Squirreltail, Larkwing, Amberpetal, and sort of Shrewpaw as well. Ivyheart glanced at the nursery. Starlingfeather was laying down in the nursery, her four kits sleeping beside her. Ivyheart smiled. Starlingfeather's kits weren't far from becoming apprentices. Perhaps Ivyheart could mentor one of them someday. She shot a glance at Lightningmoon, who was clearly thinking the same thing. Ivyheart sat down beside Lightningmoon and Mistshine. Windclan would recover, and they would be there to help. Watching Shrewpaw and Sunfur leave, the three warriors began their silent vigil.