#bayspots

Calmly, the deputy tilted his head to address the pointed hiss. "I don't know what you mean, Bayspots."

He'd sensed her earlier watching him, ever since he, Brightstorm, and Suntuft had brought the kits back to camp. Initially, he had thought of entering the nursery, hoping to have a private moment to speak properly to Brightstorm. Bayspots's presence swiftly changed his mind, and her intense approach justified his changed mind. Hostility rolled off of her in hot waves, enough to warm the cool leaf-fall air. His ears twitched, otherwise appearing unperturbed.

"I'm not stupid, Eagleburn," Bayspots spat. Her voice was kept low enough for none of the other cats to hear, but judging by the sound of her fluffed tail's harsh lashing whistling through the air, Eagleburn imagined their clanmates would notice her displeasure, "I've seen you and Brightstorm, and now you mysteriously bring back kits?"

Whether or not her verbal blows land, Eagleburn doesn't show it. He merely nodded, and motioned with his tail.

"Let's discuss this outside of camp."

Without leaves on their branches, the light split through the trees easier. Under the midday leaf-fall sun, far from camp, Eagleburn and Bayspots faced one another. Even after the long walk out of camp, Bayspots's anger had yet to exhaust, and if anything, she was especially furious.

"Why in the name of StarClan did we need to go out this far just to talk?"

"Because you're right. Those kits are as much Brightstorm's as they are mine."

The silence was deafening. Eagleburn heard the hitch in Bayspots's breathing, the faint sound of her claws clenching into the soil below her paws. Steady as ever, Eagleburn remained stalwart, unmoved.

"How dare you." Bayspots broke the silence, her voice lifting high. Birds in nearby trees took flight in panic at the sharp rise of her howl. "I always knew you and Brightstorm had something going on--"

Her voice hitched, emotions flooding.

"Ever since our first litter... I've seen how she's looked at you when we've been together. I have been nothing but a good mate, I have treated her well, and yet she had the audacity--"

"I crossed a boundary," Eagleburn admitted, head bowing. "I should have known better. Brightstorm had begun coming to me as you grew colder to her--and while I understand your insecurity, why didn't you talk to her? She adores you still."

Bayspots bristled.

"I don't owe an explanation of our relationship to you," she hissed. Hackles lifting, tail beginning to enter a harsh lash, she bared teeth that Eagleburn could not see. "Maybe she should've looked inward first if she's going to complain about me."

A moment of silence passed, and Bayspots looked at Eagleburn with an expression of frustrated confusion.

"Is this it? Did you drag me out here just to rub this all in my face? I won't let you get away with it. You and Brightstorm both will face not only the judgment of our clan, but StarClan. This won't stay a secret."

Quietly, Eagleburn nodded in understanding.

"I know," he agreed, to Bayspots's bewilderment. "That's why I brought you out here."

Silent, Bayspots didn't know how to answer, so Eagleburn continued, rising to his paws from where he sat.

"If I frame it right, that you were a cruel and unforgiving mate to Brightstorm, the clan may forgive her when enough time has passed. Especially when you took me deep into the woods, when everyone could smell your fury, to make an attempt on my life."

Stunned, Bayspots gaped. Eagleburn could sense her disbelief, heard the subtle shift of leaf-litter beneath her paws as she slid back a pawstep. It was followed by a step forward of his own, confident and unwavering as the pair of blind, scarred eyes that bore her down. In their foggy reflection, Bayspots could see her own expression, and how terror slowly replaced anger.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, voice suddenly smaller, and Eagleburn took another step.

"Your sacrifice will make way for a new life for not only my kits, but for Brightstorm as well. I'll make sure to pray to StarClan for you to be taken care of."

In the reflection of blind eyes, the last thing Bayspots saw of herself was her mouth opening in a yowl that never came.

Black fur slick with blood, and mouth full of Bayspots's fur as he dragged her in by the scruff, with a tenderness he did not particularly care to part unto the she-cat, he set her down softly upon the camp floor. Immediately did Brightstorm swarm them, her heart cleaving in two at the sight. Her Bayspots, her beloved Bayspots--

The ground gave way beneath her, and were it not for Eagleburn's strong, sturdy shoulder suddenly against her flank to hold her steady, Brightstorm would have collapsed.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, giving her a soothing lick to the ear, but Brightstorm was numb to it. Her eyes were transfixed to Bayspots, struggling to parse that this was reality, and not just a bad dream.

"What's going on?"

Dappleddusk trotted out, followed by Oatstar and Beewatcher. The medicine cat pulled herself by both to check on Bayspots, flashing a grim look to Dappleddusk.

"I don't know if it is wise for me to discuss it out here," quietly Eagleburn suggested, head turning in the direction of Oatstar's scent.

"If this may be a danger to the rest of us, we should know!" yowled a warrior in the growing crowd, and a chorus of meows rose in agreement. Beewatcher shifted focus to check on Eagleburn's injuries, glancing elsewhere again, but this time at Oatstar.

Their leader looked terrified, unable to mask his fear as he looked between the bloodied body of Bayspots, and how ravaged Eagleburn looked, fresh wounds still dripping onto the dry, cold earth.

"Oatstar, this is your decision," prompted Beewatcher quietly, and he quickly shook himself out. Had he not known better, he would have almost sworn that Eagleburn's blind eyes were looking coldly upon him.

"It's okay, Eagleburn," meowed Oatstar, voice lifting to feign confidence and strength, when in reality, his legs felt feather-weak. "I think it'll be better you explain what happened. Otherwise rumors might spread."

Eagleburn, quiet for a long moment, finally bowed his head in obedient acknowledgement.

"... Bayspots tried to take my life."

A gasp rippled through the gathered cats. For the first time, Brightstorm's head whipped back up, eyes blown wide as she looked at Eagleburn in shock.

"She lured me out into the woods under the pretense of discussion, and attacked me. I had only intended to knock her out and bring her back, but I..."

Eagleburn lowered his head, ears flattening. The clan was like quiet chaos--whispers of shock rippled throughout, news spreading like wildfire even to the elders' den. Some apprentices were gently shooed away from older warriors, trying to spare them the gruesome sight. But from the crowd, three cats emerged.

"You murderer!"

Sandfeather's devastated shriek split the camp in two, parting ways like a shifting tide as she rushed forward. Before she could reach Eagleburn her siblings, Sparrowshadow and Frostspots, cut her off, blocking her way to the deputy. Eagleburn stood firm, unshaken by the attempt.

"You killed her! Why would you kill her?!" Sandfeather sobbed, and Eagleburn dipped his head.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, and finally did Brightstorm find her paws, joining her kits in consoling Sandfeather. "I didn't want to, I..."

"Let's not debate morals out here."

Beewatcher's stern voice cut off any further heated debate. The young she-cat was a commanding presence, and as Sandfeather was soothed with licks and purrs from her siblings and remaining parent, the medicine cat pushed way between the groups.

"I have looked over Bayspots's body, and Eagleburn as well. His story lines up. She has black fur in between her claws, just as he has gray in his own. And by the patterns of bite and claws marks on his body..."

Eagleburn held still as she lifted a demonstrating paw, gliding it over the visible marks on his chest, neck, and shoulders.

"She was trying to go for a killing bite. Without her here with us to tell her story, there's no use throwing accusations."

The crowd quieted under Beewatcher's stern eyes, and Dappleddusk strode up, providing her daughter with the additional support of her fierce presence.

"I have one request," Eagleburn said, and all turned to him, curious.

"I would like Dappleddusk to serve as interim deputy while I prove my innocence. If that is okay with you, Oatstar."

Oatstar, hesitating, quickly nodded, not seemingly delighted to have his deputy swapped out, but seeing no good reason to argue otherwise.

"That is fine. Dappleddusk, do you agree?"

While still displaying an outwardly stern and severe mask, it wasn't too difficult to see that Dappleddusk was surprised, but likewise preening under the fact she had been chosen for such an important role.

"Of course," she meowed. "Anything for the clan."

Oatstar nodded his confirmation, and finding his voice, he waved his tail.

"Eagleburn, you will stay in the medicine cats' den for the time being while we sort this out. Brightstorm, are you in good enough condition to help prepare Bayspots's vigil...?"

Flank warmed by Suntuft's arrival, Brightstorm found the strength to nod.

"Okay. While we don't know if Bayspots really did attack Eagleburn without any other witnesses, she still deserves a proper vigil. StarClan will be her final judgment."

The camp was silent, save for Sandfeather's crying. It seemed the chaos of the moment had passed as shock overtook everything. Could such a loyal warrior have turned against their own deputy? And why would she have done such a thing?

Eagleburn knew what questions ran through all of their minds, but he had to play his part carefully. To reveal everything here and now could be a dangerous play, and for the time being, he softly meowed to Beewatcher that he was ready to follow her to the medicine cats' den.

Like a prisoner of war, DawnClan's deputy was led away by Beewatcher and Dappleddusk, the other medicine cats watching curiously from the maw of the den.