#raingaze

Beetlewing pawed through his medicine supply. He could use some more chervil, he thought. Sootwhisper, the other medicine cat, was sound asleep in the den. Beetlewing figured it would be better not to disturb him and stood, about to ask Starlingstrike to help, but the calico had made it to his den first.

“Birchnose brought someone I thought you’d like to see,” she mewed.

“Oh?” Beetlewing felt his heart flutter a bit. Could it be? Could Birchnose have brought Skyfoot?

“Oh, no,” Starlingstrike said, nearly snapping, “Not that one.”

Beetlewing blinked. Who else would willingly come to the Dark Forest?

“They’re under the Highrock.”

Beetlewing nodded and padded out of the fern and lichen tunnel, keeping close to the wall. He announced his entry and ducked through the soft tunnel of the leader’s den. Almost immediately, he unsheathed his claws and lept at the dark-spotted tom that sat in the center of the den. He scored his claws deep into the tom’s sides, steadily seeping out dark red, white spotted blood. The tom let out a yowl and flipped over Beetlewing, scording down his shoulder.

“Hey, hey, hey,” called One Eye. Birchnose and Starlingstrike rushed forward and grabbed both the toms by the back of the necks, pulling them away from eachother.

“You let me go!” Beetlewing hissed, “I’m going to kill him!”

“No you’re not,” mewed Silver Blossom.

“Civilize yourselves,” One Eye commanded.

Beetlewing reluctantly did so. He sheathed his claws but still sat scowling, hardly acknowledging his wound. The other tom did too, sitting up straight thought not any taller than One Eye. Beetlewing felt his fear rise to his throat and he felt like he was a piece of prey about to be pounced on.

“Birchnose,” One Eye said calmly, “Please, introduce this tom.”

Birchnose dipped her head. “This is Raingaze, formerly of Riverclan. I overheard all four of you speaking about us taking cats who don’t deserve Starclan, and I thought this cat deserved to be the first.”

“And I figure it’s to do with Beetlewing?” Silver Blossom theorized.

“He killed my mate,” Beetlewing mewed.

Raingaze looked as if he wanted to say something, but held his tongue. One Eye nodded.

“To be fair, Beetlewing,” he said, “Medicine cat’s can’t have mates.”

“Medicine cats can’t have kits,” Beetlewing corrected, “Skyfoot and I were both toms. We can’t. Either way, my crimes don’t justify such a brutal murder.”

“Brutal?” repeated Silver Blossom, “Care to explain?”

Beetlewing sighed through his teeth and dipped his head, knowing he wouldn’t be able to look at any of them.

“From his neck to his stomach were completely slashed open. Ten cuts, one for each claw. Half his ribcage was broken. One of his eyes was torn out. He was staining the water red just how much he was bleeding, and he was full of sand.”

One Eye turned a hard stare to Raingaze, but he didn’t look regretful in the slightest. In fact, he looked proud. Before One Eye could speak, he nodded, padding out. Silver Blossom was right on his tail. A few heartbeats later Birchnose snapped at Raingaze’s still-bleeding side and shoved him out.

Beetlewing pushed past and found the leaders, sitting at the bottom of the Highrock.

“What now?” he asked, head low and ears back.

“We’re going to hold our very own Trial,” he mewed. Beetlewing shuddered at the word. “Starlingstrike will be for Raingaze’s release to Starclan, and Birchnose will be for the Dark Forest.”

“Your only witnesses are me and Birchjaw,” Beetlewing said quietly.

“Seems that’ll make it easier,” One Eye said with a smile, “Would you not like to damn your mate’s murderer to eternal suffering at our paws?”

“That won’t bring Skyfoot back,” Beetlewing scoffed.

“Sure,” One Eye acknowledged, “But it’s the next best thing.”