#shiningtail

Aliases / Nicknames: The Elder Killer, Flickerspine

Gender: tom

Family: Blazepad (mother), Russetnose (mother), Birchcloud, biological father), Lionfeather (brother), Birdsun (half-sister)

Other relations: Alderstar (mentor), unnamed mentor

Clan: Shadowclan

Characteristics: mainly targets elders, initially killed to test how it felt, kills to feel calm

Number of Victims: 7

Number of Murders: 6

Murder Method: pushing over cliff

Known Victims: Petalflight, Willowpool, Acornstripe, Yellowspots, Tigertail, Cedarwing

Cause of Death: slit throat

Cautionary Tale: it is not a story for the young, rather the elder. When especially old and losing their state of mind, leaders are advised to not let their elders leave the camp for anything other than emergency or to go to the dirtplace. This is simply due to their confusion, but a tale is connected to this law, one that warns of a siren calling to the confused, luring them further and further across the forest floor, until they suddenly find that there is nothing beneath them.

Story:

They were liars.

Flickerpaw had watched in stunned silence as the Clan erupted into chaos, argues flying back and forth, accusations swinging with them. Alderstar, their leader, their protector, their friend, was a murderer.

It just couldn’t be true.

Along with Birdsun, Shiningtail, and Lionfeather, then all kits, he played with Alderstar for what could have truly been every day. Even as the deputy he would let them ride on his back, or nibble on his legs without complaint as they pretended he was an enemy warrior.

He once carried Birdkit when she sprained her paw all the way to the medicine den, and the same for Flickerkit to his mother, Blazepad, when he got too tired while playing.

How could a warrior be so kind to kits, yet vile enough to murder his own friends and Clanmates in horrendous ways? And for what?

Besides, he was best friends with the medicine cat, the only one a Clan should trust more than their deputy or leader.

He refused to believe it for the next several days, even when Myrtlewing disappeared overnight. Flickerpaw was given a new mentor, one he certainly didn’t want. A grumpy senior warrior who always told Flickerkit and his siblings to bugger off when they asked to play. Nothing like Alderstar.

Then news came forward that Myrtlewing had attacked Fernpaw, and two and two were put together. The Clan was shaken. Not only had its own leader been killing them, but so was their medicine cat. The Clan discussed in wails, further connecting who some of their victims must have been.

Okay, maybe they were killers. At this point, Flickerpaw had a tough time denying that. Somehow, still.... he couldn’t shake the feeling that the way in which the Clan spoke of them, spitting or whispering their names, was wrong.

He kept thinking for a long time, watching his Clanmates, a couple times surprised to catch himself thinking about what it would be like to kill them. Flickerpine decided to find out.

Both Alderstar and Myrtlewing had been wise while they were still around, and incredibly nice to the kits. Alderstar had been his first mentor, too, and was patient to the end. Maybe he really was a killer, and maybe for good reason.

Flickerpine found the elder, Petalflight, wandering the trees. Her muzzle was almost entirely grey, and her eyesight had dwindled. Flickerpine guessed that she had gotten confused again. He offered to return her to camp, and began to do just that. Then he realized his opportunity and led her away.

He wasn’t sure where he was going, or even how he would kill her. It seemed the answer found him. Lost in his thoughts, he had almost crashed over a cliff hidden by overhanging ferns. Peering over the edge, he saw that it wasn’t incredibly high, but sharp rocks littered the bottom. An elder would certainly not survive it. He didn’t have to say anything at all, only keep his mouth shut as Petalflight walked unknowingly forward into danger.

The Clan panicked. Of course, with everything that had happened, they would worry that a killer was once again among them.

But that couldn’t stop Flickerpine, not anymore. He understood everything. It was as though he had lifted every weight that had ever been on his back and threw it over the cliff, never to be seen again. It was freeing, it was the gasp of air when your head broke the surface of water.

He laid low for the next several moons, but the need grew too much to bear. Yellowspots, Petalflight’s mate, had gone to look for her on several occassions. While out collecting branches to repair dens, Flickerpine made sure to run into him and offer assistance with his better-working nose.

Of course, the scent was well gone by now, but how could an elder with no smell know that?

Yellowspots only had enough time to look over the edge and gasp before Flickerpine pushed him down.

Less moons have passed now. Flickerpine was getting increasingly eager with every kill. The more he pushed, the more he wanted to do it again.

The next were two at the same time, another pair of mates: Willowpool and Acornstripe, then later Acornstripe’s brother Tigertail. 

The final one was a warrior. Flickerpine had managed to kill all the Clan’s elders without getting caught!

Cedarwing was the daughter of Petalflight’s and Yellowspots’s son, and worried sick. Flickerpine caught her while ‘hunting,’ and said that he just saw some birds circling something in the distance.

Cedarwing had been so distraught, racing forward so fast Flickerpine struggled to keep up to make sure she went in the right direction. Unfortunately, leaf-fall had caused the fern-cover to wrinkled into itself, and she saw the edge in time to skid to a halt. 

Luckily, her surprise was enough to keep her light-footed, and with a simple body slam, she went screeching over.

Flickerpine returned to his territory, picked up the fresh-kill he was carrying, and felt teeth sink into his throat.

(on back)

Additional Information:

--I don’t know, I just really wanted to make this guy!

--Cedarwing ended up surviving, but was horribly injured.

--I also thought it would be interesting to have Flickerpine killed by another serial killer. I don’t know who yet.

--Yeah his method of not getting caught was to never actually leave the camp with his victim(s), but conveniently be out and about at the same time. No one became suspicious because with so few numbers, basically everyone was doing the same thing.