Racing among the ferns, Scarpaw found comfort in the warmth of Sparkpaw's pelt brushing against hers. The uneasiness from Snowstar's sudden outburst hung heavy in the air, but no one dared to speak or ask any questions; he seemed to have a good reason for wanting to hurry back to camp, and the patrol followed his speed without question.

      Climbing in and out of the Stone-hollow, the patrol found their way back to the lake's edge, racing along ThornClan's borders. Scarpaw stopped to see if there were any fresh scents that may signal an attack, but there was nothing; in fact, it almost seemed like no ThornClan cat had renewed their borders in a long time.

      Once they got deeper into RainClan territory, a powerful fear-scent hung heavy in the air. Looking to Leopardpaw, Scarpaw saw panic in her eyes. Something was very wrong. Snowstar slowed his pace near the mud-hollow, and suddenly Nightbreeze's lithe frame burst through the undergrowth, her sides heaving with the struggle to breathe. At the sight of the patrol, her eyes widened, too surprised to even give them a proper greeting.

      "Snowstar, you must return to camp; there's been a disaster." 

      Flattening his ears, he responded, "What kind of disaster?"

      "I-It's Rosegaze," her voice broke as she continued, "she's dead."

      Bursting through the mangrove tunnel, Scarpaw instantly noticed Woodpaw crouched in the center of the clearing with Sagefur, wailing; the older warrior at his side simply gazing unseeing at a distant spot between the trees. Rosegaze was their mother. Dawnleaf and Berryface sat close together, grief-stricken, and the other wandering cats seemed wild with panic. At the sight of their leader, the whole clearing went silent, eyes watching him with quiet fear. Snowstar stepped forward, pelt prickling, to where Suntail was standing beside the Half-tree.

      "Where is her body?" Snowstar whispered. Suntail looked uncomfortable, and Stormspirit came padding over with the same expression. 

      "I was out on patrol with Suntail and Woodpaw, when there was a scream. We followed the fear-scent past the black-tree, when we started to smell blood."

      "A lot of blood," Suntail whispered. Stormspirit looked to his paws before speaking again.

      "The trail ended at the river. There was blood everywhere, scattered all along the shore and the ferns. Her body wasn't there, but her fur was scattered everywhere."

      "It was her," Woodpaw croaked, "that was her scream. I know it."

      Suntail nodded, "Her scent was all over the place; It was Rosegaze for sure." Snowstar slowly lowered his head, overcome with shock. There were hidden thoughts swimming around in his eyes like minnows. Toadface walked up, his face lowered in pain, and Stormspirit touched his shoulder with his tail in silent support.

      Was the beautiful she-cat Toadface's mate?

      The tenderness of Stormspirit & Toadface's friendship hit Scarpaw like a wave, and it was hard to believe that she had ever had mistrust in the disfigured warrior.

      Snowstar took a shaky breath, turning towards Webear, who had just padded up, looking exasperated. "Was she expecting?" his voice came as merely a whisper, and after a moment of silence, Webear bowed her head. Toadface stumbled away in horror, running out of camp, with Stormspirit worriedly calling after him. The ground seemed to crumble under Scarpaw as her breath hitched, overcome with emotion. Snowstar shut his eyes against his own thoughts, shaking with grief, and mumbled, "Right now, we will hold the vigil that Rosegaze and her kits deserve."

      As Snowstar climbed up the Half-tree to address the news, Scarpaw slowly wove her way through the growing crowd to try and find Woodpaw. He was shaken and hurt, and Scarpaw couldn't bear to see him like this; as much as the sudden and vicious death sent fear through the she-cat, she was worried about Woodpaw too much to let her panic take control. Spotting him towards the back of the crowd sitting close with Maskpaw and Sagefur, their muzzles almost touching, Scarpaw stopped. A strange emotion prickled at her, forming discomfort at the sight of them, siblings and friends, supporting eachother silently with a bond she would never know. Maskpaw turned his head to look at her, darkness clouding in his gaze, but he said nothing. Scarpaw looked to her paws, weaving her way back through the crowd with her tail drooping behind her. This was a moment for Woodpaw to be with his family and closest friends; Scarpaw would give them space.

      Finding Sparkpaw and Leopardpaw near the edge of the crowd, she joined them just in time to hear Snowstar's yowl. He didn't address the clan with the usual words to announce a meeting, but everyone seemed to understand regardless. Even Coldclaw held his tongue, crawling out from the elders den alongside Fawneyes, neither making a sound. Slowcloud and Deadmouth followed shortly after, pelts touching, and sat near the back as usual.

      "Rosegaze is dead," Snowstar boomed, "and will receive the deserved vigil, with or without her body. She was a skilled warrior and a gentle mother, providing the clan with brave and respected cats. All the clans will grieve for Rosegaze, and what she has done..." Snowstar's words faded as Scarpaw's eyes flicked to the edge of the crowd where the dark shape of a cat was making his way towards Woodpaw, speaking in a low voice. As Scarpaw focused, she recognized Venomsight, seeming to give words of comfort to his apprentice; but something in Woodpaw's eyes chilled Scarpaw, his fear wildly obvious. What about this dark warrior scared Woodpaw so much? What were they saying?

      As the meeting broke up, Scarpaw decided that she had to learn more. The sudden death of Rosegaze caused panic throughout the clan, and her mistrust of Venomsight gave her the indication that whatever was happening, the dark warrior could be behind it.
      She let her paws guide her, and looking up, she noticed the elders den, tucked gently behind the old log, with Slowcloud and Deadmouth just making their way inside. Slowcloud noticed her first, seeing the panic in her eyes, and immediately gave a flick of his tail, indicating her to follow. Gulping, Scarpaw bounded behind the large log, into the shady hollow.

      Coldclaw grumbled something under his breath as she entered, with Fawneyes already asleep beside him. Slowcloud gestured for her to follow him towards the back of the den, settling himself onto a soft bed of moss. Deadmouth lay with his dark pelt touching Slowcloud's, his head resting tiredly on his paws. His horrifyingly twisted jaw was placed uncomfortably between them, and Scarpaw approached cautiously, feeling uncomfortable in the soft space, like she didn't belong.

      "Whats wrong, Scarpaw?" Slowcloud spoke in a hushed voice, "It's alright, sit. You can tell me." Scarpaw blinked gratefully, slowly settling onto the soft moss. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Scarpaw looked up into the elders searching gaze.

      "It's about Venomsight," she mumbled, "you said you knew a lot about him, last time we spoke. I was wondering, well- I was wondering what you could tell me about him." She paused, discomfort prickling at her fur. "About his past, maybe?" Even with Scarpaw's thoughts of distrust regarding the warrior, they were still simply thoughts, and she was afraid of how the rest of the clan would feel if they knew of Scarpaw's feelings regarding one of their most skilled warriors.

      Slowcloud watched her in silence for a moment, then dipped his head to speak softly, "I can tell you about him, but we need to keep our voices down. Coldclaw is his father." Scarpaw's ears pricked in surprise as he continued, "I would tell you to ask him about his own son, but Coldclaw is viciously bitter. He's not an easy cat to please, especially with his sons, and he wouldn't give you very useful information."

      Bitterness must run in the family, Scarpaw thought, picturing Venomsight and Coldclaw side by side. They did share many similarities now that she thought about it, both sharing their dark pelts and prickly attitudes. Glancing over at the slumbering form of Coldclaw, she wondered how she had never noticed the similarities before.
      "My brother," Slowcloud gestured towards Coldclaw, "he's always been that way. Proud, but maybe a bit too much at times. Venomsight took after him well, but his other son; He's your mentor, isn't he? Yes, he's quite different, that one. I still remember when he was apprenticed, alongside his brother. Coldclaw was quite proud that day." Scarpaw blinked, taking the information in while Slowcloud went on about the past. Stormspirit was Venomsight's brother? And not only that, but Coldclaw was their father? Scarpaw pictured Stormspirit alongside the darker warrior, trying to spot the similarities. They shared the same striking yellow eyes, dark pelts; but besides appearances, did they share any other traits? Stormspirit had always been a determined mentor, patient and kind, being one of the first cats to welcome her as a true RainClan apprentice. Venomsight had never shown her any kindness or tenderness, and his actions towards his own apprentice only caused more worry. Woodpaw was definitely involved in some dark plans, and Venomsight had to be in the center of it all.

     Scarpaw twitched her tail to interrupt Slowcloud's memories. "With all due respect, Slowcloud, I was thinking of some different information... Like his childhood, maybe. Something that could've caused his strange behavior." Slowcloud eyed her for a moment before replying.

      "You think Venomsight could be behind all these terrible incidents, dont you?"
      Gulping, Scarpaw nodded, shame prickling at her paws like water from the stream. Slowcloud sighed.

      "Don't worry; I'm on your side, Scarpaw." He blinked, "While he is my brothers son, he's always had darkness in his heart. You're not the only cat to suspect him of darker actions." 

      Scarpaw let out a breath she wasn't aware that she was holding. "But why? What reasons could he possibly have to do such things?"

      "Venomsight was mentored by his father," Slowcloud mumbled, "so he got the end of Coldclaw's temper. Whether it payed off in the end, StarClan knows, but it certainly caused an obsession to form in Venomsight."

      Scarpaw narrowed her eyes. "Obsession for what?"

      "For a son," Slowcloud shut his eyes, "a son to train, to grow into a powerful warrior just like him. I presume that he believes having a strong son would please his father somehow." Scarpaw nodded, trying to understand. 

      "But Venomsight doesn't have a mate; none of the queens in camp feel safe around him," she mumbled, remembering the incident in front of the nursery, with Dawnleaf's kits. Venomsight had seemed interested in her son then.

      "Exactly," Slowcloud's ears flattened, "I think this caused anger, maybe even resentment. He wanted to have Rosegaze's kits; he was obsessed with her, when they both were young. And she was interested in his strength." 

      Scarpaw blinked, "But Rosegaze was Toadface's mate, wasn't she?"

      Slowcloud nodded. "Yes, but Venomsight was her mate before him. They had one litter; three daughters," He paused before continuing, "they all died as newborns. Some sort of sickness, no cat's fault; but Venomsight saw this as a sign. He thought that StarClan was telling him Rosegaze should've had sons, not daughters."

       Scarpaw shook her head in horror. "How? StarClan would never send a sign in the form of three kit's corpses like that." 

      "Venomsight didn't see it that way. Rosegaze was horrified, refusing to be his mate any longer; She chased him out of the nursery, claws and all."

      Scarpaw could feel her breathing quicken. How could Venomsight's strange obsession with having a son be the cause of any of this? The prophecy, ThornClan, Pepperpelt, Rosegaze...

      "I could be wrong, and none of this could be connected," Slowcloud looked back up to whisper, "but the chances are likely. Keep your eyes open, Scarpaw. Whatever is happening here, it's happening right under our noses."

      It was then that Deadmouth lifted his head, facing Scarpaw with a fierceness in his eyes. The older warrior tried opening his disfigured mouth, a strangled sound coming out as merely a whisper, until Scarpaw could almost make out what the elder was trying to say:

The apprentice, he whispered in a scratchy voice, watch the apprentice.