The Apprentice's Curse (A Shrouded Path book 1) {COMPLETE}

Chapter 20

    "What happened?" Silverheart exclaimed, rushing towards Shadebelly's body. "A ThunderClan cat killed him?"

    At first, none of the cats from the battle said anything. Then Ashstar, weighing his words carefully, said, "Shadebelly was not killed by an enemy warrior. His death was an accident, but still an honorable one." His mew was thick with so much grief. "Tonight we will honor him for the cat he was, and send him on his way to StarClan."

    Silverheart's eyes held countless questions, but she spoke none of them as she began to prepare Shadebelly's body for the vigil.

    But Sweetstripe did say something. "What do you mean, it was an accident?" she demanded. "If a ThunderClan cat didn't kill him, then how did he die?"

    "It was an accident," Ashstar repeated.

    Suddenly, Mudpelt snorted. "Fox-dung!" he swore. He turned against Minnowpaw, rage in his yellow eyes. "We all saw it; Minnowpaw killed him!"

    A single unified gasp rose from their Clanmates, and Minnowpaw stared at the ground. Mudpelt was right; she'd killed the RiverClan deputy.

    "Minnowpaw killed him? That can't be true!" Flamepelt shouted. The handsome ginger warrior stepped through the crowd. "If Ashstar said it was an accident, then no cat is to blame!"

    "Except Minnowpaw!" Mudpelt spat. "I saw her with my own two eyes! She killed him! We never should have taken that cursed cat into battle! If she hadn't been there, my father would still be alive!"

    The words stung Minnowpaw more harshly than all of her wounds. She backed away from Mudpelt, fighting the urge to screech. What was she supposed to do?

    "That's enough!" Ashstar spat, leaping through the crowd and landing in front of Mudpelt. His pelt was bristling, and for a moment it looked like he was going to attack the young brown warrior. Instead he said, "I understand your grief. But your father died an honorable death, and no cat, especially one of your Clanmates, is to blame! If you really want to honor Shadebelly, then sit vigil for him! Don't try to tear apart the Clan he loved so much!"

    Mudpelt gazed back at Ashstar defiantly, but then turned away. No other cat spoke a word as they prepared for the vigil.

    By the time the sun had set and the moon was rising, Shadebelly's pelt was cleaned of dirt and blood and neatly groomed. He lay in the center of camp, looking as peaceful as if he were only sleeping, with various strongly-scented herbs tucked around his body. Minnowpaw couldn't bear to look at him, but at the same time she couldn't keep her eyes away. Since returning to camp no cat had approached her, even Flamepelt. But she didn't blame them; she was a murderer.

    She had hardly been aware of Silverheart nudging her to the medicine den, or dressing her many wounds. She'd made eye contact with Nightwhisper only once, and there was a darkness, deep and angry, in his eyes. But she couldn't say anything to him, or anyone else. Her mind was numb and her heart was hollow, and she wished deeply to wake up and find that this had all been a terrible nightmare. But she knew it wasn't.

    The Clan sat around Shadebelly's body until moonhigh, softly sharing tongues and exchanging stories about their beloved deputy. Just as the moon was reaching the top of the evening sky, Ashstar climbed onto the meeting rock and addressed the Clan.

    "Today, we lost a great cat," he began. "I had the honor of having Shadebelly serve by my side, and the even greater honor of calling him my friend. RiverClan will mourn him deeply for many moons to come."

    The Clan murmured solemnly. Ashstar continued, "It is time to name a new deputy." He looked up towards the sky, where Silverpelt glimmered brilliantly above. Minnowpaw looked upwards too, wondering which star was Shadebelly. Was he looking down at her, angry for killing him? "I say these words before the body of Shadebelly, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice," Ashstar called. "Birchclaw will be the new deputy of RiverClan."

    Every cat mewed their approval; Birchclaw was a senior warrior, and very capable and respected. Through her shock, Minnowpaw wondered briefly if Ashstar had considered Tawnyclaw for the position.

    "Now let us sit and keep vigil for Shadebelly, and share tongues with him one last time," Ashstar finished.

    Each cat took turns approaching Shadebelly's body to murmur their farewell, and Minnowpaw got in line. Mudpelt and Sorrelstream sat at their father's head; Sorrelstream's face held nothing but grief and longing, but Mudpelt's eyes shone with pure hatred as Minnowpaw walked up. He hissed at her, and she flinched.

    "Mudpelt, please," Sorrelstream pleaded, to Minnowpaw's surprise. The brown warrior begrudgingly backed away and let Minnowpaw come closer.

    She bent her head down and touched her nose to Shadebelly's head. "I'm so, so sorry," she breathed, her words nearly lost in a sob. "I hope you can forgive me in StarClan."

She walked away, feeling Mudpelt's eyes burning into her pelt. The cat who had once been her friend now hated her, and had no trouble hiding it. Minnowpaw just wanted to get away from everyone, and she doubted Mudpelt would let her sit close for the vigil. So she ducked into the apprentice's den, which was empty; every cat would stay in the clearing tonight to mourn. But Minnowpaw curled into her cold nest and begged for sleep to take her pain away.