[Deleted]

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

Pinewhisker noticed Vulturetalon rush through the entrance of camp, heading straight towards her. What is he up to? The crimson she-cat pondered, setting down her catch in the fresh kill pile. The deputy's green eyes shed a faint glimpse of concern as the black tom raced towards her, pinpointing the ginger cat as she was contributing her evening catches to her clanmates. She just returned from a hunting patrol with Jaystep, Tinytail, and Pantherstride, and all were still lingering in the center of camp, almost languidly. Greencough stole a lot of hope and motivation from Nightclan.

"Pinewhisker!" Vulturetalon spoke, an unsettled look in his green gaze. "A patrol found fresh Demon tracks along the Treeclan border. I just showed Dimstar where they started. He told me to notify you and that he would investigate from there."

The ginger she-cat was slightly taken aback. Dimstar is alone, searching for Demon tracks? Why didn't he put together a patrol to come with him? Why wasn't I notified about this before now? Pinewhisker's head ached with all the worst-case scenarios rushing through her mind. Though despite her unease, she didn't sacrifice any time in returning a reply; she wasn't about to waste time gawking. This was a time sensitive situation.

"Thank you." She forced out, clenching her jaw. "Jaystep, Tinytail, Pantherstride. Come with me. Vulturetalon, show me where you took Dimstar."

Urgency made her spine tingle, adrenaline warming her muscles with an intense buzz. Pinewhisker wasn't going to walk into this alone. Dimstar would need back-up if there was an issue, and she had put together a good team. The cats she had brought were fairly well rested, despite Vulturetalon, but they needed him to show where the Demon tracks were; where Dimstar was. Please be alright. She prayed to herself, bursting through the camp entrance after Vulturetalon. Dimstar was an empty soul, but she had grown to like their leader more-so since becoming deputy. He was a loyal and honest warrior. Despite Pinewhisker's brusque and collected manner, she felt a disturbing sense of dread prickle along her spine. What was Dimstar thinking, following fresh Demon tracks without a fighting patrol? She followed closely after Vulturetalon, pressing forward through the moonlit pines towards the Treeclan border; towards Dimstar.

"Hurry!" She hissed, the night air chilling her to the bones.

What was Dimstar thinking?

51 Moons - Deputy - NightClan

PIneWhisKEr

Fawn

Notes: xxx

[Deleted]

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

Was it too late? Patches of fur and an excessive amount of crimson coated the marshy earth beneath the paws of the five cats. The entire clearing reeked of Demon and blood. Pinewhisker couldn't help but stand there, shocked at the suddenness of it all; Vulturetalon storming into camp, Dimstar's assumed death. The breath was stolen from her throat. Would she risk the lives of the cats around her to bring back Dimstar's body? Was he really dead? What if he was just injured? Pinewhisker's heart stuttered with sadness and consternation. The whole patrol was deathly quiet, and the scent of fear began growing stronger the longer the patrol remained. Pinewhisker turned towards her clanmates. The look in their eyes broke her heart. How could she ask them to follow the very thing that reduced their leader to a pulp of slate grey fur and venetian red?

"Vulturetalon, Tinytail, Jaystep. Stay here, be alert. Pantherstride, follow me." Pinewhisker murmured.

Pantherstride was fast. If there was a problem, he could get a message to the three warriors in less than a heartbeat of time. Each step she took after Demon made her shutter inside, though she didn't dare show it. The least she could do is lead Pantherstride confidently into the fray. She could see the pawprints, the blood spattered ground, and pace after pace brought her closer to the truth. There's no way a cat could lose this much blood and survive. Pinewhisker's chest tightened. The trail lead the two warriors along the Nightclan side of the border for what felt like hours, until the lynx's trail jut harshly in towards Treeclan territory.

"Lets go." Pinewhisker growled, pushing past the border as if it had never existed. The trees were taller, and the safety of cozy evergreens were behind them. The midnight breeze felt colder under the tall, deciduous trees. The deputy couldn't stop her hackles from rising as the scent of Demon grew stronger, though just as soon as they had entered Treeclan territory, they had reached the end of it. Dimstar's trail of blood lead to the mountains outside of clan territory, inevitably to Demon's den. Pinewhisker faced Pantherstride. They both knew.

Dimstar was dead.

51 Moons - Deputy - NightClan

PIneWhisKEr

Fawn

Notes: xxx