Mothwing's Secret/Chapter 7

==Chapter description==
:The following moon, Mothwing tells Swallowtail that her cut is nothing to worry about as the warrior thanks her. Before the medicine cat is able to reply, she hears Willowpaw approaching her. The look of fear and sincerity on her apprentice's face cuts short most of her questions as the golden she-cat pushes past her apprentice to the camp's clearing. There she is met with the sight of her friend, Leafpool, first. Then Firestar speaking with Leopardstar, Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, and the limp body of her brother, Hawkfrost. Mothwing freezes at the sight of her brother as she slowly walks to him to confirm her thoughts. She takes note of his cold body and the drying blood at his throat.
:Mothwing glances up to see her Clanmates staring at the ThunderClan cats with shock and hostility. She notes that Firestar and Brambleclaw are injured, while Leafpool and Squirrelflight both look shocked. The medicine cat asks them what had happened. She spares a glance at Brambleclaw, wondering if he had betrayed her brother, but she notices that he looked shocked and likely had done nothing of the sorts. Leopardstar also asks, demanding an explanation from Firestar about the body of one of her Clan's best warriors. The ThunderClan tom explains with a solemn expression that Hawkfrost had been killed by a fox trap and that it had been a terrible accident. He apologizes to the gathered RiverClan cats as Mothwing feels a mixture of emotions course through her. Leopardstar accepts the apology and thanks the ThunderClan cats for returning the tabby's body but asks them to leave so that they may sit vigil for him.
:As the ThunderClan cats take their leave, Leafpool announces she needs to speak with Mothwing. The two she-cats head to the medicine den, where they are joined with Willowpaw, who is allowed to stay. Mothwing begs for her friend not to lie as she hesitates, but Leafpool reveals that Hawkfrost had tried to kill Firestar by leading him to a fox trap. She adds that Hawkfrost had tried to get Brambleclaw to kill the ThunderClan leader so that he could assume the role, but Brambleclaw couldn't and in a twist of events, killed Hawkfrost with the end of the fox trap. Mothwing listens, feeling sick as she recalls her brother's voice saying he and Brambleclaw would lead the Clans together. Leafpool apologizes once again to Mothwing as Willowpaw also offers her condolences, stating that Hawkfrost hadn't been all bad and that RiverClan would remember him for more than his ambition. Mothwing collapses to the floor as she remembers her past, growing up alongside her brother and the challenges that they had faced. She comes to terms that despite her love for him, they had both lost each other somewhere along the way.
:Moons later, Mothwing notes that Mistystar had assumed leadership and Willowpaw had become a full medicine cat alongside herself. She holds onto the memory of her brother as the moons continue to pass. However, Mothwing remains dutiful to the Clan as their medicine cat. She tells Duskfur that she'll continue giving her kit, Podkit, comfrey for his cough and that it should clear up soon. The kit complains about the taste of the herbs as Mothwing comforts him and Duskfur thanks her. The two she-cats discuss the impending danger of the Dark Forest cats briefly before the queen and kit leave. Willowshine and Mothwing then discuss the topic between themselves as the younger of the two begins preparing herb bundles. Mothwing asks the gray tabby about the Dark Forest and if she truly thinks they are coming. Willowshine states that she does as Mothwing thinks about the answer and that the past few moons had shown something dark was coming.
:The medicine cat notes that some RiverClan cats had been acting strangely, waking up with injuries and sneaking off to meet up with cats from other Clans. Mothwing reveals that Jayfeather had come to her and told her that cats had been training with the Dark Forest residents, such as Tigerstar, Brokenstar, and Mapleshade. Mothwing notes all the names belonged to cats that had died before she was born, except for Hawkfrost. She also mentions that scents of strange cats had shown up around the Clan's territories and that Beetlewhisker, a young RiverClan warrior had gone missing. Mothwing pushes her way out of the den to gather moss as she watches her Clanmates prepare for the attack. Passing by Dapplenose, she asks about the ThunderClan cats that were to help them protect their camp. The warrior tells her they are late with a spit, as the two she-cats hear cats rushing through the reeds. Foxleap, Rosepetal, and Toadstep appear, bringing the warning that the Dark Forest had begun their attack.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Errors==
*Darktail is mentioned to be in the Dark Forest. However, he is still alive at the time and has not encountered the Clan cats or the lake yet.
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Mothwing's Secret
Category:Novellas