There's A Murderer In Our Midst. [OPEN TO ALL OF SHADOWCLAN]

Nettlesting had to trot some of the way home. He hadn't slept much the last few days, and he was skinny from lack of prey. But he was determined to get back to ShadowClan as soon as possible. He covered the ground in no-time. It was almost dawn by the time he was nearing ShadowClan's camp. As it came in sight, Nettlesting paused to catch his breath and gather his words. He would do this talk in front of the whole clan. He was the medicine cat. He had every right to do so. He would out Gingerstripe in front of the whole clan, and maybe he would do the same thing he had done to Honeydrop.... No. He wouldn't. Two wrongs don't make a right. Eventually, the young tom continued onward.

He entered the camp silently, then stared up to where Magpiestar sat. No, he wouldn't be that bold, this time around. Instead, he sat beneath it. "All cats of ShadowClan! Please gather for a message from StarClan!" he would explain to Magpiestar the urgency about not consulting him first. Either way, he wasn't wrong. Anxiously, the tom waited for the clan to gather, especially Gingerstripe, Magpiestar, and Littlebrook.

Scorchfang blinked the sleep out of his eyes at Nettlesting's sudden yowl. Was he back from the Moonstone already? Well, he sounded pretty anxious, so maybe StarClan had shared an omen with him. Hopefully that wouldn't result in anything bad for ShadowClan. He yawned and stretched before padding out of the warmth of the warriors' den and into the freezing leaf-bare air.

The first of the apprentices to arrive was the timid Silentpaw, her blue eyes hazy with sleep still. She neared the medicine cat, curious as to what was going on but too anxious to speak. It wasn't her place after all. She fluffed up in response to the morning chill, her white fur matching the surrounding snow.

Sootpaw came next, followed by his sister Thornpaw. Thornpaw took a seat nearby where she'd have a clear view of the very spontaneous gathering. She wasn't happy in the slightest to be awake this early. It was too cold! Really she should just go back to bed...

Sootpaw came closer, tilting his head at Nettlesting as if trying to read his mind. He wouldn't ask, knowing that he and the medicine cat weren't exactly on the best terms since he snuck into the apprentice den not long before his apprentice ceremony. He could tell the tom was agitated and didn't want to add to his stress. Still, he wondered what was going on.

Gingerstripe came into the camp entrance carrying a fat vole in his mouth, eyes sparkling with satisfaction at his success. Ever since his probation had been lifted, the tom had enjoyed hunting even more than he did when he was an apprentice. Things were really starting to look up for him- his two daughters were warriors, he had his mate and brother, and even an apprentice to train.... Could it be that his life might become normal, once the scandal about his parents died down? The orange tabby tom sat down in the crowd at Nettlesting's call, vaguely interested, not even imagining it might concern him. His tail swept over his paws as he waited for his family to join him. What did the young medicine cat have to say?

Ryeheart padded into camp with a dead mouse hanging from his jaws, and placed it down on the fresh-kill pile before sitting down to listen to the medicine cat. He wondered what this would be about, but didn't dwell on it too much; they would hear soon enough.

Firestone head lifted when he heard the medicine cat's call. A message from Starclan? What could it be? Standing up slowly on his four strong legs, the large dappled orange warrior approached the meeting place and when his eyes met Gingerstripe, he sat down next to him. His fluffy tail curled around his paws and he looked at the tom, confused. The experienced warrior really wished that this wasn't bad news for Shadowclan... or his family.

Nettlesting sat tall, and waited for Magpiestar and Littlebrook. Where in StarClan's name were they? He avidly tried to avoid eye contact with Gingerstripe, but trying to make it not obvious he was doing so.

Crowfur walked out of the warrior's den when he heard the medicine cat call. The large warrior sat down and looked at Nettlesting, hoping that it wasn't something too terrible.

Littlebrook's head popped up from her nap, eyes blinking away sleep quickly, as she heard the intent tone of Nettlesting. He was back from the medicine cat meeting so soon that it immediately worried her. There was a message from StarClan? From the looks of it, it wasn't a good one. Heart fluttering with worry in her chest, she made her way to sit next to Nettlesting, offering her silent support in whatever was going through the young medicine cat's head. She hoped it wasn't the demise of her clan or clanmates, but it was vain hope. What else would have the medicine cat call a meeting without discussing it with herself or Magpiestar first?

The leader rose from his nest, eyes blinking fast as he tried to wash the sleep from his face. Swiping his paw over his head a few times, he left his den, stretching his legs the whole time. Nettlesting had just returned from his medicine cat meeting from what he could discern, but something was wrong. There was a stress in the tom's voice that could only mean bad news.

"What's wrong Nettlesting?" Magpiestar asked, face scrunching up with tension. A message from StarClan? It couldn't be good...

Nettlesting dipped his head to the leader and then turned to face the rest of the clan. He took a deep breath. "Today," he started, his voice loud and clear. Easily heard by the whole clan. "StarClan has given me the gift of knowledge of one of our clanmates. I regret to inform you all that we have been living with a murderer in our camp for many moons." he paused so the news could let the information sink in. He scanned the crowd until his eyes connected with the cat he would work to remove from the clan at all costs. Finally, his eyes met his target and his green eyes locked into a death stare. "The StarClan victim was Honeydrop herself. She was murdered, on ShadowClan territory. In cold blood. By," he paused, and then in anger he shoved through the crowd and came nose to nose with Gingerstripe. "Gingerstripe." his voice was harsh, and he dug his claws into the earth. Staring straight into the face of a cold blooded killer of a medicine cat.[/color]

Scorchfang's eyes widened in shock at the truth to Honeydrop's death. When StarClan had revealed the former medicine cat's secret, the secret that she was the real mother of Gingerstripe and Firestone, he had felt resentment towards her. During that time, as an apprentice, he saw she-cats as nothing more than tools used to produce strong toms that deserved the rolls of leader, deputy, and medicine cat. But now that he held more understanding, respect, and compassion for the opposite sex, he couldn't help but feel pity for the deceased cat. He couldn't begin to imagine how heartbreaking it must've been to be murdered by your own kit because they hated you so much.

He looked over at Gingerstripe, searching for any expression he may have portrayed at the declaration. Did he feel regret for killing his mother? Or would his regret be caused by him finally being caught? Did he feel satisfied, proud, content? Or did he feel nothing at all?

He kept his mouth shut. Unlike the revelation with Honeydrop, he wasn't going to say anything, for he didn't want to say anything he would regret again. After all, Honeydrop was exiled when Gingerstripe must've killed her, and she was probably resented by other cats besides just her sons -- and himself at the time.

(OOC: Scorchfang's putting way too much thought into this XD)

Tansyheart's ears pricked. Honeydrop had been murdered? The dark-pelted she-cat gazed at Nettlesting, filled with curiosity. Her eyes followed the medicine cat as he made his way through the crowd, and supressed a tiny gasp when he stopped, face to face with Gingerstripe. Her father.

"Gingerstripe."

She gaped at Nettlesting, shocked. She had spoken to Honeydrop on her moonstone journey, and she had promised the former medicine cat that she would always be there for Gingerstripe. What was going on? How could she be there for him, if he was a murderer? The murderer of his own mother? She exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm.

Gingerstripe felt as if a rock had settled in the pit of his stomach. This- this didn't make sense. Honeydrop in StarClan? She had broken the code! Even in StarClan, there was no justice. Perhaps they were just partial to medicine cats. However, there were more pressing matters. Nettlesting was in his face, obvious hatred dripping from his voice, naming him as the exiled rogue's killer. Of course, the tom would announce the information in front if the whole Clan- like every problem his life had. Nothing could be secret. Despite the fact that the she-cat had deserved it, unless he spoke fast, his reckless action might tear apart what shreds remained of his life. Not daring to look at Firestone's face- oh StarClan, what would he think? What would his family think?- the orange tabby tom calmly met the enraged medicine cat's gaze, and stepped around him, straight up to Magpiestar. Best to be honest.

"Magpiestar, I do not deny that I killed Honeydrop," the tom said, bowing his head in shame. "I was horrified at what she'd done, and in my pain at learning of all the lies, I decided to give her what she deserved. I know I acted hastily, but I was definitely- and still am- pushed off-balance by what she did. My life had collapsed, and I was trying... to fix it somehow...." Gingerstripe exhaled, trying to catch hold of his racing thoughts. What was he even trying to say anymore? All he knew was that he couldn't leave ShadowClan. It was all he was. "I know it sounds mouse-brained, Magpiestar, but I'm not a murderer. I got carried away in my pain. I know that many Clan cats still loved and respected her, even after all she did, but I couldn't bring myself to. I would never hurt a Clan cat, except in self-defense. I am not a murderer." His voice broke as he lifted his head, looking straight into the leader's eyes. Magpiestar had punished him severely just for clawing the she-cat, a moon ago. What would he do, now that he'd killed her? Exile, probably. His dark green eyes stung, filled with pain and fear. "Please, please don't take me away from my family! They're- they're all I have...."