All of the dogs were gone, and the lead dog's body was removed from the camp. The camp clearing had been whittled down to a tattered mess. Almost all the warriors were in need of assistance from Leaftail and Rosepaw. Whitepaw and Lightpaw were lying down in two nests side-by-side in the medicine den, resting after being treated. The old tabby medicine cat was busy tending to the other warriors and apprentices, while Rosepaw was out collecting more cobwebs. Shadowpaw, Elmpaw, and Darkpaw were in the den as well, resting a few tail-lengths away from Whitepaw and Lightpaw.

Suddenly, Lightpaw heard a commotion from outside. Blackpaw? Lightpaw thought upon hearing the black-pawed tom's loud voice, as well as Nightmist. What are they talking about?

The she-cat's eyes widened when she heard Blackpaw insist, "I killed the lead dog! Nightmist saw me do it -- you can ask him!" Lightpaw winced as she pushed herself out of her nest and charged out of the den, ignoring Leaftail's orders to come back inside and leaving Whitepaw to sleep peacefully. Anger surged through her when she saw Blackpaw standing in front of Thunderstar with Nightmist beside him. His paws were soaked with blood, but Lightpaw knew that it wasn't there because he'd killed the lead dog. Still, all the cats stared in momentary disbelief before hesitantly praising Blackpaw.

They're cheering for the wrong cat, Lightpaw thought angrily as she stormed up to Blackpaw, his father, and the Clan leader. "Hold it!" she hissed. All the cats fell quiet and turned to her as she spoke. "He didn't kill that dog! Whitepaw and I did! Do you really believe that one apprentice killed that massive thing on his own?!" Lightpaw ignored the gasps of shock that filled her ears. She could feel Blackpaw's eyes boring holes into the back of her head as Thunderstar padded up to her.

"But Nightmist claims to have seen him do it himself," the dark tabby murmured to the apprentice. "The lead dog was already injured, and Blackpaw finished it --"

"He didn't kill the dog!" Lightpaw hissed at her leader. "Whitepaw gave it the final blow! I almost got killed while fighting it!"

The ThunderClan cats all looked at each other uneasily. Thunderstar looked unsure for a heartbeat as well before shaking his head. "I don't doubt my deputy, Lightpaw," he said coolly. "That is not what he saw."

Tears welled up in Lightpaw's eyes as she backed away and ran back to the medicine den. Everyone watched the she-cat as she did, including Blackpaw and Nightmist.

☁️

It was midnight. Earlier that day, Blackpaw and Nightmist had lied to the Clan, and Thunderstar himself believed them. And why wouldn't he?

Lightpaw was immensely upset. She told Whitepaw when he woke up, but all he said was, "Let it go. Blackpaw can lie all he wants. He'll regret it someday." Lightpaw knew that Whitepaw was right. It was odd to see how the tom had matured so quickly.

She was now in the medicine den with the white-pawed tom. Whitepaw was asleep again, however Lightpaw couldn't sleep. All she felt like doing was ripping off Blackpaw's pelt. She hated that selfish tom so much, and it hurt her to think Whitepaw didn't care. Lightpaw heaved a sigh. Whitepaw was right though: Blackpaw would regret his actions one day.

One day, Lightpaw thought as she fell into a deep sleep.