The Crimson River *Chapter 18, Part 3*

    "The thing is, Eclipse went back out before I arrived," Maple informed them.
    "But he may have came back afterward," Rune pointed out.
    "Did you pick up on his scent?"
    "W-well, I wouldn't recognize it if I did," he admitted.
    "I don't understand."  Maple tilted her head slightly.  "You know who he is, and that he was with Blade, yet you don't know what he smells like?"
    "Although I've seen him around before, I've never met him personally...  My older brother Sodi used to be friends with Shadow.  They trusted each other, so of course when Shadow mentioned Eclipse's death, Sodi didn't question it.  But something about the story didn't add up to me."
    "What was it?" Maple pressed.
    "Shadow told him his mate Tulip reported finding Eclipse's dead body outside, and she claimed she buried him directly between Midnight's territory and the tunnels."
    "What's so suspicious about that...?"
    "I once went with Dusk in Sodi's stead to visit the gravesite, following Tulip's directions exactly.  There's no trace at all of that area ever being dug up," Rune answered.  "That's when Dusk and I both knew Eclipse was still alive."
    "Who's Dusk?" Maple inquired.
    "Shadow's younger pup," he replied.  "I told my brother that Eclipse couldn't have been buried there, but he wouldn't listen.  He trusts Shadow, and Shadow trusts Tulip."
    "H-how did you find out he joined Blade?"  Fledgling's voice was weak, as if she knew he was telling the truth but she didn't want to face it.
    "I wanted to make sure I was right about Eclipse's death, so I went out alone to head back to the gravesite.  That's when I saw Eclipse travelling with Blade's pack."
    "Why have we not heard of this until now?" Fledgling whimpered.
    "I-I didn't want to scare you," came Rune's gentle response.
    "Does Sodi know...?"
    "He doesn't."  At the hurt in his pack-mates' eyes, he explained, "I'm sure Tulip lied about his death just so his family wouldn't know he actually joined Blade.  If I told Sodi, he'd surely tell Shadow, and...well...I would rather think my pup was dead than find out he's a murderer."