Warriors of StormClan

Sunstrike was quiet that morning, her giant blue eyes dull with an emotion she had yet to expierience before: grief. Crushing, heart-rending grief as she remembered her now-dead mate, Duskfeather. Why him? Why not some other cat?

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Smokeshadow's eyes stung the moment light penetrated them. He'd been up all night sitting vigil for Duskfeather, his brother, and could feel exhaustion filling every muscle, every vein of his body. And he was already dreading the task to come: burial. He let out a loud sigh as he stood up.

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Rosestar was probably the only cat who got any sleep, seeing as almost everyone else had been sitting vigil for Duskfeather. She shivered as she remembered his death and tried to forget, but the image of his crumpled body by the side of the Thunderpath still haunted her.

Padding out to the high rock, she let out a yowl. "Cats of StormClan, gather beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!"

Willowlight stood up from Duskfeather's vigil and padded stiffly over to High Rock to hear Rosestar's announcement.

Rosestar's gaze seared across the clearing as she checked to make sure everyone was there. "Since Duskfeather is no longer with us, I must choose a new deputy soon. No announcements will be made until moonhigh tonight."

Thornfang listened to the leader and nodded, before looking back at Duskfeather sadly. He hadn't known him, but he was a Clan mate just the same.

Ravenwing sat beneath the High rock, listening to Rosestar with saddened eyes. The loss of a warrior was always hard.

Rosestar nodded, watching her Clanmates' expressions intently before stepping down, tail drooping with exhaustion as if she, too, had been sitting vigil with everyone else. Who will I choose?

Sunstrike took once last glance at her mate's still body, sobbing quietly as she stalked back to her nest, weary with grief. No...no...no...this can't be happening....

Smokeshadow sighed loudly, knowing what was to happen next. "Ravenwing, Willowlight," he called. "We need to bury Duskfeather."

Ravenwing nodded at Smokeshadow's words and padded over to the dead body of Duskfeather. She glanced at Smokeshadow as they waited for Willowlight.

Willowlight took a deep breath and walked over to Duskfeather's body. She'd never buried a cat before. She hoped that Ravenwing knew what to do.

When Willowlight approached, she looked at Smokeshadow for directions.

Willowlight looked at Duskfeather's body and shivered. The she-cat was arranged in such a way that made her look as if she were sleeping peacefully. But unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

(Actually, Duskfeather's a boy.)

Smokeshadow nodded slowly, tail twitching, then gingerly grasped the dark blue-gray tom's scruff in his teeth, nodding to the other two cats.

Ravenwing nodded in return and began to pad slowly out of camp.

(ooooops!!! Sorry! Change that to "he" then!) She bounded out of camp, sighing.

Smokeshadow narrowed his eyes. "A little help?"

Willowlight turned around and realized that she hadn't helped carry Duskfeather's body at all. "Sorry!" she squeaked, rushing over and supporting Duskfeather's flank.