When did it all go wrong?
Less than a moon ago, Icecloud's biggest concern was having to collect moss for the elders. Now, only week's later, everything was wrong.
"Ferncloud..." Grief thickened Icecloud's mew, and she choked out a sob. The battle with the dark forest had ended only two hours ago, and Icecloud had watched her mother's spirit leave the camp for the last time. Along with Hollyleaf, Mousefur, and Firestar, she had been killed by the Dark Forest warriors.
Another sob raked over Icecloud's body. She was crouched next to her mothers cold body in the center of camp. Foxleap was crouched next to her, his paws tucked neatly under himself and his orange fur fluffed up against her to keep them both warm. Birchfall, her older brother, was on the other side of Ferncloud's body next to Dustpelt, her father. Circled around her were other cats, circled around other bodies.
A couple fox-lengths to her left, Jayfeather was coaxing Purdy into eating some herbs while he mourned over Mousefur's corpse. And to her right, Sandstorm, Graystripe, and Squirrelflight mourned over Firestar's body. Leafpool had been there before, but Jayfeather had made her help him with the injured cats.
But behind her was Hollyleaf's corpse. Circled around Hollyleaf were two cats. Cinderheart, and Lionblaze.
Lionblaze.
He had been Icecloud's crush ever since they were in the nursery together. And now, he was sitting less than a tail-length away from her. His back to her, sitting too close to Cinderheart, grieving over his sister's body.
And here was Icecloud, supposedly grieving over her mothers fallen corpse, when now all she could think about was Lionblaze. Crouched down, less than a tail-length away. If she flicked her tail, it would brush his. He mother, dead in front of her, and she was thinking about was the handsome golden tom laying down behind her.
This was going to be a long night.