The Dark Forest had been defeated and Thunderclan was beginning the process of recovery.
Sitting alone at the mouth of the empty warriors den, Dovewing looked out at the center of the camp. It was a horrific sight, yet at the same time, she felt it would be disrespectful to look away. A group of bodies were carefully placed in the clearing. Firestar, the cat she had called leader her whole life, was laid out among the clan mates he had fallen with. His orange pelt's fire-like quality had been extinguished.
She scanned the rest of the camp with her eyes. Squirrelflight was trotting back to the medicine den with her jaws full of herbs. Foxleap's tail lay lifelessly outside the den, his body hidden inside. Briarlight and Leafpool tended to Sorreltail. Dovewing averted her eyes. Leafpool hadn't any time to grieve for her kit or any of her other clanmates. Her den was packed with injured cats. Dovewing felt sorry for the medicine cat. Leafpool's paws were full and to top it off, her daughter's body was completely visible from inside the small cave.
Bramblestar stood outside of his den with the healthy cats surrounding him. Well, the least injured, anyway. Birchfall's eyes would dart to Ferncloud, to Bramblestar's paws, then back to the ground. Mousewhisker couldn't meet his leader's eyes. Sandstorm and Graystripe would pad up to the them, linger as they talked, and then return to Firestar's side.
Ivypool looked like she could barely stand. Bramblestar had tried steering the warrior to Leafpool's den to rest, but her sister had insisted on making use of herself. Her silver pelt was covered in poultices, but Hawkfrost's marks still glowed an angry red. Dovewing's whiskers twitched. Her sister was strong, stronger than she could ever hope to be.
At the center of camp, Lionblaze and Jayfeather were sharing tongues with Hollyleaf. The bloody wound on her neck was obscured with fresh Marigold flowers, and suddenly Dovewing felt the weight of everything sink in. Seeing the retreating spirits of her clanmates had made her forget, almost, that they would not be coming back. Hollyleaf would not be coming back. Ivypool was alive because of her sacrifice.
Then, Dovewing lowered herself to the ground, closed her eyes, and mourned.