Jayfeather applied another set of cobwebs onto Spiderleg's stomach, yawning. It had been a very long night, and he could tell that the sun was already coming up. They would have to bury the fallen soon.
"Thanks," Spiderleg muttered. He got up and began walking to the warriors den, but Jayfeather cleared his throat to stop the black and brown tom.
"I don't think so. You better stay in the Medicine cat's den for a couple days with Thornclaw." Jayfeather sensed Spiderleg bristle, but before he could say anything, Jayfeather snapped, "I've been up all night also, so just do what I say, ok?"
Spiderleg opened his mouth to object, but Jayfeather- again sensing the other toms rebellious attitude, cut him off. "Just go into my den, mouse-brain! You think you'll be able to hunt with that cut? Your guts will fall out if you get tangled into some brambles!" He sensed- with satisfaction, the image work it's way into Spiderleg's head.
The black warrior waited before growling "Fine," and began to limp his way to the den.
"Briarlight should have a nest ready for you!" Jayfeather called to him
"Jayfeather!" the hiss caused him to jump and spike up his fur. He landed awkwardly and promptly tripped over his own paws, falling on his nose.
"Foxdung! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Jayfeather quickly scrambled to his paws, his fur hot with embarrassment. He should have scented Leafpool coming before she got so close to him, but he hadn't noticed her at all.
She sighed "Go get some rest. I told you that I would take care of Spiderleg,"
Jayfeather rolled his sightless eyes "Yea, because you have so much more energy than me. You actually fought in the battle."
Leafpool hissed "That isn't important! Look at you! You're so tired, you didn't even notice-"
"I can't look at myself," Jayfeather growled back.
"Go to your nest," Leafpool growled "That's an order."
Jayfeather bristled up even more "How dare you! You don't have the authority-"
"But I do." Jayfeather jumped again, but was able to land somewhat more dignified than last time. He scented Bramblestar standing next to Leafpool now. "You have done your clan very well, there is nothing more to do," Bramblestar mewed "You deserve some rest." Jayfeather hated being bossed around; but he reluctantly admitted to himself that he was very tired.
"Fine," he muttered "let me at least have a moment with my sister before you bury her."
Bramblestar nodded, then quickly remembering Jayfeather's disability, mewed "Very well."
Jayfeather walked away from Leafpool and Bramblestar with his tail held high- he had had enough embarrassment to last nine lifetimes already. He walked past Purdy, who loudly snored over his old den mates', Mousefur's, body. I'm sure she's telling him off for it in his dreams, Jayfeather thought, amused. He quietly stepped in between Hollyleaf's and Ferncloud's bodies, and was his strait in the face with a flood of emotions. Jayfeather stopped in his tracks, caught off-guard.
What in the name of Starclan...
He continued walking, so he wouldn't bring too much attention to himself, and walked around to the side of Hollyleaf's body that didn't have his brother or Cinderheart by it. He pushed his nose into his sister's pelt, and was swamped with memories of dark tunnels, ice-cold water, and Rock. But he pushed them back reluctantly, and instead traced his steps back with his mind to where he had felt the surge of emotions. They weren't his emotions, he knew that much. They were... Icecloud's?
As soon as Jayfeather had targeted where the emotions were coming from, they came flooding to him again. He tried to sort through them, figure out what was wrong with Icecloud.
Is she hurt? Did I miss something on her?
But what Jayfeather was sensing wasn't a physical type of pain, it was more of a... an emotional kind of pain. And it was all directed at...
...Lionblaze?
Jayfeather heard heavy paw steps approach him, and scented Bramblestar. He lowered his head and whispered into Jayfeather's ear,
"It's time."
Time? Time for what? Of course, to bury the deceased.
Suddenly Jayfeather panicked, his sister had just gotten back home, and now she was gone? They would never walk in the forest together again, or go herb collecting. But Jayfeather stood up on already stiff legs, and left without a word. Don't be ridiculous, It's not like you'll never see her again. In fact, you will actually see her now. Jayfeather smiled to himself at his own joke, and pushed his way through the ivy to his den.
He heard Briarlight's soft snores come from her nest; he was glad that he didn't have to deal with her constant questioning. His exhaustion came crashing down on him, and he almost fell into his nest, falling fast asleep.
* * * *
Lionblaze heard Jayfeather get up and leave, and he opened his eyes slowly into a squint. Bramblestar was standing on the other side of Hollyleaf's body, hesitating for a moment before lowering his head to bury his nose into her fur. A couple of heartbeats later, Leafpool and Squirrelflight came to join him.
But after a few moments, Bramblestar raised his head again to address the clan.
"Cats of Thunderclan, last night we won a great battle. Now we have the grim task of burying our deceased. Who is fit enough for the task?" His words were met with silence for a couple of moments, no cat was fit enough to do much. But eventually, Sandstorm got to her feet, shaking a bit.
"I want to burry Firestar," She croaked, not bothering to clear her thought as she went on. "And after today, I wish to retire to the elders den."
A few shocked mews were heard from around the clan, but Bramblestar only dipped his head "Very well. You have served your clan well, Sandstorm."
Graystripe got his feet as well "I will also bury Firestar. But I can still serve my clan for a couple more moons," He added, doing his best to purr at Sandstorm.
But her eye's remained dull and unemotional as she picked up Firestar by the scruff, and began to heave his body to the camp entrance.
"We will bury Ferncloud," Dustpelt said, volunteering his kits as well as himself. "and I think that I will join Sandstorm in the Elders' den."
Bramblestar nodded solemnly "You have also served this clan very well."
Icecloud and Foxleap picked up Ferncloud's body between them, and Dustpelt ducked under them so that the gray she-cat was slung across his back.
Without a word, Brackenfur and Birchfall walked over and picked up Mousefur's body between them, following Dustpelt, Icecloud, Foxleap, Sandstorm, and Graystripe outside. Purdy was left snoring in the center of camp.
Lionblaze stood up slowly, resisting the urge to yawn. He leaned down and heaved his sister's body onto his back, ready to bring her outside and bury her too.
"Wait, Lionblaze." Bramblestar spoke up behind him. "I want you to lead a hunting patrol, and try to remark the Windclan border as much as you can while you are out. I know I'm asking a lot of you, but we need to keep the clan going."
Lionblaze let Hollyleaf's body roll of of his back. It landed with a soft thud, and Lionblaze winced as if struck.
Cinderheart stood up and stretched, "I'll bury her," She mewed to Lionblaze.
"I will too," Injected Leafpool,whose eye's were as dull as Sandstorm's had been.
Lionblaze nodded gratefully at his mother "Thank you," He mewed quietly. "Who should I take on my patrol?" He asked, straightening his shoulders and trying to talk louder, gathering his last bits of energy together.
Bramblestar thought for a moment, looking around the devastated camp. "Take Dovewing, Whitewing, Berrynose, and Holl-" Bramblestar cut himself off. "Er, Icecloud. Dustpelt and Foxleap can handle themselves.
Lionblaze nodded, ignoring the pain in his heart.
* * * *
Hey guys! I'm still fairly new to the format of this website, but I'm pretty sure that the general thing to do is to out author's notes down here? anyways, like I've said- This story is over a year old, and It's all written out already- I'll be uploading it throughout today and tomorrow, taking time to do minor edits and smooth out certain parts. Follow for more!
