FeatherSunfire: ;)

Goldskies5: yes (?)

walkswithwheels: I have to say, you give me a lot of credit for deep-thinking this story out. To be honest, I just try to keep them true to themselves, while also... not, if that makes sense.

Scarlet Vow: ah yes, her death was an important aspect of the story. The whole point of killing them off all leads up to Tigerstar's climate hatred for Firestar (and his allies, since we find out how Goldenflower dies soon...)

Tigerstar didn't picture this day coming.

He didn't ever see himself standing over the bodies of his best friend and his mate, backs facing each other, eyes closed.

But here he was.

Night had fallen on the day ThunderClan had won. That was how they saw it, at least. And yes, they had killed the dogs and would no longer be afraid of them. But they had lost a medicine cat. Tigerstar had lost a sister.

It was their funeral. Goldenflower smelled strongly of lavender, but her beautiful pelt had dulled, and she was cold. Spottedleaf's fur was still slightly damp, and she held the musky scent of the river. Both she-cat's eyes had been closed, fur groomed, and placed in the center of camp. Cats circled them, heads down. Tigerstar stood at their heads, with Cinderpelt and Graystripe flanking him.

"I'm so sorry," Graystripe rasped, leaning over Goldenflower's body. Tigerstar wasn't sure if the young tom was talking to him or his dead mate, but he didn't listen enough to find out.

Cinderpelt was barely holding herself together. She and Spottedleaf had had a bond closer than any other mentor and apprentice in ThunderClan. The gray she-cat was on the verge of a sob, and her eyes were a jarring red against her dusky fur.

And then, Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw. Tigerstar could hardly even look at his kits. Despite Speckletail's warnings, Tawnypaw was strewn over Goldenflower's body, sobbing bitterly. Bramblepaw was behind her, draping his tail over his sister comfortingly. But even his amber eyes were dulled and damp.

Tigerstar closed his eyes and shuddered. He stepped back from the bodies, and a few heads turned his way.

Spottedleaf laughed lightly and shoved Tigerclaw with her shoulder. "Nah, I kind of like having you around," she admitted. "It's like having a sibling. With Willowpelt constantly over -" Spottedleaf stopped to think, and rolled her eyes "-whichever mate she's on, and with Redtail dead, it's been a bit lonely."
Tigerclaw grinned. "I'm glad," he meowed. "My siblings died the day we were born, so I can't say I had any siblings either."

"Tigerstar," Whitestom said gently, looking at the leader with softness in his yellow eyes. "We're going to bury them now. Would you like to come?"
Tigerstar shook his head wordlessly. The rest of the Clan caught on and stepped towards the bodies. Tigerstar made his way towards his den.

"I know this is kind of untraditional, for a she-cat to ask a tom, but I've liked you for, like, a long time." Goldenflower paused and purred, and Tigerclaw felt his heart pump faster at every word she spoke. "So, I ask you, Tigerclaw, would you be my mate?"

Tigerstar ducked inside, and relished the privacy of his den. He paused briefly to stare at Goldenflower's empty nest, abandoned now for two nights. He settled down beside it, and inhaled deeply.

It still held her scent.

"And this is safe?" Tigerclaw pondered aloud. Spottedleaf rolled her eyes in a friendly manner.

"Of course not," she replied sarcastically. "I come here every quarter moon, die, and come right back."

Tigerclaw let out a low whistle. "What a way to spend the evening."

For a few, long heartbeats, Tigerstar felt nothing. It shocked him that he wasn't immediately overwhelmed with feelings. They weren't dead, no. They just weren't with him. They'd be back, both of them.

"You're… you're going to have kits?" he whispered in excitement. Goldenflower closed her eyes and purred.

"Yes, Tigerclaw," she meowed gently. "They're due next moon. You're going to be a great father."

He collapsed in defeat. So much had happened to him in just the past day. He shifted around in his den, trying to find comfort. But it felt as if it were made of thorns, finding every part on his body to impale.
"Are you ready?" Spottedleaf asked gently as they neared the camp's gorse barrier. Her eyes were soft, like she was genuinely worried he wasn't. Tigerstar purred.

"More than you can imagine," he promised.

Then something slid out from underneath his nest.

Tigerstar's breath stopped for a moment.

It was a golden flower.

A tansy flower.

"It went fine," she insisted. A pause passed between them, and Goldenflower glanced up at the deputy with wide yellow eyes. Then she was all for the kits; her eyes never flickered from them.

And finally, the emotions came. Tigerstar felt his body shudder as he realized neither of them would be there for him: Goldenflower's warm comfort would not reassure him any more; Spottedleaf's subtle wisdom would no longer shine in her eyes.

The medicine cat had slid up right next to him, whiskers drooping. He shuddered, dropping his head. He did not answer her.

"Your eyes," she whispered. The concern in her voice was real as she tipped her head, leaning in towards Tigerstar. "They're red."
"I know," Tigerstar mumbled.

Tigerstar flipped away from Goldenflower's nest, twirling the tansy flower in his paws absently. He squeezed his eyes shut with the painful reminder that he would have to face the rest of his Clan at some point. But he wasn't sure if he could do that. How pathetic did he look, curled up in his den, glassy-eyed, holding a flower that meant so much to him close to his chest.

They couldn't see him like this, missing the cats he loved most.

"I don't know if I can do this," he whispered, sitting down next to her. The touch of her golden fur against his own reassured him in a small way. "What if cats do die? What will I say then?"

"They won't if you have the right attitude," she insisted. She gazed deeply into his eyes, and there was a smile behind them. "Just remember that Tawnypaw, Bramblepaw, and I are back here, waiting for you. And you won't let us down, will you?"

Tigerstar swallowed.

He had done just that.

He had let them down.

A few days had passed.

Tigerstar had recovered. He had to - for the sake of his Clan, he had to fight his depressive state. He had recovered, but he still felt a numbness trap his heart. Every little thing seemed to remind him of Spottedleaf or Goldenflower.

The Clan seemed to notice, and heavily celebrated every happy event that came their way. They congratulated Tigerstar for defeating the dogs each time he passed, Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw had received heavy praise on their training and it was almost always reported to Tigerstar.

On that note, Sandstorm had given up training Tawnypaw only two days before giving birth. Tigerstar had to give her credit; she had covered it up well and stubbornly refused to stop training until it was no longer possible. She had given birth to two healthy she-kits, and though she kept the father a secret, Tigerstar and Tawnypaw (and every cat that wasn't stupid) knew the truth. Ravenflight had gotten closer to the queen, possibly in an attempt to distract the Clan and make them assume he was the father, but Tigerstar wondered how oblivious they would be to a bright ginger kit. Squirrelkit looked hauntingly like her father, and Leafkit took more after Sandstorm. Tigerstar wondered if perhaps Leafkit had been named after Spottedleaf, being born soon after her death.

And now, finally, Ashpaw, Fernpaw, and even Cloudpaw had passed their assessments. Ashpaw and Fernpaw had become Ashfur and Ferncloud, and now Cloudpaw stepped forward, blue eye shining. Tigerstar was proud of all of them, though he wished he could express it better through his grief. As he watched Ashfur and Ferncloud await their foster brother's new name, with no mother to groom or congratulate them, he felt a pang of a reminder that Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw would have no mother at their ceremony either.

Tigerstar took a deep breath as Cloudpaw stood in front of him.

"Cloudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Cloudpaw's chin rose, and Tigerstar saw the Clan smile fondly. The white apprentice had grown on them, especially after he was no longer ashamed of his scars. Ashfur and Ferncloud had even put off their ceremonies for a few days so that they would all become warriors at the same time.

Tigerstar smiled. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your new name. Cloudpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Cloudtail. StarClan honors your bravery and independence. We welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Tigerstar leaned forward to rest his muzzle on Cloudtail's head, and underneath him, he felt the new warrior exhale in relief. It was a bittersweet moment for the whole Clan. Then Cloudtail stepped back, head and tail high, and the Clan began to chant.

"Ashfur! Ferncloud! Cloudtail! Ashfur! Ferncloud! Cloudtail!"

Cloudtail hopped down beside his siblings, single eye twinkling happily.

"I love your name!" Ferncloud purred, rubbing her cheek against Cloudtail's.

"I'm so happy I didn't get named Cloudyeye or something crazy like that," Cloudtail rambled, letting out all his breath in one giant, excited exhale.

"Tigerstar would never do that," Ashfur pointed out. Tigerstar smirked from his place on the Highrock. "Image if he named you Noeye or Lostface!"
Cloudtail smacked Ashfur with his paw, just as Brightheart made a beeline to congratulate Cloudtail. She pushed her head under his chin, purring fiercely. Cloudtail was obviously enjoying her presence, as well. Tigerstar wondered how long it would be until they had kits.

"Ah, young love."

Tigerstar was startled by Whitestorm, who had suddenly appeared beside him, overlooking the Clan. The deputy curled his tongue in a yawn before neatly sitting down next to Tigerstar. Tigerstar cocked his head.

"And you've had that, I assume?" He teased. Whitestorm huffed playfully.

"Two of those new warriors are my kits," he pointed out. Tigerstar raised one eyebrow.

"And you and Brindleface were so madly in love before she died, right?" Tigerstar meowed lightly.

Whitestorm sniffed. "Obviously."

Tigerstar's eyes twinkled. "Is that why you had kits with Willowpelt?"
Whitestorm's eyes rounded. "Hasn't everyone had kits with Willowpelt?" he muttered under his breath. Tigerstar laughed. "Honestly, Tigerstar. I had two mates before you had one, old cat."
"I am not older than you."

"You would know." Whitestorm's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Tigerstar shook his head, smiling at his memories with Whitestorm in the nursery. Lionheart and Goldenflower had been a little older than them, but the four of them had been inseparable as kits. "I don't think we even do know who's older. My mother died days after I was born, your mother died before you were apprenticed, and now Lionheart and Goldenflower aren't alive to prove one of us right."

"I can feel myself getting older," Whitestorm commented, stretching his front paws out. "I still vaguely remember your father leaving, and now three leaders later, here you are."
"I don't like to talk about my father," Tigerstar grumbled, shuffling his paws. "At least you had Thistleclaw to raise you. Wise old cat. I was lucky to have him as my mentor."
Whitestorm gave his friend a sidelong glance. "He was lucky to have you, too," he purred. "You know, he almost became deputy, but Bluestar-"
"Tigerstar! Tigerstar!" Tigerstar's smile disappeared as he saw Bramblepaw clamering up the Highrock, amber eyes wide.

"What's wrong, son?" Tigerstar asked, exchanging a glance with Whitestorm. Bramblepaw was out of breath, and he paused to catch it before talking.

"Have you seen Tawnypaw? I can't find her anywhere!" He wailed, ears flattened. He rushed down the Highrock, and Tigerstar followed him worriedly.

"Slow down," he commanded sternly. "She may have just gone out with Dustpelt. He's her new mentor, remember?"
Bramblepaw shook his head furiously. "Dustpelt and Brackenfur can't find her either. All she's talked about since Goldenflower died is how unhappy she is without her. Come on, we have to-"

"We found her scent." Tigerstar's head shot up, relieved as Brackenfur emerged into camp, Dustpelt on his tail.

"Well?" Bramblepaw exclaimed, rushing over to his mentor. "Did you find her?"
Dustpelt looked to Tigerstar, expression grim.

"I see Bramblepaw told you about Tawnypaw," he meowed. Then he sighed a deep, long sigh. "We tracked her down to the ShadowClan border. We lost it after that, but if we crossed the border, it could be taken the wrong way. Darkstripe, Longtail, and Mousefur are out there now looking."
"Then take another patrol and wait at the border," Tigerstar growled. "Why on earth would she be in ShadowClan?"

But he knew. She was unhappy already, and with her mother's death and Sandstorm's coaxing, perhaps she had finally let herself go.

But just as Brackenfur began to nod, the other patrol burst into camp behind them. Darkstripe was in front, and something was swinging from his jaws. Tigerstar saw a tortoiseshell blur clashed against his dark pelt, but Darkstripe was gone in an instant. Behind him came Longtail, eyes wide, and Mousefur's voice was muffled behind the bracken.

Bramblepaw's ears flipped up. "Did you find her?" he asked eagerly.

"No," Mousefur growled, shoving a fourth cat through the brambles. Tigerstar recognized Ravenflight's thin frame as he was shoved onto the ground face-first. The black tom curled his lip as all heads turned to face him, but he did not return to his paws.

"This cat," Mousefur growled as Darkstripe pelted towards Cinderpelt's den, "was spotted near ShadowClan's border. We assume he was taking Tawnypaw to ShadowClan, and-"
"You have no proof," Ravenflight hissed, shakily rising to his paws.

Mousefur's lip curled. "We have proof of one thing," she spat. Then she raised her voice as Cinderpelt scurried out of her den, eyes wide. "Cats of ThunderClan! Ravenflight has attempted to murder a kit!"

Little bit of Whitestorm since he hasn't been in this story a whole lot! Just dude friends being dude friends. I think there are only four chapters left in this story after this one! Of course, one is an epilogue and some might get split up depending on length, but it's nearing the end! :')