Chapter 47

After lying there for a while, Branchstar finally lifted his head and said gently, "We should tell the kits what has happened."

Tangleburr just looked at him, her green eyes glistening with grief. "Y-you don't have to," she sniffed, "You're ill; you should rest."

"I'm not letting you do this alone," Branchstar said firmly, "This is something we need to do together."

Tangleburr looked a bit relieved. "Let's go," Branchstar said gently.

Tangleburr looked down at the limp form of Hawkkit. "I don't want to leave him!" she protested.

"His body will still be here when we return," Branchstar continued gently. "Won't it?"

Littlecloud silently nodded. Tangleburr gave Hawkkit one final lick between the ears and followed Branchstar out, but not before glancing back at their son's limp form.

The sun shone bright and cruel as they stepped out of the medicine den. Strange, Branchstar thought, that Hawkkit was to die on a winter day that could almost be classified as beautiful.

Across the clearing, Willowkit, Falconkit, Blazekit, and Emberkit scuffled in the snow playfully. Hawkkit should be with them, but never again would he play with his littermates. Tangleburr followed his gaze. "I'll go and get them and bring them over here," Tangleburr murmured.

Branchstar scanned the clearing until he found their eldest sitting together shivering in the cold. Silently, he made his way to them. "Your mother and I need to talk to you," Branchstar said quietly.

Pricklefur and Stormstripe exchanged confused glances. Rosebriar, however seemed to understand and her amber eyes went wide.

Branchstar turned then and led the way over to where Tangleburr and the kits were. Pricklefur, Stormstripe, and Rosebriar were siting together in a row. All of them looked solemn as they looked at their parents.

Branchstar took a deep breath and glanced at Tangleburr. "Hawkkit is gone," he said hoarsely.

Stormstripe, Rosebriar, and Pricklefur exchanged dismayed looks. Immediately, the youngest erupted in cries.

"No, no!" Emberkit and Blazekit shrieked.

"Hawkkit!" Willowkit wailed burying her face in her front paws.

"How could he have died?!" Falconkit cried, "H-he promised me! He promised me he'd be ok!"

Falconkit choked on the last words and fell to the ground. Tangleburr came over and swept her tail around all four of their youngest an drew them close, burying her face in their fur.

Their clanmates around them seemed to have guessed what had happened and moved away to give them privacy to grieve. "He was so little, too little to die," Rosebriar whispered, hanging her head.

Branchstar couldn't stand to see all his kits, as well as his mate, so distraught. His eyes burned and he screwed his eyes shut.

Soon, Hawkkit was brought into the clearing. Normally if a kit died, they were simply buried. Branchstar had refused to go through with such a practice, and insisted they sat vigil for him. Now Hawkkit would never get a warrior vigil. He at least deserved a warrior's farewell.

Tangleburr refused to lay her son on the cold ground, so he was laying in the center of the clearing, on a thin layer of moss. The usual fragrant herbs were woven into his fur. Branchstar was struck at how small his son looked. Sickness seemed to take every bit of weight from his body, leaving him with a thin, bony frame.

Branchstar snuggled next to Tangleburr, preparing to sit the entire night. Their youngest kits were inside asleep, but their oldest were outside, sitting together, their fur fluffed up in the cold. Branchstar noticed Whitethroat sitting beside Stormstripe, who leaned into him. He wasn't sure how he felt about his daughter getting a mate. He didn't want to see her growing up too fast.

Scorchfang, who had been Branchstar's father's brother was also present, as well as Dawncloud and Volefoot, who had been Raggedstar's half-siblings. Branchstar's sisters, Ivyshine and Flowerdapple, and mother Yellowfang were emerging from the warriors' den.

It was not just Branchstar's kin who came. Tangleburr's father, Mudclaw, and her brothers Deerfoot and Runningnose were also there.

All of them were prepared to sit through the freezing night. As sad as he was, Branchstar felt a feeling of warmth that so many had come to sit with Hawkkit.

Tangleburr had originally protested Branchstar sitting out in the cold since he was ill. But Branchstar insisted. "What kind of father would I be?" he had argued.

"A reasonable one," Tangleburr had retorted.

Despite how horrible Branchstar really felt, he was determined to stick through it. His head and throat hurt and he shivered. He honestly didn't feel like fighting anymore.

Branchstar laid his head on the cold, hard ground. The cold and the white cough were getting to be too much for him. "Branchstar?" Tangleburr asked worriedly, peering at him, her green eyes wide with anxiety.

Branchstar tried to answer her, but found that he couldn't. He slipped into unconsciousness.

Branchstar opened his eyes and found himself in a starry clearing in a pine forest, not unlike the pines of Shadowclan. He was no longer cold and his head and throat no longer pained him. He also wasn't hungry, which had become the norm for him this leaf-bare. It then hit him that he had lost a life.

Familiar scents washing over him and Branchstar turned. Raggedstar was sitting, watching him and beside him was... Hawkkit!

"Hawkkit! Oh, my son!" Branchstar exclaimed, racing to his son. Branchstar buried his face in his kit-soft fur, putting. He breathed in his son's sweet smell and drew back.

"No hello for your father?" Raggedstar purred.

"Of course, Father," Branchstar purred, nuzzling him.

"You have lost a life. You have seven remaining," Raggedstar said solemnly.

Branchstar kept an eye on Hawkkit. "I am afraid for Shadowclan," Branchstar said, "We have already lost Brightflower and now Hawkkit. And Mossfur, Nettlespot, and Newtspeck are ill."

"Even the hardest leaf-bares come to an end," Raggedstar replied solemnly.

"Does that mean this one will soon?" Branchstar asks hopefully.

Raggedstar shook his head. "That I cannot say. But know this, Shadowclan will suffer more before this leaf-bare ends."

"You can't be serious," Branchstar felt despair wash over him. Could his clan really survive this?

Raggedstar bowed his head. "Unfortunately, I am," he replied.

There was silence for a moment, and then Branchstar turned to his son. "Hawkkit, I'm so sorry we couldn't save you." he murmured.

Starlight twinkled in Hawkkit's eyes. When he spoke, he spoke with a voice that contained wisdom beyond his moons. "I do not resent you," Hawkkit replied solemnly, "It was my destiny for my life to be cut short, as difficult as it may be for you to hear it. None of it was your fault, or Mother's. There's nothing you could have done differently."

"I could have kept you inside, away from the cold," Branchstar replied miserably.

Hawkkit shook his little head. "No you couldn't have," he replied, "Curiosity would have eventually gotten the better of me."

Branchstar felt that his time was soon coming to an end. "I love you, my son," he whispered.

"I love you too," Hawkkit purred, "And tell Tangleburr and my siblings that I love them and miss them."

"Will do," Branchstar whispered. Then his vision went black.

Branchstar felt the cold and hungry again and his eyes shot open to see Tangleburr and Runningnose leaning over him, looking beside themselves with worry. "Thank Starclan!" she cried, "Branchstar, you never should have come to the vigil!"

"Yes I should have," Branchstar grunted, sitting up on the ground, "I'm staying for the rest."

Tangleburr and Runningnose exchanged exasperated glances, but settled themselves back into their vigil positions.

A few sunrises after the death of Hawkkit, Windclan was back at prey stealing again. Branchstar led a patrol consisting of Scorchfang, Blackfoot, Russetfur, and Flowerdapple to the border and they laid in wait, ready to teach the next Windclan patrol to come by that Shadowclan was not to be trifled with. Branchstar could feel the anticipation in his clanmates as they crouched beside him.

Soon, pawsteps crunched in the snow and moments later, the cats making the noise came into view. Tornear was leading Berryheart, Streamrunner, and Hayfur. Hayfur and Streamrunner were both carrying prey, though scrawny. Branchstar glanced beside him and saw Russetfur lick her lips in anticipation. All four were skinny and Branchstar almost felt sorry for them, if they hadn't been stealing prey that Shadowclan needed very badly.

Branchstar made flicked his tail and he and his cats sprang into action. The Windclan cats hadn't even seen the ambush coming, but let out supposed yowls as they were tackled to the ground.

"This is for stealing our prey!" Flowerdapple yowled, swiping Hayfur, who let out a shriek.

Branchstar immediately went for Tornear. "Not so ill now, am I?" Branchstar taunted in his ear as he pushed the tom's face on the ground. Tornear just spat and struggled defiantly.

Branchstar made sure to leave him with some scratches go remember him by and let the tom scramble away. "Retreat!" Tornear howled.

The Windclan cats fled. "And we get their prey!" Russetfur crowed, grabbing the thrush, while Blackfoot grabbed the rabbit.

Branchstar felt triumphant. "Yes, we taught those rabbit-munchers a lesson, but they will be back. I'm sure of it. Starclan knows they've stolen enough prey this moon."

And sure enough, a whole horde of Windclan were streaking through the hills. "Fox-dung," Branchstar cursed, "Russetfur, run. Get reinforcements."

The ginger she-cat streaked away through the trees, the thrush in her jaws. Blackfoot tossed the rabbit under a bush. He would collect it after the battle was over.

Branchstar turned back to face he incoming Windclan cats. "All of this over food," Branchstar thought regretfully.

The Windclan cats skidded to a halt. Branchstar blinked in surprise. Moments later, the Shadowclan cats, led by Mousewing, came to a halt. Murmurs of surprise came from them.

Tallstar came forward. "Branchstar," he said coldly.

"Tallstar," Branchstar replied equally as cold.

"You ambushed my warriors and stole their prey. I want it back," Tallstar growled.

"No can do," Branchstar replied.

Tallstar narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Then be prepared for a fight."

Branchstar lashed his kinked tail. "Bring it on," Branchstar challenged.

"Wait!" Mousewing called, "Must we fight?"

"Yes," Branchstar gave his deputy a hard look.

"Can't we come to some agreement?" Mousewing asked.

"Give us our prey back," Tallstar said.

"No," Branchstar replied simply. If Shadowclan gave up the prey, it would be seen as a weakness. And Shadowclan was not weak.

"Then we fight," Tallstar said, "But, there can be a compromise."

Branchstar twitched his ears, waiting to hear what the Windclan leader had to say.

"You and I fight," Tallstar said, "Winner gets the prey and is seen as the victor in this battle."

"And will you stay out of our territory?" Branchstar challenged.

Tallstar nodded. "I give you my word if you give me yours."

"Tallstar, what are you doing?" Deadfoot murmured.

"Then I give you my word," Branchstar replied, "But no killing blows."

"No killing blows," Tallstar agreed.

There was silence as the two leaders stared at each other. Branchstar felt his muscles tense, his heart pounding. He had to win. For his clan.

Tallstar leaped at him with a yowl, his claws outstretched. Branchstar jumped to the side as the gangly tom leapt past him. Branchstar saw his long tall that had given Tallstar his name whisked past him.

Without thinking, Branchstar opened his mouth an sank his teeth into the Windclan leader's tail. Tallstar howled in agony and and ripped his tail free. He looked at Branchstar with fury and bowled him over. Warriors from both sides were yowling in excitement and shouting words of encouragement and strategy to their respective leader.

Branchstar battered Tallstar's belly with his claws. Though both leaders were undernourished, Branchstar had clearly been eating more than Tallstar. The Windclan leader was gasping in effort as he clung to Branchstar.

With a surge of strength, Branchstar flipped Tallstar into the position that he himself had been in only moments ago.

Branchstar hissed in Tallstar's face and Tallstar kept trying to bite him, though he was pinned down. It was taking all of Branchstar's strength to hold him down. Though he had lost weight due to malnourishment, the Windclan leader was clearly still a formidable foe. But Branchstar's efforts paid off and soon Tallstar stopped squirming and gazed up at Branchstar with undisguised anger and hatred. "Do you surrender?" Branchstar demanded.

After a moments hesitation, Tallstar said reluctantly, "Yes, I do."

Carefully, Branchstar allowed Tallstar to get to his paws and made sure to keep an eye on him as he did. He didn't need the Windclan leader fooling him into believing he was defeated, only to attack him right after.

"You fought well," Tallstar said begrudgingly, with a dip of his head.

"And so did you," Branchstar replied with the same nod of his head.

"You have my word," Tallstar said, "My warriors and I will not hunt here."

Branchstar nodded curtly. With a flick of his tail (that was now dripping blood into the snow) Tallstar turned and led his warriors away from the border. The Shadowclan warriors let out cheers of triumph. Branchstar winced from the wounds that had been inflicted upon him.

With a flick of his own tail, Branchstar led his triumphant warriors home, who were all clamoring to congratulate their victorious leader that Branchstar thanked them graciously for.

He only hoped that Tallstar and his clan kept their word and the two clans could live in peace and harmony. Branchstar felt a mild breeze and looked around in surprise. He wasn't the only one. Perhaps this harsh leaf-bare would finally come to an end soon.