Bluestar stretched, stiff after the vigil for Stormtail. Her father had died during the battle for Sunningrocks. Redtail sank his claws into the ground beside her, arching his back.

"I can't believe Stormtail is dead." The dark brown tom commented. "He was a great warrior. I wouldn't believe you if you told me he was killed by those RiverClan fish-faces."

"But he was." Bluestar sighed, licking her father's stone-cold fur. She could smell and taste the herbs on him, meant to mask the scent of death.

Graypaw darted out of the apprentices' den, followed by Ravenpaw and Sandpaw. Dustpaw came into camp with a bundle of moss of the elders. He groaned, then entered the elder's den. Whitestorm stood up stiffly and shook his pelt out. He touched Stormtail's pelt with his tail, then spoke to Sandpaw, his apprentice, for a moment. The light ginger-yellow she-cat padded into the elders' den. A heartbeat later, Dustpaw and Sandpaw came back with Rosetail, Halftail, Dappletail, One-eye, Patchpelt, and Smallear. Halftail dipped his head to Bluestar and sat beside the gray tom's head. One-eye settled beside his tail. Rosetail and Patchpelt took up places around the warrior's body. Spottedleaf left the medicine den and nudged Bluestar. The sun had reached the camp now and light trickled in through the low canopy in the ravine.

"It is time."

Bluestar sighed. "I don't want to let go. He is my only family left." She looked down sadly.

Spottedleaf touched Bluestar's shoulder with her tail-tip. "The whole Clan is your family. They would die to defend you and each other."

"Thank you, Spottedleaf." Bluestar twitched her ear. "Let us send Stormtail on his way."

Spottedleaf beckoned Bluestar closer to her beloved father. "Come. ThunderClan," she raised her voice. "We have lost a brave warrior. But he will find an eternal place in StarClan. Stormtail, may you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep."

Bluestar thought she could see Stormtail, happy, his tail twined with Moonflower's, as he gazed sadly down at her. Dappletail looked at the gray warrior's body and sighed.

"Mates for such a short time." She whispered, grief cracking her voice.

Dappletail had been Stormtail's second mate, and she had loved him very much. Stormtail had loved her, too, but Bluestar knew how much her father had missed Moonflower.

The elders lifted Stormtail. The way the dead warrior's paws touched the floor lightly, he almost looked like he was running, chasing a rabbit through the forest. Bluestar looked at her father, not seeing the elders as they carried him out of camp, watching as his paws swung forward as he moved out of camp to be buried, to be cut off from the light forever. Bluestar turned sharply toward her deputy.

"Hunting patrols. Now is a good time." Redtail nodded, and leaped onto the small ledge below Highrock.

"Lionheart and Graypaw, go out near the Twolegplace border to hunt. Longtail, take Mousefur, Sandpaw, and Darkstripe out to hunt by the Owl Tree. I will lead a border patrol along the RiverClan border. Tigerclaw, Ravenpaw, Dustpaw, come with me."

Bluestar lifted her head sharply. "Are you forgetting some cat?"

Redtail blinked at her. "But your father just died. You need to rest. Besides, if every cat leaves camp..."

"I see." Bluestar nodded. "Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw will stay behind. I will take their places. And Runningwind and Willowpelt will be here. Three warriors and an apprentice will do. And, Frostfur, Goldenflower, Brindleface, and Speckletail all trained as warriors too."

Redtail sighed. "Fine. You may go with—"

"I'll join Lionheart and Graypaw to survey Graypaw's training."

Redtail sighed again. "Go, then."

"I shall do exactly that!" Bluestar lifted her tail and head and stalked out of camp, a very surprised Lionheart and Graypaw in tow.