Hello! Here's Chapter 24, and you finally get to find out what happens with Pinemist! BTW I think that I'm going to start updating every other day, as homework has been killing me and I'm finding less time to write. Anyways, on with the chapter!

Mistshade rolled over, cracking open her eyes a slit, when a piercing wail rose from the medicine den. She shot to her paws, around her, other cats were rising to their paws.

"What in Starclan's name is going on? Are we being attacked?" Some cat mewed nervously.

In response, Sandspark pushed through the entrance of the den, Mistshade behind him. That sounded like Leopardleaf. What happened?

She was standing outside the medicine den, gazing at something inside. Mistshade pressed up beside her.

"What's wrong?"

Leopardleaf sank to the ground, shaking uncontrollably, and Mistshade looked to the entrance of the den, where Cedareyes was laying dead.

How did this happen?

Sandspark had noticed as well, and rushed over to the still medicine cat, pushing his nose into his gray fur. He stood up. "He's been dead for a while."

"Look what's next to him." Mistshade mewed in a trembling voice.

Sandspark glanced down and saw what Mistshade had been talking about.

Deathberries. Cedareyes wasn't murdered, unless someone shoved those berries down his throat. He… he killed himself. How could he?

As more cats came to see what the commotion was, nervous whispers spread throughout the crowd. Goldenstar padded out of her den, her fur sticking up in untidy clumps.

"What in Starclan's name is going on?" She repeated irritably.

Sandspark stepped forward immediately. "Cedareyes has been found dead in his den."

Goldenstar's jaw dropped, cats moved aside for her as she pushed her way to the front of the crowd. "How?" She whispered.

She gazed down at her old friend's body, her amber eyes full of grief as she realized how he died.

She crouched down beside him. "Why, Cedareyes? Why did you leave us?"

The Clan was suspended in a grief-filled and shocked silence until Goldenstar stood up. "We will hold vigil tonight. Sandspark, send out patrols still. Despite this tragedy, we must keep patrolling and hunting." The tan tom nodded and began to organize patrols, and Mistshade found herself being put on a border patrol with Smokedust and Skyblaze.

"What will Goldenstar say at the next Gathering?" Mistshade asked as they padded out of camp. "I mean, he could be called a coward for what he did."

Smokedust widened his eyes in shock. "He is not a coward. Obviously something drove him to take his own life, something terrible. Cedareyes did not seem like the type to me to give up on life."

A terrible silence fell over the three of them as they headed towards the Streamclan border.

"Well, he'll be remembered forever." Skyblaze mewed at last. He glanced at Mistshade. "I know that he was your kin."

Mistshade nodded. Though my mother seems determined to forget that, even now. Does she even feel bad for him?

They came out of the caves, and the dull gray sky reflected Mistshade's mood. I just pray that we don't run into any Streamclan cats. I don't know what we'll say to them.

But alas, when they began to mark the border, three Streamclan cats joined them, one of them Blackdawn.

"Greetings." The one at the head of the patrol, a cream she-cat with amber spots, mewed.

The mood of their patrol seemed serious as well, and Blackdawn seemed completely out of it, not even glancing at Mistshade and the others.

"Hello." Smokedust replied stiffly. "Are things in Streamclan going well?"

Blackdawn let out a small sob and continued to mark the border, Mistshade saw tears spilling from her eyes and dripping onto the ground.

Apparently not, then. She looks completely crushed.

"Um, no, actually." The cream she-cat mewed, wrapping her tail around Blackdawn comfortingly. "Sagestreak was murdered a few days ago."

Smokedust took a pace back in surprise, but seemed to recover himself. "I'm terribly sorry. That's awful, Ambermist."

The cream she-cat nodded and padded away with Blackdawn, disappearing into their own territory.

"Darkness continues to befall the Clans." Smokedust mewed sadly. "And many will be lost. Sagestreak and Cedareyes were only the first."

He spun, and without waiting for Mistshade and Skyblaze, headed back towards camp. Mistshade followed, though she wasn't paying attention to the world around her.

Sagestreak was murdered. Cedareyes killed himself. I thought that there might be a time of peace after Applestar, but I was apparently wrong. How much death and pain can the Clans take? Why is Starclan angry with us?

She glanced up at the cold gray sky, letting out a silent wail of confusion.

What have we done?

—

(Feather's POV)

Feather plunged into the forest, Comet behind her. We can't be too late. I can't lose him I can't lose him I can't. Please, Starclan, I've never wished harder than this. Kill my brother and I'll never trust you again.

The trees thinned into a small clearing with a fallen tree, where Feather saw Pinemist pinned down. His chest fur was soaked with blood and he was panting, his green eyes wide with fear. Applestar hissed something at him, and Pinemist responded icily, though Feather couldn't hear what he said.

She bunched her muscles, prepared to spring at Applestar, but Comet stopped her.

"You'll scare him."

He crept forward. Applestar raised a paw, claws unsheathed, and Feather let out a gasp.

"We can't just watch this, Comet!"

A tear spilled from her cheek. I can't watch my brother die in front of me. I thought he was dead once. I can't lose him again.

Suddenly, Comet burst out of the bushes, his fur glinting in the dawn light. "Hey Pinemist! You need some help there?"

Pinemist glanced over, and joy filled his eyes as he saw Comet.

"Comet!"

Feather couldn't take it any longer. She crept out beside Comet and glared at Applestar. "Don't lay a paw on my brother."

Applestar growled. "What are you going to do? Take another step, I'll kill him."

Pinemist glared at her. "Can't kill something you can't see."

He disappeared, and Applestar let out a yowl of surprise and anger as Comet sprang at her.

The two cats tumbled to the ground, biting and scratching, and Feather rushed over to help, only to find Comet yelling at her.

"Get Pinemist and get out, then come back for me! I'll be fine, I know how to fight!"

Feather glanced around wildly for Pinemist, suddenly she caught his ginger fur disappearing through a gap in the bushes.

For Starclan's sake, Pinemist, you're not making this any easier!

She hared after him, almost tripping over some undergrowth that was blocking the path. She gained on him, and recovered enough energy to call out:

"Pinemist! Stop, for Starclan's sake! You're okay!"

Pinemist halted suddenly and turned back to face her, eyes wide. "Did she follow you?"

"No, she didn't, but Comet's fighting her. I have to go back to get him!"

Pinemist seemed to recover slightly, he took deep breaths, closing his eyes. "Okay. I'll go back and get him."

"You'll stay right here." Feather ordered him. "I'll go back and get him."

Not giving him the chance to argue, she spun and raced back to the small clearing.

She got there in time to see Applestar throw Comet against the log, where he lay motionless. She met Feather's angry gaze and ran, disappearing into the undergrowth in a flash.

Whatever. Let her run. She's a coward.

Feather raced over to Comet, whose chest was barely moving.

Blood soaked his black pelt and his eyes were dull, but he gave a small smile when he saw Feather. A rustling in the bushes made Feather spin, claws and teeth bared, but she relaxed when she saw that it was Pinemist. "I thought I told you to stay."

"I had to come." Pinemist responded, padding over to her. "I wasn't about to abandon my kin again."

She turned her attention back to Comet. We need cobwebs to stop the bleeding, but I don't know what herb prevents infection.

Comet let out a weak cough. "I'm glad that you two finally found each other again."

"Shhh." Feather crouched beside him. "You'll be fine. Pinemist, can you find…"

"Cobwebs. Of course." Pinemist turned and headed back the way they had came, his ginger tail flicking back and forth.

"Feather." Comet turned his wide yellow gaze on her. "You know that it's hopeless."

Feather blinked back tears, she gazed into his eyes. "You'll be fine. You're not going to die on me, Comet."

Comet gave a weak laugh that turned into a cough.

Blood stained Feather's paws as she began applying the cobwebs that Pinemist had brought back. His movements were getting weaker, and he gave a last sigh.

"Feather, it was an honor to travel with you."

His flank rose and fell one last time, and his wide yellow eyes lost the light in them, becoming hollow and cold.

Feather let out a grief-stricken wail and threw back her head, tears streaming down her face. Pinemist pressed against her. "We'll keep vigil for him and bury him like a true warrior."

Feather gave a shaky nod, pressing against him for comfort. "Comet was a true warrior. He was one until the very end."

Sorry, Comet! I just... was being mean today... but like I kill many cats so like... oops. Review! I want to know how you're liking the story, and what you think will happen! Also, I need kit names for Curlflight and Skyblaze's babies because I'm not creative enough to come up with them myself! I hope that everyone is staying safe!

Have a good day (or night) and keep writing!

-Mintflight