Thanks to reviewers: Leafshadow
This may be late, but I was working on the chapter that came after this. I will have to take a break for the next couple of weeks as the school semester ends. I've got papers to write. Enjoy, and be sure to recommend the story if you enjoy it!
Chapter 11: The Descent
Bravepaw had never been to Turtle Pond. She hadn't the chance to explore the territory since she became an apprentice. It was the second time she'd truly left camp without Halfshine or one of the other warriors. Standing above the muddy bank, she stared down the slope to the pond, awestruck by how much water had gathered in one place. She'd seen puddles after rain, but those were shallow, and rarely more than the length of two cats. They always disappeared after enough sunlight. This puddle had to be as large as a monster on the thunderpath. Maybe two! She didn't know deep it was, but for the first time, she could imagine that a cat could swim in water.
Flickpaw had led their patrol from camp in the direction of ShadowClan. Bravepaw only knew this because it was the same direction Hollowbird, Gracklemask, and Fungusnose had travelled after visiting the Moonstone. Even though her current patrol was far from the Tall Rocks, as Bravepaw and the others padded across the rises of the moor, she could see the mountains looming on her left shoulder. They approached a line of trees, and she realized how close they were to the border. The breeze was blowing from the moor, and she could not pick up the hints of pine that she'd scented on the ShadowClan medicine cats.
There were trees overlooking the pond, but unlike the ones at the border which were locked in a state of dark green, the leaves here were just starting to grow. They were little more than green nubs at the end of brown stems. The branches rattled together in the gusts of wind and reflected in the ripples of the pond. One had fallen in some time ago, partway submerged into the water. A creeping of green coated the lower portions of the log and two rocks perched on top.
"It's like a water bowl for a giant cat," Sprout meowed.
The white tom stood beside Bravepaw overlooking the pond. Flickpaw and Nico chased frogs along the bank, and Sugar sat beside Hunterpaw, both needing a moment to catch their breath.
"What's a bowl?" Bravepaw asked.
"A dish that twolegs leave out for cats to eat and drink from," Sprout meowed.
"A dish?"
They blinked at each other a moment. His green eyes were puzzled as if in disbelief how she wouldn't know what a "bowl" or a "dish" was and how he was supposed to explain either. He was saved from his explanations when Bravepaw saw movement at the corner of her eye. The rocks on the log wiggled, and what looked like snakes pulled the gray stones across the peeling bark.
Bravepaw gasped. "The rocks are moving!"
Flickpaw and Nico looked up, staring around the ground for moving rocks.
Hunterpaw began to laugh. "Those aren't rocks! Those are turtles! What did you think the pond was named for?"
Nico and Flickpaw snickered.
Bravepaw felt her ears grow warm. "I didn't know they looked like that."
The "turtles" plopped into the water, their shells disappearing below the surface.
Sprout nudged her. "That's okay. I didn't know what a turtle looked like either. I didn't notice them there. You have a good eye!"
"I don't suppose Clan cats eat turtle?" Sugar asked. She wiped her running nose with her gray forepaw.
"WindClan doesn't," Hunterpaw meowed. "Maybe RiverClan. They swim. I'm sure they catch and eat turtles."
"A swimming cat?" Sprout meowed. "Oh, I remember! Tuck was saying how the Clans have different skills. Will we meet a RiverClan cat?"
"Not on our territory," Hunterpaw meowed. "We don't allow them here! I did meet one at the border once."
"I bet you put them in their place," Bravepaw meowed. Her eyes glanced at the sky. Hunterpaw was being more of a braggart than usual. She wondered if it was because of his injury or if he was trying to impress the Travelers.
"They'll never cross into WindClan," Hunterpaw meowed, his chest puffed out, seeming to miss her amusement.
Sprout hadn't missed it. His whiskers trembled and Bravepaw watched his eyes sparkle as he contained his glee.
"Did you know this is the lowest part of WindClan?" Flickpaw meowed. Her brother curled his tail over his muddy paws as he sat beside them. "Leanstep told me that's why there is water here and not in other parts of the territory. She said the tunnelers don't come to this part of the territory because of how wet the ground it. The pond is fed by underground streams or something. Hedgepaw would know more about it."
"Hedgepaw?" Nico asked. "Are there more apprentices?"
"Just one," Flickpaw meowed. "Our sister, Hedgepaw. She's in the medicine den."
"Why?" Sprout asked.
"She was hurt," Flickpaw meowed, his ears drooping. "She's training to be a tunneler, but we're moor runners. A tunnel collapsed and she was injured."
"Our medicine cat had to cut off her tail!" Hunterpaw meowed, eyes wide.
Bravepaw watched him glance at his injured paw and shiver. She noticed his injury was swelling worse than before and she wondered if it were hurting him. She'd have to remind him to keep off it while the others hunted. Maybe with Hedgepaw's condition in his mind, she might be able to convince him to not show off in front of the others.
Sugar gasped. "Cut off her tail? I'd heard medicine cats were strange, but I didn't realize they would actually rip parts off of you!"
"It was infected," Bravepaw defended her mentor. "She would have died otherwise. He saved her life."
"But what kind of cat can do something like that?" Nico meowed. "Is she all right?"
"She is now," Hunterpaw meowed with a glance in Bravepaw's direction. "She was out of the den before you arrived. She's been really tired, but she's better than she was a few days ago."
"Will we see her?" Nico meowed. His ears were forward and despite his seeming horror at hearing about the amputation, he seemed excited by the idea. It reminded Bravepaw of when she and her brothers were kits and the warriors came back from a battle. Her siblings wanted to hear about how the warriors got the wounds and discussed which tom or she-cat carried their scars well.
Bravepaw didn't want Nico bothering her sister with similar questions.
"When she wants visitors, she'll ask for them," Bravepaw meowed. "She needs rest."
"Yes, oh, wise, Bravepaw," Hunterpaw meowed, lowering his head in mock meekness.
She felt her ears get warm once more. "Aren't we supposed to be hunting?"
"Yes, let's," Sprout meowed. "I've heard so much about hunting on a moor. Everything is so open. It's nothing like the twolegplace."
"You really have to sneak up on your prey, and be fast," Flickpaw meowed. "We'll hunt downwind to find something."
Bravepaw felt grateful when they clumped around Flickpaw once more and started around the pond. Her eyes watered at the chill as they headed into the sporadic breeze. Sugar sneezed and made a coughing noise. The she-cat muttered, but the wind blew her words away.
Bravepaw moved back toward Hunterpaw. "Maybe you and Sugar should wait by the pond."
Hunterpaw put his ears back. "I'll be fine."
"You aren't going to hunt," Bravepaw meowed. "Walking isn't helping your paw. You might as well wait for us to come back."
"I wouldn't mind resting," Sugar panted beside them. "I've had such a hard time catching my breath since we got here."
"Quiet, you guys," Flickpaw hissed.
Bravepaw looked up to see her brother and the two other toms crouching ahead of them. Hunterpaw immediately lowered himself, wincing as he put weight on his paw and then straightening.
"What is it?" Sugar coughed.
"Shh," Flickpaw meowed. "Rabbit. Can't you smell it?"
Bravepaw lifted her nose and sniffed. The gusty breeze brought a familiar smell to it she hadn't paid attention to.
"No hunting," Bravepaw told Hunterpaw once more. She crept forward to join the three toms.
"Where?" Nico meowed. "I don't see it."
"It's not about seeing it," Flickpaw meowed. "Scent it out!"
"All I smell is heather," Sprout meowed, shaking his head.
"Have you never eaten rabbit?" Bravepaw whispered.
"No. How does it taste?" Sprout's ears rose as he turned to her.
"Good," Bravepaw meowed. She found herself unable to explain. Much like he couldn't tell her about bowls she couldn't explain a taste. She would have to make sure he had a taste before the day was done. She turned back toward the moorland, searching. She hadn't hunted much, but she knew which direction the smell was coming from. The breeze was not consistent, but the twirling grass blades and scent came stronger in the direction of the thunderpath. Bravepaw could faintly hear the roar of the monsters.
With the general direction determined, she looked for movement that wasn't wind against the grasses. If the rabbit didn't think they were there, it wouldn't be hiding. It would be eating and probably wouldn't be alone. The only way they wouldn't see it is if the prey were underground or hidden by a bush.
Flickpaw saw the rabbits first. Bravepaw could tell when his tail tucked and his ears went down. She followed his gaze and saw the brown creatures huddled on the next hillock.
"Do you see them?" Flickpaw meowed. "Three. By the gorse thicket toward sunset."
"I do," Bravepaw meowed.
"Me too," Nico meowed. His tone said otherwise and she watched how his eyes flickered everywhere but where Flickpaw had told them.
Sprout nudged his friend in the correct direction.
"We're going to ambush them," Flickpaw meowed. "They'll run downslope as it's faster and easier for them. So that's where I will be waiting with Nico. Hunter—Bravepaw, you take Sprout and Sugar to the other side of the hill. Stay downwind as best as you can. Don't go until you see us in position, got it?"
Bravepaw felt her heart race. He wanted her to help hunt? For a moment she felt anxious, and then excited. She'd never hunted before! Halfshine promised to teach her, but it had never been a priority when the warriors took good care of the needs of the Clan. She'd always wanted to learn how to hunt. It was a matter of honor for a WindClan apprentice to catch their first rabbit or hare. It was what made them WindClan cats. Every Clan of the forest knew they caught rabbits. Even the tunnelers took pride in their first successful above-ground rabbit hunt.
"I'll sit this one out with Hunterpaw," Sugar meowed with a sniff. "We'll watch."
"You better remember what happens to tell Tuck," Sprout meowed. He rubbed his head against hers.
Flickpaw twitched his tail and Nico eagerly followed the white tom down the slope. Flickpaw quickly murmured instructions to the black tom as they descended. Bravepaw watched the other tom lower his ears and modulate his step. They tried to stay downwind as they moved in the likely area the rabbits would bolt.
Bravepaw watched them, waiting for Flickpaw to give her the signal. Her mind raced as she thought over the plan. He wanted her to scare the rabbits toward him and Nico. It would be hard to get around the other side of the rabbits without the prey noticing them. She'd have to keep them downwind. She didn't have any practice with keeping her steps quiet either. She didn't know how to tell Sprout what to do either. Flickpaw was relying on her though. She wasn't about to let her brother down.
She looked at Sprout. He squinted at her against the wind, but his gaze was a happy one.
"Do you hunt much?" Bravepaw meowed.
"The twolegeplace is different," Sprout meowed. "That is where Tuck taught us. Prey is found in gardens or near rubbish. It isn't wide open like this. Do you have hedgehogs here?"
Bravepaw nodded. "We do. Not many. They are very spikey, so warriors don't bother much."
"We didn't either," Sprout agreed. "We'd usually hunt birds or the food the twolegs left out. I was so excited to learn we'd learn more hunting with WindClan. Do you think I'll get a mentor too?"
"I don't know," Bravepaw meowed. "Is that what usually happens when the Travelers visit?"
Sprout made an uncertain noise. His eyes flickered away from her face a moment and his chin lifted. "I think Flickpaw is motioning to you."
Bravepaw whirled around. Her brother was practically pacing. When she finally looked in his direction he slumped downward. She could practically hear him sigh. He flicked his tail toward the rabbits. Bravepaw felt embarrassed yet again that day. She looked around for Nico and spotted the black tom at the opposite side of the slope.
"We'll circle around to the other side," Bravepaw meowed. "We'll stay as down wind as we can until the last moment."
Sprout agreed. Without another word, he followed her. They worked their way far around the hill, starting low on the other side of the hill they'd last seen the rabbits. She felt proud leading Sprout. He didn't even question her abilities. He trusted her to show her what to do and Bravepaw didn't want to disappoint him. It felt like when she was first apprenticed.
They left the sight of her brothers and stalked around the other side of the hill. As they crept upward, she lowered her ears and tried to keep her steps light and quiet.
"How are we doing this?" Sprout whispered.
"We get to the other side," Bravepaw meowed. "Then we rush them. Try to direct them to Nico or Flickpaw. I think they'll do the rest."
"And if I can catch one?"
"They're too fast," Bravepaw shook her head. "Unless you can get really close first, you won't beat it with speed." That she knew.
"Good luck, Bravepaw," Sprout meowed.
"You too," Bravepaw whispered back.
She felt warm in her chest as they stalked up the hill. She peered down the crest and spotted the prey limp-hoping near the clover patches with the purple flowers. Her hear raced and she could feel her eyes widening. And then she was zipping down the slope. It felt as though there were wings on her feet as she shot toward the rabbits.
By her side, Sprout yowled out a cry. It was a mix of joy and challenge and she found herself echoing the cry with a burst of laughter.
The rabbits tensed, their ears trembled, and they bolted. It was all in less than a heartbeat. Bravepaw found herself locked onto one of the larger rabbits. Sprout took the other direction. As predicted the rabbits fled downward, away from the charging cats and on the path of least resistance. Two raced before Sprout, zigging and zagging while Bravepaw found herself hot on the heels of the third. For a moment she felt as though she were catching up. The little white bob of its tail bounced before her eyes. The heat rose from her chest and into her throat in a burst of saliva. She would take down this rabbit. It would be hers!
Then the rabbit seemed to find it's pacing. It's loping lengthened and it took the lead. It seemed it might escape her fully when the shadow rose from the gorse. Nico lunged toward the rabbit. It saw him and nimbly darted around. Bravepaw leaped over the splayed tom and kept her gaze on the rabbit. Its motion had taken it up slope once more. Bravepaw was finally gaining as they reached the crest.
Then the rabbit was confronted by another cat in the grass. Hunterpaw bound in front of the rabbit. The prey was so startled it skidded to a halt and doubled back, practically flinging itself into Bravepaw's jaws. The suddenness startled her. The top of the rabbit's head thumped into her chin. Its big back legs kicked into her belly and the rabbit sprung off of her.
Bravepaw tumbled into the grass and started to roll down the slope. She caught herself, claws dragging into the hill. The pounding of her heart and head were a roar in her ears. She panted and little pinpricks of black spun in her eyes like gnats.
"Bravepaw? Bravepaw!"
As Bravepaw got to her feet, she felt the ache in her tongue and side. She'd bit herself. She probed her mouth gently. Her side was gashed and she winced. Rabbit kicks were dirty. It was the reason for most warrior visits to the den. She'd have to get it cleaned and place fresh burdock on it.
"Bravepaw?"
She looked up to see Hunterpaw limping toward her. He slid down the hill on the grass.
"Hunterpaw, you shouldn't have done that," she scolded.
His ears went down. "Shouldn't have done that? You are the one who tripped!"
"I'm not talking about tripping," Bravepaw meowed. "You could have busted your paw leaping in front of the rabbit like that!"
"Well," Hunterpaw's jaw moved as he thought of something to say. "You should have caught the rabbit. It was right there! You let it slip away. And your yowling scared off all the prey from here to ShadowClan!"
"I'm sorry I'm not that good of a hunter," Bravepaw snapped, angry that he would just ignore her concern and blame her for not catching the rabbit. "Hedgepaw couldn't do any better!"
Hunterpaw blinked at her. She could practically hear the shock in his inhalation. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying she won't be a good hunter because she's missing a tail?"
"No!" Bravepaw suddenly realized how offensive her words had sounded. "No! I just-I just meant she she's been in the medicine den all this time! Neither of us have been taught how to hunt yet."
Hunterpaw narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose at her in disgust as if he didn't believe her. As if he thought she actually had meant Hedgepaw was incompetent because of her injuries. As if Hedgepaw would never be as good a warrior, which wasn't what Bravepaw had meant at all.
"Hey, guys," Sugar meowed. "It doesn't matter, Nico caught it."
The white she-cat had been quick to join them. She was clearly uncomfortable with their argument and wanted to distract them. Bravepaw was grateful that Sugar tried. Bravepaw looked down to see that Nico had indeed caught the rabbit. It had come back within range and he'd managed to do what he couldn't the first time. It still kicked, but he held the rabbit's throat in his jaws. It was practically as large as he was, but he was holding on dearly.
Over on Sprout's and Flickpaw's side of the hill, Bravepaw could see they were also successful. Flickpaw was bearing prey with a triumphant look as he approached.
Hunterpaw gave her one last glare and limped toward Flickpaw. "Good job!"
Bravepaw's joy of the hunt quickly faded as she watched his back. Did he really believe she thought so little of their sister? Or instead was he trying to distract her like Sugar had? She looked at his swollen paw and wondered. Either way, he needed to rest and the enthusiasm she'd felt toward stalking the rabbits had had crashed out of her like a pile of feathers jumped into by a a kit.
"We should head back to camp," she called. "We can hunt something on the way, but Hunterpaw's leg needs a rest and Sugar doesn't look so great either."
Sugar really didn't look up to more hunting. The she-cat was panting even though she hadn't run after the rabbits. Her eyes were more bloodshot than before and her nose was starting to look crusty. Bravepaw was beginning to suspect something other than heather was bothering the she-cat. She didn't quite have the glassy-eyed look Hedgepaw had, but it was clearly a struggle for the she-cat to focus on Bravepaw.
"I just need a little rest," Sugar meowed, swallowing as if her throat were dry.
"At camp," Bravepaw meowed, calming her own breath and beating heart. "I let you talk me out of it before, but you both really need to be in camp right now."
Flickpaw took a look at Hunterpaw's leg and up toward Sugar. Bravepaw could see the disappointment in his eyes, but unlike earlier with all the apprentices eager to leave camp, there wasn't any denying Bravepaw's words now.
-Line-
Bravepaw dragged the rabbit with her into camp. Hunterpaw had a vole and Sugar struggled with the other rabbit. Flickpaw and the rest had decided to keep hunting, but let them return with what prey they'd gotten on the way. Only Bravepaw could keep her head upright as the three of them descended into the gully. There weren't many cats as they returned and Bravepaw felt relief. There was no way she'd wanted to explain her actions to Halfshine on their return. Hunterpaw's leg was tucked close to his side as he hobbled after them. He should have never left camp.
They dropped their prey beside the Rock Pile.
"Hunterpaw," Bravepaw meowed. "You lay down and keep off your paw from now on. I'm going into the medicine den to bring out another poultice. Sugar come with me. Halfshine should take a look at you."
Sugar looked over at Bravepaw and sniffled. "I'm not going in there!" Her fur bristled and Bravepaw detected a scent of fear rising from her pelt.
"Nothing bad will happen," Bravepaw assured her. "You can even meet Hedgepaw."
Sugar's eyes just widened and she shook her head.
"Just bring something out for her," Hunterpaw meowed, watching the white she-cat's reaction.
"I don't know what's wrong with her," Bravepaw meowed. "Halfshine should look at her."
"It's probably whitecough or something," Hunterpaw meowed. "Come on, Sugar."
He motioned toward the nests the apprentices used. Without another glance, they left Bravepaw. She huffed in annoyance. At least she'd gotten them back to camp. That was a small victory.
The others hadn't gone far when Rustling-grass swooped over from the elder's den. There was a worry in the brown she-cat's eyes.
"Bravepaw, Bravepaw, have you seen Downyclaw?"
"No. Why?"
The elder inhaled. The panic in her eyes only grew worse.
"I can't find Downyclaw anywhere," Rustling-grass meowed. "He wasn't in the den, he wasn't at the dirtplace. He's been missing since the Travelers arrived. I was hoping he'd be back by now. That maybe he was visiting with someone else, but he hasn't come back!"
"He's not with any of the other Travelers?" Bravepaw meowed. She tried to keep her voice calm for Rustling-grass' sake, but the elder wasn't having any of it.
She gestured negatively. "He didn't want to come out of the den earlier. He said he was too tired. I thought he'd be fine if I left him for a moment, but when Pudge and I went in to see him, he wasn't there. I don't know where he is!"
"Does anyone else know he's missing?" Bravepaw meowed. She couldn't imagine the old tom getting very far. Not in his health. But if he wasn't in camp, then he was outside it. Had no one seen him leave? She supposed the Clan had been distracted with the Travelers' arrival. After all no one had paid any mind to the apprentices leaving, even one who should have been off his paws.
"I've mentioned it to Harestar to keep an eye out for him," Rustling-grass meowed. "But I had hoped he would be found by now. Is he with Halfshine at all?"
Bravepaw could see Rustling-grass was hopeful. That maybe the old tom had taken to one of his fits and needed care.
"I'll look in the den," Bravepaw promised. "Then I'll look outside camp for you, all right?"
"Thank you, Bravepaw," Rustling-grass meowed. "I would go myself, but what if he comes back?"
Bravepaw went to the medicine den, but she did not find anyone except her mother and sister. She retreated, heading for the camp entrance. Downyclaw couldn't have gone far. That was the only thing she could think. She did wonder where he could have gone and why he chose this time to wander away from camp. It was a very strange decision.
She started searching near the rim of camp. She sniffed the grasses, hoping to find Downyclaw's scent. There were too many scents of strangers for her to find his. She sighed and gazed at the horizon, wondering when the warriors would return. Where could she even find a patrol? Was Harestar already searching?
As she wondered, she spotted a cat in the grass. His familiar black pelt with the white markings had her sighing in relief. Halfshine was back. She got to her feet and bound toward her mentor.
"Halfshine! Rustling-grass says Downyclaw is missing! He's not in camp and we have to find him!" She made it to his side and quickly turned to match his pace as he marched toward camp.
His blue eyes darted over her face as if searching for something. She wondered if he thought she was irritated with him from earlier. She supposed she should be, but that morning seemed so long ago. Right now, there were more important things to consider than his refusal to talk about StarClan.
"Should I get juniper berries?" she asked. She recalled they helped with breathing. Downyclaw might need some when they found him.
"What happened to you?" Halfshine meowed. He was gazing at her injured sided.
Bravepaw winced, the pain reminding her of the scratches the rabbit had given her. "I was hunting with the other apprentices. We can clean it later. Downyclaw is missing right now."
"Is Harestar in camp?" Halfshine meowed, slowing his step. For a moment he seemed reluctant to head into the gully. He stood poised at the entrance, one paw lifted.
"No," Bravepaw meowed. "Rustling-grass seemed to say he was out hunting with the Travelers. Oh, they are here by the way. You were gone when they arrived. I wanted you to look at one of their apprentices, she seems sick."
"Downyclaw is dead."
His announcement was so unexpected Bravepaw didn't understand the words at first. She'd expected him to tell her to gather something from his den or ask about the health of the Travelers. She looked at him.
He was looking over her shoulder as if unable to meet her gaze. "I found Downyclaw not to long ago. He was dead. The exertion must have killed him."
"Exertion?" Bravepaw meowed. Her voice was little more than a whisper. Downyclaw was dead? It couldn't be. He was supposed to be alive. They were going to find him and bring him back to camp. He couldn't just be dead.
"I found him under a gorse bush," Halfshine meowed. "He was dead. He was too ill to get very far, but he tried to."
"But why did he leave camp?" Bravepaw meowed. Her thoughts swirled. "If he left with a patrol, no one would have left him behind!"
Halfshine sighed. "He left in the commotion when the Travelers arrived. When he knew no one would notice him missing. He wandered off to die alone."
"But. . . but. . ."
"There was nothing we could do," Halfshine whispered. Slowly he turned his gaze to her face. "He was going to die eventually. He chose how he wanted to go. Let's bring his body back to camp. Then we'll treat your wounds."
Bravepaw's steps were heavy as she followed him to where he'd found Downyclaw's body. It was hidden in a gorse bush not too far from camp. He was spread out as if he had collapsed mid-step. His eyes were closed, his head slumped to one side. The gasping and rattle she'd come to associate with the elder was silent. Only the birdcalls echoed from outside the bush. As Bravepaw gazed at the old tom, she felt an ache in her chest. She wanted him to open his eyes, but he never would again.
"We will hold a vigil for him," Halfshine meowed. He pressed himself against Bravepaw's side as if to give her comfort. "He lived a worthy life. He will be missed."
Bravepaw sniff back the tickle in her nose as she approached the body. It was an arduous process returning Downyclaw to camp. By the time they returned, the sun was setting and the patrols had returned. As they descended the slope, the happy chatter went silent. She watched as cats bowed their heads in their passing, making way as she and Halfshine half-carried, half-dragged the former elder to the Rock Pile where Harestar waited.
Harestar's eyes went wide. "Rustling-grass," he whispered. "I should have listened."
Bravepaw barely heard it. Rustling-grass had seen the body. She dove toward them, pressing her head into Downyclaw's chest with a sob.
Halfshine told Harestar what he'd said to Bravepaw about Downyclaw's demise. Harestar nodded and leapt to the top of the Rock Pile. There was no need to summon any cat. They all waited below.
"This day has been a day. . . of happiness and of sadness," Harestar meowed solemnly. "Though our Clan grows, it also diminishes. One tremendous spirit has joined StarClan this day. Downyclaw fought long against the illness that hooked him with it's claws, but now he has lost this battle. Downyclaw, thank you for your service in this Clan. May StarClan light your path."
The Clan murmured the phrase back with lowered heads.
Even Rustling-grass said the words even as she curled next to the body. She pressed into his side as if trying to give him warmth. A splash of red caught Bravepaw's attention. Rustling-grass's movements revealed more of Donwyclaw's body. Although she had carried it across the moor, she hadn't gotten a good look at the old tom since she'd first seen him. She watched as something red leaked out of his open mouth. His gums, once pale blue were now a bright, bright red.
Her sharp inhalation was covered as Harestar announced the vigil for that night. Only Halfshine seemed to hear her. He followed her gaze to the crimson that oozed from Downyclaw's mouth. He sidestepped closer, reaching over to wipe the red away with his paws and ease the tom's mouth and eyes closed once more as if rearranging his body for the vigil.
Bravepaw could still see the red on his paws when he pulled away. She darted to his side as the cats of the camp came to pay their last respects to Downyclaw. She paid them little mind.
"Halfshine, it's the—"
"Shh," Halfshine whispered. He gazed at his paws, quickly rubbing them together, mixing them with the dirt below his feet to remove the bright color as if it had never been.
