Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors

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"Outside… threats could destroy a clan but it was emotion that could destroy a single warrior from within."

~Crowfeather, Crowfeather's Trial

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It wasn't raining though that would be appropriate. The sky was coated in a thick layer of clouds, blocking any sunlight from raining down on the pelts of the five assembled cats. Alderheart, Lionblaze, and Breezepelt looked more put together than Crowfeather and Dovewing but grief still shown in their eyes. Crowfeather was almost surprised that his youngest son even showed up at all. He and Jayfeather were never close but it seemed they shared something strong enough to bring out a sadness that Breezepelt rarely displayed.

Crowfeather wasn't sure about Dovewing either. They were once clanmates, that much he knew, but Crowfeather didn't know the nature of their relationship. He knew Dovewing was Lionblaze's first apprentice. Perhaps they had bonded then? Crowfeather found he didn't care. He didn't think he had ever spent any time with Dovewing but she seemed to be experiencing Jayfeather's loss as strongly as every other cat there so she had the same right to be there as any other cat.

Jayfeather's grave was marked with a stick. It was embedded deeply in the ground, making it stand upright, but Crowfeather saw nothing particularly special about it save the fact the bark was stripped off and a lone scratch ran down its length. Then he recognized it.

It was his stick. Or Jayfeather's, rather. The stick Crowfeather had given him the day before he died. Crowfeather closed his eyes, feeling a fresh wave of loss. I didn't think that would be the last time I ever saw him.

"I was with Jayfeather when he died," Alderheart began, breaking the silence. His voice surprised Crowfeather somewhat. Alderheart had always seemed like a skittish cat, never one to talk first. Today, it seemed, that would change. The ginger tom tilted his head to the sky, letting the sound that resonated from his throat carry into the forest. "Jayfeather was a great cat. There was so much about him that no cat ever saw. Losing him was like ripping off my own tail. I'll miss him until the day I die and join him in StarClan."

Alderheart's speech was short but his voice wavered. Crowfeather suspected he had spoken to Jayfeather just before or while he was dying and already said everything he needed to say. He swallowed and lost himself in thought for a moment. He had never been close with Jayfeather, what would he say?

"I know Jayfeather and I never really get along," Breezepelt said, the next to speak. Crowfeather hadn't expected it but he turned his attention to his youngest son. "We always fought but he saved my life more than once. When Lionblaze and I were apprentices, we fell into a badger den and Jayfeather was the one who cleared the dirt from my nose so I could breathe. When Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, Heathertail, Jayfeather, and I went down into the tunnels to save some lost kits, it was Jayfeather who guided us out. If not for him, we all would have drowned. And when I was injured in the battle with the stoats, it was Jayfeather who gave me the herbs I needed to survive. I owe him a lot."

Crowfeather blinked in surprise. He hadn't known about all of that or if he had, he didn't remember.

But Breezepelt wasn't finished. Shying away from the others, he looked away. "But I never repaid him. I never even showed my gratitude or thanked him or even knew how much I owed him. Back during the drought, I attacked him. Brokenstar told me to kill him and I tried. I'm responsible for those scars on his pelt and I could never look at him without remembering that day. He saved my life over and over again and I tried to take his."

Before he realized what he was doing, Crowfeather placed his tail tip on Breezepelt's shoulder. "I don't think he holds it against you."

Breezepelt snorted. "You know that crazy old cat can hold a grudge. I don't mind though. That spirit of his was what made him the cat I respect so much."

"Don't go around throwing around that word," Dovewing teased. "Hedgehogs will fly the day the clans figure out sharp-tongued Breezepelt has some humility."

Breezepelt made a sound of amusement and winked at her. "That was something Jayfeather and I had in common and it's probably why we bickered so much. We were too stubborn to see eye to eye. I think if we had more time, we could've been friends."

Crowfeather gave a low hum of comfort as Breezepelt risked a glance back at the gathered cats, clearly expecting to see glares of rage or hear hisses of anger. He was met with none of that. In fact, he was offered several smiles of support.

Crowfeather expected Dovewing to go next but Lionblaze and Dovewing were looking at him expectantly. Crowfeather blinked a few times. He'd thought he would go last. He and Lionblaze were Jayfeather's closest kin. It made sense for one of them to finish the small gathering but it didn't seem that was the case.

"Like Breezepelt, I never got along with Jayfeather. The only time I really spent time with him was when we visited the mountains and we didn't talk much," Crowfeather said. He didn't raise his voice, trusting his fellow warriors to listen. "About half a moon ago, we started talking though. I thought we'd fight and hiss at each other like usual but we understood each other. We had something special and I wish we had found it sooner or we had a bit more time together."

"I think we all feel that way," Lionblaze murmured. "If only we had more time…"

Crowfeather expected Lionblaze to go on but he fell silent. He exchanged a glance with Dovewing, silently mouthing something. She nodded in response. Crowfeather was confused by the exchange but said nothing as Dovewing began talking.

"There's a lot we don't know about Jayfeather but the clans owe him a great debt," Dovewing started. Crowfeather titled his head slightly but didn't interrupt. "It was Jayfeather who saved the clans when the Dark Forest attacked. Three cats were prophesied to have the power to save clankind but it was Jayfeather who guided the paws of both the clans by the lake and StarClan to stand against the Dark Forest. We wouldn't be here without him."

"Prophecy?" Alderheart echoed, voicing Crowfeather's confusion.

Lionblaze let out a ragged purr. "It's not important anymore. The three prophesied cats lost their powers seasons ago. Jayfeather was special but not because of his connection to the stars. I wish that we could have remembered that. We grew apart after our role was finished and I wish more than anything that we stayed as close as we once were. Jayfeather, if you're listening, I'm sorry I wasn't a better brother. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I'd protect you from all the loneliness in the world if I could."

Another fresh wave of grief rolled over Crowfeather and he didn't think they were going to stop anytime soon. His throat tightened and he placed a paw over the grave. "I too am sorry. I wish I was able to be the father you deserved."

"I could've been a better friend. It wasn't just destiny that kept us together," Dovewing said. She moved to Crowfeather's side, putting her own paw beside his. "I'm sorry we grew apart so quickly."

"I wish I could properly thank you," Breezepelt spoke up. He padded over, joining them. "I can truly say I'm happy now and it's thanks to you."

"You meant the world to me," Alderheart murmured, standing at Breezepelt's side. "You taught me everything I know."

"You were my brother and I loved you," Lionbaze said. His voice was quiet but the genuinity was the loudest thing in the forest. He swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut as if he were about to look away but he forced them back open and his amber eyes remained on the patch of earth. "I could never say it enough when you were alive. I love you, Jay. We're brothers and nothing can change that."

"We all love you," Crowfeather murmured. He closed his eyes. "Goodbye, Jayfeather."

Author's Note: Heads up, I'll be out of town next week and I don't know if I'll have the ability to post on the right days so if we miss a day, it'll be up next week.