It had stopped snowing. A thin layer of white has spread across the camp. Badgerpaw didn't take the time to notice it's beauty, or the nipping cold it had brought.

When Birdpaw and Willownose came forward with mint and rosemary to rub across Featherleg's body, Badgerpaw wanted to flinch away. Featherleg's scent had beet hidden deep in the tom's thick fur, but now the stench of what Badgerpaw realized must be death was wafting up from him.

"Neither of us wanted to lose him, 'paw," Willownose mewed softly to her. "I wish there hadn't been a happy ceremony immediately after, either."

Badgerpaw looked up at the medicine cat, a bit startled by the kindness in her voice that was hardly there when she spoke to the black and white apprentice.

"I'm sorry," Badgerpaw meowed. "I… I know he was your brother."

Willownose's eyes glistened with moistness. "He will be greeting his mate and our mother in StarClan. We will see him again, one day."

"You were right," Badgerpaw mumbled, her throat tight. "You told us after that border skirmish that us fighting was no good. Maybe if we had listened-"

"Warriors are meant to fight," Willownose interrupted. "He wouldn't have wanted to stop fighting., even when he was old enough to retire. As much as he talked of peace, he loved battle as much as any cat."

Badgerpaw wasn't so sure, but she didn't say so.

"Move aside for a moment, Badgerpaw," Birdpaw meowed softly. "We need to prepare his body."

Badgerpaw moved upon the request, but stayed close to her mentor's body. She looked around camp. Raventail had abandoned his brother's body to speak with his family. Rockwind looked serious as she spoke with her mate, whose eyes were dull. He smiled down at his kits when he spoke, but any mature cat could see the sorrow in his eyes.

Thistlepaw was talking to Berryspots and Hareclaw. The two newly named warriors looked excited and proud. They didn't seem at all upset about the death of Featherleg.

Smokepad and Cloudflower were sharing tongues. Her parents were solemn, but not sad.

Anger flared through Badgerpaw. Why were some cats so easily over the death of one of the strongest warriors in the Clan? Why was it only his littermates and apprentice who grieved?

The sun had dipped below the horizon. Redstar jumped atop highledge and called out across the camp.

"A vigil will be held for Featherleg tonight," the ginger tom meowed. "Any cats who wish to share tongues with him for a final time may sit vigil tonight."

He leaped down from his vantage point and settled down beside the silver tom. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

Badgerpaw moved forward too, and lay down beside him. She saw Quickstorm come forward, and Turtlestep. Raventail came too, of course, and Duststripe followed with Willownose.

The cats sat in silence. Badgerpaw saw out of the corner of her eye the Berryspots and Hareclaw had moved to the camp entrance to sit their own vigil.

Badgerpaw promised herself that she would remain unmoving and awake all night out of respect for her mentor. The tom deserved the best.

She spent the entire night remembering every training session she possibly could. She remembered him helping her get her first catch. Featherleg had been so kind and encouraging when she had been just out of the nursery. Her first encounter with a cat outside of ThunderClan had been by his side. If she was honest with herself, she considered him as close to her as her father.

And now he was gone. Who would she learn from? Palepaw had gotten a new mentor now that Appleflight was expecting. But Badgerpaw didn't want a new mentor. Why should she? Featherleg was the best mentor Badgerpaw could've imagined.

All night Badgerpaw sat, pondering things about her now gone mentor. She missed him so much already that it burned her chest.

When the sun rose, so did the elders. They came forward and picked up Featherleg's body.

"Wait!" Badgerpaw cried. "I'm not ready yet!"

"None of us are," Longclaw meowed, his eyes filled with grief. He followed the others out of camp with Featherleg's body.