Splashclaw padded around in circles impatiently outside of Mudfur's den. He was so worried for his daughter and Smokeheart's. Smokeheart was resting on a rock on the other side of Mudfur's den. After another moment, Mudfur's apprentice, Brownfur, exited the den. Smokeheart stood up rapidly and ran towards him. "How are they? They'll make it, right?" Brownfur looked down at the ground and shook his head slowly. Dread filled Splashclaw at the thought of never seeing Leafcloud or her friend ever again. He was glad Hawktalon was asleep. He didn't want her to feel this scared and uncertain. Mudfur later appeared behind Brownfur and flicked his tail as he walked behind the den. "Smokeheart." Smokeheart wearily followed him. Brownfur rested his tail over Splashclaw's shoulder. After a long moment, Smokeheart and Mudfur reappeared. Smokeheart's eye were wide from shock and sorrow. A single tear formed under his eyelid, then he ran inside of the Medicine Cats' Den. Mudfur then turned to Splashclaw, a very serious expression. Splashclaw was praying to StarClan that his daughter was alright. "Splashclaw." He paused for a long moment. Brownfur went back inside the den. "Leafcloud is fine. A serious injury, but nothing that will kill her. She is a strong, independent She-Cat. She will recover." Splashclaw smiled at the news. He was happy, and proud at the senior cat's praise. "But, that's not all." Splashclaw stopped dead. "Rainfur will not be recovering. She is still alive, but I fret she doesn't have long before she joins StarClan." Splashclaw looked down at the ground and shuffled his paws. Poor Smokeheart, he thought. Splashclaw went followed Mudfur inside the den. He saw Leafcloud lying there with a cobweb pushed onto her cut. She lied there without moving, but Splashclaw could here her low breathes. "She's asleep." Brownfur pointed out from where he sat next to Rainfur's limp figure. Smokeheart's head was buried in his daughter's fur, his tears making that spot he lied on a bit wet. Brownfur rubbed Smokeheart's shoulder with his tail. Splashclaw padded towards Rainfur, her eyes were open slightly, but they were clouded, and he could tell she was on the verge of death. Smokeheart looked up from where he lied. "Splashclaw! I don't want to lose her! I couldn't protect her brother, so I need to protect her!" His gaze met Splashclaw's, then he fell back into Rainfur's thick fur coat. Rainfur raised her paw to rest it on Smokeheart's head. "Father. It's alright. Our Warrior Ancestors will take care of me." She barely rasped through the gash in her neck. Mudfur leaned down slightly and spoke in his normal deep voice. "Don't talk, you'll waste your little remaining energy." Rainfur smiled weakly. "I'd rather share my last words and die than to live a little longer, then die silently." She turned to look at her father as she entwined her tail with his. "Father. Stop blaming yourself. Whenever somebody dies, you always find some way to blame yourself. Don't. My time has come, and there was nothing any cat could have done to change it. StarClan will be kind to me. I'm certain..." She barely muttered the last words as her eyes clouded and a smile was plastered across her face until her dying breathe. Smokeheart sniffled loudly and wiped his tail slowly down her face to shut her eye, then he stood up and walked past Splashclaw to the Warrior's Den. Splashclaw could hear him talking to Goldentail about their daughter's death. She broke down wailing. Splashclaw couldn't bring himself to look. Leafcloud opened her eyes slowly. "I heard everything. May StarClan light her path." Splashclaw sat down next to Leafcloud and groomed her ruffled pelt with his tongue. She lied her head down and closed her eyes as she lulled into sleep. Splashclaw stood up and walked out of the den. He caught sight of Smokeheart sobbing with Goldentail at the back of the Warrior's Den. He wanted to go soothe him, but he feared he would only make it worse. Leopardstar meowed loudly as she leaped on top of the Clanrock. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, meet under the Clanrock for a meeting!" As the cats flooded around the clearing, Splashclaw looked back at Smokeheart to wonder if he had heard. Smokeheart flicked his ears, so Splashclaw guessed he was going to come out soon, or listen from his little spot. Rockbelly and Swiftfur came out of the elder's den. Rockbelly was the oldest cat in the clan, so he rested with Mosspelt in the elder's den. He was rather plump for a forest cat, with black and gray tabby fur. Swiftfur wasn't an elder. As a matter of fact, he was very young. Ever since he was an apprentice, he loved listening to Rockbelly's tales about the aincent tribes, and of times before the Modern Clans. When all of the cats, including Smokeheart and Goldentail, were in the clearing, Leopardstar cough and raised her voice. "Today, a very tragic event occurs... Rainfur has left us to join StarClan in Silverpelt." The cats muttered in sadness and concern for a moment, and Leopardstar waited for them to silence. "We will hold vigil tonight for her and the memories she has left for RiverClan. Starclan light her path." She closed her eyes and dipped her head in respect for the fallen warrior. Mudfur and Brownfur hauled Rainfur's body into the clearing and dropped her gently in the center of the camp. Mudfur positioned her body so that she was in a sleeping pose. Stonekit stumbled towards his older sister. "Is it true?" He whined through tears as he turned back to Smokeheart and Goldentail. Goldentail leaned down to lick him behind the ear. "Yes, it's true. Rainfur hunts with StarClan now." Stonekit wailed loudly and buried his face into his sister's fur. Smokeheart and Goldentail settled down next to her body and lied their heads on her side. "Lie down, Stonekit." Smokeheart muttered. "We sleep out here for her vigil." Stonekit sniffled loudly, then cuddled up on his sister in between his parents. Leafcloud stumbled from the clearing to rest her head on her friend. Splashclaw did the same as he cuddled next to Leafcloud. Hawktalon appeared on the other side of Leafcloud. "I've heard the news." She turned to Smokeheart, who had closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss, Smokeheart." Smokeheart flicked his ear to show that he had heard, but he soon fell back asleep. The other cats did the same. Splashclaw closed his eyes and cuddled closer into Rainfur's coat and muttered almost silently. "May StarClan light your path..."