A.N. POV switch~

Spottedpaw watched as Ravenstar smirked at Scorchwhisker before padding towards the boulder from which he had performed the ceremonies. He took the leap more slowly this time, having to scrabble slightly towards the top to make it up. He shook his fur lightly, clearly still a little disoriented from losing a life. The entire Clan was already watching him with expectant stares, so he skipped the ceremonious call.

"First off," the leader began, his eyes cold, "We must deal with the traitors." He motioned with his tail for Bristlehaze, Willowmist, and Creekstone to bring Scorchwhisker and Thornstrike before him.

"These cats have gone against our Clan," Ravenstar meowed, acting as though everyone sitting in front of him did not know this. "They have attacked, they have killed, and they must be punished." The large black tom's voice grew quieter with each item of the list.

Then his voice was booming, and Spottedpaw jumped. She heard Puddlepaw giggled beside her. Spottedpaw wasn't feeling particularly playful, but she still gave her sister a friendly shove.

"Scorchwhisker, Thornstrike," Ravenstar meowed, speaking the names as though he might retch. "You are no longer welcome in SkyClan. We have no fixed home yet, but you can be sure that you will not be welcome there, and you won't be welcome on the way there. Bristlehaze, Willowmist, and Creekstone will escort you back to the Twolegplace, as they are not directly related to any of the deceased." He fixed a glare on the two toms. Spottedpaw could see that he was trying to mask his sadness.

"If any cat of SkyClan ever sees you again, they have my full permission to kill you," Ravenstar finished, his gaze cold. Spottedpaw couldn't read anything in his eyes.

Thornstrike hissed, holding the leader's stare. "Believe me when I say that this is the last you'll see of us. We have no desire to follow you and to live amongst the other Clans."

"Good," Ravenstar snarled.

"Bristlehaze, Willowmist, Creekstone, say your last words to the fallen, then take this slime back across the thunderpath," he instructed.

Spottedpaw watched the three warriors nod and head to the three dead cats. Bristlehaze walked right by Smokestripe, but Willowmist watched the dead tom for a little bit before eventually lying beside him. He had been her sister's mate, after all. Bristlehaze didn't seem to care about his step-brother, but he wasn't exactly the nicest cat in the Clan. Creekstone said a brief goodbye to Smokestripe, taking more time with the other two.

When the three cats were done, they padded back to Scorchwhisker and Thornstrike, forcing them up and forming a half circle around them. They departed from the group of SkyClan cats. Spottedpaw could easily see that the two traitors were quite relaxed while the three Clan cats were tense to the point of bristling.

Once they were out of sight, cats began to file towards the three dead cats. Some ignored Smokestripe, some shared a brief connection with him, while his family stayed close beside him. Spottedpaw could tell Mistpaw looked torn on how to deal with Lionpaw, while Puddlepaw was right beside Spiderpaw at his father's body. Spottedpaw lay beside the gray-and-white tom, pressing her nose into his fur. It was cold, and the she-cat shivered slightly.

Uh, hi, she thought awkwardly. We never really knew each other that well despite being in the same Clan, but my sisters—my siblings—both are romantically involved with your sons. I don't know any of your family very well, for that matter, though Copperspots was nice enough in the nursery and I guess I sort of know your grandfather, Ravenstar. Wow, that's weird. No, I'm sorry. I hope I haven't offended you. I just don't understand why you'd do such a thing. You killed Fawnstep…Spottedpaw sighed. Well, have a nice time, wherever you are.

She sat up, padding away from the tom and lying beside Aspenfrost. He was colder than Smokestripe, and Spottedpaw fluffed up her fur slightly.

I feel bad not being close to any of the deceased, she began. But you were my Clanmate, and I want to say goodbye despite not knowing you too well. I watched you fight Scorchwhisker, and you died nobly in my eyes. I hope StarClan treats you well because you deserve it.

Moving away from the young warrior, she lay down one final time by Fawnstep. She'd known the she-cat better than the other two from frequent the visits to the nursery the medicine cat had made when she was a kit.

Fawnstep, you're wonderful. Why someone would kill you is beyond me, and I can't believe it happened. I guess its good Thymeheart got his name, or SkyClan would be in a fix, huh? Spottedpaw allowed herself a small smile. It's not really anything to laugh about. I feel really bad. If you can hear this—Spottedpaw doubted that she could—could you maybe say hi to Beetlepaw for me…?

With a sigh, Spottedpaw backed away from the trio of dead cats. Many of the Clan had already finished. When Copperspots, Spiderpaw, and Lionpaw backed away from Smokestripe, Ravenstar cleared his throat from his boulder. The cats turned slowly to look at him.

"Smokestripe, Fawnstep, and Aspenfrost, you were good members of the Clan." Ravenstar paused to let a murmur of disapproval over him calling Smokestripe good pass through the crowd. "It is a shame that we can neither bury you with those who have previously passed from our Clan or with those who have yet to pass in our new home. We will bury you here, where a significant bit in SkyClan history has taken place. Our bodies will move on from where you lie, but you shall forever be remembered in our hearts."

Ravenstar bowed his head, the rest of SkyClan copying him as a morbid air settled around the cats. After many long moments of silence, Spottedpaw heard the sound of pawsteps. She knew that Gingerflight and Smudgenose and stepped forward to take away the bodies and bury them. This was a ceremony the elders always performed, usually alone.

Spottedpaw slid to the ground, resting her head on her paws. Why would someone do something so awful? she despaired. It doesn't make sense. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. So many awful things have been happening to SkyClan. We lost the gorge, we lost Beetlepaw, we lost Smokestripe and Aspenfrost and Fawnstep at the paws of some of our own, and we haven't even found a new home yet.

It isn't fair…