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It had been one sunrise since the battle and Snowfall was still healing. Mothail, Sagefur, and himself were the only Windclan cats to not return to camp. Mothtail had died in the medicine cat's den last night and Sagefur had been killed in battle. Adderfur and Badgerstripe of Riverclan hadn't returned to their camp either. Adderfur had been found dead and Badgerstripe was still healing from his wounds. No Shadowclan cats had been killed at the battle, but some of them didn't look like they would be able to survive their wounds. Whitefoot and Sunstripe of Thunderclan had been killed and Mousenose, Birdpaw, and Cloudpaw were in the medicine cat's den. He had no idea how Softpaw would react if her old mentor and two of her kits died along with her foster mother and mate. He had heard that white fur had been found in between Whitefoot's claws and Cloudpaw was the only white cat there.
"We have finished the vigils for our dead warriors, Whitefoot and Sunstripe, may Starclan welcome them." Smallstar announced and Snowfall rolled towards the den entrance so he could hear better. "I think we need to have a couple warrior ceremonies too. Softpaw, you fought like a warrior and your naming ceremony is long overdue. Softpaw, your warrior name is Softpetal. The last one will be for Cloudpaw because we don't know if he will recover. Cloudpaw will be named Cloudspot. In other news, we are holding two warriors as prisoners. Snowfall and Badgerstripe will be staying with us until I think they should be allowed to return home. That is all. Let's keep rebuilding the camp and we can get everything done today." The Thunderclan leader leaped off of the big rock he was standing on and motioned for Softpetal and Nightclaw to follow him. Snowfall rolled back to his nest, trying to ignore the sharp pains from his numerous cuts and bruises. Graypaw, the medicine cat's apprentice had taken a bit of a liking to Snowfall and was taking great care of him. The young gray tom began to redress Snowfall's wounds as Smallstar, Softpetal, and Nightclaw squeezed into the increasingly small den.
"Softpetal, you will not be sitting in silence for tonight, we need you to help finish everything with the camp. I need to speak with you and Badgerstripe, and Cloudpaw." Smallstar meowed to Snowfall.
"Okay." Snowfall replied, hissing as Graypaw applied a poultice.
"It's too late now." Badgerstripe growled quietly. "He's dead. Cloudpaw is dead. He quit breathing right after you named him."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Graypaw whined. "I might have been able to do something for him."
Badgerstripe shrugged and went back to sleep.
"What did you want to talk to us about?" Snowfall asked, trying to change the subject.
"I wanted to know why your clans decided to attack ours. We did nothing wrong to either one of you." Smallstar explained.
"Our leaders wanted to prove that they could defeat you. Obviously that didn't work out too well." Snowfall sighed. "I don't care if you keep me here forever. I'm kind of sick of Windclan. I don't want to be there anymore."
"You can't leave!" Softpetal cried. "We've never known anything else. You couldn't survive."
"Before you continue this conversation, you should probably take it some place quieter." Smallstar interrupted. Snowfall sighed in pain as he got to his paws.
"You can go to my den." Smallstar meowed helpfully. The siblings padded out of the medicine cat's den and into the leader's den.
"So what's wrong with you?" Softpetal asked.
"Poppynose is having kits."
Softpetal blinked with confusion. "Isn't that good news?"
Snowfall shook his head angrily. "No, she's not sure if they're mine or Bluestripe's."
"Well you'll never know will you? You could just say that they're yours." Nightclaw mewed.
"No that wouldn't work because I would now. All I want are my own kits and I can't even have that. I'm such a mouse-brain! Bluestripe told me that he loved Poppynose and I never thought she would leave me for him." Snowfall wailed. "I told Poppynose that I hated her and now we're through."
"I'm so sorry." Softpetal whispered sadly. "I had no idea how hard a time you were having."
"It's nothing compared to your life." He replied. "Your mate died, your foster mother died, your son died, your kit and your old mentor are in the medicine cat's den. I know nothing about your pain."
Nightclaw squinted his eyes in thought. "We are all destined to fail. My mate died; Softpetal, your ex-mate is a horrible cat and your mate was probably killed by your son; Snowfall, your mate left you for your best friend; and Lilystream probably killed her mate. I think Starclan don't want us here anymore."
The cats sat silently, and Snowfall began to believe Nightclaw. Suddenly, Luna and Bird appeared, their starry pelts rippling angrily.
"No!" Luna snapped. "Do not throw away our hard work because you want to give up. Bird gave her life to save you, Softpetal. You three and Lilystream are destined for greatness! Not failure! You are all going to have great lives! Snowfall, sorry, but the kits aren't yours."
The tom's ears drooped, but the angry she-cat continued relentlessly. "Nightclaw, you have two wonderful kits, it wasn't their fault that Wrenstripe died, and it was her time. Softpetal, you are the most positive of the three of you here. You have a tom alive that loves you, in time you can love him too. Starclan won't tell you who killed Whitefoot, you will have to find that out from Cloudspot himself. Tomorrow night we will visit the Dark Forest and we will speak with your son. Your live will be great if you just give them time."
Bird nodded. "Snowfall, you can have kits with any she-cat you want, they all adore you. I swear you are all deaf and blind to the good things that surround you."
The two mothers shimmered and disappeared, leaving their stunned kits alone again.