Bluefire greeted Ashwinter when she got back to camp. Bluefire was still really shaken--it was easy to see. Ashwinter supposed she needed her more than ever now.
"When are you so affected by Crookedstar's death?" Ashwinter ventured to ask.
Bluefire glanced at her. "I don't know. I always felt so safe, and even supported when he was around."
"I see." Ashwinter nodded.
Stars began to poke through the clouds. " I'm sure Leopardfur--star, sorry, will be equally as good a leader." Bluefire meowed. Ashwinter thought she could hear strain and determination in her friend's voice, as if she was trying to convince herself.
"Ashwinter! Bluefire! Come on, we better go to sleep!" Equinoxrise called.
"Yea, sure thing!" Bluefire replied.
Equinoxrise passed them on their way into the warrior's den.
"I'm on night watch," he explained," be quiet when you go in, Honeymallow has been all jumpy because of her nightmares."
"What has she been dreaming about?" Ashwinter whispered.
Equinoxrise shrugged. "You know, blood, despair, death...the usual."
"Okay," Bluefire nodded and the two padded into the den. Honeymallow was breathing heavily, twitching occasionally.
"Poor thing," Bluefire sympathized. She settled down in a nest next to Aspenmoon. Leaving Ashwinter with a nest next to Dustrise, she promptly started snoring softly. Ashwinter sighed. Dustrise was definitely not her favorite cat. He could be so cruel sometimes, was so antisocial, and was overly concerned about his sister and her friend. It bothered Ashwinter, he annoyed her. Still, his intentions seemed to be good. Settling down, Ashwinter drew her tail over her nose and listened to the steady rise and fall of his breathing, sometimes interrupted by Honeymallow's tail whipping across his face when another spasm overtook her.
*~~*
Ashwinter was jolted awake by Dustrise when her sat up suddenly, extremely tense. The other warriors stirred awake around her.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"ShadowClan," Dustrise answered, "We are under attack!"
Ashwinter followed him out of the den to find the RiverClan camp infested with ShadowClan warriors, Tigerstar standing triumphantly on the Hightree.