Sorry if this is weird. I'm looking at The Write Practice and realized I haven't done the 'Forgetting the person, period' part that death can bring. Soooooo yaaaaaaa...

Mudfur laid in his mossy bed, Brambleberry by his side. The scent of fresh comfrey and yarrow filled the den. Across the camp, he knew, Leopardpaw was sleeping, sound and safe. Today he had cried tears of joy. His little daughter, so precious to him, was an apprentice. He had watched through teary eyes as his spotted daughter ran up to Hailstar, her orange eyes wide, and touched noses with Whitefang. Mudfur thought he purred so loudly that WindClan could've heard him.

Tonight he cried tears of sadness.

He thought of the life he could've had.

He thought of the life he should've had.

And he was living this life like it was no big deal. Like it was no big deal he'd forgotten that his mate was dead. Like it was no big deal that three of his kits didn't survive. Like it was no big deal that Leopardpaw just barely survived.

He'd forgotten. He'd forgotten about Brightsky and his kits, and how shattered his life had been.

He stuffed his face into his paws, remembering the white and ginger cat that had taken his heart. The three kits that never got to meet their father were gone. It was like losing them all over again. I can't believe I forgot them.

There was one thing he could think one to make it up.

He rose from the mossy bedding, taking a few moments to stretch his stiff limbs. He looked behind, to see if the black and white medicine cat had awakened. She hadn't, and Mudfur snuck out.

He ruffled his light brown fur against the wind. Shafty moonlight drifted down between the clouds. He glanced up, trying to find the stars. Dark clouds blocked most of them, but he could see a few through the gaps. Is that you, Brightsky? he thought hopefully, slightly relieved by the thought of Brightsky and his kits looking down on him.

But this wasn't the place he wanted to go. He turned to the reed beds and walked out.

The soft, muddy ground sank between his paws, but he wasn't bothered by it. The reeds brushed against his fluffed up pelt as he nudged them aside. He glanced ahead and saw the place he was looking for.

There was a small clearing near the river, giving him space to kneel down. The air tasted of water and reeds. The river rushed on, spraying it's mist on his fur. This is where Brightsky and our kits were buried. He rested his head on his paws, thinking of his mate. I bet she looks more beautiful in StarClan, with stars in her fur.

A sudden thought struck him like lightning. We didn't get to name the kits!

He pictured in his mind the light brown tabby, just like him. "She can be Mousekit," he thought approvingly, remembering the day he'd managed to give the Brightsky, a new warrior, a mouse and proclaim his love for her.

Next was the orange and white one, a carbon copy of Brightsky. "She can be Brightkit, in honor of her mother." He said, he eyes misting again. He shook his head and continued.

The last one was the ginger one. "That could be... Dawnkit," he said to himself, noticing the first rays of sunlight were peeking over the trees, dying the sky amber. Perfect. He thought, his eyes glowing, before he sank into a deep sleep.

"Daddy! Wake up!"

Mudfur blinked open his eyes to see his daughter standing over him, her amber eyes wide with worry. He stood up and stretched, blinking away his sleepiness.

"Daddy! Where were you?" she exclaimed, running up to him and pressing against his muddy pelt. "Everyone was worried! Brambleberry couldn't find you in your den. Reedpaw and all the apprentices are searching and Hailstar sent..."

"I'm fine, Leopardpaw. Just sleeping somewhere else tonight." he fibbed. Leopardpaw narrowed her eyes. "This is where Mom was buried, right?" she said. Mudfur looked surprised. "Yes. How'd you know?"

"Leopardpaw knows all," she teased as she ran circles around him. He laughed, as they walked back to camp. Leopardpaw was rambling about what she was gonna do today.

"Whitefang is gonna show me all of our territory! I'm gonna see ThunderClan's stinky trees and WindClan stinky moors and ShadowClan's stinky..."

"Leopardpaw?"

"Ya?"

"I named your brothers and sisters," Mudfur said, smiling at her. She bounced around him, talking even more faster.

"What's their names what's their names what's their names!" she exclaimed, her amber eyes wide.

"Mousekit, Dawnkit, and Brightkit," he said, and bent down to nuzzle his daughter. "And my sweet little Leopardpaw." Leopardpaw giggled and ran to the clearing to announce that her father's back.

Mudfur was filled with new hope. His life wasn't shattered completely. He still had Leopardpaw, and when he finally dies, Brightsky and his kits will be waiting.

But for now, he has Leopardpaw. And that's all he'll ever need.