An aftermath chapter! What are the clan's reactions?

CHAPTER 6

Molewhisker froze. The clan gasped and stared at Cherrynose in shock.

Had the patrol been ambushed? What for? Why would they kill Squirrelflight? She was ThunderClan's deputy!

Bramblestar poked his head out of his den. "What?"

"Tell us what happened." Mousewhisker soothed.

"W-well, we were on the patrol, and Leafpool was chasing a squirrel-"

"How does this lead to Squirrelflight's death?" Thornclaw interrupted. Molewhisker shot him a sharp glare.

"Just listen!" Cherrynose snapped. "She stopped when it crossed the border. D-dawnpelt was very harsh with Leafpool. She tried to k-kill her, but...but...Squirrelflight defended her. Squirrelflight died to save her. Now do you get it?" she hissed at Thornclaw.

Thornclaw nodded quickly.

"What will we do about Dawnpelt?" Berrynose asked.

"Nothing. Dawnpelt's dead too. Blackstar just appeared out of nowhere and killed her."

Cherrynose trembled and collapsed. Jayfeather came forward and sniffed her.

"She's in shock. Will someone carry her to my den?"

Molewhisker lifted his sister off the ground.

Once inside the den, Cherrynose opened her eyes. "I-I'm fine." she mewed weakly.

Molewhisker left once Amberpaw entered the den.

The thorn tunnel trembled suddenly. Leafpool and Dovewing entered the camp. Squirrelflight lay stretched across their shoulders. Leafpool had closed her eyes. Her ginger fur was stained with blood, her white forepaw hung limp.

Bramblestar stood stiff-legged on top of the highledge. He wailed loudly and dashed over.

Leafpool silently set Squirrelflight on the floor of the camp.

Bramblestar prodded her over and over. "Squirrelflight? Squirrelflight!"

Then he noticed the wound that ran from her throat to her tail. He wailed louder.

"StarClan, how could you do this to me?"

Dovewing slowly crept toward Bumblestripe, tail dragging.

Leafpool sat in silence.

Lionblaze rested his tail on Bramblestar's shoulder. Bramblestar didn't notice, only wailed even louder. Molewhisker shuddered.

Lionblaze pressed hard against Leafpool.

"Will StarClan accept Dawnpelt?" Bumblestripe asked.

"I don't know," Rosepetal murmured. "Like Squirrelflight, she died unfairly."

"But she killed Squirrelflight!" Bramblestar screamed.

Sandstorm shook her head. "It doesn't make sense." she licked her daughter's head softly.

Jayfeather was trying to calm Bramblestar now. "She was a fine warrior, and she served you well. We'll miss her, but now she is safely among the stars with Firestar and Hollyleaf."

Bramblestar pushed him away. Jayfeather nearly fell over.

"How do you think Leafpool feels right now?" Jayfeather asked, struggling to right himself.

"It should have been her!" Bramblestar screeched.

Leafpool backed away, shaking. Lionblaze followed her.

Molewhisker stared at his leader, appalled. A true leader didn't say things like that.

Relax. He told himself. He's grieving.

Bramblestar continued to growl and push Jayfeather away. Hazeltail came and nudged her mate.

"Give him space," she murmured.

"May we prepare her for the vigil?" Briarlight asked from the medicine den.

"I'd wait." Molewhisker suggested, approaching the den. "Bramblestar's taking out his anger on any cat who tries to talk to him."

Briarlight nodded. "Okay."

"May I visit Cherrynose?" Molewhisker asked.

"Sure." Briarlight moved out of the way.

Amberpaw was still there. Cherrynose was tired of answering her questions.

"Amberpaw, just be glad I didn't take you on the patrol. You could have died from shock. There was a lot of blood." she stood up. "I'm going outside."

Bramblestar was now curled into a ball beside Squirrelflight, whimpering.

Jayfeather smoothed Squirrelflight's fur down. "Walk safely among the stars." he whispered. "May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep. I still love you as if you really were my mother. Just remember that."

Cherrynose approached Molewhisker. "What did the apprentices catch today?"

Molewhisker flicked his tail toward the high stocked fresh-kill pile. "I don't think anyone wants to eat tonight, though."

Bramblestar looked up from his ball shape. He rose to his paws and pressed his nose into Squirrelflight's fur.

Molewhisker turned around. Cherrynose had gone. He looked over to the half-rock and found her with Mousewhisker. Sighing, he turned away.

"Hi, Molewhisker." Ivypool settled beside him. "What's wrong? Besides Squirrelflight's death, I mean."

Bramblestar hissed at her.

Molewhisker sighed. "Cherrynose doesn't spend enough time with me anymore. We used to share prey every night, talk to each other, but now she keeps abandoning me and joining Mousewhisker."

"I understand. Dovewing used to spend all her time with me, but now she's always with Bumblestripe. In fact, did you hear that Dovewing's expecting kits?"

Molewhisker stared at her. "Really? And she went on patrol today? What if she'd been the one that Dawnpelt attacked?"

"I'm not really sure." Ivypool mewed.

"Well, still, that's great news."

"Dovewing says I should find a mate, and well..." she shifted her paws, lost for words.

Molewhisker grew hot, and his paws shook.

"I feel that, well...I think you're the one."

Molewhisker's heart pounded. He stared at Ivypool. He nodded slowly. "I don't think I'm ready." he murmured. "But well...okay..."

"Our destiny is to be together." Ivypool murmured. "And it all starts with a vigil."

Hazeltail's kits had escaped the nursery.

"Why is Squirrelflight just sleeping in the middle of the clearing like that?" Furzekit asked.

"She's dead, mouse-brain! Can't you see the wound?" Haykit hissed.

Molewhisker turned away. Bramblestar screamed at every cat who tried to comfort him. Finally, he dashed up the highledge. Just before disappearing into his den, he yowled, "StarClan, what did I do to deserve this?"

...

Okay, I admit that part with Molewhisker and Ivypool wasn't exactly necessary.

Poor Bramblestar. Maybe if you review, he'll be able to adjust and be nicer to his clan.