"Dawn patrols, let's go!" Kindleroot's voice rang in the apprentice den. Sparkpaw groaned, flipping over as he awoke. The sun was shining very brightly, and the ground was spotted with puddles from last night's assumed rains. Hornetclaw was seen cringing from stepping in a puddle. "Flarestripe would like to lead one this morning as well, and you're joining mine." Kindleroot stated matter of factly to his apprentice. "Hornetclaw, gather a cat or two, Frostfang, your apprentice. C'mon Littlepaw." As Littlepaw stretched herself awake, Sparkpaw followed outside. Palefoot was pacing around nervously. Flarestripe seemed to have her own patrol ready of Nightwing, Birchfur, and Foxfire. Clawleap was readying a hunting patrol with a few other cats.
"I-I need to find some herbs today. I've realized we've run out of burdock root and some ivy leaves. I'm going to have to head out. Can I join a patrol perhaps?" Palefoot asked the deputy.
"Uh, sure. You okay?" She asked him.
"Of course, of course. We just need herbs. There are just new herbs to gather now that new-leaf's here." He replied quickly.
"Can I come?" Marshpaw came out from the medicine den, looking better than he had in days.
"N-no, not today, Marshpaw. You should train with Houndheart. I think he's going out on a patrol. Why don't you join him?"
Tail drooping, Marshpaw sat with Houndheart who was standing next to Clawleap. Sparkpaw felt a twinge of sympathy for his friend; he clearly didn't want to go hunting.
"Maybe I could take Marshpaw's place on the patrol. I can go hunting!" Sparkpaw offered.
"No, you're on border patrol with me today." Frostfang answered him. "Just listen to the deputy. Our brother knows when to let his patients go out. Besides," they added as the patrol left camp, "Going out for a breath of fresh air can help."
It was marshier than usual due to the heavy rains from last night. The patrol was having some trouble crossing through, mud constantly getting on their paws.
"This sucks! Why do we have to patrol in this weather?" Hornetclaw complained.
Kindleroot looked at the black cat. "Because this is a clan, and as a clan we patrol our territory and its borders. Are you a clan cat, Hornetclaw?"
"Y-yes, Kindleroot. Of course!"
"Then stop complaining and do your job. It's dawn. Too early for complaints." Kindleroot sighed, and walked towards the front. Littlepaw slowed to be next to Sparkpaw and chuckled.
"What do you think, Sparkpaw?" she asked with a smirk.
"About what?" Sparkpaw asked, confused
"The weather, of course. Every cat here apparently has something to say about it." she responded.
"Um…It's wet out?" What did she want him to say? That it was a pain to walk through marshy puddles all day?
"I agree, but at least I'm mature enough not to say anything about it." with a nod, she walked faster again. Sparkpaw just gave her a look of confusion.
By the time they got to their border with ThunderClan, all of their paws were covered with mud and stray pieces of grass. Kindleroot turned around and addressed the group,
"Split up and mark this border thoroughly. I know it's early, and if we finish this quickly, then we can go back sooner. Got it?"
"Yes, Kindleroot!" Littlepaw said excitedly.
"Then get to it." Kindleroot flicked his tail and got to scratching up the nearest tree to mark it. Sparkpaw followed Frostfang and Hornetclaw as they went together to mark with their own scents.
"You excited for the gathering soon?" Hornetclaw asked their sibling
"Sure." Frostfang shrugged. "It's nice to mingle, I suppose. Harder to enjoy it with all this work to do."
"What do you think ThunderClan'll say? Do you think this is enough for this spot?" Hornetclaw stopped marking to ask this latter question.
"Let's move to a different one. With what, 6 cats? I think we can slack a bit. C'mon Sparkpaw." Frostfang replied. Sparkpaw followed obediently as they all went to the tree next to the last one.
"So….what's going to be on my assessment after the gathering?" Sparkpaw finally asked his mentor.
"Hm? Oh, uh, y'know. Normal assessment stuff." Frostfang vaguely said as they went to mark the second tree.
"Like what?" Sparkpaw pressed
"If you can hunt, if you can stalk, if you know things you should know at this time as an apprentice."
"What have you taught him these past few moons, Frost?" Hornetclaw teased
"Lots of stuff!" Frostfang bristled at the comment. "Mentoring is hard work, Hornetclaw. EagleStar should give you an apprentice so you can experience it."
"Well maybe I'll take it up with him. His kits are a few moons to apprenticeship. It'll be perfect!" Hornetclaw sounded excited.
Hornetclaw would make a good mentor, certainly more attentive than their littermate. Sparkpaw thought as he followed his older sibling's movements.
"Are you three done yet?" Kindleroot approached the trio of cats.
"Yeah, yeah. Anything else you need?" Frostfang yawned.
Kindleroot sighed, "No. I'm just tired today. The new border is secured." Then, out loud he shouted, "Alright let's go Littlepaw!" Littlepaw bounded up to her mentor and Goldtalon, the sixth cat, meandered over.
"Good, thank you for coming Goldtalon. Now let's get back to camp. Hopefully the hunting patrol found some good prey this morning."
As the group walked back across the thunderpath, Goldtalon stopped.
"Starspeed, Nightwing! What are you doing here?" The older black tom skidded to a halt, catching his breath.
"Starspeed, young Kindleroot. I-..I came with urgent news from Flarest-ripe." He then coughed. Kindleroot was alert at the mention of his sister. "What's the matter? Is she okay?"
"Come with..come with me." Nightwing urged them with a flick of his tail.
The group followed Nightwing through the marshy pines, reaching Carrionplace. As they drew closer, a pit grew in Sparkpaw's belly. Is this about Dave? Did Flarestripe find him? Did they fight? Is he..?
No, it wasn't any of that. A group of cats was gathered around a specific spot. Foxfire was pacing a tail-length away muttering to herself.
"Young Foxfire," Nightwing dipped his head towards the she-cat. Foxfire nodded back, but said nothing. Flarestripe looked up, seeming relieved. Sparkpaw eventually scrambled past the adult cats to see what every cat was looking at. It was the corpse of EagleStar.
Sparkpaw was horrified. His throat had been slashed, and his head had been hit with a red twoleg rock, dry blood casing one of its corners. Frostfang pushed him back with their paw.
"You shouldn't be looking at that." they simply mumbled in his ear. Kindleroot stared at the body intensely.
"I was searching for catmint when I found him," Palefoot was explaining. "I-I-I.."
"It's okay Palefoot." Flarestripe put her tail on his shoulder, though she sounded numb.
"Kindleroot! What should we do?" Birchfur asked. Kindleroot shook his head a bit before regaining composure.
"What you can do, Birchfur, is help carry our leader's body. Frostfang, you too. Palefoot, you can collect your catmint and other herbs you set out to get or something. Flarestripe, you can walk with me."
The walk back to camp was silent. Blue skies betrayed the feelings of loss and moroseness clouding the patrol. Foxfire had gone on ahead.
"Some cat needs to tell Peachstump the news, and as her sister, I think it should be me." she had explained. The clan was waiting for them when they entered the small bramble path. The hunting patrol had returned early, Houndheart stopping his meal when they all came in.
"What in the name of StarClan..?"
"Flarestripe! You alright? What's going on?" That was Clawleap.
Frostfang and Birchfur put EagleStar out in the clearing. Peachstump was then seen exiting the nursery, with Greyface and Foxfire looking somber.
"Wake up, you stupid furball! You're not dead." She hit EagleStar's head with a sheathed paw. His body rippled from the impact, but made no other reaction. After a few more good slaps, Palefoot nudged her away, whispering something in her ear which only made her more upset. He then went to the medicine den to get the herbs needed for the vigil. Frostfang and Birchfur carried the body again with him. Flarestripe jumped up on the Shade Rock to address the clan:
"Clanmates…EagleStar is dead. I-we don't know what killed him yet. But, calm yourselves, clanmates. We must continue to be strong through these rough times. First, we must sit vigil for our clanmate tonight. Then, I will go to the Moonstone with Palefoot. No one has to go on any patrols for the rest of the day if they don't want to.." that last sentence was said in a more anxious tone as she leaped off the rock to go into the medicine den. The clan huddled in groups.
"Now what?" little Sharpkit asked.
After the preparations, the clan held vigil over the body.
"May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep." Palefoot finished, his head rising from EagleStar's fur. "If any cat would like to speak, please do so." He stepped away, and Peachstump took his place.
"EagleStar was a good cat," she started, shaking. "He fathered our kits, and I love those kits, and I loved him. He was so good with them. To give me a break, he would take them and tell them stories…they loved it." Catching herself, she continued,
"Though, the stupid furball was so reckless in life. That's the problem with leaders; they think since they have nine lives it means they can live carelessly! How many past stupid decisions has led to this? I would be yelling at him now if he wasn't dead…dear StarClan I miss him already. I hope they're happy at least." She walked off, being greeted by Greyface and Moonpelt. Kindleroot stepped up in her place,
"EagleStar was my mentor, as well as a father figure. No, he basically was my father due to a severe lack of one," he chuckled awkwardly, though the rest of the clan was in silence. Fleetclaw looked annoyed and coughed.
"A-anyway," he glanced at Fleetclaw before continuing, "I would have died in his stead had I known he was in danger. We don't know what happened, but we will find out, StarClan grant it. I trust you all that you will stay strong, clanmates. ShadowClan will not be weakened by this defeat." Dipping his head, he left the spot to touch noses with EagleStar, and was replaced by Flarestripe;
"This cat made me deputy, and I will forever be grateful for that. I really wish he wasn't dead." She kneaded the ground for a good few moments. "I…'m not very good at these, I'm sorry." She licked his shoulder and sat next to her brother.
Dusteye got up to speak next, guided by Goldtalon.
"EagleStar was a leader, a deputy, a mentor, a fellow warrior, and a family member." He began, lowering his head. "Sure, he was careless, and reckless, and quite confident, but he was always like that. Aren't all of us like that sometimes? Before becoming the deputy he was always putting the clan first, risking his life for his leader. I think all the clans will miss him." Dusteye then stalked off, still not meeting the other cat's heads.
After everycat spoke and the awkward silence that followed, the sun was beginning to set, the moon rising. It looked more than half, but not yet full. Flarestripe and Palefoot got ready to leave for the Moonstone.
"Peachstump; watch over the vigil for me. I trust you!" he called.
"And I can watch over Peachstump!" Bearkit cried excitedly. Palefoot gave him a small smile, "Of course you will."
The entire clan decided to stay up, except for the youngest of kits. Moonpelt had decided to watch them, going into the nursery along with her litter and Greyface's.
Sparkpaw sighed. He wasn't sure how to feel about all this. He felt bad for Peachstump and her kits. The past leafbare had been hard on the clan, this last death felt like a final stone on this little mountain of other rocks. He wished Moonpelt could be with him and comfort him. The winds felt colder tonight. Luckily, Splashpaw nuzzled next to him,
"You doing alright, mate?" he asked, looking concerned.
"Eh.." Sparkpaw shrugged. "I feel bad, but I'm not sure how bad."
"Well, Dad says that the death of a leader, or any important clan cat, has a negative effect on the whole clan. Even if you didn't know him yourself, you're still affected. It's scary, but the clan'll get through it. We've been in these spats before." Splashpaw explained.
Sparkpaw nodded. EagleStar was found by Carrionplace, where Dave lives…next time he could go out, he would ask the roguish loner about what he saw, and maybe even solve this!..Why did he feel excited about this new plan, instead of mourning? No, no, he was upset. That's why he would find out the details on the untimely death of EagleStar. He would fix this!