With a tender lick, Graystripe closes the Medicine's cat's eyes for the last time. Then he lowers his head onto her shoulder, and feels the warmth fade from her body.
He doesn't know how long he lays here, listening to his heart beating alone in the shadowy cavern. He thinks for a moment that he caught the familiar scent of Fireheart drifting into the den on the rain-chilled breeze. Has he come to guide Yellowfang to Starclan? He lets the soothing thought flow through him and feels sleep swell like clouds at the edges of his mind.
"She will be safe with us," Fireheart's gentle mew ruffles his ear fur, and he lifts his head to look around.
"Graystripe?" Longtail calls from the entrance. He struggles to sit up.
"I've buried Halftail," the pale striped warrior meows.
"Yellowfang's dead." he whispers. His hollow mew echoes off the stone walls. "She was alive when I found her, but she died."
"Did she say anything?"
Closing his eyes, he thinks he should keep what Yellowfang had revealed to him. Her tragic secret that Brokentail was her son, and she killed him. "Just that…she was thankful Bluestar let her live in Thunderclan."
Longtail pads into the cave and bends his head to lick the old Medicine cat's cheek. "Even though I was against her joining the clan, she was a wonderful Medicine cat and took care of us wonderfully." he murmurs, his voice thick with grief. "Shall we bury her?"
"No." His mind suddenly clear as he mews firmly, Fireheart's words echoing in his mind 'She'll be safe with us.' "She was a warrior as well as a Medicine cat. She will have her vigil and we can bury her at dawn."
"But we must get back to the Riverclan camp and tell the others what has happened," Longtail reminds him.
"Then I shall come back and sit vigil with her," he replies.
The two friends trek back through the devastated forest in silence. The gray afternoon light is fading by the time pad into the Riverclan camp. Groups of cats lay at the edge of the clearing, sharing tongues after their evening meal. The Thunderclan cats crouch in an isolated huddle at one side. As soon as he and Longtail appear, Cinderpelt struggles to her paws and limps toward them.
Bluestar rises too from where she laid beside Whitestorm. She brushes past Cinderpelt and reaches the returning warriors first, her eyes filled with desperate hope. "Did you find Yellowfang and Halftail?"
He sees Cinderpelt hanging back, her ear pricked just as eager as her clan leader for news about the two fallen cats. Unable to speak, grief choking him, Longtail mews for him. "They're both dead."
Fresh pain fills his heart when he sees Cinderpelt sway on her paws. The little cat is unsteady on her paws as she backs away, her eyes clouded. Padding towards her, despite Bluestar being in the way he puts his head on Cinderpelt's shoulder. Letting her know he shares her grief.
Turning back to look at Bluestar, the Thunderclan's leader's body is rigid cold.
"Spottedleaf told me that fire would save the clan!" she hisses, "But it has destroyed us."
Leaping in front of her he meows, "No! If the Starclan wanted the fire to destroy us, they would not have let me scent in time for most of our clanmates to escape. Yes we have suffered, but we have also survived, remaining strong." Despite the grief in his heart, he knows they were fortunate to only lose Patchpelt, Halftail and Yellowfang in the fire. Thunderclan is still as strong as ever.
But his words have no effect on Bluestar, as her eyes are stony hard.
"Thunderclan will return tonight." She decides in a voice like ice.
"But the woods are empty. The camp is ruined!" Longtail protests.
"It doesn't matter. We are strangers here. We should be back in our own territory." spats Bluestar.
"And how will we support ourselves? Most of the prey has scattered, the undergrowth has burned away, our camp has lost its protective layer leaving us vulnerable to attack. At least here we will be safe and well-fed here."
"I said we are leaving and that's final!"
"Bluestar be reasonable! The forest needs time to recover before we can go back and act like everything is normal." Graystripe protests, remaining adamant on his position. He isn't afraid of challenging Bluestar, especially when she is making a mouse brained decision. Thunderclan will be more vulnerable on their own territory than staying in the heart of Riverclan.
Crookedstar pads up to them, "Your deputy is right, Bluestar. I understand this isn't ideal for you or your clanmates. And you are grieving, but you will be safer with us until the forest heals from its wounds. I will send out patrols to check the forest and in the meantime your cats are allowed to hunt on our territory."
"Crookedstar, are you mad?" screeches Leopardfur.
Crookedstar stares at his deputy in anger, "Graystripe and Fireheart have helped us in the past when we were having issues with the river. It is only right to do the same for their Clan. Besides," he flicks his tail, "the warrior code does not forbid us from helping a clan in need. They also have young kits they need to look after and the warrior code says to help kits no matter what. Giving them and their clan shelter is the best way of honoring it."
Leopardfur grumbles but does argue any further.
"Bluestar you should stay. You're only putting your clanmates, young and old, in danger if you return. You can sit vigil with your Medicine cat along with the others close to her, but I suggest the rest of your clan stays here. Where they will be safe and cared for."
The Thunderclan leader dips her head, "Thank you Crookedstar."
"You are very welcome Bluestar."
The old leader then pads away, with Cinderpelt and him following her out of the camp to sit vigil with the Medicine cat. Glancing at Bluestar he can see her expression is still stony as they walk through Riverclan territory. When they reach the river, Bluestar mews, "I do not like you going against me, but thank you."
Graystripe pricks his ears in surprise, "Why?"
"Now that I know how the forest looks after the fire just by seeing it across the river. I feel you were right. Thunderclan would be vulnerable if we returned. I just…. We have suffered so much loss and treachery already…"
Leaning his head on the Leader's shoulder he mews, "I know."
The three cats then wade across the river together, climbing out on the opposite bank. They pad silently through the dim lit forest. Their paws hardly make a sound on the scorched earth.
Reaching the ravine, he goes first and leads them through the tangle of charred stems and into the clearing. Heading to Yellowfang's den, he drags her body out of the den and into the massive clearing where Cinderpelt and Bluestar wait for him. Dropping the Medicine cat's body gently in front of them, Bluestar leans her head over the body.
"I shall miss you, my old friend. You were a terrific Medicine cat and you've trained Cinderpelt well."
"Bluestar is right. I will miss your guidance and our friendship if it weren't for you," Cinderpelt's voice cracks as she mews, "May you find swift hunting, and shelter where you sleep." The gray Medicine cat then buries her nose into the soft fur of Yellowfang. And as the moon waxes high in the sky, they all pay their respects to their lost friend.