Streaks of blood seemed to stretch across the sky as the sun began to sink, the first Warriors of StarClan beginning to appear at the edge of the darkening expanse. A silver white tabby she cat sat in the Forest clearing, her blue eyes gazing upwards, filled with sorrow. Around her, other cats sat or crouched in a loose circle, most watching the limp body of a black and white tom laid out neatly in their midst.

’Why did Badgerclaw, of all cats, have to die?

The thought struck Silverstar like a blow as her eyes dropped from the heavens and landed on the dead cat, the former deputy looking peaceful in Stark contrast to her feelings. Ears drooping, the she cat allowed herself one moment of engulfing grief and misery, head bowing. But then, like a duck shedding water, Silverstar seemed to mentally shake the suffocating sorrow away and she drew herself up, taking strength from the fact that her clan needed her to be strong.

As the vigil began in ernest, cats stepping forward to share tongues with Badgerclaw One last time or share memories of the tom, Silverstar’s clear blue gaze began to sweep over her clanmates, thoughts of the next deputy starting to fill her mind.

Nearby, she spotted her brother, Foxfur, sitting quietly with his mate at his side, her head resting on his shoulder. Between Brindleheart’s front paws, one of their kits sat, Rabbitkit’s eyes as round as moons. It wouldn’t be much longer before the kit and his siblings were made apprentices. Silverstar couldn’t help but feel a slight stirring of joy at the idea, but the feeling was snuffed out as she gazed upon Foxfur’s grieved expression. Badgerclaw had been his mentor and the loss was obviously hitting rather close to home.

’Foxfur might make a good deputy...’ she found herself thinking idly, though ultimately she pushed the thought away with a blink of her eyes. Her brother wasn’t disciplined enough to be the deputy, he wouldn’t find the position enjoyable at all.

Silverstar’s gaze traveled over Eagleleap, the black and silver she cat’s eyes downcast, her front paws kneading the ground as if she were uncomfortable. It made the SunClan leader wonder if The other was feeling out of place. Eagleleap certainly hadn’t been in her new home for very long, so it was conceivable. She saw the young she cat cast a furtive, nervous, glance out of the corner of her eye for the briefest of moments towards one of the other cats, as if she were thinking that she wished she had picked a different spot to sit.

Silverstar followed her glance and couldn’t help but sigh softly. Shadestep certainly was one of the more outspoken cats against outsiders. He was looking rather subdued at the moment though, Badgerclaw had been his father, but she was certain he would be the first to raise objections if she even considered appointing a cat that had come from another clan.

Her gaze had just passed onto Birchcloud, their medicine Kat, when movement out of the corner of her eye had her gaze flickering instead towards where Owleye sat. For a moment, she studied the black furred warrior, before her eyes moved lower, meeting the sympathetic stair of her daughter sitting next to her mentor.

Frostpaw’s whiskers twitched apologetically, her head ducking down, but Silverstar gave her head a gentle shake to show that she was not upset. Blinking demurely, Frostpaw pointed her muzzle out towards the body of Badgerclaw for a moment before looking expectantly back at her mother, sincerity lighting her yellow eyes. Silverstar studied her daughter‘s expression for a moment before she blinked in a show of understanding, giving her head a small dip. Frostpaw’s ears turned back sheepishly before returning her own gaze to the Dead warrior, leaning into Owleye’s side for Comfort.

Rising to her paws as the last cat finished speaking, Silverstar quietly padded forward to affectionately lick The top of Badgerclaw’s head One last time before she lifted her head to look around at her cats. Heart aching, she swept her tail around to indicate them all before she spoke, her voice clear and melodic in the quiet night.

“We are all feeling the loss of a truly good warrior,” she began, meeting the eyes of each cat gathered in turn, “Badgerclaw’s absence will be a pain in our hearts for many moons to come. But as we mourn his passing, let us also remember his love of life, his caring nature towards all of us, and the way he made us all feel safe as our deputy. He died doing something that he can be proud of, saving one of his clanmates. If not for him pushing Foxfur and his apprentice out of the way of the snake, we might have had more of our clan to grieve over.“

Her head swiveled once again to her brother, meeting his eyes for a heartbeat before she looked towards Cinderpaw, her chest feeling tight at the idea that she might have lost her kit. Blinking a few times, she continued on, her voice sounding strained with grief.

“I will always honor Badgerclaw in my heart for so loyally serving his clan and for saving the lives of those dearest to me. He walks with StarClan now... and may he ever be happy.“ Blinking her blue eyes, dark with emotion, the beautiful silver tabby lowered herself onto her belly next to Badgerclaw’s body, flank pressed comfortingly into his mate Laurelcloud’s side as she buried her nose into the black and white tom’s fur for the last time.

Grief overwhelmed Owleye. Badgerclaw had been a kind deputy, someone that Owleye had trusted deeply. Though Owleye was not loud-spoken, he always knew that Badgerclaw was there to listen to him. The large black-furred tom leaned into Frostpaw, knowing that his Apprentice must be feeling scared and overwhelmed. He lowered his head to touch his nose to the top of Frostpaw's head, closing his deep amber eyes for a moment.

"It is okay to mourn, Frostpaw," Owleye meowed softly. This was a lesson he had never wanted to teach, one that came hard for young apprentices, so filled with life and hope. "The truth of it is, we will all run in StarClan someday. Badgerclaw's day just came sooner than we would have hoped," he added.

He sighed, looking around at his grieving clanmates. Pain clouded eyes of all the cats around him, and Owleye stepped forward and gently licked Badgerclaw's head, dipping his head respectfully to Laurelcloud and Silverstar as he did so.

This never gets any easier, the tom thought to himself. He trotted back to Frostpaw, and murmured, "I am going to rest for awhile. If you would like to take this time to share tongues with Badgerclaw one last time, you may, and then get some rest with the other Apprentices. We'll see if a patrol needs our help later," he touched his nose to his apprentice's head one time, trying to emanate calm and understanding.

Owleye noticed Spottedfire sitting to the side of the camp, and decided to see how the tender she-cat was doing. He padded over, softly asking, "How are you doing, Spottedfire?" He sat down next to her, letting her warmth seep into his side, hoping she didn't mind the intrusion. As much as he enjoyed his time mentoring Frostpaw, sometimes he needed the companionship of a fellow Warrior, and Spottedfire always seemed to get him, in a way he didn't feel with many other of his clanmates.

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The young warrior licked the top of the older cat's head bowing her eyes to the ground. "Be at peace in Starclan, I`m sorry I couldn't have stopped it Badgerclaw." Raising her head she pressed her nose to Laurelcloud's head in a gesture of comfort. With a heavy heart the she-cat walked to the edge of the camp to sit and watch from afar. Pain bubbling in her chest.

They had been on patrol, instead of making light hearted conversation she should've seen the branch. She should've heard it! Spottedfire knew it would help nothing to beat herself up over what had happened, but he had been their deputy. The clan needed him. Her family needed him. Who would be able to fill his role? He made it look so easy to be Silverstar's second. The responsibility he had handled so effortlessly. "It should've been me." She thought before recoiling at herself. That was an insult to his bravery to think like that.

The energy in the camp was so sorrow. There was nothing she could do to help it. Her spotted paws suddenly seemed to be more interesting than looking at anyone else. It wasn't often such a tragic death happened. Having seen it happen right before her eyes probably wasn't the easiest thing either.

She felt warmth suddenly next to her and looked from her paws to the taller tom. Owleye, her heart felt a little better at his presence. Even back when they were apprentices he seemed to always mellow out her energetic nature. He made her feel like she could take a second to breath. It was always more than appreciated. "Not well if I`m honest," she leaned into him a little. "I can't help but feeling like this is my fault. I hope he can forgive me for being so careless." No matter how hard she tried to not sound like she was in so much pain, but around him the other side of her always seemed to peak out. The more emotionally honest side. She wanted to be strong for others, but it often meant she overlooked herself a lot.

"Do you remember that one time he caught us when I convinced you and Birchcloud to leave the camp to go help that loner when we were apprentices?" A sad laugh left her at the memory. "He made us clean the elder's den for half a moon, yet I could see the pride in his eyes. He was happy we held that kindness." Spottedfire looked at the warrior laying limply before all of them. She would always remember him in the good ways. Nothing is perfect, but the good memories were a lot sweeter than the bitter bad ones.

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He'd tried his best to find some form of life in the warrior. Some way to revive him from the accident that took his life. Starclan had made it clear in their signs that he was among their ranks now. His poor mate left back in their clan for now. It weighed heavy on him. When he'd been brought to camp he had already been gone for awhile. The heat coming from him had given Birchcloud hope, it had been fleeting though. There was no way he would've been able to save him.

Had he been on that patrol right next to them, he still wouldn't have lived. The branch had done it's damage to his head. The entire clan would mourn him. The other clan's would no doubt feel something from this lost. He was one of the good ones. The kind of cat that they had hopes in should Silverstar been taken from them. They never doubted he would become what they needed should he ever have had too.

The tom should have been able to retire. To have joked with the others and sunbathed to his heart's content. Gotten on to apprentice's that stepped out of line. Birchcloud, much like his sister, remembered that night as if it was yesterday. He had many different interactions with him, but that was one of the first. New apprentices doing a lot of things they shouldn't of. He was often dragged into Spottedfire's antics back then. None of their adventures had ever been with ill intent, always trying to help. Maybe that's why their punishments had been light in comparison.

The striped cat smiled and took a long breath. He met Silverstar's eyes as she looked over them and bowed his head to her encouragingly. She was a great leader. Her father and the past leader had made a great choice. Just as it had been a great choice to appoint Badgeclaw as deputy. The only question on his mind now, and probably many others though was:

Who is going to fill his role?

Owleye gently licked Spottedfire's shoulder as she spoke, draping his tail across her back. The larger tom enjoyed the warmth from Spottedfire leaning into him, but felt no small level of guilt at feeling a bit of happiness during such a sad time. He listened intently to Spottedfire, knowing that it must have been so difficult to have been with Badgerclaw during the accident.

"You can't blame yourself, Spottedfire," he meowed softly. "You're a good Warrior. It was simply Badgerclaw's time, StarClan must have a reason," he finished. It felt lame, like a meaningless platitude, but Owleye had to believe that StarClan had a plan for this, a reason for such a seemingly senseless death.

Or else...what could he believe in? If not in their ancestors in StarClan, watching over them?

He mrrowed very softly at her bringing up the memory of when they snuck out to help a loner, and Badgerclaw had punished them, though it was clear he hadn't wanted to. "Yes, I remember," he replied, sadness washing over him once again.

Spottedfire's spark and energy had always drawn Owleye. He was a quieter, solid tom, who never would have felt bold enough to sneak out of camp without Spottedfire urging him on. "That feels like such a long time ago, and yet somehow, like it was only a sunrise ago," he added. He sighed deeply, his amber eyes bright with sadness. "Poor Silverstar. It must be so difficult having to choose the next Deputy."

Idly he wondered who it would be. Fleetingly, briefly, he thought it might be him. The thought was terrifying, but also sort of thrilling. He would be honored to be singled out by Silverstar for such a high calling. But he knew that it wouldn't be him. He served his Clan solidly, quietly, in the background, and those weren't the traits needed for a Deputy. And yet...the thought vaguely intrigued him.

He pushed it aside, and rested his head on his paws. "Thank you for sitting with me, Spottedfire," he said softly, his voice a quiet, shy rumble. "How is your Birchcloud handling it?" he meowed, concerned for the Medicine Cat. He knew the Clan leadership worked closely together, so it must have been difficult for Birchcloud to hear that his sister was near an accident, let alone try to save the Deputy and not be able to, as the damage was too severe. It must be StarClan's plan... Owleye thought to himself again, trying to console himself more than anything else.



A small-framed dilute calico she-cat slipped out of one of the the Warrior's Dens, trying not to be noticed. She wasn't sure where Mosspoppy was, likely somewhere sitting vigil for Badgerclaw. Mintfur's heart was deeply saddened by the sudden death of the Deputy. Having lived in SunClan all her life, she had known Badgerclaw fairly well, and couldn't imagine Silverstar leading without Badgerclaw's kind, steady presence by her side. Her light green eyes showed anxiety, and she hoped any clanmates that saw her attributed this to the anxiety of the unknowns when it came to the new Deputy.

Unfortunately, Mintfur had quite a lot else going on in her mind at the moment.

She slipped around the camp towards the tunnel exit, keeping her eyes downcast. Everyone around her seemed wholly focused on Badgerclaw's vigil, and it was relatively easy for Mintfur to slip out unnoticed. Once she had gotten a few paces away from the camp, she took a deep breath, looking up to the sky for reassurance. Oh StarClan...she thought to herself. Please stay with me. Please.

Mintfur picked up her pace as she wove in and out of the trees, losing herself in the familiar sounds of her territory. She heard a mouse scurrying past, and instinctively crouched down, keeping her pawsteps slow and light. The mouse didn't suspect a thing, and Mintfur was able to catch and kill it quickly, burying it near a tree root. That'll be nice to bring back to camp. I've just been out hunting, needing some space to sort my grief. That's it. Feeling a little better at having a plausible excuse for her journey at this hard time, Mintfur continued on, her thoughts scattered and confused.

She felt anxious, and terrified, and excited, and...all sorts of things.

Don't think about that now. Just keep going. You're almost there. She slowed as she approached SunClan's border, testing the air to see if she sensed any other cats. She was alone, for now, and she approached a particularly dense patch of bushes and squirmed her way inside. From here, she could see the border and surrounding territory, and settled down to wait for the cat she was meeting, desperately hoping no one back at camp thought much of her absence, especially Mosspoppy.

Warm breath on the top of her head, followed by a gentle touch, had Frostpaw’s eyes lifting from where they had been fixed on her toes to meet Owleye’s gaze. She blinked sadly at his words, but deep down, they did help with some of what she was feeling. Grief, After all, was a new feeling for the young cat. Head turning to look at Badgerclaw’s still form, his mate and her mother close by, she swallowed hard before giving her head a quick, nervous, nod.

“Thank you Owleye,” she whispered, leaning into lick his shoulder respectfully before she rose to her paws. “I’ll go straight to the apprentices then after I do that. And I’ll make sure to bring Cinderpaw with me.”

As her mentor moved away after one more gentle touch of his nose on the top of her head, Frostpaw took a deep, shaky, breath before she started forward on legs that trembled slightly. approaching the dead warrior seemed to be one of the hardest things she had ever done. Even her apprentice ceremony hadn’t been this difficult, and it felt like a moon had passed by the time she finally reached Badgerclaw’s body. Crouching down near his head, she gazed at his peaceful expression for a few moments before she tentatively licked his cold cheek.

“Thank you for saving my brother,” she breathed into the deputy’s ear.

Unable to handle The sorrow that the proximity was making her feel anymore, Frostpaw rose, pausing only long enough to touch the tip of her tail against first Laurelcloud’s and then Silverstar’s shoulders before she was padding quickly away, heading towards her brother. lowering her head respectfully to Foxfur and Brindleheart, she sat close to Cinderpaw, his familiar scent washing over her.

“Are you alright Cinderpaw?” the White and ginger she cat asked gently, touching her nose to her brother‘s ear. “Owleye says I should get some rest... and I think you should too.”

“That sounds like a good idea. We still have training to do tomorrow,“ a deep meow spoke up softly.

Frostpaw looked sideways to see that Foxfur was looking down at them, his sorrow filled gaze softened with gentleness.

“Life still has to go on for the rest of us,“ he added with a sigh, running his tail comfortingly over the two apprentices’ backs briefly.

Rabbitkit spoke up then, his tiny meow only partially successfully lowered. “Can I sit vigil all night?”

“Me too?” his sister Rainkit chimed in immediately, bouncing to her paws.

Brindleheart placed her tail over the kits mouths quickly, giving her head a shake. “No, you can’t. It’s time we were all heading back to the nursery for sleep.”

“Do what your mother says,“ Foxfur meowed firmly as the kids began to protest, quieting their complaints to soft grumbles as they were herded away. Casting a last look of fondness after his family, Foxfur looked back towards the apprentices. “Really though, morning will be here sooner than you think,“ he added meaningfully.

Frostpaw fluffed out her fur, rising to her paws and giving her brother a gentle nudge. As she started off in the direction of the apprentices den, she hesitated just long enough to look once more at Badgerclaw. “...May StarClan welcome you home.“

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Cinderpaw knew he should have been able to say goodbye to Badgerclaw, so say thank you for saving his life. But when he went to move his paws he couldn’t do that. He was scared of admitting he and Foxfur had almost gotten hurt if it wasn’t for the brave deputy.

He looked up towards his mother, so glad that he got to be still here with her and his sister. Usually he was joking and light hearted around camp, but now he feels like he is to blame, if he had done something to help could have saved him. But he knew that blaming himself would do no one any good, therefore he made a promise to himself that he would try and make Badgerclaw proud in StarClan.

As soon as he moved his head again to look around he noticed his sister had come towards him.

’I am okay Frostpaw, and I guess if Foxfur is okay with it I will go with you to rest, today has been stressful for us all.’

He looked up towards his mentor just to make sure it was okay, he didn’t want to seem ungrateful or anything to Foxfur. The whole situation must way heavy on him as well.

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Ravenpaw knew her and Birchcloud had tried to save Badgerclaw, but it seems that their actions were in vein. She had wish she could have done more to help but she had only just be appointed as the medicine cat apprentice. She tried to learn quickly but everything that had happened was above what she had already learned.

She walked forward towards Badgerclaw and his mate Laurelcloud to share tongue with the kind deputy that had passed too soon to StarClan. Ravenpaw licked the toms cold paw before lightly rubbing her head on Laurelcloud’s shoulder before stepping back beside Birchcloud.

“Is there anything else we can do for the grief?" She asked Birchcloud softly.

Ravenpaw had not dealt with the death of a classmate personally before and she wasn’t certain of the way she was supposed to be handling things as the medicine cat apprentice. She saw that everyone was hurting and wished she could help them in any way she could.