After the Battle

Mosspelt laid in the shade of a bush sore and scarred. His black coat was still stained with the blood of his enemies and his own. His ears were perked as he laid down, ready to leap into action if any danger occurred. He, as well as probably many others, had been on the edge since the battle. His eyes shot open as he heard someone approaching.

Lionstar padded into the camp, leading those who hadn't already run ahead back home. The camp seemed so empty now that Skyclan had gone, and their scent still lingered. He sighed, stretching, but quickly recoiling in pain as his wounds were stretched as well. The tom glanced around, spotting his deputy, Mosspelt, lying in the shadows. It was almost impossible to see the large tom; his black coat blended in well with the shade. The Thunderclan leader looked away, up at the Highrock, remembering the occasional ceremony Flamestar had been allowed to host up there. Yes, now that flame-colored cat was his rival once again. The clans were no longer allies in survival.

But that's how Lionstar preferred it. They were four clans, after all, not one, and that was how it was meant to be. Perhaps now the clans could return after a bloody war and expect long-lasting peace, restored even in their rivalries until one clan naturally decided it was time to fight. Thunderclan had, for one, come a long way since the Deomilities had invaded the forest. There were many new kits, and several cats were very well experienced from their first, real war. A powerful lesson had been taught today to many Warrior Cats, one that none of them would forget.

Ember shade followed closely behind, a smile lighting up her face. "We won!" She whispered, loudly.

Lionstar leaped up onto the Highrock, looking over the camp. His wounds from the war still stung, but he could wait. Unlike the others, he had 9 lives to spare, even after the battle. That thought bit at him slightly, however, as he felt he hadn't done enough. Luckily it didn't bother him much, because another thought contradicted against it, being it was stupid to think he had to die to have done his clan good in that battle. Very stupid when he thought of it that way, so he simply smiled down at his clan, pride sparking in his eyes.

"That we have." He agreed, with another sigh of relief. "The war is over, and the clans can return to normal. Looks like we'll have to adapt to the silence now that noisy Skyclan is gone." He joked with a slight chuckle. It was one of the few times the very serious leader ever kidded around or even smiled a real smile.

Mosspelt lifted his head when he heard the cats coming in. He sat up and watched as cats poured in. He smiled when he saw no one had life-threatening injuries, he let himself relax when he heard the rouges were defeated. He limped out of the shade and into the main part of the clearing to greet, the Clan.

Dewclaw padded slowly behind the others, her shoulder aching and still bloody, though not terribly serious. She thought back on her scuffle with the large tom; in the end, she chose not to kill him, but rather send him running after several sharp blows to the face. Will they be angry with me for not killing my opponent, as they had done? She noticed her Clan leader smiling. He didn't look angry; in fact, he looked pleased, and very relaxed with the looming threat now gone. Even the deputy seemed to be happy.

The golden tom gazed around at the clan, pausing for a moment when his gaze met Dewclaw's. He motioned to her shoulder by angling his ears, his previous smile now gone. "Perhaps you should have Brightpaw take a look at that." He meowed, yellow eyes flashing with a bit of worry for a moment. "We don't want it getting infected, and it looks quite painful to walk on."

She nodded without saying anything, too stubborn to admit to it being painful. She trotted off to the medicine den to have it treated, smiling at Embershade on the way.

Mosspelt dipped his head in greeting to Dewclaw and watched her as she went to the medicine cat den. He then turned his attention back to Lionstar "Would you like something to eat?"

Lionstar glanced over at Mosspelt. "Ah, no thank you. I haven't hunted for the clan yet, so I think I'll do that soon." He replied calmly, despite the fact he hadn't eaten all day and was actually quite famished. Still, he wanted to stick to the code anyways, battle or not.

Besides, he could go hunting later with some of the others. Maybe on a border patrol.

Mosspelt nodded and looked at the sky seeing the sun shining bright upon the camp. Mosspelt purred "It's such a nice day"

"That it is. I'm glad, as it should help raise the clan's spirits. Starclan must be smiling down upon our victory." Lionstar agreed, gazing up now at the sky as well. It was true: the clans had done well, and had a story that would last for many, many moons.

After Dewclaw was seen to Brightpaw left the medicine cat den to reprimand anyone who had not come to her den right away. She noticed Lionstar with many open wounds. "Lionstar, excuse me for speaking rudely, but I demand you to come to my den at once to be checked out." She padded the ground with her feet nervously, hoping to note get yowled at for her demand.

Lionstar nodded, standing up and leaping off the rock. He padded over obediently. "You are the medicine cat." He sighed, sitting down in front of the medicine cat apprentice. "How's your training coming along?" The tom asked casually.

Ooc: Short muse, long morning...Bear with me x)

Brightpaw looked down at the grass and replied, "Rather slow actually.." She sighed and changed the subject. "How was the battle?"