Life after Dew

It was late, late in the day. The sun was close to setting when the deputy and a senior warrior limped slowly through the gorse tunnel, carrying their heavy burden with them. Between the warriors was Dewstar's body, broken and battered and unmoving. They set the corpse in the middle of the clearing, and Sunface caollapsed down in the dust next to her. She was weary and weak and had gone a full day without food or proper sleep, and now she was choking back a sorrowful yowl. "You should address them," She said quietly to Spottedfeather. "and tell them what happened."

Glancing down at her lifeless leaders body, she sighed and turned to the cats in her clan whom were staring. "We went to the Moonstone to discuss with Starclan. Dewstar heard something urgent, and we decided to cut through the fields, and rats attacked." was all she could muster as she choked up on a sob. Closing her eyes and turning her head away.

Flameclaw who was sitting outside of the warriors' den when the two came in stiffened when she saw her leaders dead body dragging behind them. She wanted to move but couldn't until she saw her mother collapse beside Dewstars body. The Orange cat quickly raced over and Sat next to Sunface to give any help she needed. The warrior choked back a wail as she heard Spottedfeather speak.

The scent of blood came from behind Foxfang. Confused, the ginger tom turned to locate the source. A silver gray form lay broken between the deputy, and his mother. Following his sister, the warrior stared in disbelief. Was this now seemly small corpse.. Dewstar?

He couldn't even speak, his jaw was open slightly, making no sound. He could not comprehend. Dewstar had been leader literally his entire life, and now.. she.. was dead?

Wildpaw was grooming her tail inside the apprentices' den in her nest. She thought that she could rest after the hunting she had done this morning. Hearing a small grumble, Wildpaw realised that the strange grumbling sound was from her stomach. She didn't realise how empty her stomach had become! So, the apprentice skidded out of the apprentices' den towards the fresh-kill pile, until the sound of rustling of returning cats from the camp entrance got her attention. The Clan deputy, Spottedfeather, and her mentor Sunface, appeared in the clearing. A lifeless body was among them, carried into camp. The silver pelt of the lifeless cat looked familiar. Dewstar? It can't be! Surely, she still had another life to hang on to? Hearing the report from Spottedfeather, Wildpaw understood that it was her time. Watching her mentor collapse at the ThunderClan leader's body, Wildpaw rushed to her side, finding Flameclaw and Foxfang.

A calico she-cat emerged from the warriors den on four fully healed legs. "Dewstar..." Breezefeather gasped as her green eyes spotted the dead and bloody body of the deceased ThunderClan leader. She approached Wildpaw Flameclaw and Foxfang and dipped her head in last respects. "You were an exceptional leader, Dewstar and ThunderClan shall deeply miss you." The senior warrior croaked and closed her dulling eyes.

Images flashed in her mind of her old apprentice Splashpaw, who had been sent into exile for defending SkyClan at a gathering. Breezefeather held no grudge against Dewstar, and forgave her as she herself was far from keen on SkyClan.

Brushing the memories away, the calico she-cat re-opened her eyes to soak Dewstar in her emerald gaze and sat down, a pure expression of grief plastered to her face.

Sunface gave a shuddering sigh. Even breathing was painful to her, but whether it was emotional or physical pain she couldn't quite tell. She appreciated the concern of her kits and apprentice, but the warrior was tired and hungry and needed her space. She'd had the long and painful trip back to grieve, and now she wanted to rest. Slowly rising to her paws, Sunface ambled to the fresh-kill pile where she grabbed a big squirrel and disappeared into the warriors den with her eyes downcast and tail dragging in the dust.

Flameclaw watched her mother go, with dull green eyes. She turned her attention back to the dead body of Dewstar, and buried her nose in Dewstar's fur. "You will be missed.." The orange warrior whispered to her former leader. She was going to sit here as long as she could to show respect for her lost leader.

Willowpaw peaked her head out of the apprentice's den and immediately felt grief in the air. Her eyes scanned the camp, but then stopped when she spotted a body in the middle of the clearing. She gasped when she recognized it. The cat lifeless on the ground was the same cat who Thunderclan looked up to. Dewstar.

Willowpaw closed her eyes. She looked at the circle of cats starting to form around Dewstar. You will be forever loved, she said mentally. Quietly she trotted to the lifeless leader and pushed her nose into her flank. "Thank you," she mewed. She hoped that no one thought Willowpaw meant thank you for dying. It was for Dewstar leading this clan with love, compassion, and wisdom. Willowpaw knew she couldn't stay. With a sad sigh, she went back into the apprentice's den and took a last look at Thunderclan's amazing leader.