The sharp knife of a short life [closed burial]

It had been hard to to get both her mother and sister to react to much until a burial had been mentioned, and even now they seemed to hold their silence. Between Echomist and Harriertalon, Moondancer was resting over each of their shoulders. Between Leopardsun and Badgermask, Batswarm was left in their care.  

Her large form came to a slow stop at two freshly dug holes she'd requested be dug beforehand - she would not make her family dig the graves of their loved ones the very same day of their passing.

Some may find it repulsive that she and her family had cleaned and groomed the bloodied and mutilated corpses of Moondancer and Batswarm's tabby and calico pelts to look just as fluffy and pristine as they had been when they were alive, but that was their son. Their daughter. Brother. Sister. It would go without saying that they would honor their sacrifice and celebrate their lives properly. This is what they would have wanted: to look just as beautiful in death as they had in life. Harriertalon had even taken the time to decorate their pelts with small yellow flowers paired with fresh, green mint.

A rumble could be heard in the distance, followed closely by the light pattering of rain. The audacity of the stars to weep after her brother and sister were already gone.

It had been quite the ordeal to get Badgermask on her paws - she hadn't reacted to any attempts to stir her from her stupor, even at the earnest request that she be there for the burial. It seemed something had finally gotten through to her as with enough prodding however as she had rose and dutifully did what was directed of her...But even now - the moment soon at paw - her face held no expression. Her eyes were distant, her tail nearly dragging behind her as she padded forward - quietly bearing the burden of carrying her only brother with the aid of her mother.

For as much as Badgermask was here in body, her mind was elsewhere - anywhere but here. Perhaps she couldn't take the reality she found herself in without her littermates at her side. Her mind, her heart could not take it so she had lost the power to feel anything in a bid to protect herself. Or perhaps, perhaps something deep within her had broken with the lost of her siblings that could never be fixed. It was impossible to tell and not even Badgermask was sure - after all, she lacked the energy to consider the situation.

She was a shell of her former self - Badgermask in body, a dutiful warrior who would do what was asked of her. But in mind...? In soul? No, that had died on the battlefield with her siblings - the light in her eyes fading as they bled out among the moor grass. Not even getting the dignity to die in defense of their home - in a war she hadn't been certain on... Perhaps it was for the best that she had become numb to everything, for if she could still feel the guilt that had crushed her upon seeing Moondancer's body... Then she wouldn't have the will to be standing, much less moving.

She would be in a nest, regretting her choices - doubting herself like the scared kit she once was...But instead, for as much as her body still breathed life...It was truly like Badgermask had also died on that field.

Leopardsun had- not recovered, but come back to herself enough that she had helped prepare the bodies of her kits for burial. She would not see them laid in the dirt without their family at their sides, all together one last time.

She swallowed the guilt that continued to well up in her throat. There were more pressing matters to attend to than her own emotions; what little she could do for the family that she had failed so thoroughly.

Her apologies, her well-wishes, would fall on bitter ears.

(How strange, to be on this side of things; but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Keeping her silence was a choice, now.)

He could feel every beat of his heart in his chest, blood seemed to roar in his ears as he carried one of his kits along side his daughter. Grief gripped the tom like an owl gripping a frog. Unrelenting, squeezing, painful. At least that was some of the words he could put to what he was feeling. He could still feel the anger that was boiling away underneath his skin, but it was shadowed by the feeling of lost love ones. The grief, the sadness, the bitterness towards his own mate and brother. Over all leaving him rather.. more distant than what he normally is. More silent, more isolated.

The spotted tom didn't even flinch as the rain started it's silent poor over the marsh. The soft sounds of it hitting the standing water and the plants accompanying the group as they took their spots at the burial place. Even as much as he wanted to ignore everything around him it was hard to ignore the sight of the holes. The view alone causing the tom's stomach to twist into a knot. The second they were in there.. He wouldn't be able to deny it any longer.. Even with their broken bodies on the backs of the family, he could still pretend they were carrying them back for healing, that they weren't dead. Deep down he knew that wasn't the case, but he wanted to hold onto the delusion for a little longer. To hold on to the false sense of hope, so he wouldn't completely break in the coming moments.

The moment her brother and sister were laid to rest within the earth, was when their deaths would solidify for this newly broken family. A nod and a leading kneel was given hint to her father that Harriertalon was readying to lower Moondancer into her final resting place. A signal that her mother and sister do the same with Batswarm. As much as she wanted to cling to the pelts of her baby brother and sister... It was time to let them rest.

Laying the beautiful, silver-tabby she-cat gently into her eternal nest within the earth, Harriertalon waited for Batswarm's equally beautiful and pale calico pelt to be laid to rest beside Moondancer.

She wouldn't tell her family that she had collected bits of both of their pelts that were wrapped in tight bundles in the medicine den... Maybe one day they would appreciate such a token. But until then, they would remain with her and her alone.


"In this moment of farewell, we mourn and weep, for the loss of a son and a daughter. A brother and a sister.

We wish them peace and comfort in their eternal sleep, as they journey beyond, where the shadows are deep and prey is bountiful - and clean."  A clean world was what Batswarm had always wanted, going as far as confiding in Harriertalon that ShadowClan just couldn't offer him that. How cruel of the stars to grant him his wish in the most twisted way.

"May their spirits find solace, guiding them gently, in the embrace of the moon and stars. "

She whispered a separate goodbye meant only for them:

"There will never be another cat in this forest - maybe even the world who could ever dream of living up to the beauty the both of you possess. I love you eternally. When it's my turn -"

Harriertalon's head raised, eyes focused on the sky before she closed them again.

"I hope it to be you two who greets me."

Badgermask helped lower Batswarm into the grave before stepping back - head lowered but her gaze was not focused on the burial before her nor her ears hearing the rites, the eulogy her sister was offering. There was nothing for her to say - there was nothing for her to feel. But perhaps, deep down, there was part of her that was aware of this all as she felt the corner of her eyes prick with tears that would not fall. Instead, she just stood there - not even a tail-length away from her family and yet a world away in mind.