Is this a second chance, or just another false hope?[C]

It was an elder's duty to send the dead off to StarClan after they have passed. That, she knew, but she had not been needed to perform such a duty until... Bristlefire's death had been hard on everyone, though she thought that perhaps it was not such a harsh end for the queen. Her mate, whom she had spent the entire of her life with and shared her dreams of starting a family with, had died mere sunrises before their kits were born. All of ShadowClan knew how long the couple had tried to start a family, and for it to fall to ruin so quickly... Tawnyshadow recalled the queen's eyes, glossy even before she died, and wondered, if she had seen any of her kits look like her late mate, would she have passed away from a broken heart?

Well, she was here now. The body had been cleaned, along with those of her litter that had no made it. She bent down, teeth clasping around the corpse's scruff as gently as she could without letting it slip out of her grasp. She was the only elder... and her leg didn't make it easier to haul the limp body, already stiff and cold, out of camp. Her clanmates had already cleared out an area and dug a grave for the queen, placed right next to Reedwater's. Tawnyshadow lowered the body into the hole, feeling her legs tremble beneath her as she did so. A familiar ache started in her shoulder as she limped back to camp to retrieve the kits.

Grief weighed heavy in camp. She could taste it on her tongue, though she didn't mind it. It was nice to share for once. She slipped into the nursery once more, feeling the gazes of the other queens on her. As she bent down to pick up one of the smaller bodies-- a sleek black tom-kit, echoing his father's coat and his mother's build-- she froze. A fourth kit had joined the pile, this one still moving and mewling despite its closed eyes. It was brighter than the rest, its pelt blooming with large splashes of colour. Tawnyshadow starred at the she-kit in silence for a while, before returning to her duties. Someone would care for the kit. It wasn't uncommon for kits to be left without either of their parents...

As the ceremony finished, and she could return to camp at last after having sent off her dead clanmates to StarClan, she heard a weak wail. Her gaze travelled to the nursery; yellow eyes filled with discomfort and ears pinned to the back of her head. She had heard that sound too many times... it had led her to Dawnbright, and to Creekpaw. And it had come from her, once, when her family was gone. She remembered because Sagestone had told her that was what led him to her. That soft cry... the silver tortoiseshell tore her gaze away. She could hear the sound of other kits in the elder's den; it seems that while she was gone the queens had brought their family to the elder's den to give the remaining kit some space. The kit-- she still did not know her name-- would be taken in by one of the queens, she was sure. So why did she feel so guilty for leaving her behind?

At last, she couldn't take it any longer. She called out to Sunflare, beckoning to her mate to follow her as he passed. She wouldn't leave the kit alone... Tawnyshadow slipped into the nursery. A single queen was attempting to calm the she-kit down, but as the elder enterred the queen rose her head and a flash of understanding shone through her eyes. Tawnyshadow stood to the side as the queen passed and exited the nursery, leaving just her, her mate, and the kit left. "Sunflare..." She began, unsure of how to tell him what she was thinking. It was absurd, sure, but... she had never felt so desperate to be understood and approved. She had wanted so desperately to be a mother... would this be her second chance? As a mew escaped the she-kit, she drew the kit closer to her, tucking the small form close to her and gently groomed the kit's head. She was a beautiful calico. What colour would her eyes be...? Tawnyshadow wanted to cry and purr at the same time.

"Could we... could we start a family again?" She asked, looking up at her mate with hopeful, teary eyes. She had lost most of her use to him when she became an elder, but perhaps she could still let him become a father. She would take better care of this new child. "Would you like to name her...?" She added more softly.