☾ ShadowClan ☾ The Wily and Proud |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁|

Ashrock stayed clear of Stonesong as she went to pay her respects, he didn't want to interrupt the vigil with his sour presence, but one she moved off, Ashrock got up to intercept her. "Uh, Stonesong," he swallowed, tail flicking. For a brief moment, he looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. "Can we...talk?"

Raccoonmask looked guilty for a moment, Cedarstar looked just as tired as she was but she knew she wouldn't make it out of the den without his help. "Thank you Cedarstar." she rasped, trying her best not to put too much weight on him.

Cherryvine glared at the ground as Cedarstar approached with Raccoonmask, the queen refusing to look at the other she-cat.

Raccoonmask's heart fell as Cherryvine pointedly looked away as she approached. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Cherryvine. It should have been me."

Grovekit scowled tightly as she was told to remain back while the other kits were led out. She knew that Stormfury was their father, so they needed to go say good-bye, but it still made her sour to know that they had been able to know a father to say good-bye to. She shook her head with a huff, before she turned to console a still crying Flowerkit. The news of Stormfury's death frightened the gentle tom kit silly. He sniffled. "W-what if Starclan gets me next?"

"It's not gonna get you." Grovekit shook her head protectively. "I won't let it, right? You'll be just fine." She promised, able to calm down her brother more easily than most others. He stuck close to her pelt like a burr, but Grovekit didn't mind it one bit. She could take care of the both of them all by herself!

Waspflame settled into his nest, though he looked up as he saw Oakfall slipping into the den. Waving his tail once, he rasped. "I'm going to try and get on a morning patrol. You want to see if we can get on the same one? I think I've had enough adventuring with cats on patrol that aren't-" You. He was going to say, but he quickly chose another few words instead. "-taking it seriously for my tastes."

Cranekit hung his shoulders as the other kits left the nursery to say goodbye. "I already miss mother. Kestrelgaze is my father, but I'll still miss Stormfury, too."

Shortcloud sighed as the vigil began and cats gathered. She looked to Brittlefoot with inquiry. "Do you want to sit vigil for Stormfury and Moonpetal?" She didn't know either cat deeply, but they were deserving of respect regardless.

Cinderspeck shuffled his paws and moved away from the vigil. A part of him felt that he didn't want to get involved until the fallen warriors' closest companions paid their respects.

Cloudscar dipped his head gratefully and padded over to Cherryvine, settling down next to her. “Thank you.” He whispered under his breath. He pressed his nose to his son’s fur, holding back the true weight of the grief crashing down on him in waves. He felt as if he could see Stormfury’s life in scenes that played over and over again in his mind. Meeting Stormkit on the WindClan border for the first time, seeing Stormpaw at gatherings, the day Stormfury’s came to ShadowClan. IF only they had had more time. Their tattered bond had begun to mend, but too slow. He had been too slow. Slowly, unwillingly, he lifted his head again.

Hollyvine padded over to Stormfury’s and said a short prayer to StarClan. His poor kits she thought.  They’ll never know their father. Not really. She glanced towards Lynxdapple, suddenly a bit more grateful that she still had him in her life.

Pinekit followed his siblings silently, tail drooping. 

Pinekit approached Stormfury’s body slowly and laid down as close to his father as he could manage. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” He said quietly, trying to hold back a sob. He had so m any questions for his father that would now go unanswered.

Cedarstar flicked his ear twice when Mouseclaw padded up. He felt responsible for Raccoonmask with the state she was in. If he hadn't gone to the moonstone maybe Stormfury and Moonpetal would still be alive? But he nodded to Mouseclaw and stepped away for him to tend to his sister. As he had told Raccoonmask, he couldn't spoil the night with regret.

Cedarstar startled a second when Hailkit and Mistkit came up. He pinned his ears back and guilt ripped through him at the thought of how Stormfury was robbed of the chance to see his kits grow, to be a father to them. Cedarstar's gaze drifted to Whorlpaw and Duskpaw. It terrified him to think of his kits being fatherless. Of him not being able to be there for them. It's all I ever wanted. Cedarstar slowly sat down and tucked his paws under him to start his vigil. I wonder if Stormfury wanted the same. He sighed and his ear flicked twice again in the guilt of how he initially treated the former WindClan warrior. I'm glad I was wrong about him.

Whorlpaw lightly flinched when Stormfury's kits came out of the nursery. She couldn't help but peek up at them. It wasn't fair.

Songbreeze sat back so the kits could be with their mother and father one last time. She kept her gaze on her paws. The whole scene made her ache for her own kits and she suddenly wished Lionscorch hadn't been selected for the SkyClan patrol. He's protecting my father, she convinced herself. That's where he's needed.

Vipertooth flinched at the information. She flexed her toes apart again and finally spotted the small shard of whatever it was. "I'll go see Snowdance, then, hopefully she isn't busy." she commented and turned to head for the medicine cat den. She pushed into the den and looked around for the medicine cat. After a moment, she called out. "Snowdance?" 

Cranekit was quiet for a moment. "...Thanks," he muttered to the younger kit, laying down and resting his head on his paws. He couldn't be too angry with her. Not when everyone was so sad.

"You're absolutely right. Stormfury earned his place as a ShadowClan warrior. Dare I say that we were too harsh on him?" she questioned quietly, bowing her head in respect. "And poor Moonpetal... I wish we were able to lay her to rest."

“In a way, most of the Clan was far too harsh on him.” Brittlefoot admitted, before he shook his head mournfully. “And I certainly was. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I have no room to talk about worthiness of a Shadowclan Warrior when I’m two bad leafbares away from being completely unable to use my legs.” He scoffed, blunt when he made fun of his own disability. He sobered up quickly. “It’s like the world is against us…”

Willow & Moonblazer

Featherkit followed her siblings, tucking herself between Cherryvine and Stormfury's body. "I'm sorry, mama," she said sadly. It was something she heard older cats say when another cat was grieving. I'm sorry.

Oakfall smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, circumstances being what they were. "Not sure I'm the right tom for serious, but that's the plan. See ya in the morning, Waspflame," he said, settling into his own nest.

Mistkit laid her head on Featherkit's shoulder, tucking close to her siblings.

Cherryvine touched her nose to Featherkit's head, "It's not your fault, little one, I'm sorry too."

Pearlkit reached out, placing her tail on Flowerkit's shoulder, "Don't worry so much, I just saw Eaglesight not that long ago! He's fine. I'm sure he'll come see you when he's paid his respects at the vigil."

“Oh! O-okay.” Flowerkit took a deep breath as Pearlkit’s words soothed some of the fear. As long as Eaglesight was okay, then Flowerkit was content. He looked sadly at the other kits, mewing quietly. “I’m really sorry for them…”