~Warnings: Death, Greif, it's funeral time!, talk of death, talk of murder, blood, mention of parental abandonment, mention of long term deadly sickness~ Thunderclan was quiet as they walked back to camp. Whitestar was walking next to Snowpelt, and it was taking every measure of self control not to snap at her to get away. ‘We’re almost done, you need to use this misplaced trust to your advantage.’ Shadow reminded. Yes, she did. So keep calm. Do what she can for now. She just needed to wait for an opening. The gathering had marked the end of the second moon of Leaf-fall, and it was clear in the chill that hung in the air. It was not leaf-bare yet, however, just chilly. The entrance to Thunderclan camp came into view. No guard. Whitestar pushed to the front of the group, and Snowpelt reluctantly followed her into camp. Eyes turned to the returning cat. Whitestar looked to Snowpelt and started to ask “Can we tal-” “No.” Snowpelt interrupted coldly, “Tommorow.” Her eyes focused on Brightspot’s body and she passed Whitestar to go sit by the body, simply staring in silence. Brightspot was dead. Brightspot was dead. Gone. Like Stormcloud was, like their kits were. Gone. Dead. Dark golden fur moved out of the corner of Snowpelt’s eye and she looked up, blinking in confusion and surprise when she saw Goldenpelt sit down next to her. Goldenpelt was still alive? Why was she sitting next to Snowpelt? What was going on? Goldenpelt sighed, “Hello.” Snowpelt shifted, suddenly unsure and awkward as she looked at the cat who had nursed her. The cat who had never shown preference to Whitestar, but had also been a consistent source of yelling when Snowpelt was a kit. Snowpelt paused, then hesitantly said “Um, hello?” Goldenpelt looked at Brightspot’s body. Snowpelt paused. Goldenpelt couldn’t be that much older than Brightspot, but she looked so much older. There was a frailness to her. She seemed… sick. ‘She is. She has been for a long time.’ Shadow said softly, almost sadly, ‘No cat knows what, but it took her mother many moons ago, and now it’s taking her.’ What? How did Shadow know that? Why were there notes of an old grief in Shadow’s voice? Goldenpelt interrupted Snowpelt’s confusion with “I’m sorry about Brightspot.” Snowpelt paused, then sighed and nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. Why had she pushed Brightspot away? Brightspot had tried to support her, and Snowpelt had just attacked her. Now she was gone. Snowpelt would never be able to make it up to her, apologize, do anything with her. A long, quiet moment passed before Goldenpelt quietly said “I heard Whitestar is on her eighth life now. She’s been losing them often lately.” Snowpelt tensed, was that an accusation? Stay calm. Snowpelt slowly nodded and said “I, I’ve heard that.” Goldenpelt lifted her head to look at Snowpelt in the eyes, blue meeting a soft, dark gold. Goldenpelt spoke in a hushed voice for Snowpelt’s ears alone, “Do not try to fool me, Snowpelt. I know what’s been going on. You’ve been very lucky, but any cat with a brain larger than a mouse’s can put things together.” Snowpelt tensed, then hissed softly “And? What are you going to do about it?” Goldenpelt sighed and said “I am not going to do anything. But I would like to talk, somewhere private.” Snowpelt narrowed her eyes and asked “About what?” Goldenpelt took a breath, then said “Things you should know about your family. Our family.” Wha- ‘What does she know about family? Remember how horrible she was to you? Don’t listen to a word she says. She doesn’t deserve to talk to you.’ Shadow suddenly interrupted, filling Snowpelt with anger. Snowpelt growled softly and snapped quietly “I don’t want to talk to you. You were horrible to me when I was a kit! Leave me alone!” Goldenpelt’s eyes widened, slightly, then she sighed and said “Alright… hopefully your mind clears soon…” And she got up and walked to the elder’s den.
What did she mean, ‘I hope your mind clears soon’? ‘I have no idea.’ Shadow said. Then Shadow mumbled, ‘She’s a lot more annoying than I remember.’ What? ‘Nothing. I didn’t say anything. Brightspot is dead, stop getting distracted.’ O-ok… Snowpelt looked back down at Brightspot’s body, then looked up as Flowersong walked over and crumpled down next to her mother’s body, digging her face into her fur as her body shook with silent sobs. Snowpelt paused. She’d heard Flowersong’s father had run off when they were just kits. Birchtail was dead. Stormcloud was dead. Now Brightspot was dead. Flowersong had lost her entire family today. Snowpelt hadn’t talked to Flowersong in moons. Skylight was all Flowersong had left. Skylight… Snowpelt’s eyes drifted to the light golden pelt in the clearing. Sunstrike. Skylight and Stickslip were next to him. Stickslip was crying into his brother’s body, but Skylight simply…sat there. She stared at her paws, still covered in her brother’s dried blood, her eyes farther away than the old territories. Perhaps not farther. Perhaps there. That, that was where the group Skylight had escaped from was, right? Where their other sibling, the sister, had died at Skylight’s paws? Oh starclan… Skylight must be remembering that now. Another sibling she failed to save. Snowpelt sighed, two cats dead. Snowpelt looked around and found very few cats. The clan was getting small. Thinking back to the gathering… all the clans were. It was strange. It felt like there had been so many cats around when Snowpelt was young, but now there were so few. It hadn’t always been like this… right? No, it hadn’t. Thinking about it, there had been fewer kit announcements, more deaths. The clans were dying, and they hadn’t had any outside cats coming in for a while. ‘It’s not your problem.’ Shadow said. Snowpelt sighed and looked back down at Brightspot’s body. Flowersong kept sobbing, her body shaking with each one. The only sound she made was when she gasped for air between sobs. Each gasp hit Snowpelt like a monster. Maybe she should- ‘It’s no use. She’s in no state to talk to you. You might just make her angry.’ Shadow advised. Yeah… yeah. Snowpelt had been upset when Brightspot tried to comfort her, Flowersong might be the same. Besides, what did she know about losing a mother? She never even met hers, never had a chance to form the relationship and attachment Brightspot had with her kits. Snowpelt paused. Did she ever really form a bond with any of her biological family? No. No she hadn’t, had she? Darklight died before they could ever met, and she hated her father and sister both. Two words flickered into Snowpelt’s head. Our family. Goldenpelt had said “our family”. What, what did she mean by that? ‘Nothing, Snowpelt. Don’t worry about it.’ Shadow snapped, and the thoughts left Snowpelt’s mind. Snowpelt had no family left. She wouldn’t understand what Flowersong was going through. She shouldn’t try to talk to her. Snowpelt sighed and settled down next to Brightspot’s cold body. Her pelt felt chilled. It was the third moon on leaf fall now, wasn’t it? Yes, it was. It had been the first moon of leaf-bare when Snowpelt’s family had died. The first snow of the season, and it had been a storm. Would this leaf-bare be the same? ‘No. It will be different, because this leaf bare, it will be Whitestar who dies.’ Shadow said quietly. Snowpelt nodded slightly. Shadow was right. This leaf bare would be different. It would be Whitestar dying, not her family. How should she kill her next? She could face her on her last life, but there was still one more before that. Snowpelt needed to get rid of that one first, but how. A thought entered Snowpelt’s head. She thought back to the first time she killed, back when she was an apprentice, when she poisoned Ashstar. Foxglove seeds. But there weren’t any foxgloves around this time of year. ‘Nightshade is. Only the late ones, but they’re here.’ Nightshade? ‘Deadly nightshade. There’s a few plants by the edge of the territories, next to the old twoleg thunderpath. But you need to be patient. It’s too early right now. Wait for half-moon.’ Half moon? Alright, she could wait until half-moon. Snowpelt glanced at Whitestar's den. Snowpelt would take her eighth life this half-moon. Then Snowpelt would kill Whitestar with her own two paws. ~First~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1066586971/ ~Previous~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1291435706/ ~Next~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1305580158/ Sorry for the shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoyed! I finally caught up with my buffer, so if it's possible, I'll get another chapter posted this month, but no promises at all. The writers block is very much present, because these next few chapters are incredibly important, and I need to do them justice! I'm so excited though! Man, I am chatty today. Ah well, lol.
