(( ! TW - Death and grief, please do not read further of these will be a trigger for you ! )) Dead. The word rang in Mooni’s ears, over and over. A voice that would never quiet. A longing that would never be satisfied. “Make it stop.” A sob tore out of her throat. She let the tears fall. She no longer cared. Nothing mattered anymore. Midnightmystery was gone, and nothing could bring him back. “Please.” She didn’t know who she was talking to. Her heart was broken, the pieces scattered. She knew Cloudbumble needed her, Fireflyskitter needed her, Lanternbugpaw and Glow-wormpaw needed her, her whole Clan needed her. But she couldn't bring herself to drag her body out of her nest. She hadn’t eaten in days. It didn’t matter. If she died, she’d get to see her father again. “I need you…” Mooni remembered when Midnightmystery had come back to camp, injured and weak. She hadn’t cried then. She thought it was okay to cry now. It was all over. Death was so final. There was no turning back. “Maybe—maybe I can learn to love again.” She knew she needed to take care of herself. She knew she needed to be strong for her Clan. She knew she couldn’t grieve forever. She turned her head to the entrance of the warriors’ den, where the morning light was seeping in. She licked a paw and drew it over her face, wiping away the last of her tears. “I’m here.” She left the den, wanting to find Fireflyskitter. The cat who had truly understood her and always been there for her. Yes, they were always busy with their mate, but she needed them the most now. Maybe they could help her be strong for everyone. Maybe she could be strong for herself, too.
