Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 19

 Four moons passed since Burnttail became deputy. It was Leaf-fall now, but prey wasn't so scarce in RiverClan, or atleast yet.

 Burnttail got out of the river and shook his fur, padding back in camp and followed closely by Acaciapaw. The apprentice held her tail high proudly, twitching her cream tail tip. Burnttail turned around to look at his apprentice. ''You did well today, Acaciapaw. Come on, drop your prey in the Fresh-kill pile. Tomorrow I want to test your fighting skills.''

 Acaciapaw nodded and padded towards the Fresh-kill pile, dropping the prey she was holding and rushing towards her siblings. Burnttail looked after them for a while, then let out a sigh. ''Training an apprentice is tiring!''

 ''You don't say?'' Dogspot chuckled, approaching him. ''You've been a great mentor so far, Burnttail!''

 ''That's true.'' Spiderfrost dipped his head. ''By the way, you sent the dawn patrols out before you left to train Acaciapaw, right?''

 ''Yes, I did!'' Burnttail meowed, then froze. ''Oh StarClan, they must've already returned! I need to send another patrols out again!''

 Spottedfur laughed, flicking her white-spotted tail. ''Well, off you go, then.''

 ''I actually want for us four to patrol near the ThunderClan border.'' Burnttail meowed. ''Is that fine?''

 ''Sure! I was actually in the mood to leave camp.'' Dogspot meowed, then stretched. Burnttail nodded and looked around, then ran towards Tornfeather. RiverClan's oldest warrior was grooming himself near the warriors' den. ''Tornfeather!''

 The black tom raised his head. ''Oh, Burnttail! Is there something wrong?''

 Burnttail shook his head. ''No. I want you to lead a hunting patrol, actually. Take..'' He stopped, then looked around. ''Take Bouldershade and Whitealder with you.''

 Tornfeather nodded, then got up and padded towards the other two warriors. Burnttail turned and ran back to his friends. ''Alright, let's go then.''

 Spottedfur purred, then turned and padded out of camp. Burnttail followed her and dived in the river, and when he got out he shook his fur and looked around, heading for the Sunningrocks. His friends followed him closely.

 Burnttail was prepared to go down the short slope that was leading towards the Sunningrocks, when he spotted something. He turned his head and saw a body near the river, and half of it was in the water.

 Burnttail blinked, confused, and cautiously approached the body and sniffed the air, hissing when he caught the rogue scent. ''Hello?'' He whispered.

 Burnttail carefully put one of his light ginger paws on the body's shoulder and turned it around. When he saw the cat, he backed off and let out a shocked choke. ''No!''

 Dogspot approached him and looked at the tom, confused, then at the body.

 ''Snake!" Burnttail yowled before Dogspot could say anything, and he ran back to his old friend's body and sniffed it, checking for any sign that she was alive. ''Please, no, this can't be true! Say something.. please..''

 Spiderfrost approached Burnttail and crouched, examining the body and sighed. ''She's dead.''

 ''No!'' Burnttail yowled and buried his nose in Snake's fur. ''No, no no no... this can't be happening, this can't be happening!''

 ''Burnttail? Do you know her?'' Dogspot's voice came from somewhere near him and he felt the she-cat's tail lay on his back. He let out a wail and raised his head. ''Yes, she was.. an old friend, her name was Snake.. the she-cat..'' He then stopped, too grief-stricken to say anything else. He then buried his nose in Snake's fur again, sobbing. ''Please, Snake, say something..''