The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

32. The Spy

The entirety of the Clan looked on as Tinypetal's body was set into the middle of the camp. Every cat mourned, their heads dipped in sadness. Whiskers dropped and tails laid still.

Scorchpaw watched as Patchback struggled to the center, each of his Clanmates holding their breaths. He reeked of illness, and the others backed away. Still, they let him push onward and press his nose to his mate's forehead.

"She will be missed," Blackstar mewed. "She was a fine warrior, a loving mate, and a grand friend. Ever since she came to us, she worked hard and honored us, and now we honor her."

"StarClan will welcome her with open paws. She is at peace," he added.

"I'll bury her," Sandfoot offered, hobbling closer. "The apprentices will help."

Patchback bared his teeth as Palepaw moved forward. "He won't touch her. I'll- I'll do it." His voice cracked, and he fell into a fit of coughing.

"Return to Echopaw's den. She'll be treated well," Shadowclaw urged. "You need to rest."

Patchback sniffed miserably and turned away, sulking as he returned to the medicine den. Scorchpaw felt his heart tear in half; he had never seen such a shattered cat. He felt Palepaw's fur brush his, and the gray apprentice settled down beside him. "He's broken, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Palepaw answered.

"Scorchpaw, Palepaw, help Sandfoot to bury Tinypetal," Blackstar meowed.

Froststrike stepped forward. "I'll do it. They're just apprentices."

Blackstar blinked. "Very well. Help them." He stood and turned away, stalking towards the rocks that led to his den.

Scorchpaw hesitated to grab the corpse by its scruff, fear of the illness making him shudder. When Palepaw took over for him, leaving him to support her tail as Sandfoot slipped under her hips, guilt clawed at him. He held his breath as he helped to haul the body out of the camp, cats dipping their heads in respect to the warrior.

They carried Tinypetal into the forest, starting up the slope that circled the camp. When Froststrike found a suitable spot, he began digging the hole. Sandfoot joined in while Palepaw carefully grooming Tinypetal's fur with his paws, gently smoothing her fur. Scorchpaw swallowed the stone in his throat and began clawing at the earth, and slowly, the hole grew in size. Once it was large enough to hold her body, they lowered Tinypetal inside and began to push dirt over her.

She's probably in StarClan now. Maybe she'll visit Patchback in his dreams.

When they had finished, the four sat around the grave. Palepaw straightened and rushed into the nearby brush, returning moments later with a large stick. He pushed it into the loose earth near Tinypetal's head. "So Patchback can find her," He insisted. "And so we'll always know where we shouldn't step."

"She's come a long way," Froststrike muttered. "She will be fondly remembered."

"Few cats can make a journey like she had," Sandfoot purred. He turned to Palepaw and Scorchpaw, his expression surprisingly softened. "I don't think Tigerstripe and I ever told you about that, huh? About the Sundered Territory. She came from there." He looked back to the grave. "Her name was Lint then, but now, she'll be welcomed into StarClan as Tinypetal."

"An exceptional warrior and loving mother," Froststrike purred. He stood and shook dirt from his fur. "We should get to our nests."

Sandfoot huffed. "I'm staying here with Tinypetal. I don't want her to be alone tonight, since Patchback can't be here."