First her mom dies. Things only go downhill from there. Alongside raising her new siblings, Junco must navigate the now dangerous waters of life as a Wanderer. Death and feelings are the worst kind of problems.
Oriole was always very cheerful, and...
Junco's paws pounded on the floor as she raced with Blizzard and Oriole to the river. He can't really be dead, maybe he was mistaken. He didn't even say "dead" he just said they found his body. Oriole looked even more worried than her, her eyes were wide with shock and fear as they ran.
Junco could smell the river and hear the rushing water before she could see it. As they crossed through the tree line and on to the sandy riverbank, she saw the drenched form of a cat, the waves lapping at his fur, along with her sister, standing near the body.
Once closer, her eyes confirmed that the fallen cat was Branch. The dead cat's neck was twisted at an odd angle and his eyes were closed.
Oriole gasped and fell down beside him, burying her muzzle into his thick, wet fur. "No... Dad!"
Static had been staring out at the water and turned to face them. With a flippant tone she mewed, "It looks like he fell in and slammed his neck into something."
Junco turned to glare at her. How could she say it like that? Does she feel no sadness? And Oriole is right there!
Static noticed her anger and muttered, "Sorry."
Turning her attention away from her aggravating sister, she turned to Blizzard. "Did you tell anyone else yet?"
"No."
"Oriole and I will carry him back to the nests, you go ahead with Static and tell everyone else."
The white tom nodded. Static had apparently heard the conversation and ran off into the woods, towards the camp, without a word.
Junco padded softly over to Oriole and sat down next to the pretty she-cat.
"Hey, will you help me carry him? We can get him back to the nests and Snapdragon will help him go on."
Oriole looked up and nodded slowly. The two cats slid Branch's soaked body onto Junco's back. The cold water chilled her as it soaked into her fur and she flinched. This water is freezing! The dead leader was already a big cat but he was soaked with water, making him even heavier.
"Urggg," Junco gasped, "I can't carry him on my own. Here, shift him around and put his front half on your back, Blizzard."
He had been walking towards where Static had run off, but turned around and did as she said. The weight lightened. That's much better, still really heavy though.
Though the physical weight of Branch had lessened, the weight of his loss only grew after the initial numbness she had felt began to fade. His death only reminded her of her mother. She and Blizzard carried their burden slowly through the woods, with Oriole trailing listlessly behind them.
How will she handle this? She's always upbeat and hasn't really lost anyone she was close to before. Oh, Oriole.
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