𝖋𝖆𝖜𝖓𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖕'𝖘 𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖍 | 𝙬𝙘 𝙛𝙖𝙣-𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

iv

Fawnleap exited Halfleaf's den, the yelling arguments of other cats died down, but now there was an eerie, uncomfortable quietness.

However, Freckleface broke the silence. "Fawnleap?" The warrior whispered, causing Fawnleap to quickly whirl her head around. "Oh, err— yes?" She stammered.

"Chestnutspots and I are going to retrieve Vipernose's.. body. For mourning. Are you coming?"

Fawnleap swallowed hard, humming her lips together. She never liked Vipernose, and she knew that Vipernose never liked her. But it's all about being respectful— and yet, Fawnleap felt like it was too risky to head back to the den, especially with a now agitated bear. She glanced at her harshly skinned paw-pads.

"I don't...," Freckleface hushed her with a flick of her tail. "You don't have too." She assured.

"I was reluctant to go, too."
"I'm sorry."

Freckleface said nothing more, except the disappointed glance as she walked away, head down and tail drooping. Fawnleap couldn't make out what Chestnutspots and Freckleface were saying, but she knew that she was just exchanging her response.

Fawnleap sighed, her ears hanging as she walked inside the warrior's den. Clan-mates uncomfortably skirted away as Fawnleap chose a back corner. She didn't bother to pad it before laying on her side with her paws outstretched. Her eyelids fluttered close, drifting into a deep sleep.

.
.
.

Fawnleap felt a harsh nuzzle at her cheek, shaking her back into consciousness. The she-cat jerked up, eyes adjusting.

Cougarclaw stood in front of her. "You overslept." He informed. Fawnleap yawned, the soreness in her muscles ached protestant as she attempted to stand, however quickly stumbled back onto Cougraclaw's slide.

The tom's flank grew hot as he held her for balance.

"Are you hurt?" He asked quickly, his tone worrisome.

"No." Fawnleap lied, shoving herself off the shorthair. "I'm fine. Just tired." Fawnleap stretched out her injured leg, grinding her teeth as it stung.

"What did you wake me for?"

Fawnleap's question held Cougarclaw quiet. "Vipernose's funeral." He meowed, his words practically in a jumbled mumble.

Fawnleap's ears jerked backwards, the image of yesterday flashing in her head. "Right." She meowed. Despite being very reluctant, she exited the den to join the line of cats surrounding Vipernose's scarred body. Fawnleap exhaled of relief. Thank the Stars Freckleface didn't get mauled. And Chestnutspots.

Fawnleap hated being reminded of Vipernose's death, because it made her live with the guilt that she could've saved him. She could've been quicker to snatch the hawk, could've fought back, could've stopped Vipernose from fighting off the bear, anything.

Time flew by, faster than a kestrel. Fawnleap could hardly believe it when she found herself at the front of the mob of the cats. "One last time." But we never shared tongues, anyway. First and last, I guess. She hesitated for a longing moment, but she reluctantly licked the bloodied flank. The she-cat groomed his fur sleek, but it was no use. It wasn't long before Fawnleap couldn't bear it, and shuffled herself away from the tom.

To her surprise, Fawnleap wasn't the only one who moved away from the crowd. Cougarclaw and Freckleface stood in front of her- along with Goatpaw and Yewberry. Yewberry was Vipernose and Goatpaw's mother, Boughstripe was comforting the two melancholic cats.

"It wasn't your fault, Fawnleap." Freckleface sympathetically mewed, as if reading Fawnleap's thoughts.

"I know. Like- I know, but I don't really believe it, I guess." Fawnleap rambled, averting the duo's gaze. "I understand!" Cougarclaw assured, pressing his flank comfortingly against Fawnleap. "Despite his death.. he died for you, right? He saw a spark in you, Fawnleap, He had to!" Cougarclaw pointed out, beaming his thoughts. It gave Fawnleap some false hope, because deep down, she knew that the tom actually sacrificed himself for Freckleface or Chestnutspots. And Fawnleap felt like Freckleface knew it to, with the look she gave them.