Chapter 16

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Poppypool sat beside Newtflake's nest, her eyes half-lidded his exhaustion. Her thoughts were muddled with grief and worry as the night dragged on. She couldn't stop thinking about the events of the day– the blood, the bodies, the lingering presence of death in the den.

Suddenly, Newtflake stirred. His eyes shot wide open, glazed with panic. "Daisystep! Cedarpelt!" he gasped, trying to sit up despite his injuries. The movement pulled on his wounds, causing him to wince, but his frantic energy overpowered the pain.

"Newtflake!" Poppypool rushed to his side, her voice gentle but firm as she pressed him back into his nest. "You need to stay still, you're hurt."

"Where are they?" he asked breathlessly, eyes darting around the den. "Where's Daisystep? Cedarpelt?"

Poppypool hesitated, her heart tightened in her chest as the weight of his question sank in. She looked into his eyes, seeing the raw fear and hope swirling there. Her throat felt thick, but she knew she couldn't keep the truth from him.

"Newtflake..." she began softly, pressing her paw to his side, trying to soothe him. "Daisystep... she didn't make it."

For a moment, Newtflake's gaze was blank, as though he hadn't heard her. Then the realization hit, and his entire body seemed to deflate. "No..." he whispered, his voice breaking. "No. She can't be... she can't be gone."

Poppypool's ears flattened against her head, the sadness in his voice cutting her like a thorn. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, her own grief bubbling just beneath the surface. "Cedarpelt... he's still with us, but he's... he's very weak. I'm not sure if he's going to make it."

Newtflake's breath quickened, his face contorted with pain. "Daisystep... Cedarpelt..." His voice trembled with disbelief, and he tried once again to push himself up. "I... I should've done something. I should've stopped them!" His claws flexed into the moss beneath his paws, trembling with fury and regret.

"No, Newtflake," Poppypool soothed, gently pressing him down once more. "You did everything you could. You got Cedarpelt back, you survived. That's more than enough. I'm so thankful you're awake."

But her words didn't seem to reach him. Newtflake's yellow-green eyes darkened with anger, his lip curling as a low growl rumbled in his throat. "The rogues... they'll pay for this. Every single one of them." His voice had shifted, the kindness and patience she was so used to replaced by something far more dangerous.

Poppypool blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in his demeanor. Newtflake had always been gentle and thoughtful, never one to speak with such venom. Her heart ached seeing him like this– broken, hurting, and so consumed with vengeance.

"Newtflake, you need to rest," she said softly, trying to maintain a calm tone, though worry gnawed at her insides. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, you need to focus on healing."

But Newtflake's eyes were clouded with fury. "No, Poppypool. This can't go unpunished." His claws dug deeper into the ground, his body trembling. "Sparrowstar, Umberflame, Foggyrain, Rosefur, Hawkstreak, Daisystep...Cedarpelt... none of them deserved this."

"They didn't," Poppypool agreed, her voice laced with sorrow and guilt. "But fighting for revenge won't bring them back. It'll only hurt you more." She gently placed her paw on his, her touch firm but gentle. "Right now, you need to rest. Please, Newtflake."

For a moment, Newtflake's eyes softened, the storm inside him seeming to quiet at her words. He sank back into his nest, his breaths uneven as he closed his eyes. "I just... I can't believe she's gone," he murmured, his voice cracking as the reality of Daisystep's death washed over him.

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