Colorful Doom

Chapter 15

The darkening sky glowed with the light of the moon as the sun set on the horizon. Nightfeather sighed as She stared out at the dark lake, eyes dull. Her fur was unkempt and dirty. She was belly deep into the freezing water. The black she-cat closed her eyes as it pulled at her fur. It had been a day since Fawnfur's death, and the memory of her was fresh in her mind. It haunted her every where she went.
Nightfeather stared at her reflection. Her dark blue eyes flashed.

A tail wrapped around her shoulders, and she felt familiar whiskers brush against her cheek. "Nightfeather," Sparrowwing murmured.

Nightfeather avoided his gaze. "What?" She rasped.

"Sweetie, I'm worried about you. You haven't been attending any of the battle planning meetings." He meowed, giving her cheek a loving lick.

Nightfeather sighed. "It's hard," she whimpered. She hadn't meant for it to come out sounding so weak, but it had. "I miss her so, so much."

Sparrowwing didn't respond for a moment. Nightfeather turned her head to stare at him. His yellow eyes stared back at hers.

"I know. But she wouldn't have wanted you to remember her like this. Right?" He inquired, voice gentle as he pulled her closer.

Nightfeather closed her eyed as she sank into his fur. "No," she admitted.

Sparrowwing's head bobbed above hers. "Exactly. She'd want you to avenge her."

Nightfeather twisted around until her head was buried into his fur. "That isn't going to make her come back." Came her muffled meow. "How'd you do it? How'd you get over it?"

Sparrowwing gently pushed her so she was sitting across from him. "I didn't get over it. I accepted that, in the future, I would get to see her again. And that she'd be waiting for me."

Nightfeather nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll try." She swallowed and got up. "Let's get back to the clearing."

Sparrowwing gave her a smile. "Let's."

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Nightfeather padded into the clearing, side by side with Sparrowwing. She froze as the scent of WindClan hit her, thick in the air.

Sparrowwing quickly left her side to sprint over to his brother. It almost seemed as if he didn't want to be seen with her. Nightfeather rolled her eyes and approached Foxfang instead. The red medicine cat brightened at the sight of her. Probably happy I'm finally showing my face, Nightfeather thought bitterly.

"Nightfeather! Flamestar showed up with a patrol of WindClan cats. Shadestar is talking to her now." Foxfang reported, tail twitching.

Nightfeather sat down and curled her tail around her paws. "How did she know we were here?"

Foxfang shrugged. "I dunno. I think she might have seen us from the lake. We're not that hard to miss."

Nightfeather narrowed her eyes and didn't respond. She had never really liked Foxfang's attitude. It seemed to swing every which way in a few seconds. The black she-cat's whiskers twitched as she thought of the word. Two-faced. Personally, she preferred stability. She didn't like things to change.

Nightfeather turned her attention back to the tree. A russet she-cat had just stepped out, followed by a white tom. Rabbitwhisker. Nightfeather immediately recognized the WindClan deputy and his leader. Next followed a white tortoise-shell she-cat and finally, a dark cream tom.

Shadestar and Mistflower followed, both looking quite cheerful. Flamestar dipped her head to the ShadowClan leader. He smiled and took his place on one of the branches. She followed.