Leafshadow's War [Warrior Cats]

Chapter Five

As the week progressed, the new cats settled in well. Leafshadow and Rin had become fairly close, though she and Nightleap were still practically inseparable. Twist, the youngest cat in the group, who was about the age of an apprentice, had become good friends with Silverpaw, the only apprentice who was still healthy, while Flint and Ink had become rather popular in the warriors' den, (in Flint's case, particularly with the she-cats.) Chaos, Brackenpaw and Leopardflight appeared to be on good terms. Therefore, it came as no surprise to anyone when the five rogues were invited to join Oatwhisker and Featherstar in the latter's den.

Leafshadow had just come back to the camp, disappointed after her hunt, which had reaped nothing but a pair of frogs from deep within the territory, and a very muddy pelt. It was just past sundown, so the evening patrol wouldn't be back yet. Nightleap almost always volunteered for that one, so she didn't bother checking to see whether the black she-cat was in the warriors' den. She was surprised to see Rin racing out of Featherstar's den instead, eyes glowing. "He said we can stay - he's holding the naming ceremony tonight!"

Leafshadow purred, shoving her affectionately. "What, you doubted he would?"

"A little," she admitted, grinning. They hadn't mentioned the dream for a few days. Rin looked like she'd forgotten about it. After all, everyone had nightmares, didn't they?

Their happiness was short lived, however, as Leopardflight padded into the clearing, tail drooping, his eyes tired and unfocused. "Poppytail is dead," he announced bluntly. "A vigil will be held for her tonight." He then turned around, returning to his den without a word.

The few cats gathered in the camp were stunned. There was silence for a moment, before a wail of despair came from inside the medicine den. Leafshadow bit her lip, identifying who it was. "Jaggedtail. Poppytail was his mentor. She was the oldest cat in the clan. She was bound to go soon, but I never expected..." she trailed off as she felt something catch in her throat.

Rin laid her tail on Leafshadow's back as a comforting gesture. "Yeah, I get it."

Leafshadow frowned, shaking her head. "She joined the elder's den when I was five moons old. She always had the best stories to Foxstep and I."

Foxstep had been her brother, but he'd disappeared shortly after receiving his warrior name. He just went off hunting, and never came back. Many cats thought he'd gone off to find their mother. It was common knowledge that Leafshadow and Foxstep were half-clan. Their father, Sharpwhisker, had come back with both of them one day, claiming he had no idea where the pair of them came from, but both of them obviously resembled him - they had the same lithe build, and Foxstep had his ginger coat. So the clan had taken them both in.

Sharpwhisker had died when Leafshadow was nearing the end of her apprenticeship, killed by a badger. And though Leafshadow missed her father, she wasn't really bothered by not knowing who her mother was. ShadowClan had raised her, and had was all she needed. But Foxstep had always wanted to know.

She pushed these thoughts aside, then said, a little louder this time, "We'll have to hold a vigil for her tonight."

"Vigil?"

"You'll see."

Risingpaw and Frogfoot, another elder, began to take Poppytail out into the clearing, Risingpaw pulling her by her scruff, Frogfoot supporting the rest of her from underneath. They laid her gently in the middle of the clearing, and as night fell, they'd find any herbs Leopardflight could spare that would mask the scent of death. Frogfoot and Stormclaw, the two remaining elders,  sat down beside her, along with Jaggedtail, and Cloudstorm, her son.

Rin blinked. "What are they doing?"

"They were closest to her, so they'll sit with her all night," Leafshadow said softly.