Warriors: Ashfur's Insanity

Chapter 71

Ashstar woke up. It was a new day, and he felt like the battle with the rogues had been a dream. He'd been hoping it was a dream, actually. Cinderheart was dead still. 

Ashstar stumbled to his paws, weak. He grabbed Cinderheart's scruff and climbed up the ditch. He stumbled out onto the ground in pain. Ashstar scanned the forest. The undergrowth was thick here, and for a second Ashstar didn't remember where he was. He stumbled into the undergrowth, Cinderheart's pelt catching on twigs and thorn bushes. I've got to get home.

The smell of cats hit Ashstar's nose. Some were scents he'd never smelt before, and some were the scents of his Clanmates. A patrol padded from the undergrowth all of a sudden. 

"Ashstar!" Jaywing cried, leaping forward. She stopped dead as she saw  Cinderheart's limp body. "Cinderheart!" 

Squirrelflight's eyes widened. "No!" She cried. She leaped forward. 

Ashstar's vision started to darken. The grief was too over-whelming. He collapsed on the ground, tired from his wounds. 

Ashstar woke in the medicine cat's den. Mothstripe was tending to his wounds. 

"Oh finally, you're awake," Mothstripe meowed. "You've been asleep for a while, and we have company," She explained. 

"What? Who?" Ashstar hissed, bristling. 

"Whitewing, Berrynose, Blossomfall, Poppyfrost, and Rosepetal have returned. Remember when they went missing after the fire?" Mothstripe meowed. "They also found Lizardpaw, Mallownose, and Petalfur from RiverClan; Larkwing, Slightpaw, and Sedgewhisker from WindClan; and Scorchfur and Snowbird from ShadowClan. They also brought two other cats with them. Smoky and Coriander," She meowed. "Whitewing said that they found each other. She said that she found Smoky and Coriander, who were wanting to come with them because they said their home had gotten destroyed. Sadly when they traveled through the mountains, Briarlight died on the journey," Mothstripe explained. 

"When did they get here?" Ashstar asked. 

"Today, right after the sun was up. They were devastated to hear that Cinderheart had died in the battle. But when you went missing, Squirrelflight gathered and patrol to look for you," Mothstripe meowed. She stared at her paws. "Instead of finding you, they found Slateheart. She was dead," She meowed, her voice cracking. 

"How did she die?" Ashstar asked.

"She drowned. She was found by the bank of the river. She must've fallen in the river and was too weak to swim. After all, she'd been fighting," Mothstripe sighed. 

Ashstar felt grief spread through his body. It's my fault she died. I heard a splash and didn't think twice about it. He curled up in his nest. 

"Get some rest, Ashstar," Mothstripe soothed. "And by the way, Mossheart is expecting Bramblehawk's kits," She meowed. 

Ashstar curled up tighter as she padded away. Darkness then enfolded around him. 

Oh StarClan, what now? I lost Stoneheart, Bumblestripe, Softpaw, Wolffang, and now my mother? What now? My father? My sister? Jaywing lashed her tail. She hadn't been feeling great since the battle. It had been three moons since the battle with those dumb rogues, and she still asked StarClan why? Jaywing pushed her mouse to the side. I guess I should spend more time with my kin before I lose more of them.  

Jaywing noticed that Falconflight was eyeing her. He then started to pad over to her, his head low. 

"Hi Jaywing," He meowed happily. "You still don't feel good?"

Jaywing glared at him. "Obviously. My mother died. How's life for you?" She grumbled. She felt as though Falconflight liked her. After all, the young tom always wanted to share prey with her, hunt with her, and occasionally asked how she was doing. 

"I'm sorry if I upset you. I know you're still mourning over your mother," Falconflight apologized. "I would be upset too if I lost my mother," He meowed. 

"And your mother is my daughter," Jaywing grumbled. "And your father is dead, in the Dark Forest," She sighed. 

Falconflight's eyes widened. "What? My mother told me my father was a rouge!" He hissed. He glared at the medicine den. "She lied to me?"

"What would you expect?" Jaywing sighed. 

"I feel weak having my mother being a medicine cat. Maybe that's why my sister is so soft?"  He joked. 

Jaywing got to her paws, bristling. "Talk bad about my daughter again and I might claw your ears off!" She hissed. Feeling hurt, she stalked over to the camp entrance. I need some time alone, away from everyone.