Warriors: Sharptalon's Mist

Chapter 27

"I'm so sorry for your losses," Tigerstar meowed. "I should've come sooner."

"I'm sorry about Beenose dying," Squirrelstar murmured. 

Sharptalon pricked his ears. Morning had turned into sunset. The sky was orange-pink. Few clouds scutted across it. The sun was sinking just behind the mountain in the distance. The rogue's had retreated, but ThunderClan was battered roughly. Squirrelstar lost another life fighting Darktail, Graystripe had been killed, most of the senior warrior were in terrible shape, and Ambertuft had died just before the battle.

Lighttail was beside Sharptalon. Herbs covered his flanks and wet moss was by his muzzle. His whiskers twitched as if he was still awake. 

Bramblehawk was in terrible shape, along with Brackenclaw, Needlepaw, Jaywing, and a few other senior warriors. 

The quiet sobbing of Jaywing filled the clearing, along with other cats mourning. Jaywing was crouched over her dead mate, Graystripe. 

"ShadowClan will be on its way," Tigerstar meowed, flicking his tail. Tawnypelt and the rest of his Clanmates followed. 

Sharptalon narrowed his eyes. 

Wingkit suddenly scampered into the den, her fur standing on end. "Sharptalon! I heard and also saw the fighting! Are you ok?" She asked, racing towards him. She nuzzled his cheek.

"I'm fine," Sharptalon mumbled. He twitched his whiskers. "Has Phoenixwing had her kits?" He asked.

"Yes. Dustkit, Grasskit, Graykit, and Lilykit," Wingkit mewed, her tiny tail sticking up. "She had a lot!" She purred.

Sharptalon smiled at the little kit. "She sure did."

"What about Ambertuft? Isn't she coming back from that border patrol?" Wingkit asked. 

Sharptalon's heart broke in two. He wished it was simple to tell her. But she'd be sad for days if she found out that her foster mother had died. 

"What happened to her?" Wingkit asked.

Sharptalon lifted his head weakly, pulling Wingkit closer with a paw. "I'm sorry, Wingkit, but Ambertuft is dead," he meowed. 

Wingkit bristled, her tiny ears flattening. Her eyes widened in horror and disbelief. "What? No! She can't be dead!" 

"She is," Sharptalon mumbled. "The rogues killed her while on patrol." His gaze shifted to the clearing, where Ambertuft's stiff body lay beside Graystripe. 

Ripplewind was crouched beside his mate's body, his face buried deep into her fur. Needlepaw, despite being injured, sat with him, her eyes dull. Blazepaw and Sootpaw sat with them, along with Thistlepatch. 

Sharptalon looked back at Wingkit. She was whimpering. The tiny kit had curled into a tit ball of tortoiseshell fur.

Lighttail shifted in his nest, his eyes blinking open. He glanced at Wingkit, grief shimmering in his eyes. "Wingkit?" He asked. 

Wingkit looked up, her gaze shaking. "Lighttail?"

Lighttail's gaze was fixed on his daughter. "I love you."

Wingkit blinked at him. "Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

"You might lose me one day," Lighttail whined. He moved his long tail to his side. "I just wanted you to know."

Wingkit shifted her paws. She padded closer to her father and touched her tiny pink nose to his, purring slightly. "Well I love you too, Lighttail." 

Peachkit scampered into the den, her tail raised. "Flamedawn!" She squeaked. 

Flamedawn turned away from Bramblehawk. "Yes?"