Chapter 67: After the Battle

Chapter 67: After the Battle

 
     Together the cats all head back to the gathering.  The sight is enough to blind them.  Flamestar is on the edge of crying.  Frostkit hurries over to Rosekit's body.  It is sad and cold, but Frostkit settles next to her anyways, and he gazes up to the stars.  Snowfur's constallation is now accompanied by a new one: Rosekit.
     Flamestar and Ivystar are next to Robinsong, along with Grayfur, who's using some wet moss to clean Robinsong's pelt.  No one is beside Wolfstar, who isn't quite dead.  That's when Ashfeather pads over to him.
"It's not too late, Wolfstar," she says.  Wolfstar looks up at her.
"You can still join StarClan.  They'll welcome you." Wolfstar nods his head in the slightest movement, then closes his eyes.
"And it's not too late for you either, Maple," Ashfeather says.  Maple sighs.
"I can't leave Rage alone," she says.  "I'll try to bring him back."  Maple pads away in the direction Rage had left awhile back, and as Scarletpaw looks at the passing calico, she sees a much younger cat.  Maple looks up at Scarletpaw.  Her red eyes soften to a jade green.
"Thank you," she whispers.  Maple pads away.  Scarletpaw leans against Blooddrop, who wraps his tail around her.
      The other clans just watch as the cats grieve.  No one says a word, and there's no reason to.  Everyone understands, everyone knows.  The DarkForest is defeated for now, but not completely.  They may return some time in the future, but enough time between for the clans to heal.  Flamestar beckons to his clan.
"Come on everyone," he says. "Gathering dismissed.  Let's go home."