Streaks of blood seemed to stretch across the sky as the sun began to sink, the first Warriors of StarClan beginning to appear at the edge of the darkening expanse. A silver white tabby she cat sat in the Forest clearing, her blue eyes gazing upwards, filled with sorrow. Around her, other cats sat or crouched in a loose circle, most watching the limp body of a black and white tom laid out neatly in their midst.

[I]’Why did Badgerclaw, of all cats, have to die?[/I]

The thought struck Silverstar like a blow as her eyes dropped from the heavens and landed on the dead cat, the former deputy looking peaceful in Stark contrast to her feelings. Ears drooping, the she cat allowed herself one moment of engulfing grief and misery, head bowing. But then, like a duck shedding water, Silverstar seemed to mentally shake the suffocating sorrow away and she drew herself up, taking strength from the fact that her clan needed her to be strong.

As the vigil began in ernest, cats stepping forward to share tongues with Badgerclaw One last time or share memories of the tom, Silverstar’s clear blue gaze began to sweep over her clanmates, thoughts of the next deputy starting to fill her mind.

Nearby, she spotted her brother, Foxfur, sitting quietly with his mate at his side, her head resting on his shoulder. Between  Brindleheart’s front paws, one of their kits sat, Rabbitkit’s eyes as round as moons. It wouldn’t be much longer before the kit and his siblings were made apprentices. Silverstar couldn’t help but feel a slight stirring of joy at the idea, but the feeling was snuffed out as she gazed upon Foxfur’s grieved expression. Badgerclaw had been his mentor and the loss was obviously hitting rather close to home.

[I]’Foxfur might make a good deputy...’[/I] she found herself thinking idly, though ultimately she pushed the thought away with a blink of her eyes. Her brother wasn’t disciplined enough to be the deputy, he wouldn’t find the position enjoyable at all.

Silverstar’s gaze traveled over Eagleleap, the black and silver she cat’s eyes downcast, her front paws kneading the ground as if she were uncomfortable. It made the SunClan leader wonder if The other was feeling out of place. Eagleleap certainly hadn’t been in her new home for very long, so it was conceivable. She saw the young she cat cast a furtive, nervous, glance out of the corner of her eye for the briefest of moments towards one of the other cats, as if she were thinking that she wished she had picked a different spot to sit.

Silverstar followed her glance and couldn’t help but sigh softly. Shadestep certainly was one of the more outspoken cats against outsiders. He was looking rather subdued at the moment though, Badgerclaw had been his father, but she was certain he would be the first to raise objections if she even considered appointing a cat that had come from another clan.

Her gaze had just passed onto Birchcloud, their medicine Kat, when movement out of the corner of her eye had her gaze flickering instead towards where Owleye sat. For a moment, she studied the black furred warrior, before her eyes moved lower, meeting the sympathetic stair of her daughter sitting next to her mentor.

Frostpaw’s whiskers twitched apologetically, her head ducking down, but Silverstar gave her head a gentle shake to show that she was not upset. Blinking demurely, Frostpaw pointed her muzzle out towards the body of Badgerclaw for a moment before looking expectantly back at her mother, sincerity lighting her yellow eyes. Silverstar studied her daughter‘s expression for a moment before she blinked in a show of understanding, giving her head a small dip. Frostpaw’s ears turned back sheepishly before returning her own gaze to the Dead warrior, leaning into Owleye’s side for Comfort.

Rising to her paws as the last cat finished speaking, Silverstar quietly padded forward to affectionately lick The top of Badgerclaw’s head One last time before she lifted her head to look around at her cats. Heart aching, she swept her tail around to indicate them all before she spoke, her voice clear and melodic in the quiet night.

“We are all feeling the loss of a truly good warrior,” she began, meeting the eyes of each cat gathered in turn, “Badgerclaw’s absence will be a pain in our hearts for many moons to come. But as we mourn his passing, let us also remember his love of life, his caring nature towards all of us, and the way he made us all feel safe as our deputy. He died doing something that he can be proud of, saving one of his clanmates. If not for him pushing Foxfur and his apprentice out of the way of the snake, we might have had more of our clan to grieve over.“

Her head swiveled once again to her brother, meeting his eyes for a heartbeat before she looked towards Cinderpaw, her chest feeling tight at the idea that she might have lost her kit. Blinking a few times, she continued on, her voice sounding strained with grief.

“I will always honor Badgerclaw in my heart for so loyally serving his clan and for saving the lives of those dearest to me. He walks with StarClan now... and may he ever be happy.“ Blinking her blue eyes, dark with emotion, the beautiful silver tabby lowered herself onto her belly next to Badgerclaw’s body, flank pressed comfortingly into his mate Laurelcloud’s side as she buried her nose into the black and white tom’s fur for the last time.