hachi

Thornflow’s corpse lay cold at the head of camp. She was dead. Just as the land began to unthaw, and the song of birds long lost returned to the forrest, Thornflow had died.

Each cat sat solemnly around camp, their heads bowed some of the cats began to prepare her for burial.

Falconflight sat next to Hawkfeather and Kestralwing. They were on her left. Kestralwing was pressed against Hawkfeather. Her shoulder muffling his sobs. Hawkfeather whispered empty comforts to him. Falconflight stared blankley. Wondering how Eaglesjaw would react.

Falconflight loved her mother. A lot. But right now, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but she couldn’t feel anything but numb.

“She died painlessly…” Dirtyroot was telling the three, “She slipped back into coma in the night. Infection. Im so sorry…”

“Is that patrol back yet?” Boulderstrike asked Needlefang loudly from across camp, “Eaglesjaw has a right to know.”

“Theyll be back soon enough…” Needlefang looked up as a down pour started, “Great Starclan…”

Owlsnout and Flickerstone were the closest to Thornflow. They were grooming her fur, and placing herbs over her. Braving the rain for the sake of their clanmate and friend.

“Shall we move her under the high camp?” Murkymine whispered to Birchstar.

Hawkfeather and Kestralwing perked up, “We’ll carry her.”

Falconflight stepped aside. Her littermates carried Thornflow under the tree. Owlsnout’s kits curiously peaked down.

“Whats wrong with her?” Boulderkit asked from above.

“Stay up there!” Owlsnout called, “We’ll get you down once the patrol comes.”

As she said that the whole clan seemed to feel the rumble of rushing paws towards camp. Eaglesjaw, Sparrowwing, Grassfrond and Snakeeyes ran into camp.

“Wooo!” Eaglesjaw ran ahead and flung a rabbit into the prey pile and shook out his fur, “Rain! It came so suddenly were soaked to the bone!”

His patrol followed past him. They all didn’t seem to notice the cats solem expressions, “I’m chilled. All I’d like to do now is take a long warm nap.” Sparrowing yawned.

Eaglesjaw then turned to the rest of the clan, “Why are you all out in the rain…?”

He looked from Boulderstrike to Owlsnout, then to Birchstar, “Whats wrong?”

Each cat clamped their mouth shut. Dirtyroot sighed, “It’s Thornflow.”

“Thornflow? Well what about her?” Eaglesjaw craned his neck up trying to spot his mate in the crowd.

“I… I’m sorry Eaglesjaw, she slipped back into coma early in the morning and…” Dirtyroot trailed off.

Falconflight saw the confusion on her father’s face. She stood up, “She’s dead Eaglesjaw.”

“Dead…?” The stripped tom whispered the word, “No…”

“Oh friend…” Sparrowwing pressed against Eaglesjaw. Boulderstrike awkwardly followed pawed his shoulder.

“No that cant be. Where’s her body? She’s not dead. This isn’t funny.”

The cats parted the circle that had formed around Eaglesjaw, revealing his mates corpse laying under high camp.

Eaglesjaw bounded over to her side “She’s, shes sleeping fools! Great Starclan you’d think medicine cats could tell a dead cat from a living but nooooo!”

“She’s dead Eaglesjaw.” Coalshade spoke firmly.

“No she isn’t you useless excuse for a cat!” He turned at spat at the younger tom, “If she is it’s your fault!”

Dirtyroot was in between him in an instant, “Leave him alone! We couldn’t have known-!”

“You foxhearted traitor!” Eaglesjaw screamed and Sparrowwing and Boulderstrike had to rush to hold him back from leaping on Coalshade.

The kits in the high camp screeched and the sky darkened. A flash of light illuminated Eaglesjaw’s eyes. Falconflight saw anger burning, but deeper, she saw pure grief forming and bubbling.

“Order!” Birchstar leapt over. “I will have order in this camp! Eaglesjaw go to the warriors den. Now. We will call you out for the vigil.”

Eaglesjaw growled but his two friends guided him slowly to his den. Falconflight gulped. Birchstar faced the medicine cats.

“He’s grieving. Are you hurt?”

Coalshade sat up, “No… we all know what he’s going through. Let him rest. Let’s prepare for the vigil.”

-

The rain had died down into a quickly dissipating fog. It was strangely warm for early newleaf, but it seemed a welcome change from the rain. Though the fog prevented them from feeling dry.

The vigil had began. Some cats went up to speak. Owlsnout called Thornflow courageous and strong. Flickerstone told stories of when she was an apprentice and caught a mess of mice by scaring them into the paws of her clanmates.

“You should’ve seen her eyes!” Flickerstone laughed, her voice cracking, “She was so focused. And so proud. She was made a warrior shortly after. She was creative and smart.”

Falconflight listened from the edge of the crowd. Hawkfeather and Kestralwing sat huddled together whispering and listening. They had already spoken about their mother. Falconflight wasn’t invited to speak. It’s like she was invisible. Her pelt felt like lead.

“Look at them…” a voice behind her rasped, Falconflight didn’t need to look to know it was her father, “Snuffling like sickly kits, at their grown age. Pathetic.”

Falconflight felt a cold breeze sweep her pelt, “They’re… grieving.”

Eaglesjaw scoffed, “Warrior’s don’t grieve.” the word rolled off his tongue like rotten freshkill, “We fight back.”

Falconflight scoffed, “You already killed the warrior that killed her. A tail for a tail. What more can we do?”

“Kill all of those snake-hearts.” Eaglesjaw hissed, a low and dangerous sound, “And be finished. Once and for all.”

Falconflight’s blood ran cold. Was Eaglesjaw was calling for a genocide? ‘Well what else could he mean… but, my father is no murderer…’

Eaglesjaw noticed her lack of response. He grinned and sat up. “You know, you’ve grown into a fine warrior. Out of all my kits, you alone took after me. You’ve got my pelt, my eyes and my spirit.” He pawed her shoulder affectionately. Falconflight said nothing.

“See look? Stoic in the face of despair.” His tail curled, “When you lead this clan one day, you’ll make me proud. You know how.” Eaglesjaw turned and padded back to his den. His head high. As if nothing was wrong. As if his partner of seasons had not passed.

‘He thinks I’m strong…’ Falconflight swalloed the lump in her throat. She felt like throwing up, ‘He doesn’t know that I can’t grieve… oh how I want to cry for Thornflow… I just…’

Her thoughts her interrupted as Blackice’s scent washed over her.

“He can’t be serious.” He muttered watching after Eaglesjaw. “Duneclan has paid for their sins.”

“I… I think he’s grieving in his own way. M-maybe Dirtyroot or someone could talk to him-“

“You should know better than anyone he wouldn’t accept that.” Blackice sighed, “Time heals all… He’s still young enough to have vengeance in him. With age he will learn.”

“Right.” Falconflight stared at her paws.

She could feel Blackice’s eyes burning into her, “He was right about one thing.”

Falconflight turned to stare, Blackice sat taller, “You have grown into a fine warrior.”

Falconflight gave him a weak smile. Blackice sat up and flicked his tail, “Go sit with your littermates. They need you.”

-

Falconflight carried a small black bird into camp. It was snowing slightly again. Time had passed, and it seemed the worst of winter was behind them. Snow had began to melt off the trees and drip onto patroling cat’s noses.

Falconflight was followed by Flyhigh and Sparkstrike and Flickerstone.

“We make a good team the four of us!” Flyhigh said putting down her small shrew cheerfully.

“Yes, we should go out together more often. I’ll ask Needlefang.”

Sparkstrike carried all the prey to the pile, then she turned to Falconflight, “What typa’ bird’s that Falconflight?”

“Uh-“ Falconflight shifted the bird in her jaw, “Some sorta blackbird…”

“Hey a bird is good! One that ain’t a hawk at least.” Sparkstrike grinned, “It means springs here!”

“Not so fast.” Flickerstone sighed, “It’s not all over yet. Another moon at least.”

Sparkstrike sighed sadly and dipped her head. Flyhigh rolled her eyes affectionately and came to comfort Sparkstrike.

“Falconflight, take that bird to the prey pile, and find something big for the cats in the nursery. I’ll come with you.”

Falconflight tilted her head, “Aren’t the kits too young for solid food?”

Flickerstone nudged around the pile, “They had their first mouse yesterday and have been begging for more since.” She laughed, “Kits lose their taste for milk quickly.”

“Is this rabbit ok?” Falconflight asked, dropping a young bunny at Flickerstone’s paws.

“Perfect. Let’s go.”

The two cats scaled up the Highcamp. Falconflight grinned. She hadn’t done that in a long time. Her mind wandered back to her kithood days of playing hawk with her littermates. Those moons were gone.

They ducked into the wooden nursery. It was warm and smelled of milk. Immediately 3 young kits scampered up to them.

“Flickerstone!” The white and brown she-cat shouted, weaving along her legs.

“Hello Muddykit!” Flickerstone purred.

“Flickerstone watch this!” A black tom who looked just like Boulderstrike pounced on his brother, and they began to tussle.

“Boulderkit leave Shrewkit alone!” Owlsnout snapped sharply. The three kits sat straight down and ducked their ears.

“Sorry…”

Though their repentance was quickly forgotten when they noticed Falconflight with the rabbit.

“What’s your name?” Boulderkit called up.

Falconflight bent down and laid the rabbit beside him. “My name’s Falconflight.”

“Woah!” Muddykit pranced up to her, “I want my warrior name to be like yours!”

Flickerstone purred, “I’m sure they will. Birchstar has a knack for names. I dont think any leader we’ve had could compare!”

Owlsnout chuckled, “Doestar didn’t thats for sure. I remember hating my warrior name when I got it. Owlsnout and Eaglesjaw? Maybe she was having a bad day.”

Falconflight wondered why the queen mentioned Eaglesjaw, before remembering they were littermates. She often forgot as they weren’t particularly close to one another.

“I like your name!” Shrewkit beamed up at his mother, she smiled softly at him in return.

“Where Leveretkit?” Flickerstone inquired to Owlsnout. She seemed a little nervous in asking.

“He’s here…” Owlsnout sighed, “Come on out little one. Falconflight is your kin. Don’t you want to meet her?”

A small, light brown head peaked out from behind Owlsnout’s dark brown body. He was small. Insanely small with short thin fur and wobbly legs. His sibblings parted way for him as he shyly stumbled into the center of the nursery.

Falconflight felt pitty consume her. This poor little thing. He must’ve been the runt. She bent down carefully.

“Hello… little guy.” Falconflight was met with wide scared yellow eyes. Leveretkit began to tremble. “You have a very interesting name. What does it mean?”

“Falconflight Leveretkit doesn’t speak.” Flickerstone said gently.

At this Owlsnout began too look emotional. “Falconflight y-you should go. Kits go to the elders den and ask Pondduck for a story.”

“Oh right.” Falconflight awkwardly cleared her throat “Of course.”

Falconflight ducked out and saw the kits to the elders den. Pondduck began to tell some ancient tale about a Pineclan apprentice who caught a rabbit half the size of a deer.

Falconflight shook her head and passed by the nursery once again. She heard a snipit of her conversation with Flickerstone.

“Boulderstrike cant even look at him…” she sobbed, “He blames me.”

“It’s not your fault… its all apart of Starclans plan…”

Falconflight climbed down before hearing more. ‘How could Boulderstrike be so cruel…’

She looked across the camp at the senior tom laughing it up with her father. She never liked him. His own daughter, Murkymine never liked him. It seemed he was the issue. Most cats tolerated him though because they knew his loyalty.

Falconflight looked at the sky. It was around Midday. No patrols were out and most of the clan cats were lazily strung out or eating a midday meal.

Falconflight thought she’d visit her mother. She was weak and had spent more time in the medicine den since Falconflight had become a warrior. She ducked into the cool den and was greeted by the sharp tinge of herbs.

“Hello Falconflight!” Dirtyroot greeted her cheerfully. “Don’t mind the mess, Coalshade just returned from gathering herbs and I’m helping him sort them.”

Coalshade peaked out from the back of the den, “Thornflow! Your daughter’s here.”

Thornflow who was dozing off weakly lifted her head, “Oh Falconflight… hello my lovely…”

“Hey Thornflow…” Falconflight dipped her head to brush noses with her. Her mother looked and sounded old. It disturbed Falconflight. Sure Eaglesjaw had a few gray whiskers and sure Thornflow had a small grey line from her nose to her mouth but that didn’t mean she was old.

Thornflow coughed and sat up. Her fur was dull and her eyes void of shine. “Are you feeling ok?” Falconflight asked worriedly, “Do you need me to get you something?”

“Oh no no…” Thornflow shook her head, “Eaglesjaw said its just the draft from the medicine den. Yes I will be ok.”

Falconflight sighed, “I dont think its a draft…”

“Hush darling.” Thornflow sighed, “Get out of camp. Take a walk. You seem stressed.”

Falconflight sighed, nodded to the medicine cats and exited the den. She stood there for awhile, then began to run. She ran until her paws tore, jumping over roots, dodging bushes, and diving through thick undergrowth.

Falconflight found herself at the Cloudtree. Without another thought she began to climb. She climbed and climbed, passing ancient claw marks and warriors records until she reached a branch. She hauled herself on and sat, panting against the bark. It had become and overcast day. Falconflight could see nearly everything. From the small Duneclan border patrol heading out to the far outskirts of the territory, to the hawks flying far up in the mountains behind Pineclan.

The air was crisp up here. Cleaner. Falconflight felt her mind settle. Her jaw unclenched and she lay on the thick branch and watched nature.

She felt a little warmer, a little more grown and in control. She looked down at Pineclan. ‘So small from up here… my whole lifes down there.’

But that wasn’t true. She knew her life lay in Duneclan aswell. And throught clan territory. She knew she was the blood pumping through the earth. Pushing clan cats to fight and hunt and live. There was something great in store for her.

`I cant start being cocky about it… that’s wrong. I have to be humble.’