#greenleopard

The branches of the willow trees swayed gently in the wind, sending a few leaves drifting down onto Leopardfur’s head. The golden deputy shook them off with a grunt and padded forward. She was looking for someone. She rounded the corner hastily, then stiffened in surprise. The cat she had been searching for was just up ahead. 

Greenflower stood hunched over two small bundles of fur, her brown tabby frame trembling. Both of the tiny shapes were motionless, their bodies laying unnaturally still. They didn’t twitch when their fur was blown in the gentle breeze, or when Greenflower bent her muzzle down to touch them, her eyes squeezed shut. 

Her dead kittens. 

Leopardfur’s heart twisted painfully at the sight, and she ran to the queen’s side. 

“Greenflower?” 

The she-cat didn’t respond. 

Leopardfur shifted her paws and sat down next to her. 

“I’m so sorry about your kits. They shouldn’t have been lost so soon. RiverClan will miss them, as will I.” Leopardfur tentatively reached out a paw, before putting it down. She didn’t want to provoke the queen when it had been so soon after her loss. Greenflower didn’t look up. 

Leopardfur wondered if she should leave the queen to mourn in peace, but she swallowed and continued on. She knew what it was like to lose a kit, though it had been a different kind of experience. Memories of Whiteclaw jabbed painfully at her heart, making her eyes water. Leopardfur shook her pelt out and resumed her attempt at comforting her clanmate. 

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’ve lost a son, but never a kitten. It must be so terribly hard.” Leopardfur heard Greenflower swallow, but she stayed silent. Leopardfur could see quiet tears steaming from her eyes, and her ears were flattened to her skull. The deputy’s insides burned with pity. 

“If there’s anything you need from me, just let me know. Tell me what I can do to help.”  Leopardfur finally mustered up the courage to lay her tail tip on Greenflower’s flank for a few heartbeats, before pulling away. She probably needs to be alone right now, Leopardfur mused, meowing a quick good-bye. She turned back towards the path that led to camp, ready to begin her journey home. But before she could take another step, a blur of brown tabby and white fur slammed into her. Leopardfur jerked in surprise as Greenflower pressed her face into her  chest with a shrill wail. 

“Don’t go.” She rasped hoarsely, wriggling as she buried her nose into the deputy’s golden fur. Surprised blossomed in Leopardfur’s chest, but it quickly lessened, being replaced by sympathy instead. Gently, she placed a paw over the queen’s tabby head and bent her muzzle down. She licked behind her soft ears soothingly. “I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, shifting around into a more comfortable position. 

She felt abrupt motion on her chest as Greenflower sobbed, her voice cracking with despair. Leopardfur stroked her tail along the cat’s spine, murmuring soothingly. 

“I’m here, I’m here. Let it all out.” 

Greenflower continued to howl her grief out, the sounds bouncing off the willow trees and into Leopardfur’s ears. She knew these sounds well. She had made these exact noises when Whiteclaw had died. The spotted she-cat exhaled and buried her nose in Greenflower’s head fur. 

“Do you want help burying them? Or do you need more time? Don’t worry if you do, it’s alright.”

Greenflower sniffled, her eyes shining with misery. 

“I could use your help burying them , please.” 

Leopardfur nodded. “Okay.”

Greenflower stepped back, her paws shakily turning towards the limp bodies of her children. She let out a choked cry, and Leopardfur quickly pressed against her side, supporting her weight as the queen’s knees began to buckle. Greenflower unsheathed her claws and sank them into the ground, slowly steadying herself. She walked a few paw steps away and then stopped under the shade of the nearest willow tree. She scratched an ‘X’ onto the dirt. “Here,” she mewed quietly, her voice still shaking. 

Leopardfur dipped her head, and bent down to pick up the kits. They were so tiny and fragile in her grasp; they had been born way too soon. She was able to carry both of them by the scruffs, and she gently tightened her grip as she padded over to their mother. Greenflower looked away for a heartbeat, her face contorting as she let out a hiss of heartbreak. The queen then straightened, and began to dig at the spot she had marked. Her claws worked away furiously at the earth, and Leopardfur itched to help her. But she simply waited patiently, the kits hanging in her jaws. 

After a few minutes, Greenflower stepped back, her paws muddy and caked with dirt. A shallow hole was dug into the ground, just deep enough to hold the pair. Greenflower flicked her tail at the pit and stared up at Leopardfur. Realizing what to do, the golden she-cat bent down,   placing the kittens into the hole as carefully as she could. Leopardfur stepped back, glancing over at her clanmate. Greenflower peered down at her babies once more, her eyes sparkling with pain. 

Then, she began to scrape dirt overtop them, her paws working diligently to cover up their little bodies. Leopardfur joined in, curling her claws into the ground and spraying soil onto their pelts.

After a few minutes of silent digging, Greenflower and Leopardfur were patting down the pile of dirt on the grave, smoothing out the remaining bumps. 

StarClan take good care of them, Leopardfur silently pleaded, glancing up at the pale sky. 

Greenflower reached towards a low hanging willow branch and ripped off a piece of leafy sprig. She laid it overtop the grave and sighed. 

Then, she looked up at Leopardfur, gratitude brimming in her green gaze. “Thank you.” The queen murmured softly. “I really needed someone to lean on right now. You’ve helped so much, Leopardfur. I- thank you for being here, it means more to me than you know.” 

Leopardfur let out a low purr. She stepped over to brush her muzzle against the queen’s cheek. “Don’t mention it. Whatever you need, just ask. I care about you.” A weak purr rattled in Greenflower’s chest, making Leopardfur’s pelt warm in delight. Greenflower rubbed her head alongside the deputy’s chin, her eyes closed. 

“Thank you, Leopard. As, do I.”