"Emberpaw!"

Acornpaw barged through the mass of cats to reach the body of her sister. At the sight of her frail structure, she collapsed at the flame-colored she-cat's paws. She suddenly remembered all the great things they did together: when they took on a fox by themselves, when they would go on hunting patrols together, when they would play pranks on the senior warriors. Those were all gone, just a memory now.

Her mother, Applefur, and her father, Bramblefang, approached the shaken apprentice. Applefur lay next to her, her tail placed on top of her daughter's shoulders to comfort her. She said nothing, only staring in shock at her dead daughter.

"Who would've done this?"

"Was it a warrior here?"

"It couldn't possibly be somebody here! It must be a rogue."

The angered warriors' cries filled Acornpaw's ears. She tried blocking them out, but they were an uproar, upset and enraged.

"Cats of the clans!" Cherrystar's call echoed through the trees. Each cat silenced, turning their heads to the BirchClan leader. "We are all sorrowful about Emberpaw's death. She would've made a great warrior, though that is not what StarClan wanted her destiny to be. I would like to ask if a few of my warriors could go out and search the area for a rogue who might've been responsible for her death," She mewed, oddly calm.

Several warriors, even a few from CedarClan and MeadowClan, began pouring out of the Great Oak's clearing and spreading out into the bushes.

Acornpaw glanced up from Emberpaw's flank to see Tigerpaw, Paintedpaw, Juniperpaw, and Cloudpaw now gathered around their friend. Cloudpaw tried to comfort Acornpaw by laying down next to her and keeping their pelts close together. Tigerpaw left after a short while of mourning, later followed by Paintedpaw and Juniperpaw. Bramblefang left the side of his mate to go search for the murderer, Acornpaw thought once she saw her father leave.

Applefur, Acornpaw, and Cloudpaw stayed quiet while the other cats were buzzing with energy, both fearful and nervous. "I wonder what her warrior name would've been," Applefur muttered, half to herself.

"We could ask Cherrystar to let her receive it before joining StarClan," Cloudpaw suggested. The she-cat's head slowly nodded, and Cloudpaw padded away from Emberpaw's body to let the other cats mourn her.

Minutes passed, with warriors passing by the dead cat to pay their respects. Even cats from other clans would sit near her for a while before continuing with the search. Acornpaw noticed the CedarClan apprentices, Skypaw, Cherrypaw, Badgerpaw, Ashpaw, and Dovepaw, sit near Emberpaw's body. Cloudpaw returned to Acornpaw's side soon after the CedarClan cats left, accompanied by another apprentice who smelled of wildflowers from Meadowclan. That must be Mosspaw, Acornpaw thought. Cherrystar also came over to mourn Emberpaw, a look of sorrow in her eyes.

Just then, Hawkwhisker, Tigerpaw, and Maplecloud padded up to their leader. "There is no sign of a rogue," Hawkwhisker mewed to Cherrystar.

Cherrystar stood up to face the cats. "Okay. I'll let the other clans know," She told them, then walked away from Emberpaw and towards the Great Oak. Her nimble body leaped up it effortlessly until she reached a branch and looked out across the clearing.

"Cats of the clans!" She called, causing each cat to peek their head out of the bushes and give their attention to the BirchClan leader. "The search was unsuccessful, but we will find who caused Emberpaw's death eventually. Leaders may take their clans home if they wish," She mewed.

CedarClan and MeadowClan left almost immanently, leaving only BirchClan.

Cherrystar began gathering the warriors to start going back to camp. She walked up to Acornpaw and Applefur.

The leader opened her mouth to speak, but Applefur interrupted her. "We'll come back to camp later," She mewed.

Cherrystar didn't object and led the clan out of the clearing. Bramblefang joined his mate and daughter, sitting next to Applefur to show his sympathy.

They were silent for a while until Bramblefang spoke. "Emberpaw would've been a great warrior, maybe even a leader someday," He whispered. "I wonder if she's reached StarClan by now."

Acornpaw looked up to the black night sky. She saw another star in Silverpelt, shining brightly alongside the other spirits of their ancestors. Perhaps it was Emberpaw, she thought.