"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."

~•~•~•~•~•~

Wasps were constantly stinging the tom's heart. Poison flowed through his veins, his breathing loud and ragged. His eyes were round and glassy like a mirror, reflecting on everything that he had just experienced. He was weak like a rock that was constantly being pounded with hammers, ready to crackle into millions of different pieces.

Dimstar was broken.

It was if the russet tom's world had crumbled to dust right in front of his eyes. The memory of blood seeping from immense wounds and the familiar, piercing yowl of agony rang through his head. Dimstar couldn't push away the memory of what had just happened. He couldn't push himself to believe what had just happened.

But every event that had just happened wasn't a dream at all. Dimstar had truly saw Archangel swarm into camp after the large dispute that morning. He had watched his son be murdered. Dimstar had watched his son die right before his eyes. It wasn't a dream, he was awake.

Dimstar was even awake while burying his son. He was digging a hole large enough for Quailchaser's limp body, tears still brimming his green eyes. It was beginning to snow and the sun was beginning to crawl out of rhe sky. Dimstar could see everything around him clear as day as Cloverpool, Splashsky, and him worked to bury Quailchaser. He was wide awake.

But he wished that he was dreaming.

Dimstar's memories and thoughts kept bouncing around in his head, but he tuned in back to what was going on around him. Small specks of white were falling from the sky, symbolizing the beginning of leafbare. The sky was glowing with orange and small streaks of purple as the sun began to sink back down below the trees in the distance. The moon began to rise and already some stars could be visible in the sky. A breeze blew through the forest, the tree branches and flowers dancing along with it. Quiet croaks or frogs could be heard and the singing of birds was softly fading away for the day.

The rebellion leader's claws were scoring through the dirt to form a hole for Quailchaser's body to be placed in. It needed to be deep enough for no predators to get to it and large enough to fit his son. Clumps of dirt got stuck in his claws as he tore through roots and dug the deepest he could. Dimstar's eyes were still speckled with puddles of tears, a mixture of sorrow and anger still spiraling inside of him.

Splashsky was assisting at the other end of the grave, his progress more slow and steady though. Dimstar could tell that the newer warrior was broken and trapped in a spiral of melancholy from everything that had just happened. After all, Splashsky did love Quailchaser more than anything, but he had just witnessed that love fade in the blink of an eye before him.

Cloverpool was quiet the whole time, he tail still curled around her dead son's body. Her head was hung, her eyes shut as Splashsky and Dimstar dug. Dimstar glanced over at her every here and there as he dug, sympathizing his mate. He was afraid to comfort her though, for the last time they actually talked was during the dispute in which Dimstar broke her heart.

Finally after a few more moments of digging, the newer warrior and the leader finished the grave for Quailchaser. Dimstar stood back up straight, his gaze flickering back over to Cloverpool and Quailchaser's body. Splashsky was the first to move, padding over to Cloverpool's side and laying a tail on her shoulder.

Cloverpool glanced up and met Splashsky's gaze. The two's gazes were locked for a moment before Cloverpool nodded and stood to her paws. Her tail slowly slipped away from around Quailchaser's body as the deputy stepped back from it. Dimstar could tell she didn't want to leave his side, and she usually never did.

But for one of the first times in forever, Cloverpool stepped away from her son's side and watched with wide eyes. Dimstar met her gaze for a second but she turned away. The russet tom swallowed back a sigh and turned to glance down at Quailchaser's limp body.

Splashsky nodded and began to hesitantly help Dimstar move Quailchaser's body carefully into the hole. They heaved it along, Dimstar's eyes fixed on the wound in Quailchaser's bodies neck from Archangel. Dry blood was painted around the area of the wound and it set a flare a flicker of fire inside of Dimstar driven by anger and revenge. Archangel would pay for what he had done.

Splashsky and Dimstar then heaved Quailchaser's body into the hole. They stood beside the hole, their eyes narrowed as they glanced down upon Quailchaser for a few more moments. The eyes of the limp tom were shut, but if they were opened they would be staring deep into Dimstar's gaze. A ripple of sorrow washed over the russet tom and he clenched his teeth. But no, he wouldn't dare shut his eyes, for this could be the last time he would see Quailchaser in moons.

It was then time to cover the hole back up, leaving Quailchaser's body to no longer be seen. Dimstar and Splashsky began to kick and push dirt from the pile beside the hole back into it. As they did so, Quailchaser's body began to slowly disappear. Dimstar froze for a moment, his eyes locked on the Quailchaser's emotionless face.

I love you, my dearest son. I am so sorry for failing you. I wish I was the one beneath his claws instead of you. I wish I could've done something. I promise, that no matter how long it takes or how many lives, I will avenge you. I will avenge all, Dimstar thought for a moment, his gaze still locked on Quailchaser's cold face.

His eyes remained locked onto Quailchaser's visage as he began to move more dirt into the hole. In the blink of an eye, Quailchaser's body was no longer visible and the process began to speed up. Once the hole was filled with the rest of dirt, Splashsky flattened the dirt with a paw, but his movement were careful and hesitant.

Suddenly, Dimstar's ears perked with sobs began to erupt from a cat who began to step up beside him. His head cocked to spot Cloverpool, the she-cats ears pinned back and her jaws parted as she cried softly. The deputy sat beside to grave, setting a paw down over it and shutting her eyes. Dimstar felt an urge grow within him to sit beside her, but he stayed put as the she-cat shook her head.

"I should've....I should've told him before this happened. He would've been so happy. So excited...maybe even alive," Cloverpool mumbled.

Dimstar's eyes shifted into slits at Cloverpool's words. What did she mean to tell Quailchaser that she never did? Was it the same thing she was going to tell Dimstar at the dispute or was it different?

"Dimstar, I am expecting the second litter of our kits."

Those words slipped off the edge of Cloverpool's tongue as swift as a bolt of lightning. It pierced through Dimstar like thorns, his eyes widening in surprise and his jaws parting in a gasp. Cloverpool had stayed put though, not turning and not moving from where she stood. Splashsky watched from the side lines, his eyes wide and his fur bushed.

Dimstar was speechless, his frame like a statue now. Splashsky backed away, keeping his distance away from what was not his business. Cloverpool remained sitting beside Quailchaser's grave, her body shaking from sobs.

"Minktalon noticed a few symptoms a little bit ago. She came to a conclusion that I was expecting, and by the sight of my belly swelling even more, it seems to be true," Cloverpool explained, not turning at all to face Dimstar. "I should've told Quailchaser. He would've loved the thought of being a big brother. He would be the best big brother, too. I was going to tell you during the dispute, but my head was spinning and then Archangel came. It's all confusing, but I don't even know if I deserve having more beautiful kits of yours."

Dimstar cocked his head and took a hesitant step forward. His ears fell back and he sighed. "If anything, I don't deserve you having our beautiful kits."

"No," Cloverpool quickly responded with a shake of her head. "I was wrong to be so mad at you. I should've never been so rude and angry. I understand now that you were only meaning to just care for Peonyflight and be a good friend. Peonyflight may have feelings for you, but I understand now that you only love me. But, I wouldn't mind now if you became mates with her now. I am an emotional wreck, too much to handle, so I would understand-"

"No. I love you, and we are both emotional wrecks," Dimstar had stepped forward and told her, laying his tail on her shoulder and meeting her gaze. "I would never leave you, no matter what. I understand everything you are going through because I am experiencing it too. Our son just...passed...for StarClan's sake. You have every right to be emotional, Cloverpool."

The deputy's lips curled into a smile at Dimstar's words. She then pressed forward and leaned against Dimstar, muzzling his shoulder. A purr rumbled in her throat, and for once in forever, the two felt united yet again. They felt as if they were together again, thanks to Quailchaser.

"Together." Cloverpool mumbled, shutting her eyes.

Dimstar glanced over at Splashsky for a second, who seemed distraught for a few moments. But a smile soon emerged onto the black and white warrior's visage and he twitched an ear at Dimstar.

The russet tabby then lifted his head to glance up at the sky. It was now beginning to turn a light shade of black, stars twinkling and glowing in the sky as the moon rose slowly. One of the stars in the sky though especially caught Dimstar's attention. It was glowing brightly amongst the others and it seemed to be calling out to Dimstar.

A small smile emerged onto the rebellion leader's face and he nodded slowly. It felt as if Quailchaser's presence was watching over them, smiling and congratulating them. Dimstar knew that he had to stay by Cloverpool's side, and that the rebellion had to begin serious training. The battle was drawing nearer.

The word then slipped off of Dimstar's tongue like honey, oozing to the ground and leaving a sweet scent behind. It would make a difference in this world, and decide whether every cat would stand alone or not.

"Together, we will avenge them all."