Dusk was gathering over the mourning cats like a thick fog. It had been utterly silent except for their labored breathing, punctuated by whimpers of grief. Jewel got to her paws, her legs stiff from their vigil. "It is time," she murmured.

Frostfeather slowly lifted herself to her feet, the Dockcats rising around her. Sun'ka turned to her group mates, her jade eyes brimming with sadness. "Today we have lost a noble, caring leader," she began, "his life was taken so that IceClan may stays."

The Dockcats turned their sorrowful gazes on the Clan cats. Frostfeather backed away, feeling tremendous guilt that it was her Clan who had driven Cairn to his downfall.

"We shall honor his life by pledging to protect IceClan. For as long as they may bless our presence, we will lay down our lives so that they may live among us." Sun'ka meowed, her voice strong despite her overwhelming sadness.

"Oh no, that's not necessary," Brokensong started to meow but she was quickly silenced by one of the Dock cats.

"He was always close with the spirit of these lands. May he watch over us during these troubling times," Sun'ka mewed, her voice wavering on the last few words.

Elkleap started to move forward, his face creased with concern but Falcon blocked his way. "She must bear this burden alone," the tom growled.

Sharp prickles rushed up Frostfeather's spine. She must bear this burden alone, the words rang like bird song in her head.

The Clan cats stayed back while Jewel and Falcon bent to pick up Cairn's body. Carefully, they placed him atop Sun'ka's slender shoulders.

Blue whimpered and turned, rushing towards Brokensong's side. She lowered her head and touched her nose to his ear, "I wish we could have prevented this," she whispered. She then walked over to Raven's side and escorted him to the safety of her den.

"Now we will carry Cairn's body to the Den of the Sky, to be buried," Jewel mewed as she turned to the IceClan cats. "It is not customary to have strangers there, but I'm sure Cairn would rather you be there."

Sootsplash and Meadowshine exchanged uncertain glances as Lionpaw nuzzled closer to her mother's side. Elkleap nodded, his muscles taut as he stared at Sun'ka. Brokensong looked uncertain as she reapperead from her den. Frostfeather could feel Pineheart quivering next to her, but to her surprise he actually answered.

"Yes, we will join you," his voice was strong, filled with such intense emotion.

"Very well," Jewel murmured. At that, Sun'ka turned and started to slowly walk towards the entrance. The dock cats clustered around her, shouldering the burden of Cairn's lifeless body.

The Clan cats followed in their own group close behind. Frostfeather looked up to the darkening sky, gray storm clouds covering its entire length. She shivered, feeling dread sweep over her.

The soft thuds of pawsteps echoed down the alley, the only noise aside from the collective breathing of all of the cats. Their trek seemed to last a lifetime; but, finally, a splash of light appeared at the end of the pathway.

Sun'ka padded into the open, making a sharp right turn to continue along the edge of the dockworker's buildings. Frostfeather watched Blue and Drizzle's gray pelts as they turned the corner ahead of them.

A fresh gust of air buffeted Frostfeather's face as she padded out. She held back a gasp as she laid her eyes on the sea. It had turned an angry black, the windswept waters clashing and rolling with wild abandon.

It was only a short distance before Sun'ka turned down another alleyway, her orange pelt disappearing into the shadows of the tunnel. The Dock cats followed without hesitation, their heads bowed in grief. Elkleap was right behind, his tail flicking as he hovered at the rear of the Dock cats.

Frostfeather heard Lionpaw start to whisper something but she was quickly hushed by Meadowshine's stern voice. As she padded into the darkness, another gust of wind whipped down the passage. It sounded like claws scraping against rock, like a million cats hissing in her direction.

She flattened her ears, hoping to block out he harsh noise. But as they padded further and further, the wind grew even more fierce. Frostfeather could almost hear voices, clearly distressed and full of anger.

Just as she was going to turn to Pineheart, the large group of Dock cats padded out into the Den of the Sky. A stray beam of moonlight pierced the clouds, illuminating Sun'ka's fiery pelt.

Frostfeather hurried after her Clanmates as they burst into the open. Sun'ka was already bending down, letting Cairn's body slide to the ground. The moonlight showered over him, making him look ethereal.

Stone, Falcon, and Sparrow padded over to the massive tree, their tails dragging in the dirt behind them. Frostfeather couldn't help but watch as they started to dig up the earth near the base of the leafy shrine.

Jewel turned and walked back over to the Clan cats, her shoulders hunched with the weight of grief. "It is customary to hold this ceremony after the death of our leader. As we bury them next to the Heart of the Sky, we name their heir as leader," she explained.

"That means Sun'ka will be leader," Brokensong stated.

Jewel nodded in reply. Smog and Olive lingered a few paces away, watching the burial in a shocked silence. Lily was standing only a rabbit hop away from the others while they dug Cairn's grave.

Drizzle had huddled close to Lionpaw and Meadowshine, her white and gray fur spiked with tension. Frostfeather wished she could comfort them, but it was pointless.

Eventually, the hole was big enough to lay Cairn at rest. Sun'ka gathered her groupmates around her with a sweeping motion of her fluffy orange tail.

The Clan cats hurried forward, keeping to the edge of the group. "Now, we will say our last goodbyes before we let the earth reclaim him," she meowed.

She dipped her head low, whispering something into her father's ear. As she stepped away, Jewel quickly took her place. Frostfeather felt her fur prickle uncomfortably as she edged closer.

Each Dockside cat bent forward to say their last kind words to their noble leader. As they came to the end, it was Blue and Drizzle's turn. The she-cat went first, her whiskers drooping as she nuzzled her nose in Cairn's cheek fur.

As she walked away, Blue stared at his father. He seemed frozen, still not wanting to accept that his father was dead. He wailed in distress, flinging himself over Cairn's shoulders.

"No! No!" he cried, his blue eyes wild as he turned to look at the others. "He can't leave! He can't be dead!"

Sun'ka quickly stepped forward and grabbed his scruff in her jaws, pulling him off. "I know you are upset," she grunted, "but this is your only chance to say your last words to him. I don't want you to regret this."

He shot her a mutinous glare, his tiny claws sliding from the sheaths. With a sigh, Sun'ka retreated back to where she had been sitting while the others said their goodbyes.

As Blue finished, Elkleap stepped forward. His shoulders were slumped with the same sorrow as the Dock cats. He rested his muzzle for a few moment's on top of Cairn's head, closing his eyes as he took a small breath.

"Thank you.." he whispered, "for taking us in. I'll make sure Sun'ka stays safe."

As he, too, retreated to the side of the clearing, the other Clan cats took their turn. Sootsplash and Meadowshine both gave quiet thank-you'd, while Lionpaw was too stunned to speak. Brokensong came next, her good eye scanning over Cairn's fur.

"You daft fur ball," she choked, "you should have just listened to what Fable told you! You were still so young.."

Frostfeather stiffened with shock at Brokensong's words. I don't think I was supposed to hear that, she thought hastily.

As Brokensong stepped away, Frostfeather found herself tiptoeing closer to Cairn's body. She looked over his corpse, completely unmarred except for the splash of blood that had dried around his throat.

"If you dare to look for StarClan, I'm sure they'd be waiting for you," she whispered as she brought her muzzle close to Cairn's ear. "Blizzardstar would be foolish to welcome you amongst their ranks."

She sat back, feeling content with what she had said. Despite that, she didn't want to back away. She wanted to say more, but just couldn't find the words.

Begrudgingly, she went to join her Clanmates a few steps away. Pineheart was last, his tail flicking uncomfortably as he grew close. He sat over him for a few moments, his head bowed with sadness.

"We could have died out there," he meowed, loud enough for everyone to hear him, "but instead you let us stay. You welcomed us to the docks."

He shut his eyes tight, turning his head away from the emotional scene. "You didn't have to give up your life for us, but you did. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten."

The Dockside cats murmured in agreement, their eyes still shining with sadness. As he turned to join the others, Sun'ka once more stepped up to her father's side.

But this time, Falcon and Sparrow joined her. Together, they lifted Cairn's body and carried it towards the Heart of the Sky. Everyone clustered behind them, following the trio to the lip of the deeply dug hole.

They set Cairn down lightly at the edge, his brown tabby striped tail dipping down into the earthen grave. Using both paws, Sun'ka gently pushed him over and into the hole.

"I will avenge you," Sun'ka meowed as she looked down at his sleep-like form.

A low crack of thunder sounded in the distance, making Frostfeather jump. "Now we should go back and eat," Sun'ka instructed as she turned to her groupmates, "no one has eaten since dawn. I don't want anyone getting sick."

Falcon pawed the dirt back into the hole, covering Cairn's body from view. The Dockcats and IceClan members lingered for a few more heartbeats, staring with longing at the mound of dirt where Cairn was buried.

"May StarClan light our path," Brokensong muttered as they started to head towards the alleyway.

"Indeed..." Sun'ka whispered as she lead the way back into the alley to start their journey back home.