Sunscar hadn't seen anything like it, but then again, she had never had anything to compare it to. The devastation that was held in the air, the pinch of stolen pride, the iron grip of blood that refused to be ignored hanging in the oxygen she breathed now. It was almost as chocking as the humid air, mocked by the bright sunny day that came with the battle.
This was not Thunderclan, this was a clan that had lost the first battle. And it hurt.
It tore her to shreds to see her clan in such devastation, but she tried to ignore the negatives, after all, battles never ended with only positive effects. Her clan survived, her family survived. They lost a few, but it is better than losing most.
She had been sitting along the rim of the camp, watching on as those valuable few who had passed in the battle were being brought to the center of the camp to be mourned, to be remembered. Her heart wept for them, the face of misery on some of clanmates deeply distraught her. But others looked better, almost inspired, as if the next time another attack happened, they'd take as much from the enemy as they had taken from them.
Firestar sat beside her, still possessing Firesong's body.
"Thunderclan always recovers." Firestar said, also watching the clan from afar. Sunscar looked at him.
"We need a plan for next time. We don't know when they will return." She said, "We need to talk to the other leaders about this. Lionblaze and Jayfeather have gone to the other clans, surely they've won them over." Sunscar prompted. Firestar looked over at her.
"Firstly we must speak to Greystar about preparations for this war. Thunderclan is the only guaranteed clan as far as we know. I doubt Windclan and Riverclan would side with Thistlestar and Thistleclaw, but we cannot take that risk. They may have Dark Forest spies in those clans." He pointed out, getting up as he began to approach Greystar's den. Sunscar followed after him quickly, watching Greystar sit atop the High Ledge, watching his clan below.
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Tiny quietly entered the camp, the rest of his clanmates who had not gone to warn Thunderclan or join in the fray following behind him.
He refused to leave any of them at their makeshift camp.
Tiny saw them, Taz and Walt had Squid's body separate from the others, both mourning her death. His heart seemed a little heavier as he stared at them, his clanmates slowly entering behind him. Smear and Goddess staying close as he moved to approach, Tim and Sam sat by the entrance as Gouge jogged past them.
Tiny knew she would never say it aloud, but he knew Gouge was shaken by the sight. Gouge had practically adopted Squid when she had joined Bloodclan so many seasons ago. She had done her best, however, to separate them, thin their relationship, so neither would be in pain if this happened. But it was an illusion.
No one can lie to their heart.
The black she-cat slowed as she got closer, her short fur seeming to lose the gleam it once had.
Taz was the most disturbed by this loss, the sadness in his eyes was maddening, the emptiness that occupied him was concerning with its heavy presence. Tiny knew he and Squid were close, closer than close, but both had not expected life to end for Squid so early, to take all the opportunities they would have together, forever. He had planned to report to Greystar and discuss a plan, but his clanmates needed him.
And he could not insult Squid's memory by ignoring her loss.
As he got closer, Smear and Goddess sat alongside Taz, Smear murmuring words of comfort to the devastated tom. Tiny kept a small distance between him and Squid's body, pondering on what words he should say for her. How could Greystar do it so quickly?
He sighed softly and with regret. He had done this her, hadn't he? He was the one who sent her away, sent her to danger rather than keeping her in the safety of the clan... But he felt she was the best choice, out of all of them, she was the fastest, and was a runner after all...
He let his head bow slightly as he felt that small wave of sorrow pour over him like a heavy summer rain.
"Squid.. She was beloved.. She was inspiring, loving to those around her, eager to achieve and assist." He began,  digging up all the complimenting words he could. His clanmates looked up at him, seeming a little surprised by his speech, he rarely gave them. But he was learning from Greystar that the most powerful ability any leader has is using their words.
"Young and spirited. Those are the words I would describe her with, truthfully. Squid was one of our bests, and I... Can only say she did not deserve this death. But, we cannot regret her death, or else we serve to regret her life and all she did..." He continued, slowly allowing himself to get closer and taking a seat among his clan.
"She would've wanted us to remember her fondly, to keep her in our hearts so we never forget her, and to follow her life as an example of how to cherish everything around you, even in the darkest of times." He glanced to Taz.
"I hope we can all come to appreciate her sacrifice and know that it saved many others from her unfortunate fate. May her spirit rest in the stars above among those of these clans, so she may know peace and a life beyond this one..." Tiny slowly finished, closing his eyes as he lowered his head. The other cats did the same, slowly, as they all took a moment to remember the she-cat for her life, and not her death.
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Greystar slowly looked around his clan another time from the High Ledge, where he had retreated too after spending a while amongst his clanmates during the beginnings of their mourning.
Some had been lost... And possibly more would lose their lives as this war would inevitably continue. He had witnessed Tiny enter camp, and he had heard his words, feeling a small spark of pride in his chest that the tom had seemed to learn something from him about leadership.
But it disappeared as he returned his attention to more pressing matters. His clan needed a plan, for attack, for defense. For survival.
With the blow Shadowclan and the Dark Forest had dealt, they would surely come again, and perhaps even sooner than anyone could predict.
Firestar was coming to speak with him, he expected the others but Sunscar, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze had stayed among the clan.
"We need a plan, Firestar. We need to tell the other clans of this." Greystar began as Firestar made his way up the High Ledge, small stones breaking loose and falling below.
"Yes. Before we or one of them are made into the second target.. Unless Shadowclan and the Dark Forest have already attacked another clan..." Firestar said, his steps slowing as he seemed to consider the idea.
Greystar looked to him.
"We need to unite, no matter what.. But we cannot meet at the island of the lake.. We would be a perfect target for attack.." Greystar said as he looked away, back across his clan as he pondered over the situation, and a resolution to solve it. Firestar watched him as well, slowly starting to pace.
"I will go to the other clans, they must know to trust me above anyone else... I will root out the spies and corruption of the other clans before they can be turned to their side. They would not turn on Starclan without a massive amount of persuasion.. Or threats.." He stopped pacing as he looked to the leader of Thunderclan.
"Keep Sunscar safe. She may be our final hope if we lose everything." And with those ominous words as his goodbye, and without listening to Greystar any longer, the flaming orange tom took off out of the camp, creating a plan for bringing the clans together, and plotting a counter assault to the Dark Forest.