"I'm so sorry for your losses," Tigerstar meowed. "I should've come sooner."

"I'm sorry about Beenose dying," Squirrelstar murmured. 

Sharptalon pricked his ears. Morning had turned into sunset. The sky was orange-pink. Few clouds scutted across it. The sun was sinking just behind the mountain in the distance. The rogue's had retreated, but ThunderClan was battered roughly. Squirrelstar lost another life fighting Darktail, Graystripe had been killed, most of the senior warrior were in terrible shape, and Ambertuft had died just before the battle.

Lighttail was beside Sharptalon. Herbs covered his flanks and wet moss was by his muzzle. His whiskers twitched as if he was still awake. 

Bramblehawk was in terrible shape, along with Brackenclaw, Needlepaw, Jaywing, and a few other senior warriors. 

The quiet sobbing of Jaywing filled the clearing, along with other cats mourning. Jaywing was crouched over her dead mate, Graystripe. 

"ShadowClan will be on its way," Tigerstar meowed, flicking his tail. Tawnypelt and the rest of his Clanmates followed. 

Sharptalon narrowed his eyes. 

Wingkit suddenly scampered into the den, her fur standing on end. "Sharptalon! I heard and also saw the fighting! Are you ok?" She asked, racing towards him. She nuzzled his cheek.

"I'm fine," Sharptalon mumbled. He twitched his whiskers. "Has Phoenixwing had her kits?" He asked.

"Yes. Dustkit, Grasskit, Graykit, and Lilykit," Wingkit mewed, her tiny tail sticking up. "She had a lot!" She purred.

Sharptalon smiled at the little kit. "She sure did."

"What about Ambertuft? Isn't she coming back from that border patrol?" Wingkit asked. 

Sharptalon's heart broke in two. He wished it was simple to tell her. But she'd be sad for days if she found out that her foster mother had died. 

"What happened to her?" Wingkit asked.

Sharptalon lifted his head weakly, pulling Wingkit closer with a paw. "I'm sorry, Wingkit, but Ambertuft is dead," he meowed. 

Wingkit bristled, her tiny ears flattening. Her eyes widened in horror and disbelief. "What? No! She can't be dead!" 

"She is," Sharptalon mumbled. "The rogues killed her while on patrol." His gaze shifted to the clearing, where Ambertuft's stiff body lay beside Graystripe. 

Ripplewind was crouched beside his mate's body, his face buried deep into her fur. Needlepaw, despite being injured, sat with him, her eyes dull. Blazepaw and Sootpaw sat with them, along with Thistlepatch. 

Sharptalon looked back at Wingkit. She was whimpering. The tiny kit had curled into a tit ball of tortoiseshell fur.

Lighttail shifted in his nest, his eyes blinking open. He glanced at Wingkit, grief shimmering in his eyes. "Wingkit?" He asked. 

Wingkit looked up, her gaze shaking. "Lighttail?"

Lighttail's gaze was fixed on his daughter. "I love you."

Wingkit blinked at him. "Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

"You might lose me one day," Lighttail whined. He moved his long tail to his side. "I just wanted you to know."

Wingkit shifted her paws. She padded closer to her father and touched her tiny pink nose to his, purring slightly. "Well I love you too, Lighttail." 

Peachkit scampered into the den, her tail raised. "Flamedawn!" She squeaked. 

Flamedawn turned away from Bramblehawk. "Yes?"

"Can I help you with something?" Peachkit asked. 

"Well you can check if all the injured cats have had food," Flamedawn suggested. "And can you please get me some marigold in the herb stocks?"

"Yes," Peachkit mewed. She scampered to the back of the den, where five holes were scooped into the dirt. She pulled a yellow flower out of one of the holes and shook out the dirt. She padded back to Flamedawn. 

Flamedawn took the herb from the kit. He began to chew the petals. 

Mothstripe looked at Peachkit approvingly. "You've seemed really interested in the medicine den lately. Would you like to be a medicine cat?" She asked.

Peachkit nodded in response. "I want to save my Clanmates when they're hurt or sick. I've never really wanted to fight or hunt," she admitted. 

Twistedfoot's whiskers twitched with amusement. "We've got enough medicine cats already as it is," he joked. He turned to Mothstripe, his eyes rounding. "Isn't it time to bury our dead?" 

Squirrelstar lifted her head from where she sat in her nest. "It is. Unfortunately we can not grieve all night. The dead bodies will attract foxes. Willowbrook's patrol reported fox scent by the Great Blossom."

Sharptalon glanced at her. He wanted to properly grieve for Ambertuft and Graystripe before finally saying goodbye. 

Squirrelstar got to his paws. "I only need rest for now, not treatment. I'm well. Someone else can take my nest," she meowed. She stalked from the den, her bushy tail lashing. 

Sharptalon watched as she climbed up the rocks to High-Ledge, then raised her chin.

"Cats of ThunderClan! I know it has been hard with our losses, but we must bury them now. I will give you time to say goodbye one last time. You have until the first five stars come out in the night sky," Squirrelstar announced. She retreated back into her den.

Sharptalon got to his paws shakily. Mothstripe rushed over, her feathery tail settling on his shoulders. "You must rest, Sharptalon. You were beaten pretty badly." 

"Please just let me say goodbye to Ambertuft. She was my mentor incase you forgot!" Sharptalon mewed. 

Mothstripe backed away. "Ok. But don't stay out too long and walk carefully," she insisted before turning away. 

Sharptalon stepped from his nest. He parted back an overhanging bramble and began to make his way over to Ambertuft slowly. 

Dark clouds shifted restlessly in the sky. The sun was gone and the half-moon shone dimly in the dark sky. Small stars were beginning to come out. Crickets and frogs began to chirp and the leaves of the trees rustled in the wind.

Sharptalon reached Ambertuft. He sat down, feeling his shoulders ache. But he also felt an ache in his heart. He shifted into a crouch, resting his muzzle on Ambertuft's flank. It was faintly stained with blood. Her fur had been groomed neatly.

"Thank you for being an amazing and supportive mentor," Sharptalon whispered. It was hardly a whisper actually. He winced. His voice had cracked with grief. When his mother had died, he'd hoped to never feel this intense grief ever again. But here he was, laying against his former mentor's body. 

"Sharptalon! You're up?" 

Sharptalon slightly jumped, hearing Stormgaze's voice behind him. He turned around slowly, seeing his mate approaching him.

"Grieving for Ambertuft?" Stormgaze's gaze was soft. She padded closer until she was beside Sharptalon. She rested her tail on his broad shoulders. 

"I wish I could've helped her," Sharptalon whispered. "She deserved so much better."

"She died protecting the Clan she loved," Stormgaze mewed. "She was one of our best warriors."

"She didn't even get to see her kits become warriors," Sharptalon spat. His gaze shifted to Ambertuft's face. Her eyes were closed, her mouth hanging open slightly. Faint blood stained her chin and lips. The gash in her throat had been cleaned, but was still dark with blood. 

Ferncloud, Poppyfrost, Purdy, and Thorn padded over suddenly. 

"It's time to let them go for burial," Ferncloud murmured, dipping her head. 

Thorn's golden tabby pelt seemed dark. 

"Rest easy," Sharptalon murmured quietly to Ambertuft. He felt like her spirit was listening to his words. He backed away with the rest of his Clanmates as the four elders padded forward and carry the two dead cats. 

"Let me help," Ripplewind padded forward. 

Thistlepatch padded forward, touching her tail to his flank. "This is for them to do."

Ripplewind blinked at her. "You're right." He sighed and turned away, his kits gathering close to him.

"You need to go back to your nest," Stormgaze insisted, glancing at Sharptalon. 

Sharptalon nuzzled his nose against his mate's cheek before turning away. He sank into his nest as he reached the medicine den. Lighttail was asleep. Wingkit and Peachkit were gone.

Flamedawn and Mothstripe were talking quietly with Twistedfoot. 

"Are you fine staying here by yourself?" Mothstripe asked the tom.

"Yes. You can go to the Moon-Cave while I stay here and make sure the injured are ok," Twistedfoot meowed. 

"Great. I'll make sure Squirrelstar knows." Mothstripe and Flamedawn left the den, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

Sharptalon closed his eyes, easing his breathing. He quickly fell asleep.