Death of Silvercloud [open]

[♥Rösε]

Harmonypaw

Harmonypaw followed Silvercloud out of camp. She had grown quite fond of the old tom cat, even though his nagging got on her nerves from time to time. He was close to retirement, which could be seen as white fur started to tinge his fur around his mussle and snout, that and you could tell he was a bit rusty. All in all he was a wise cat, and had taught her well these past five moons. Trotting along easily beside him she glanced around. Taking in the familiar sights and smells of her dear RiverClan. The hanging willow trees hung above them as they took the path towards the river. They were hunting again, yippe. Thats all they seemed to do now a days. Sure they went over batle training, which she found more fun than this, but he seemed to want her to be a hunter. Rolling her ice blue eyes at the thought her bream colored fur lit up through the vines. "You look like Crystalheart."

he had mewed to her and she managed a small smile.

Her mother was dead now along with her father, Melodypaw was always in the medicine cats den with some new problem, and Patiencepaw was all she had left. Ears flattened at the memory she straightened up, there was no need to be weak about this. Things...happend. Though it was true that Silvercloud did in some ways become the father figure in her life, no one could be her mother. And at the same time she could not escape her either. She looked liked her, and to others she walked like her, ate like her blah blah blah. All of it made her feel like a copycat, not even a real cat with her own personality. Whihc in truth Harmonypaw had a sharper, more distant attitude than Crystalheart ever had. She was always the advice giver, the main queen, mother to all. It was a surprise she didn't become a medicine cat back in her day. Harmonypaw didn't realise that she had spaced out until a loud voice broke through her thoughts. "Harmonypaw! I swaer its a miracle that your still amoung us, with all that day dreaming non-sense. Dreaming won't get you to warrior hood, reality will. Now shape up!"[/color] his voice was hoarse and clearly irritated.

But instead of losing her temper, like she did most other days, she stayed silent. Knowing he was in no mood for her attitude today, instead she grumbled under her breath about what a bossy furball he was, and when he eyed her she snapped her mouth shut. Turning away she rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir. Sorry."[/color] she mewed in a monotone as she turned to look up at him. He sighed hugly but looked down on her, brushing his tail over her air warmly. Giving a half smile before walking towards the river. Harmonypaw smiled, so bi-polar. Padding behind him she walked to his side as he sat down. Sitting down beside him she curled her tail over her paws easily. Her ice blue eyes peered into the surface. "The currents a little fast today."[/color] she commented and he nodded, seemed to be deciding something. Out of the blue a salmon flopped out of the water, Harmonypaw fell onto her back at the shock, and suddenly heard a splash. Water splashed onto her thin frame, shaking her head she rolled to her paws. Look she noticed grey fur in the water. "Silvercloud!"[/color] she yowled, terror filled her gaze as she jumped onto her paws. He was to old to push against this kind of current. Harmonypaw ran along the river following his form as it broke the surface. She stopped jumped around in a circle and jumpd. Clamping her teeth onto a vine and dragging it down from the willow tree. Her gaze landed on him as he managed to hold on to a rock.

"Silvercloud, grab onto this!"[/color] she shouted and sung out the vine to him. He scrambled to grab it and held onto it with his mouth. Harmonypaw pulled with all of her might, slowly dragging the tired old tom towards the shore. She slid once or twice, but caught her footing. Suddenly the vine snapped and he went flying into some sharp rocks down river. Harmonypaw dropped her half and felt her body freeze. He body was slowly sinking into the water, and blood seeped from his skull. Shaking her head, she gathered up her courage and jumped into the water. Using her hind legs to fight against the current that wanted to drag her along as well, and toss her around like a feather in the wind. She owuld not give up, she could not give up. Reaching where his body disappeared she dove, clamping her jaws on a bunch of fur. It seemed like forever when Harmonypaw broke the surface. She was absolutly terrified, what if she went under because of his weight and they both were lost to the rivers rage? No one would know what happend to them.. Harmonypaw felt the cold waters through her fur and she felt her muscle grow weak.

No I cant give up! She thought and used every ounce of strength she had left to reah the shore and pull them both out. She collapsed by his body. Panting, dripping wet from the river, her thin frame looked even thinner with her cream colored fur plastered to her body. "Silvercloud? Please answer me, Silvercloud!"[/color] she snapped getting scared again for his life. She prodded his side, resting her head on his chest. Nothing, no breathing no sound. He was gone. Harmonypaw lifted her head, tears filled her eyes. "No!"[/color] she broke out into sobs and collapsed on the silver tom cat. Her tears ran over her cheeks and fell onto his already damp and cold body. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

Just Open Your Eyes,
_{And See That Life Is Beautiful...}

Jadeclaw had been out by himself for a peaceful walk. Since his talk with Eclipsestar, undesired thoughts had been weaving in and out of his thought pattern, threatening to take him away from his duties. As wonderful as a mate did sound to him at some point in his future, he still had to think about the Clan, and Jadeclaw was not a tom that could multitask on many thoughts at once. Everything for him was linear, scheduled, planned out. It made things so much easier....

But then, there was the problem that things around him did not work quite in the same way, and such was the scene that Jadeclaw happened to stumble upon. A scream of terror, a plea for help, a splash, and then a cry of mourning. It as all that he could register before his brain caught up to the sounds ringing in his ears. Immediately, Jadeclaw propelled himself forward.

It came from the river! he yowled in his mind. He pushed himself through the reeds and undergrowth, not caring that prickling plants tore at his fur uncomfortably. Someone was in danger, or worse... and from the sounds of it, it was worse. However, even Jadeclaw couldn't have imagined what would come next. Crashing through the last of the plants, he skidded to a halt just behind Harmonypaw. One look over her small body, and Jadeclaw knew what had happened. Silvercloud was bleeding grotesquely from the head, sliced open by unforgiving gravel in the river. Jadeclaw hung his head in sorrow, but dared not say anything. In all honesty, he wasn't sure what he could do. He had not been a Warrior for long.

Jadeclaw, lifted his head and turned his gaze towards Harmonypaw. He knew her from his own time in the apprentices den, not too long ago, though at that time, she had just gotten out of being a kit. Still, Jadeclaw couldn't imagine the sorrow she was feeling right now. He was never as close to his mentor as she was with hers, but Jadeclaw did know the feeling of a parent dying, and he assumed that in that way, he could still sympathize with her.

"Harmonypaw," Jadeclaw said gently. He was surprised at the softness and calmness in his own voice as he stepped forward and lay his tail on the apprentice's shoulder. "Silvercloud was a great and noble warrior. StarClan will welcome him, and he will walk with our ancestors." Jadeclaw mentally cursed as he finished his statement, staring up at the skies with narrow eyes. Why? Why couldn't it have been him in this position? No young cat deserved to experience this kind of sorrow. He knew it too well, and it was a scar that would never quite heal. He sighed, taking a deep breath and turning back towards the younger she-cat.

"Come on, we should carry him back to camp so we can properly bury him. I'll sit vigil with you tonight," he offered. He apprehensively took his tail off the youngster's shoulder and moved forward, approaching the former soul that was Silvercloud. He bent his head low, nudging the body with his nose until it was under his muzzle. Hopefully, Harmonypaw would follow his example if she was comfortable with helping, and help him carry the larger warrior back to camp.

Will You Swear On Your Life,
_{That No One Will Cry At My Funeral?}

[♥Rösε]

Harmonypaw

Harmonypaw sat with her body practically thrown onto her mentor. Her body felt weak from the cold and yet she had no desire to move either. Her ears flattened against her skull in grief, she felt as if her whole world came from under her and she was spirling down into the unknown. She closed her eyes, pushing out the last remaining tears from her eyes. She could feel as they slowly trickled down her slender cheeks and fell onto her paws. Harmonypaw rubbed her head into his damp fur, breathing in deeply for his comforting scent. But the river had washed it away, she felt so lost now. Her body curled up closer to the silver tabby and she slowly opened her eyes. Using a paw to wipe her eyes, clearing her vision from the blurred tears. Her nose pressed softly into his neck as she crawled to his side, resting her head by his. Just seeing the blank expression on his face made her want to cry all over again but instead she sniffled and whipered lightly resting her head on his shoulder.

His whiskers brushed against her flank like tiny bristles. She could hear the thrashing of pawsteps coming from the undergrowth, but she didn't care to see who it was. At this moment, it really did not matter. Silvercloud was dead, and there was nothing anyone could do to change that. The scent of the cat entered her glands, she knew the smell, but did not react. Her face was blank and emotionless with grief. She didn't even move from her position she was afraid to leave his body, even though his soul no longer resided in it. She had not realised how much he meant to her as a mentor and friend until now. And memories of theirfirst meeting, their first training session took place in her mind. After a few moments of it she had to turn her head and stop the memories from flooding in, it was to painful.

"Harmonypaw,"

the voice drifted over to her hears as they flicked in response. She slowly lifted her head, turning her hurt icey blue gaze towards Jadeclaw. His voice was gentle more than she had ever heard before, well from him at least. She let a bit of surprise seep into her feature but it was soon replaced back to emotionless and solem. She sighed and turned to look at Silvercloud, pushing herself into a sitting position. Her body tensing at the feel of his tail on her shoulder. She relaxed slightly, finding him some what comforting for some reason. She bit her lip to stop herself from sobbing again as she saw that his head still leaked with blood. It was all her fault, if only she could have pulled him in faster, or if she would have swam out to save him first he would still be alive. She choked out a few more tears and used her paw again to wipe the tears. Why was her life plauged with some much death? Yes it came with the territory but not cats who were really close to her, all of them seemed to perish.

"Silvercloud was a great and noble warrior. StarClan will welcome him, and he will walk with our ancestors."[/color] Harmonypaw lifted her head quickly, the thought was for some reason offensive maybe she was just sensitive to the thought. "And that makes it better!"[/color] she snapped, turning her ice colored optics on the tom cat, her body swing around and she stood up. Her nose inches from his face, she was not much younger than he was, and so could stare directly into his eyes instead of looking up to far. She searched his face, and noticed that he did not mean it in that way. She looked down to her paws. Her fur was still wet from the river, and water droplets dripped from her mussle. "Jadeclaw...Im sorry. I didn't meant mean to take it out on you."[/color] she mewed softly, apologies were usually rare for her, well sincere ones were anyway. She looked back up to him, pain flashed across her face as she looked him over once, and then turned her back to him and sat before Silverclouds body once again.

"Come on, we should carry him back to camp so we can properly bury him. I'll sit vigil with you tonight,"[/color] She turned to look back at him as he approached Silvercloud's body. Bending lower to get the tom ontop of him to lift him up. Harmonypaw frowned but got to her paws. "I'd like that Jadeclaw."[/color] she mewed her voice was low and gentle like, sounding a lot like how Crystalheart spoke most of the time. Perhaps she was more like her than she thought, and didnt realise when she was being like her. Lowering her body she got Silvercloud's torso on her back and started to walk slowly back to camp with Jadeclaw. The female was silent as she walked, her head lowered slightly, but kept her gaze ahead of her as she navigated back onto the path towards camp.She realised that the river would never be a peaceful place for her anymore, at least not for awhile, since the nightmare of today would play over and over in the rivers currents. Harmonypaw's tail drooped and trailed along the ground behind her as she walked. Her pawsteps were quiet and light as she moved. Lifting her head back to normal height she noticed the camp entrance. She wondered how everyone would take the news, she wasn't sure if anyone else was really close to the silver tabby. But he was a great warrior, had always been since his own apprenticeship and that had to count for something, right? [/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

"And that makes it better!" Harmonypaw's voice repeated in Jadeclaw's head as they carried Silvercloud back to camp. Though he was not close with the warrior, he felt sorrow, just as the rest of the clan surely would. He stole a glance at the apprentice walking beside him; what would she do now? Who would her new mentor be? Silently, he wondered if Eclipsestar would let him take over the job. He had been waiting ever since he became a warrior to get an apprentice... and Harmonypaw was someone who didn't particularly bother him. Still, those thoughts were irrelevant right now. Instead, a different one went through his mind:

You need to open up to people. Let them know who you are...

Those were words of advice from his leader, and though it was advice on getting a mate, Jadeclaw knew the same was required to obtain a solid friendship. StarClan, the only cat that knew him well was his adopted sister for crying out loud. Not even his mentor could say he knew the workings of Jadeclaw's mind....

"Harmonypaw," Jadeclaw spoke up. It was only then that he realized he had no idea what he wanted to say. Silently, he cursed himself for being careless, but quickly thought of something to cover it up, "When I was a kit, I lost my mother. You know... I'm still bothered by it today. It's one of those wounds that will only heal with time, if it ever does... so perhaps you were right to yell at me before. It doesn't make it any easier to know that Silvercloud is resting in the stars now...." he trailed off, wondering if that was too dark a thought to put out there. He had to figure out some way to make this positive. "I just don't want to see another cat like me suffer," he said truthfully, letting out a sigh. "I truly am sorry for your loss."

He went silent after that, not daring to look at the apprentice beside him. It was awkward, opening up to someone, especially when they were in a state of mourning. Was it stupid of him to talk about himself?

He shook his head. What was done was done.

Slowly, the two cats entered the camp, and almost immediately, a yowl of terror sounded. The young warrior looked up to see Ashpelt, a senior warrior run towards them.

"What happened?" she demanded, looking between Jadeclaw, Harmonypaw, and Silvercloud. "Oh... Silvercloud..." she said softly, her eyes filling with tears. Ashpelt was a strong willed cat, and rarely did she cry, but Silvercloud was one of her closer friends. They had been apprentices together back in the day after all. Jadeclaw looked down, unable to meet the she-cat's gaze. Ashpelt touched her nose to the other senior warrior's dead body, muttering a prayer to StarClan, "Silvercloud, if I am ever to have kits, I will name one after you in your honor," she said seriously. "You were a great friend to me."

Ashpelt looked up at Jadeclaw and Harmonypaw, noticing that they were both in a state of sorrow and shock. It wasn't unusual, she supposed, as they were both young. Truly, she wished that they didn't have to witness a scene so horrible. "Let me take him from you two," she offered. "I will bring Silvercloud to the elders so they can clean him."

Jadeclaw took a look at Harmonypaw, wondering if she was okay with that, but before she could comply or refuse, Ashpelt's large body lifted Silvercloud from the two young cats, leaving them to watch as she retreated with his body towards the center of camp...

[♥Rösε]

Harmonypaw

The pretty cream colored she-cat kept walking slowly towards the entrance. Part of her didn't want to go into camp at all, since the clan would probably be like bees and swarm around Silvercloud. She would be blocked from him and at this point she didnt want to, his body was the only thing left of him, other than memory. It seemed selfish that she wanted to be the only one to mourn for him, but she knew that was not possible, some other of her clanmates would probably want to as well. And since she was his apprentice, and every cat knew that they were close, she would be allowed to sit vigil with him tonight, with Jadeclaw as her guest. She didn't know of who other than herself, and Ashpelt who would sit vigil with the silver tabby tom. She glanced over at Jadeclaw, he seemed a bit uneasy and it was probably because of her harsh words before. She felt a little bad about it now, but there was nothing she could do to take it back. What was said was said.

Keeping her eyes on her paws now she watched as they took each step. Every move was graveful, which she had never noticed before. She had always thought she had bad posture, expecially since Silvercloud used to tell her to stop slouching when he was lecturing. The fond memory made her eyes soften lightly with a bit of warmth but it made his death more unbarible the next second. She intook a breath to try and keep herself calm, she could not break down. Silvercloud would want her to be strong, right? He had always told her that the circle of life required new lifes coming into the world and old ones to depart. But never did she think that he would be the one departing. Silvercloud never got a chance to be an elder, and relax after his many many moons of service, but she guessed he would be fine now. StarClan would treat him well, he deserved it. Harmonypaw lifted her head as she heard Jadeclaw call her name, glancing at him slightly as he spoke.

"When I was a kit, I lost my mother. You know... I'm still bothered by it today. It's one of those wounds that will only heal with time, if it ever does... so perhaps you were right to yell at me before. It doesn't make it any easier to know that Silvercloud is resting in the stars now...."

Harmonypaw could tell that this was something knew to the tom cat. He didnt really talk about himself much he was always out of camp or in the den or leaving camp again. Thats all she really saw of him ever since he was an older apprentice. She nodded slowly, appreciating the fact that he was trying to connect with her. "I can tell this is not easy for you."[/color] she mewed her voice light and calm as she spoke, she took a breath. "I lost both of my parents when I was a kit to. So I guess....we have something in common after all. Silvercloud was like a father to me....I....I just can't believe he has left me to. Everyone seems to be leaving me.."[/color] she had never told anyone this before, about her fear of the alone. Of being left on this earth by herself. She cleared her throat and looked to her paws the rest of the way.

Entering camp she heard a yowl and froze along with Jadeclaw. "What happened?"[/color] came the voice of Ashpelt, she lifted her ice colored gaze to the female. "He fell into the river, and when I tried to get him out with a vine it snapped and he went flying into some sharp rocks...."[/color] she stopped right there because it hurt to much to say anything else. Ashpelt spoke of kits and how she would name one after him if she had any. Harmonypaw also wanted to be part of his memory and made a mental note to ask Eclipsestar if she could be named Harmonycloud after Silvercloud. Harmonypaw snapped out of her thoughts when Ashpelt asked to take him fromthem. Harmonypaw was about to object when the female grabbed onto him and took off. Her eyes narrowed in hurt and anguish as he was taken away and now she felt farther from him than ever."Sure just take him away...."[/color] her voice was laced with bitterness as she turned away her voice was barly above a whisper. She started to slowly follow towards where Ashpelt had went, so she could be where his vigil would take place. Not many cats seemed to be out yet, but they would know soon enough. And then the bees would swarm around their honey. Her ears fell as she walked slowly along, stopping to glance back at Jadeclaw and see if he was going to follow.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

"Sure just take him away...." Harmonypaw whispered, but Jadeclaw caught it. What was the difference? Silvercloud was already gone. Ashpelt had just taken him to relieve some of their burden, and Jadeclaw was somewhat happy about that. Harmonypaw started to walk towards the direction of Ashpelt, who had just called out to the Clan so they could pay their proper respects. Jadeclaw sighed, trying to decide if he should go with Harmonypaw now, or clean the blood that wasn't his own off his back first; Jadeclaw was a bit of a neat-freak after all...

He stared after Harmonypaw, who's ears drooped like a dog that'd been scolded, and his heart welled with sympathy. She turned around, staring at him, questioning if he was going to follow. Well, he had promised he'd sit vigil with her, but that wasn't until sundown... but could he really leave her to herself right now? Even though the Clan started to gather around Silvercloud, Jadeclaw had a feeling that Harmonypaw might feel more alone then ever now that her mentor was gone.

Finally, he made up his mind, and ignored the sticky, wet crimson staining his back, following the younger cat at a distance. He wanted her to have her space if she needed it, but make it clear that he was there if she wanted his company at all. Silently, he hoped that he'd have a bit of time to himself, mostly to just clear his thoughts after what had just happened, but he wouldn't get angry if she did decide to sit with him. He stood back from the warriors that had gathered, flicking his ears back and forth as he tried to seek out his adopted sister's voice. It seemed she was not in camp at the moment, making Jadeclaw disappointed. He wanted to speak with her sometime soon, as lately, they had not had a lot of time together.

When he finally gave up from finding his sister's voice, Jadeclaw turned his head towards the sky, which was quickly growing dark. He closed his eyes, relishing the last moments of the sunny part of the day before evening slipped into twilight.

"I lost both of my parents when I was a kit to. So I guess....we have something in common after all. Silvercloud was like a father to me....I....I just can't believe he has left me to. Everyone seems to be leaving me..." Harmonypaw's voice echoed in his mind. He frowned at the thought, wondering how he could have been so unobservant of the cats around him all this time. Eclipsestar was right, he was much too focused on his duties and not enough on himself and others. It was time he remedied that somehow. Slowly, Jadeclaw brought his head down to watch the scene play out. Several warriors said their goodbyes to Silvercloud, and the elders put herbs over his body, disguising the scent of death with the sweet smell of Catmint. Finally, only a few souls were left standing around the body, Harmonypaw included.

With a final sigh, Jadeclaw padded forward, eyes locking with the apprentice as he sat himself down beside her. He managed to muster up a smile, though a sad one, as he prepared himself for the long night ahead. He was used to staying up, yes, but it was strange for him to be staying up next to someone else. He would have to fight the urge to talk, though, there may be other ways for them to communicate in the next hours to come.

[♥Rösε]

Harmonypaw

Harmonypaw let her ice colored gaze run over the tom cat as she, even from there, noticed the sigh. At that instant she turned away, she didn't want him to feel like he had to come with her, even if he had promised her he would. She knew that some promises were made in the moment, and then afterwards they didn't mean as much. She would not hold it against him if he walked away and went off to do something more productive than sitting with her. A sulky, gloomy apprentice. He probably had far better things to do. Lifting her head she watched as some other of their clanmates came walking out of the dens. All with a shocked or sad look o them as they said their prayers and good byes to Silvercloud's body.

She did feel more alone as she watched it all it was then she really grasped that he was gone. And this was no dream. Silvercloud was dead. That word played out in her mouth as her nose wrinkled. It was almost as if she could taste it, a bitter and distainful taste she did not like it one bit. A scent of catmint hung in the air now, and it helped to erase it from her glands. Many of the other cats had all dispersed leaving a few cats left by his side. Harmonypaw walked forward to join the group, her stance was trying to come out as strong but her eyes said it all. Grief, anguish, loss it all swam through her veins like the river that took him. She was also giving Jadeclaw a choice in walking away, it meant that he could do what he wanted and she would not say anything. Sitting by Silvercloud's back she looked down upon him again, more calm than before. She touched a paw gently to his exposed cheek a small sad frown came upon her face.

Her ears flicked up in surprise as she heard pawsteps coming towards her. Turning slowly she caught sight of Jadeclaw coming her way. She was actually shocked to see him, she was quite sure that he was going to go off and leave them to their vigil for the silver tabby warrior. He approached her and gave he r a small smile, she knew it was with good intention but she could tell it was not a real smile. One that was happy, because it was tinged with a sadness one she could mirror quite easily. She returned the smile back a sad but meaningful one as he sat beside her. "You know....You don't have to stay."

she mewed softly giving him a way out if he wanted to take it. Though inside she knew she did not want to be alone, but then again she would want to lay with someone who did not want to be there at all either. Her gaze locked with his for a moment before she let it trail onto his fur. It was still matted with blood.

It must be uncomfotible, plus the smell. It would give her nightmares surly if the memories of today didn't already. And to him it probably wouldn't be pleasant either. Scooting a bit closer she lifted her paw to her lips and ran her tounge over it a few times. Once it was pretty damp she rubbed it along his back, allowing the blood to be removed and stick to her paw instead. It was the least she could do since he was here, even if in the end he decided to leave. After some of the blood was off she switched paws, licking at it carefully before applying it again. Using her other paw she wiped it against the grass and it in turn wiped the blood from her paw. She retracted her paw suddenly and looked up back at his face. "Sorry."[/color] she mewed, she should have asked if he minded first before just doing things. She had a tendancy to react on an impulse without actually stating it. It was almost as if she thought that they already knew what she was doing when they really didnt. She shifted on her paws nervously a few times, she hoped she didn't freak him out. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

"You know....You don't have to stay," Harmonypaw offered, and to be perfectly honest, Jadeclaw wasn't too thrilled to be confined to camp tonight. He felt as though he needed to go for a vigorous run, to work out the feelings in the deepest parts of his soul. However, he did not want to leave the apprentice alone either. Sure, they didn't know each other well... at all, but Jadeclaw felt that he wasn't just doing this because he felt it was his duty, as he did with almost everything else. No, he wanted to do this as a friend. The thought shocked him, but he accepted it quickly, already knowing that he had been trying to come to this point with another cat for a long while.

His thoughts were abruptly cut off when Harmonypaw scooted closer to him, running a wet paw over his back. Shocks of electric heat ran down to his tail, making his fur stand on end. He had not been expecting such an action... at all, and to be honest, it had him hearing only his fast beating heart in his ears. Jadeclaw was not a dumb cat: he knew he was nervous.... However, the tom forced himself to take a deep breath and have his fur lay flat. In all honesty, he did appreciate the gesture. No one had shown him any kind of sympathy or affection aside from his adopted family.

Harmonypaw ran a second paw over his back, brushing the last of the blood caked to his fur off. A purr rose in Jadeclaw's throat as he watched her wipe any remaining essence of the crimson onto the grass. This time, a genuine smile spread over his maw, though it was immediately wiped away when Harmonypaw apologized. Jadeclaw flicked his ears, turning his attention back towards the twilight sky. Stars would come out soon. Vigil would be starting.

"It's okay," he responded quietly. "I appreciated it, really. Thank you Harmonypaw..." he trailed off, his head sinking below his shoulders as if he were in deep thought. Suddenly, he bounded to his four, letting out a stretch that was powerful enough to make his spine crack in satisfaction. "No harm in a little stretch before we're confined here, right Harmonypaw? And hey, you can think of this as good practice for when you become a warrior. I promise it isn't that hard."

Jadeclaw finished his stretch, his eyes locking with the younger she-cat's. He wanted to at least get something happy from her before they sat out together without being able to talk. One emotion of happiness. Something to seal the deal that they were going to continue to be friends after today.

Idly, Jadeclaw thought that the strangest of events really brought people close together. It was true for him when he was a kit, and he had found RiverClan and then his adopted family, which he truly loved with all his being. Even his mother, who he'd known for a few short weeks, had grown closer to him over the years, and that was only because she had died. Jadeclaw knew nothing of his mother, or his father, but he loved them both with a passion that others around him surely didn't understand.

But it was time he spread his horizons.