(Short) Vigil for Smokepelt

[Guest]

Later on the the evening, Frostshine, with Rainfoot, carried the body of Smokepelt out into the middle of DarkClan's camp. The set the gray warrior down gently, taking care not to muss the dead warrior's fur, which had been groomed posthumously.
The dead tom smelled strongly of Tormentil and Chamomile, the few remaining sweet-smelling herbs in Silvernose's old den.
The two living warriors stepped away from Smokepelt, bowing their heads.

Sleetcoat was never that close to Smokepelt, so he stayed on the edge of the growing crowd.

Jaycall came out of the warrior's den, seeing how the growing moonlight made the dead warrior's fur glow. But it also made his wounds glow pink, which made Jaycall shiver.

[Runfast]

Blizzardgaze, with Longfur and Gorseclaw, rose from her place at the edge of the clearing. She and Longfur joined the crowd of cats, grief in their eyes.

[Meany]

Bronzepaw came out of the apprentice's den. To be frank, he hated living in the apprentice's den. For one thing, he was older than any apprentice should be. Another, he didn't care for the way warriors the same age as him looked down on him. It was highly demeaning.
The brown tom shook himself and padded towards the crowd of cats. At this point he could barely see Smokepelt, just the pelt's of his clanmates.

Cloudfeet pushed through the crowd and stood before his former mentor. He missed Smokepelt, as quiet yet harsh of a mentor he had been in life. Cloudfeet had always known Smokepelt had only been the way he had been so Cloudfeet could become the best warrior he could be.
And I'm still not enough. He bowed his head sadly.

Lightingpelt slowly made her way out of the healer's den.

[Runfast]

Goldpaw was following Lightpelt, mewing, "Are you sure you're well enough? I know your pads were burned in the fire - are you alright to walk?" He stayed close to her, tail on her shoulder to guide her in her forever-night.

Redstar came out of his own den, looking out over the crowd of cats that had gathered. This is my clan, he thought in a bittersweet way. Even though we were apart for that time, divided, we still grieve together.
The red tom looked up at the few stars he could see through the clouds. Oh, Thornstar - could I have done everything better? Could Smokepelt still be alive?
The leader of DarkClan slowly climbed to the top of the Gray Rock. He sat, tail on his paws, waiting for the rest of the Clan to gather.

OOC: Looks like we're all taking turns with Limitpaw... weird...

IC: Limitpaw came out of the apprentice's den after Bronzepaw.

[Longstorm]

Sunmist and Gorseclaw edgily made their way out of the warrior's den. They were unhappy with each other but were putting their differences aside for their dead clanmate.

Silverpaw followed Bronzepaw out of the den. Poor Smokepelt...He could have at least have been given the dignity of dying as a warrior. She joined the crowd, dismayed.

[Runfast]

OOC: Well, I'm done waiting for Blackpaw and NK...

IC: With Limitpaw joining them last, hesitantly, Redstar cleared his throat. The clan fell silent and looked up at him. "Tonight we honor Smokepelt, a wise, brave warrior. We will share this last night with him, sharing tongues, and bidding his spirit safe journey into the realm of StarClan. There may he find all the peace he ever hoped for in life." Redstar bowed his head for a long moment of silence, then jumped off of the Gray Rock. The red tom set his nose into the dead warrior's fur.

Longfur sighed heavily and joined his leader, setting his chin on Smokepelt's still flank. "Safe travels, Smokepelt." The elder stepped back, licking the gray warrior's fur before padding away.
He'd never been that close to Smokepelt, but he was still saddened to see him dead.

Blizzardgaze took Longfur's spot. Smokepelt's nest had been next to her's and the two had spoken to each other often.
The she-cat buried her nose into the warrior's pelt, wishing he wasn't dead.

[Longstorm]

OOC: boo-hoo. BOOHHOOHOOHOOHOOHOO!!!

IC: Silverpaw slowly went up and touched her nose to the warrior's dead pelt briefly. He was so cold! The gray she-cat shivered and stepped away, backing up.

Sunmist didn't look at her sister as she passed her, pushing her nose into Smokepelt's fur.
We need more warriors like you, Smokepelt. Knowing how to fight and when...If you were here to back me up, I would have convinced Redstar to attack sooner. The she-cat's fur bristled. But Mudblood - StarClan - has taken you from me. Taken that opportunity from me. Curse them. THe ginger and white she-cat stayed where she was. Sunmist would hold full vigil tonight.

Gorseclaw followed suit, crouching next to his fallen clanmate. I will stay with you tonight, Smokepelt.

[NKninja]

OOC: Sorry to keep you waiting Runny! I feel really bad you were waiting for me before!

IC: Hollowstripe kneeled her head down as she padded over to the limp, lifeless body of Smokepelt. She silently touched noses like the others had, and padded away. She promised to herself that she wouldn't choke up, but her throat felt twisted and knotted to the scent of death on her clan mate's fur...

Sorestare, who had already touched noses with his friend, sat hidden in the shadows of a large pine tree. His eyes were locked on the body, and it didn't look like he would ever turn away. If only I could have helped, he thought, eyes still stuck like glue to the corpse.

[Meany]

Lightingpelt, with Goldpaw, felt her way up to the body of her brother. She lay next to her brother, pressing her muzzle into his cold, yet familiar pelt.
"Sleep well, brother."

Cloudfeet, a young warrior still, looked at the dead warrior nervously. He slowly crept up and settled for touching his nose to the still ear of the fallen warrior, then Cloudfeet scuttled away to the warrior's den.

Bronzepaw was something of the same. He was feeling horribly awkward but he didn't want to be disrespectful.
Bronzepaw went up to Smokepelt and lightly touched his chin to the warrior's head.
The brown apprentice didn't go back to the apprentice's den, though. He stayed on the edge of the camp, ears pricked of the sounds of the loners who'd taken refuge near their camp.
He hoped the later patrols wouldn't find them.

[NKninja]

Hollowstripe, with slow ease, and her appetite lost, uncomfortably padded into the warrior's den, laying down in her nest-like bed, and adjusting herself to the point that she could have been sound asleep. But she wasn't. All the pandemonium that had happened in the few day was an eyesore for her. She was scared! Scared of what may happen to her, what has happened to them. What they will do.
Why can't it just all go away! She screamed in her head, lowering her ears, and muffling her snout into the freshly replaced moss.
She felt like all this weight was being piled onto her shoulders. If Redstar somehow fell in battle, like in the ambush, she'd have to be the one to lead all of them. Why..cou-ldn't I be just a-warrior? Like..everyone else? she stuttered under her breath, muffling her nose deeper into the bedding each time she struck a feline tear.

[Longstorm]

Sunmist's ears flicked at the sound of Hollowstripe's ragged breath. That's right, she thought darkly. This is all your fault, little she-kit.

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