Lightfall's Official Vigil

[Robinstar]

Robinfrost stood at the center of the camp, the moonlight causing the tips of his fur to appear silvery. He hadn't known the queen closely, but he was still upset that they lost a fellow clanmate. He stood with his chin up slightly, remaining strong despite the situation. It wasn't long until the body was brought forth, the wounds covered and the scent of death covered by the sweet scent of lavender. She looked beautiful and peaceful, almost as if she was sleeping. It was odd how the Medicine Cats could do that to someone so… dead.

He positioned himself next to the limp queen, bending to touch her fur briefly with his nose. "Rest in peace, Lightfall. May CloudClan guide your paws to safety, and may you watch over the Clan," he stepped away, watching in uniform silence as other cats took his place, hopefully forming a line.

[Willowfall]

Willowpaw slowly and quietly came over to where her mother lay lifeless. She had to resist from crying again, she didn't want to in front of her clan. I promise I will sit vigil all night.. Willowpaw promised, hoping that he  Mother could hear her. Sitting down near her head, Willowpaw closed her eyes, not sleeping, but wishing her a safe travel to Cloudclan. 

[Jaypaw]

Jaypaw quietly followed after Willowpaw, a
tear slid down her cheek, onto her chin, then
onto her mother's now lifeless body. She had
been relatively close with her Lightfall, she didn't
want to see her go. She bent down and pressed her
nose behind Lightfall's ear, and whispered,
"You will always be in my heart, mother. Say hello
to the Cloudclanners for me."

[Deleted]

Waterbreeze silently walked out of the warrior den with her eyes closed as she preyed for lightfall to have a safe journey into Cloudclan. Though it was covered well she could still smell a slight scent of the blood that remained. She opened her eyes and swiftly, but silently went to lay down by her dead mother's side. She hadn't gotten to know Lightfall, but she did have a right to be sad and hold vigil for her mother.

[Fallowpaw]

Fallowkit stared at her mother's body, her blue eyes watering with such a strong emotion of grief from a small kit it was shocking. She barely remembered her mother now, but she had a vague image of the dead warrior. Strong, beautiful, and wise. Her hero. Her mother. Her friend. But all that was taken away by the talons of an eagle-prey than hunted in the skies Fallowkit thought was safe. The skies CloudClan protected. So why did CloudClan take her mother away instead of letting her stay? CloudClan didn't need Lightfall... did they?

It was her time, some of the warriors would whisper. That made Fallowkit grit her teeth. Her time? It is never anyone's time to die and be taken to CloudClan! No one had their 'time' of dying... CloudClan was just being selfish!

She's safe now. Happy in CloudClan. Why couldn't she be happy with Fallowkit down here, in IceClan? With all her other kits and friends and everyone else, everyone that was important and good and wasn't dead?!

Fallowkit stumbled up to the body of her mother. Cold, lifeless, and silent. Where was the happy chirp of Lightfall's words, or the steady beat of her heart that would always lull Fallowkit to sleep? Where were the warm paws that curled around her body, and the stories of ancient Clans and ancestors that gave the kit amazing dreams to race through? Where was the loving gaze she had grown to love, and the feeling she always had someone to look up to? It's gone. Fallowkit thought. She buried her muzzle into Lightfall's shoulder, her breath hitching as she struggled not to sob. Mama is gone.

She took a seat, finding herself beside Willowpaw, her sister who had been in the same patrol that returned Lightfall's body. But Dawnbriar wasn't there. I want to tell her I'm sorry. the silver kitten whimpered, flattening her ears and holding her breath. I yelled at Dawnbriar when she was trying to comfort me... I made them all sad with my crying... Mama, why are you doing this to me? Why can't you just come home?

Fallowkit was still young, even though she was six moons old. She understood the basic knowledge of death. But that didn't mean she liked it. Lifting her head, she cast sad eyes to the stars, wondering like so many others if Lightfall was one of them. Her bottom lip quivering, she sniffed her runny nose and blinked at her hazy gaze of tears. Mama, I'm sorry for being mad at CloudClan. I'm sorry for making everyone sad. But... why can't you come home? Why can't you be alive?

She hung her head. CloudClan doesn't need you... I need you. she cried, now allowing her anger to fully fade and the grief to overwhelm her. Turning back to the limp body, she sobbed into the fur as quietly as possible. She didn't want to make everyone else sad. But she didn't want to hold in her tears, either.

Mama will never see me made an apprentice. the thought struck her, cold as icicles and making the fur along her spine rise. She didn't realize that. Lightfall was dead now, and so close to Fallowkit's apprentice ceremony. She wouldn't see her made an apprentice, or praise her work in hunting and battle training. She wouldn't teach her a few tricks, or patrol with her daughter when she became a warrior, or even celebrate a future Fallowkit couldn't see through her tears. And it was because Lightfall was dead.

"Mama... can you watch over me from CloudClan please?" her voice, instead of sad and hurt, was surprisingly mellow. It was like a genuine question had been asked, one where she already knew the answer but had wanted to hear it anyway. Fallowkit glanced back up at the sky. The stars were bright and glowing. The moon was shown above. "And watch over everyone else, too. Can you, Mama?"

The hurt returned, and she shoved her muzzle into the silver fur again. Fallowkit closed her eyes tightly, listening desperately for an answer from the limp body.

She started to drift off into sleep, with the last remaining memories of her mother soon to be lost in the small child's head, for growing up certainly makes the past fade away.



((I wanted a long, sad post to be proud of... I think I met that requirement.))

[Deleted]

Dawnbriar padded up to her mothers body, silent and swift. She lied down next to her and meowed quietly, "I hope your times are happy in cloudclan, I shall miss you, please watch over iceclan." She looked at fallowkit and smiled, yet crying a bit. She nuzzled her mother and watched as cats crowded around her. Watch over us all, ill always remember, I'll take care of fallowkit for you, even though you are gone, your memory lives on..

*literally plays silent night on phone*

[Duskrise]

Duskpaw had taken his spot over Lightfall's body next to his siblings. He knew more than anything that they'd never met. They were strangers to him. Yet, he knew they were also Lightfall's kits. Despite them having different fathers, they were still siblings. Somehow. 

Breathing in Lightfall's scent, he could still smell the scent of death on her. The lavender was sweet and dulled the stench, yet not all the way. The scent of death could be dulled, however never completely blotted out. At the very least... He could smell Lightfall's true scent. It was faint, being overridden by the lavender and death scent. He knew it wouldn't last. Her scent would disappear... He gritted his teeth.

Despite him being her son, Lightfall was a stranger to him. It both made him confused and hurt. He felt like he should leave... At the same time he wanted to stay the whole night. Tears began to well up in his eyes. No, Lightfall wasn't a stranger. He hadn't exactly known her personally long enough to remember her at all. Yet.... He felt they still had a connection. He knew what it was. It had to be that sort of connection family has.

Besides, even if she did feel like a stranger a bit.... She was a clanmate who died. Duskpaw wasn't going to brush that off. 'Life is precious. Even though it must end, it always hurts when it does.' He mused. The tears escaped his eyes and trickled down his face. They clung to his chin, before gently falling to the ground. 

Duskpaw was naturally an optimistic cat. However, he wasn't going to try and cheer up anyone now. That would be for tomorrow. For now, it would be alright to be sad. To remember what you could of Lightfall. Honestly, his memories were a jumbled mess.... Blurry images from before he was able to eat prey. From when he was at his mother's belly drinking milk. 

He shifted his eyes upwards towards the sky, gazing upon Silverpelt. One of those stars.... Is Lightfall. He wondered which one. 'I pray you a swift and safe journey to Cloudclan....' He closed his eyes and turned back towards Lightfall's body.

'At least Cloudclan is a safe and peaceful place. No fighting... No hunger... No hardships. Even if she is separated from her kits still alive... It's the least she can have.' He thought.

He shifted down to lay where he stood. He wouldn't sleep quite yet. Not yet. 'I will hold vigil all night.... Mother. We may have never met formally... But I miss you.'

He thought of all the cats who would need cheering up tomorrow. Tonight... Cats would mourn. However, tomorrow cats would need to move on with their lives. With a smile. He didn't know Lightfall, however he was positive she wouldn't want anyone throwing their life away for her.

'I'll make sure the clan smiles.'