The Burial

[Artemis]

(For Rift and Crow, though the thread is open.)

It wasn't long before Artemis's paws began to lose feeling under the weight of the body she was half-carrying, half-pulling, but she ignored it. Only two others had accompanied her for the burial, one she knew from before and one she did not, and they were both apprentice-aged, too old to be younglings but too young to be adults. Both strangers to the longevity of Drought's reign and the influence he had once held. For that, at least, she felt some relief. Any more reminders of the past with Drought, and she would probably break down again.

By now, they had arrived in the clearer part of the forest, with the trees behind them and a stretch of grass before them. The bubbling of the river was nearby, but it was thinned in these parts to a near-brook. The soil felt much looser under her feet, as well, and there were already empty hollows here and there.

Slowly, carefully, Artemis set down Drought's body. Her jaw felt numb from having held on so tightly for so long. She took a deep breath before exhaling, looking around at Crow and Rift.

Silently, she began to dig at a hollow next to Drought. Within moments, her paws were already increasing the hollow, and she continued.

[Crow]

    Crow had padded on in silence, her long black tail almost dragging on the ground. She could have taken Artemis's place carrying the deceased king, but she knew it was not her place, especially considering the length to which the adult cat seemed to know Drought. Crow would not take that privilege. And the trek was the longest stretch of time the youngling could remember being around another cat and not sparking venom from her tongue.
    The black she-cat watched mournfully as Artemis set Drought's body down and silently began digging. Crow watched for a few moments, giving the white and gray feline the chance to finalize the location. After a brief glance around, Crow joined Artemis on the opposing side of the grave and worked calmly, her mind still back in the camp where the blood of a king lie still.

[Rift]

Artemis had wanted to carry Drought's body alone, so she had stepped back and join Crow. Rift was a bit nervous that she had left the camp, but Drought deserved something. Rift walked in the procession, her head and tail down. As soon as Artemis started digging, Rift walked up with Crow and joined her. Where Artemis had picked to bury Drought was one of the few decent places in DeathClan.

[Artemis]

(oh dear god sorry for the late reply Crow Rift)

The digging, helped along by Crow and Rift, took a lot less time to finish than Artemis had anticipated. Within minutes, the grave had been hollowed out well enough. Paws caked in the dirt, Artemis stepped back to survey the handiwork. She let out a long breath, knowing what came next but not dreading it any less.

At least, she thought, Drought's eyes were already closed. If not for the blood, he could have been asleep.

"Now," she said, softly, her voice slightly shaky, "would...either of you like to say anything for Drought, before...?"

She let the question trail off. Her throat felt too choked to continue. She did not want to acknowledge that some part of her now felt as dead as Drought.

[Rift]

(it's fine the plot threads is like dead now anyways)

Rift stepped back from the grave when it was finished. Artemis then asked if she or Crow wanted to say anything. Rift meowed, "I would like too." Then she stepped closer to Drought and began. "I didn't know you for that long, Drought, but you helped me in a way no other cat could. I was lost, only living to survive. I was shunned, no one else accepted me. I was betrayed by my own mother. And you accepted me into your Clan. It was, and still is, my only hope. Thank you, Drought." After, Rift padded by the grave waiting for the others to say their words.

[Crow]

    There really wasn't anything for Crow to say. She hardly knew Drought at all regardless of him being her leader, but it was that one time she spoke to him and knowing he was protecting the rogue clan that made her respect him. Attempting to flick her tail briefly along Artemis's flank in silent comfort - an extremely rare occurrence from Crow - the matte black she-cat listened to Rift's humble words. Crow's gaze rested on Drought's blood-stained pelt and she padded over to his side, secretly wishing she could clean him up before he was buried.
    "Look at what you let happen by dying, Drought," Crow whispered halfheartedly, thinking about the new proclamation that allowed any cat to rise up to the throne. "A complete anarchy." Crow did not mean it was actually Drought's fault at all, and her body language said it all. Drooping her head mournfully and resting her tail tip across Drought's still body, she let a few moments pass.
    Crow was an extreme loyalist and dependent on rules. Despite her minimal age, she knew that leadership was not something to take for granted as Badger and his little group seemed to think. Reflecting on this, the youngling finally made up her mind about how she felt despite her internal nag to take the throne.
    "Your death was morally wrong," Crow said between clenched teeth, her orange eyes glaring defiantly at the deceased. "It will not go unpunished. It will not be forgotten. And I promise it will not be in vain."

[Artemis]

Artemis watched quietly as Crow and Rift each had their turn to speak. She felt the brush of Crow's tail across her flank, probably meant as a gesture of comfort, but she felt it as distantly as if she was detached from her own body. When they were done, she spoke.

"Goodbye, Drought," she said, very softly. And that was all she could say. How ironic it was, she thought, that the one who had known him the longest had the least to say. But he was dead and gone, and that was the end of it.

She bent down, grabbing hold of Drought's scruff and pulling. Slowly, inch by inch, she began to push his body into the hollow. Once that was done, she set to work in pushing the turned up dirt over his body.