The Death of Duskstar. ((ALL RIVERCLAN MEMBER))

[poppyseeds]

Crowpaw got up from his nest at the call of Crookedheart. He slowly left the apprentices' den, fearing of the worst because Crookedheart was calling them. He looked up at Crookedheart, his eyes questioning. "What has happened?" he asked, confused. He walked closer and closer to the High Log, until he was directly under it. All that time he never noticed Duskstar's limp body.

[crunchyshell]

Sullenly, Solospot watched from the shadows of Duskstar's den, where he had yet to have left from. The tom felt the burden of letting the leader die of a disease. Another blow to his ego.

The arguing and confusion the cats stirred upset him. Waited for the verbal brawl to settle down. With a sigh, he padded slowly up to Duskstar's body, sitting next to Snowfeather and lowering his head, eyes clouded.

"Snowfeather...will not be rejected by StarClan by not, by not, by not going to the ga-gathering. Not every warrior is reh-required to go." Eye lids closed upon yellow eyes, as he tried to find a little courage in his leader's cold fur. 'But Duskstar will not reject her if she goes and leaves his body, either." Despite solely talking to Snowfeather at the last statement, he was speaking as if addressing antoher.

Breathed in sharply before pulling himself away from Duskstar, feeling discomposed. I only wish I was able to stay as well.

He did not yet leave.

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[Deleted]

SnowFeather heard Solospot say these words, only a soft sigh coming from her form. "..I'll still stay." She glanced at Solospot, her eyes softening. "..Do you know how I feel?" She asked, her tail lashing side to side. She shook her head, looking back at Duskstar's body. She closed her eyelids, "I don't feel proper.. if I don't stay with him completely, like I am betraying loyalty.." She held back tears, "But then.." She shook her head, laying down beside Duskstar's body, her tail brushing against Duskstar's motionless flank..

[CROOKY]

"Very well, Snowfeather watch over his body until we return from the gathering and then we shall hold a proper vigil for him. Until then all riverclan cats to the gathering!" She encourage the cats leaving room for those who were obviously too shaken to go. they would stay and guard teh camp while they were gone.

[rockies31]

Mountainclaw came out and paid his respects. "Yes, he is roaming with StarClan." he meowed. He stood up and stared at his leader's dead body. "Who is going to be the new deputy now!" he meowed.

[Deleted]

Froststorm's ice blue eyes stared calmly at Duskstar's dead body. Although he, too, shared the Clan's grief for the loss of their noble leader, there was not enough to be shown. At the words of a new deputy, he turned his attention to Crookedheart. It was true- if she was going to be Crookedstar, then RiverClan would need a new deputy. He had no particular interest in the position, truth be told, but it captured his attention.

[poppyseeds]

Crowpaw looked around and noticed Duskstar's limp body. He groaned and walked over, to pay his respects. He licked the leader's face, tears stinging his eyes. He whispered, "I'll miss you, Duskstar." He looked down at the leader, shaking his head.

Streamfur sat inside the warriors' den. She had heard the whole conversation, and pieced together that Duskstar was dead. Her face was sullen, sad. She shook her head, whispering, "Why did it have to be Duskstar, StarClan? Why?" She felt the tears in her eyes and stood, marching into the clearing. She looked at Crookedheart, "Is it really true, Crookedheart, is it?" She didn't want it to be true, she wanted Duskstar alive.

[CROOKY]

Crookedheart stopped at Solospot and laid her head on his. "Peace, there was nothing you could have done, It was his time he swore he'd been hearing starclan calling his name for nearly a moon." She comfoted her medicine cat. On her way out she saw the clan gather to pay their respects before they left. "I will force no cat to go but I would be happy for your support tonight." She mewled lazily. She wasn't sure she could do this. Duskstar had been so loved and the past moons the she-cats hadn't said two words to her. She watched Streamfur walk up to her with wary eyes. "It is true Streamfur." She hung her head in greif. "Duskstar now hunts with Starclan."

[poppyseeds]

Streamfur gulped. "Dead. How could this have happened? Why Duskstar?" She started leaving the camp to go to the Gathering. She waited for Crookedheart, and watched as Crowpaw scampered over to them, watching his mentor.

[ravensent]

Ravensent stepped out of the warrior's den at the summoning, and looked quietly at the other cats, who were bickering amongst themselves. Her eyes darted to the dead leader, and she lowered her head in sadness. Duskstar had been a good leader for the little time she knew the cat, for she had been missing apparently, for several moons. No one, not even Ravensent had known where she had been or how she had left. Ravensent didn't remember.

The black she-cat stepped forward. "We cannot let our Clan look weak right after we lost our leader...but there are enough cats going to the Gathering. I will watch camp with Snowfeather." she said, with a glimmer of respect in her eyes for Crookedheart. After all, she would be the new leader.

[Deleted]

SnowFeather suddenly got up, and dashed out of camp. She knew something wasn't right, she felt it.. She dashed to the Gathering, seeing if that was the case, her pace getting faster and faster each second.

[eternity]

Oh, no. No no no! Phoenixsong was staring in disbelief, tears threatening to form in her eyes. She never cried, but she was about to start. Standing frozen as the cats left for the gathering, she sighed softly and padded over to Duskstar. "I'll mourn your passing for a long, long time, Duskstar," her voice cracking near the end.

She started licking his pelt clean, and put her muzzle gently on his stomach. "Only time anybody's gonna see me like this," she murmured.