Ravenfrost paced anxiously outside Bunnystar’s den, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. This isn’t real. He waited for Bunnystar to appear from behind the woven buffalo rose curtain and scold him for irritating her. He waited for her sarcastic remarks and scathing words. Anything was better than the silence.
The curtain swayed slightly, and Ravenfrost whirled around. However, Dandeliontuft stepped out of the den alone. She met his gaze and shook her head silently before saying, “We should gather the kits.”
Wordlessly, Ravenfrost turned and raced out of the tunnel. The rest of the Clan were lazing around silently in the main cavern, the atmosphere gloomy. Hopeful sparks shot across their faces as Ravenfrost appeared, but he watched as the look on his face dashed their hopes. Wrenfire and Sandflower came to his side without a word, and the three hurried out of the underground caverns.
Above ground, the world was overcast and grim, as if even the skies were miserable. Ravenfrost easily cleared the thorn barrier, his heart seizing as he thought of back when he was a young apprentice. Bunnystar nagged him for moons about making his legs strong enough to jump, and now he could do it without a second thought.
The three cats raced across the open prairie without a single word. Ravenfrost was glad – he didn’t think he would be able to say anything in this situation.
Soon enough, they came to the Chasm’s entrance. Panic shot down Ravenfrost’s spine as he gazed into the darkness. Every time he approached it, dread curled around his heart like a snake. Wrenfire pressed against his side before taking the lead, and Sandflower put her nose against Ravenfrost’s tail to let him know she was there. I hate this place, he thought glumly as he sprinted down the pitch-black corridor. Still, it’s the fastest way to see Novapaw. Time wasn’t on their side.
Ravenfrost closed his eyes and followed Wrenfire’s scent as they flew down the passageway. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long before the sky opened up above again, and then the piles and piles of bones and sticks that ScorchedClan dropped down to make it easier to climb out of the Chasm came into view.
Though he usually felt nothing but rage over the piles they built for cats other than him, Ravenfrost was thankful for them today. The trio of cats climbed out of the Chasm without any issue and soon arrived at ScorchedClan’s camp.
As always, Flamepaw sent up the alarm. Wrenfire nodded at Ravenfrost once and approached the camp entrance, her head high. Coalfeather and Suneater met her warily, sending Ravenfrost wary glances, but Ravenfrost couldn’t be bothered to care. Just hurry up.
Coalfeather and Suneater shared a look before Coalfeather returned to camp. Ravenfrost watched as Sandfeather avoided his brother’s gaze as the moment stretched on, and eventually, he debated breaking into camp and just taking Novapaw with him. However, finally, Novapaw appeared and rushed to Ravenfrost’s side.
“Coalfeather said my mother wants to see me? Is it about the herbs again? I know we can’t lend any right now, but I would like to still visit for a bit.” Novapaw’s eyes were soft. “As long as it won’t take too long. I have a lot of training to do and-” she cut herself off as she looked between Sandflower and Ravenfrost. “… what’s wrong?”
Lightning cracked across the sky, and the first raindrops began to fall. Bitterly, Ravenfrost thought that the desert cats would be celebrating this time. In more ways than one. “Novapaw, I’m sorry.” He watched the young medicine cat’s face drop. “She’s not going to make it.”
Ravenfrost crouched beside Bunnystar’s nest, holding wet moss in his mouth. The she-cat wheezed as she lapped at it, but she eventually gave up and laid her head back down. With a sigh, Ravenfrost stepped back into the crowd of cats sitting in Bunnystar’s room to keep her company.
“You should drink more,” Novapaw prompted. She and her siblings were all curled up beside Bunnystar’s skeletal form. Viperkit and Darklingkit were fast asleep against Moonpaw, but the other three watched Bunnystar intently as if she might slip away at any moment.
“I’m not thirsty,” Bunnystar growled back as she tried to groom Novapaw’s ears.
“You’re overheating,” Eclipsepaw insisted. “Just drink a little more.”
“I’m overheating because I’m being crowded by the lot of you,” Bunnystar snapped. “Have all of you gone hunting?”
“Yes,” Darkmoth said.
“Are you hungry?” Even Gracklewind was uncharacteristically concise. She nudged a plucked shrike toward Bunnystar, but the she-cat scoffed and turned away.
“Eat it yourself, child. And wipe that sad look off your face. I didn’t raise you to mope about.”
Gracklewind leaned against Ravenfrost, and he felt her shake with a silent sob. He curled his tail around her and sighed internally. They stayed beside the nest all day, even when Sandflower and the others left to hunt.
Cats swarmed in and out of the den all day, fetching Bunnystar and her kits anything they needed. Ravenfrost couldn’t bring himself to leave Bunnystar’s side, even when she swatted at him or told him to buzz off. Gracklewind was similarly rooted in place, laying down to groom Bunnystar’s ragged fur even while the she-cat lectured her for it.
At some point, despite his best efforts, Ravenfrost began to doze. He had a nightmare of the Chasm again – the consuming darkness and unrelenting dread and pain. Fright made him twitch and struggle, but he was awoken by Bunnystar gently grooming the top of his head. Blearily, surrounded by sleeping cats, he lifted his head to meet Bunnystar’s gaze.
There was never any gentleness to Bunnystar, even know. Her eyes were sharp and demanding. “You’ll have to go on without me here,” she said, her voice rasping.
“Can’t-” Ravenfrost’s voice cracked, and he tried again. “Can’t you stay? If we have more time, we could find a way…”
“I’ve overstayed my welcome,” Bunnystar growled out. “I knew I would die if I brought these kits to term, but I did anyway. I will not miss this world, child. You and I will meet again. There’s nothing to grieve about.”
“What if we don’t?” Ravenfrost asked softly. “We need you here to guide us. Please…”
“I will not repeat myself,” Bunnystar snapped but then had to pause when she started coughing. Moonpaw stirred in his sleep, and Bunnystar groomed his head until he calmed again. “Ravenfrost, I have no regrets in life. I’m in pain. I can’t provide for my Clan any longer. It’s time for me to go.”
“But…”
“There is no ‘but’ here,” Bunnystar interrupted. “Child, live your life in the way you want to. Face life head-on, and do not fear death.”
“I’ll miss you,” Ravenfrost softly said as Bunnystar laid her head down.
“I can’t imagine why.” Bunnystar snarked back. “I tried my best to avoid that. I don’t want to be grieved.” She let out a shaky breath and shut her eyes. “… goodbye, child. I hope you won’t grieve for long. I want you and everyone else to be happy. That’s all… I want…”
Knowing there was nothing more to say, Ravenfrost touched Bunnystar’s ear with his nose.
Ravenfrost watched, his heart trembling, as Darkmoth placed a crown of flowers on Bunny’s head. Her body was placed neatly on a white pelt and surrounded by a sea of flowers that each cat had carefully picked. Heartleaf rosemallow, lantana, desert willow, and bluebell were among the most common – nobility, spirit, ferocity, and bravery. It matched the leader very well.
All of the kits were clustered at the edge of the crowd, watching the funeral with confusion. Doewatcher had to hold Viperkit back as he tried to rush to his mother’s body, crying that he wanted to see her.
The cats bowed their heads as Novapaw approached Bunnystar’s body to say the final prayer. “StarClan,” Novapaw began, though her voice faltered. She paused to compose herself, “StarClan, tonight you have taken our beloved Bunnystar. While I would usually ask you to lend us her spirit one last night, I know that’s not what she would want.” Novapaw’s voice wavered, and she sobbed slightly before continuing, “Please guide her safely into your hunting grounds. Grant her peace and free her from the pain she endured these past few moons.”
“Grant her peace,” the Clan murmured as they finished the prayer. Ravenfrost felt as if the words were caught in his throat as he said them. Cats stood and began to approach, uncertainly looking at Darkmoth and Dandeliontuft. The two cats seemed lost and unsure of what to do, so Ravenfrost stepped forward. “Bunnystar wanted to be buried without a feast,” he said quietly. “Let’s bring her to the burial grounds.”
Spiderwind led Eclipsepaw up to the flower bed, and Novapaw joined in to help wrap Bunnystar’s body in the pelt. Ravenfrost stood beside Moonpaw and put his tail across the young tom’s back. “Do you want to help?” He whispered. Moonpaw shook his head silently, and Eclipsepaw soon approached to guide him.
Ravenfrost followed Dandeliontuft and Spiderwind, who carefully carried Bunnystar’s body on their backs. Her kits trailed after them, and Gracklewind trudged alongside Ravenfrost. Cottonpaw brought up the rear, following far behind the others.
The procession was silent as they made the journey from camp to the burial grounds. A portion of the thorn wall had been torn down so they could make their way to the grounds without any issue. Nightchaser, Fadingflame, Petalwing, Bisonheart, Sweetfawn, and Whitehawk stood beside the gap in the thorn walls, murmuring their farewells as they stood to protect the vulnerable camp. Scorchshade and Sandflower stood to escort the procession, silently standing on either side of the group.
Night had fallen at some point during the funeral, and the bright full moon was shining above. Ravenfrost watched it bitterly as they arrived at the burial grounds, his thoughts turning dark. Why Bunnystar? All she ever wanted was to protect her cats. She shielded the weak, encouraged the strong, and led them all. He watched as Eclipsepaw led the way to a bright red bee balm plant. The scarlet petals stood out among the purplish color that most of the flowers had.
“This is where I want to bury her,” Eclipsepaw stated firmly. No one argued, so Ravenfrost began to dig. Frustration welled in him as he dug into the soil, his claws catching on rocks. Why? Why Bunnystar? Why now? They had weathered the leafbare together. Newleaf was supposed to be a time of life, not death. He imagined his claws ripping into whatever cruel spirit had decided this would be Bunnystar’s fate.
“It’s deep enough,” Spiderwind’s voice jolted Ravenfrost out of his thoughts. The she-cat touched her nose to his ear, and they both stepped back as Dandeliontuft gently lowered Bunnystar’s wrapped body into the grave.
Ravenfrost dug his claws into the ground as cats placed their final gifts in the grave. Gracklewind gave the skull of the first prey she caught, and Cottonpaw had brought the chunk of amber she won during Gathering games. Though he had intended to bring his prized boar tusk, Ravenfrost had decided to leave it. Bunnystar wouldn’t have wanted him to bury it in the ground with her.
Once the cats had given their farewell gifts, Gracklewind and Cottonpaw began to fill the hole with soil once more. Ravenfrost turned away, unable to watch as his beloved leader was entombed. Spiderwind leaned against Ravenfrost’s side and sighed shakily.
All too soon, the grave was filled. Dandeliontuft signaled with her tail, and Windpaw and Icethorn appeared from the sea of bee balm, pushing a stone marker. It was a large piece of basalt with obsidian embedded in it. Though most cats would usually have a grave marker engraved with symbols and images, Bunnystar had refused it all. As Dandeliontuft and Icethorn secured the grave marker in place, Ravenfrost’s eyes were caught by the horizon.
The sun had begun to rise, casting the horizon in a reddish haze. Ravenfrost couldn’t help but inwardly laugh. The night was gone, so the cats of RavenClan could no longer mourn.