Chapter 12

    Nyghtkit trudged around the camp tiredly. She barely got any sleep in a while, being mentally scarred of what she saw that one night. The warriors seemed in just as bad a mood as Nyghtkit, they all ignored each other and went straight to their duties to get the day over with. It was freezing outside. The trees were now bare and dead, shriveled up leaves laid limply on the ground. Occasionally it snowed, but it usually wasn't much.
    The elders haven't come outside in a while, they were enjoying the heat in their den. Miststar clearly didn't mind the weather, seeing as she was sitting on the Clanrock without shivering whatsoever. Her thick white fur must have been very comfortable at the moment. The rest of the Clan was shivering and huddling together for warmth, meanwhile Nyghtkit sat alone. The cobwebs around her face kept her a little warmer, though.
    Emberkit and Petalwing sat together, murmuring to eachother. Nyghtkit began to notice how much they look alike. Nyghtkit ignored the painful reminder of how lonely she was nowadays seeing the two together. 
    Nyghtkit padded over to the fresh-kill pile. There was barely anything. Two scrawny mice, a small blue bird, and a mole lay on top of eachother. They looked so peaceful. Her stomach rumbled but she decided to let more important cats eat them. Leaf-bare really was getting into everyone's heads.

    "Hello, Nyghtkit," a low voice said behind her. Nyghtkit flinched and turned around, Clovertail standing over her. She felt her face begin to heat.
    "Hi," she said quietly. Usually all the members of the Clan ignored her. She wasn't expecting the Deputy to greet her like this. Maybe he wanted her to do something for him?

    "How have you been? Has your eye been okay?" Clovertail's green eyes had real concern in them. He sat down, curling his slender black tail around his white body. Nyghtkit nodded and shyly looked away. Clovertail smiled sympathetically and bent down to Nyghtkit's eye level.
    "I have a surprise for you," he whispered, his eyes shining. "I asked Miststar if I could take you into our territory. You've been stuck in that medicine cat den for too long."
    Nyghtkit's heart began to hammer in her chest. A smile crept onto her face and her eyes widened. She began to shake with anticipation and she shuffled her paws in excitement. "Y-you'd really do that?"

    "Of course I would. I'm Deputy, so it's my duty to care for everyone in the Clan. And you're a trusted member of Dewclan," he meowed, clearly enjoying her excitement. He so obviously wanted to please everyone and be friends with everyone. No wonder he was so popular.

    Nyghtkit squealed with joy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" The bounced around him, giggling. This is the most alive she's felt in a while. Members of the Clan stared at them in confusion. Clovertail simply chuckled and padded over to the pebble wall that surrounded the camp.
     Clovertail picked her up by the scruff and leaped over the wall. Nyghtkit was tempted to protest, but he was doing a favor for her so she bit her tongue. As he placed her on the ground, she stared in awe at the forest stretched out in front of her. Trees surrounded her, along with bushes and leaves scattered everywhere. The soil was soft underneath her pads. Branches hung high above her, causing Nyghtkit to think about how hidden the sky would be if it were Green-leaf.
    The Deputy padded foward, with Nyghtkit closely at his heels. 

    "So, Nyghtkit, you want to be a warrior?" Clovertail asked, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

    "More than anything."

    "Heh. Maybe if I'm lucky, I could mentor you," Clovertail meowed, looking down at her. Nyghtkit smiled and nodded, picturing themselves hunting or training. The thought gave her hope.
    Clovertail came to a stop, causing Nyghtkit to look at what was ahead. A large ravine was ahead. Nyghtkit slowly inched closer to it and looked down it, gasping when she saw a rushing river at the bottom. A sheet of ice covered the body of water and she could see sharp, jagged rocks at the edge of the river and at the bottom. Far to the left was a large waterfall that fell into the ravine. There were three large logs propped on one edge of the ravine and the other. 
    Clovertail put one paw on one of the logs and looked over at Nyghtkit nervously. "Will you be able to do this?"
    Without answering, Nyghtkit scrambled on top of the log and stared at the other end. It seemed to stretch out so far away. She took a step, feeling the cold bark underneath her pads. She could sense Clovertail watching very closely. A gust of wind came through and almost messed up Nyghtkit's balance. Quickly as possible, she lunged forward and threw herself on the other side of the ravine. Clovertail chuckled and quickly padded across the log without any hesitation.

    "That was good for a first try. I've had to pretty much jump into the ravine saving cat's tails before," he stuck his tongue out. Nyghtkit's heart warmed. She had a feeling her and Clovertail would be good friends.
    Clovertail brushed past her and turned left. They walked along the edge of the ravine, walking towards the waterfall that could be seen ahead. Clovertail came to an abrupt stop and perked his hears. He stepped over Nyghtkit protectively, causing a confusing look from her. The bushes next to them rustled and two Streamclan cats emerged from them. 
    Two toms stood there, glaring at Clovertail. They glanced down at Nyghtkit and narrowed their eyes. A dark brown tom with a silver streak going down his back stepped forward, his amber eyes revealing anger. 

    "Clovertail. What are you doing in our territory?" The brown tom growled. 

    "Hello, Hollowstripe," Clovertail politely dipped his head towards the toms. 

    The other tom ignored his greeting, his gray fur puffed out and his back arched. "Go back on your side of the ravine, before we report you to Hazelstar." He glared his green eyes at Clovertail.

    "No need, Ashbreeze. We're heading to the Holy Grounds," he said cheerfully, clearly not up for a fight. He showed absolutely no signs of fear. Hollowstripe and Ashbreeze seemed clearly intimidated by Clovertail, and Nyghtkit couldn't help but wonder how powerful he really was. 
    The two toms glanced at each other and frowned. 

    "Let us guide you there," Hollowstripe said firmly. Clearly they weren't giving Clovertail an option. He simply nodded and let Hollowstripe take the lead, Ashbreeze trailing a few steps behind. Nyghtkit stayed underneath Clovertail as they walked.

    "What are you heading to the Holy Grounds for?" Ashbreeze asked from behind them. Clovertail glanced back at him and smiled. 

    "It's a surprise for Nyghtkit."

    Hollowstripe glanced back at Clovertail. "You brought a kit out of your camp?" Nyghtkit mentally cringed. She stepped out from under Clovertail and looked around. Ashbreeze's eyes widened at the sight of her. 

    "You brought an injured kit out of your camp?!"

    Clovertail narrowed his green eyes. "This is important to her."



    The rest of the walk was in silence. They passed the waterfall that fell into the ravine, and Nyghtkit's eyes widened as she saw 4 trees surrounding a much taller one in a field. They must have been the Clan Trees and the Sycamore of Stars that Halftail told her about. She stared at the Sycamore in awe, and for some odd reason, most of the leaves still stuck onto the tree. A large boulder stood proudly in the field. Clovertail led her to the lone trees in the middle of nothing and ducked under the bushes that surrounded them. She stepped over the large trunks and roots that popped up from the ground until she came across a large clearing in the middle of the trees. 

    "Welcome to the Holy Grounds," Clovertail announced. The Sycamore of Stars trunk stood proudly in the middle. Small specks of light were dotted on the ground, but it was mostly dim under the trees. Patches of fresh dirt were in some places. Nyghtkit gave him a confused look, causing him to chuckle softly as he walked over to one of the dirt patches.
    
    "See, Nyghtkit, when a cat dies, we bury their body here so their soul can rest easy. They're buried underneath the five trees so they can merge into the Sycamore of Stars and become one with all four clans, putting their differences and problems aside. They live happily in Starclan together as one clan," he looked down at the dirt patch that was right next to the trunk of the Sycamore. "including your mother."
    Nyghtkit's heart lurched at the mention of Silverbreeze. This is her final resting spot, right underneath her paws. All she wanted to do was dig into the soil and see her one last time, to remind her of what she looked like. To feel the texture of her fur. To see the light in her amber eyes. 
    She stared at the grave for a long time without saying anything. She choked back the tears and ignored the pain in her eye. She laid down next to the grave and buried her eyes beneath her paws. When she looked up, three white flowers were placed there. They looked like daisies. Hollowstripe, Ashbreeze and Clovertail had their eyes closed and their heads bowed. 



    The sun was going down. Nyghtkit and Clovertail crossed the log that seperated Dewclan and Streamclan. They said their farewells to Hollowstripe and Ashbreeze. 
    "If we were going to see Silverbreeze's grave, why didn't Emberkit come?" Nyghtkit gave Clovertail a tired look. He looked down at her and frowned.
    "She's already seen the grave."

    "Without me...?"

    "Petalwing said you were 'too weak'."

    Anger pulsed through Nyghtkit's veins. "I'm not!"

    "I know," he sighed as he picked her up and jumped over the pebble wall of the camp. Miststar's eyes lit up as she saw Nyghtkit and she walked over to her.

    "We're announcing a new apprentice."