The Augury of RiverClan - 4

TW: Mentions of illness, death, and survivor's guilt ahead.

It had been two moons since Pinkeyes had died, but the memory of the battle was still fresh in Havenpaw's mind. The feeling of Leafpaw's claws raking across his body and then Pinkeyes dashing in at the last moment to save him had been too much. He'd never had the chance to say thank you. He'd never been able to admit he had a crush on her. He'd never been able to truly say goodbye.

"Riverpaw!" Rookfeather's sharp mew sounded nearby, shaking Havenpaw from his thoughts. The apprentice watched as the blind warrior padded into the medicine den. "Why are you in here again? We're supposed to be training with Graypaw and Dewwhisker today!"

"Pinestep wanted help sorting her herbs," Riverpaw replied. "Since Berryfur's retired--"

"Some other cat can do that!" Rookfeather snapped harshly. "Now, come on. I'm sure they're waiting on us."

Havenpaw watched as his brother followed Rookfeather out of camp. A chill crept up his spine as someone's tail tip traced up his back. "He was never meant to be a warrior," Lightningsong mewed sadly. "Your mother won't be happy when he changes his path. Rookfeather, either. But he has his own destiny to follow."

Havenpaw looked at his grandmother and sighed, flicking his tail sadly. "He's going to be a medicine cat."

"Correct," she agreed, laying down beside him. "Not yet, I think. But soon. Just like the rest of us, Berryfur has old bones. It'll be a few moons; I doubt he'll make it through leaf bare."

Havenpaw's eyes grew wide. "Did StarClan speak to you?" he mewed in awe.

"No," the pale gray cat purred, "These old bones have seen enough cats die to tell when someone's time is near."

Before Havenpaw could reply, Berryfur padded out of the elders den on the other side of camp, stopping every few paw steps as he neared the medicine den. The brown tabby's fur was ruffled and unkempt like a twisted bush's branches after a wind storm. His yellow eyes were dull and his whiskers drooped.

"That doesn't look like death," Havenpaw whispered. "Maybe tired and old, but not death..." His mind flashed back to the battle and how horrid Pinkeyes's death was.

"Not all deaths are the same, little one." Lightningsong rested her white muzzle on top of Havenpaw's head. "Old age, illness, and hunger are marks of death, too. We lost your father, Frostyshade, and Branchstar all to greencough last leaf bare..."

Havenpaw had never known his father; Spottedfoot had gone to StarClan before he was born. According to Shorestar, Havenpaw and his littermates had been born just a few days later. "What was he like?" the apprentice asked curiously.

Lightningsong lifted her head and stretched her neck, yawning. "He was... an odd one," she mewed at last. "He and Pinestep were siblings through their mother, Fawnheart." The elder flicked her tail towards the she-cat, who was sharing a fish with Mothear and Sunsetfur. "He also had a connection with StarClan, but Frostyshade had already been made a full medicine cat when he was born, and Spottedfoot had no mind for memorizing herbs." The older cat shook her head, purring cheerfully as she recalled the past. "But despite that, he and Shorestar made a good pair."

"Will Fawnheart retire, do you think?"

Lightningsong shook her head. "She's lost her son and her mate; she'll want a distraction for a long while yet. Grief can and will push some cats to their limits, Havenpaw." She licked his cheek and dotingly rubbed her muzzle against his head. "It's not your fault Pinkeyes died. Just remember that, okay?"

Havenpaw nodded but didn't look at his grandmother. "Okay," he mumbled before pushing himself up. "I'm going to go check on the other elders. I need to get back to my duties."

"A true warrior already," Lightningsong purred. "Just don't push yourself."

"I won't."