The Clan had made it back to camp and laid down Dustbreeze's body for vigil. Most cats had already paid their respects, but Sparrowflight and Batfeather both still laid there, side by side. Silence filled the air. Sparrowflight breathed a heavy sigh.

"What will we do without her?" He murmured quietly. Batfeather sniffed "She should still be alive. I should have saved her." Sparrowflight looked over at his sister and rested her tail on her back, not saying anything "I was there. I-I got knocked down and she got hit in the head and-" Batfeather broke off, choking on tears.

Sparrowflight wrapped his tail around her comfortingly. "Y-you can't say that. I-it wasn't your fault. I could've helped you, but I went to help Antfoot instead."

After hearing this, Batfeather turned on Sparrowflight "You could've helped us and you didn't?" She asked with an edge to her voice. Sparrowflight swallowed and nodded.

Batfeather opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Sparkpaw running over with bundles of herbs. "Go treat the other cats. They need it more." Sparrowflight protested "I'll treat whoever my mentor tells me to." Sparkpaw retorted, rubbing a poultice on a scratch on Batfeather's side. Once she was done with his sister and began treating Sparrowflight, Batfeather stood up and walked to the warriors den without saying a word. Sparrowflight stared after her. He thought Dustbreeze's death would bring them closer, but it seemed like it had driven them further apart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sparrowflight woke up, realizing he had fallen asleep sitting vigil for Dustbreeze. He looked around and realized that it was just past midnight and he was surrounded by other Clanmates sitting vigil for Dustbreeze. Then it hit him. I forgot to meet Blissnose! He looked around but quickly realized that most cats were awake, and one of them was staring right at him. Batfeather.

Sparrowflight looked away in embarrassment. She must have seen him sleeping. At his own mothers vigil! He realized with Batfeather watching him like a hawk and some other warriors being awake, that he wouldn't be able to meet with Blissnose. He didn't know why, but this made him sad. Some part of him was looking forward to spending time with the pretty white she cat. Sparrowflight sighed and rested his head on his paws. Your mother is dead! You need to be here!

Sparrowflight had barely managed to stay awake for the rest of the vigil. Once Dustbreeze's body was taken away for burial, Sparrowflight stood up to go to his nest, but heard Antfoot calling for him. "Sparrowflight!" Sparrowflight lifted his head weakly and walked over to the deputy. Antfoot dipped his head "You fought well yesterday." Sparrowflight nodded "Thank you." Antfoot went on. "You, Blazefire, and Batfeather all look like promising young warriors for the future of our Clan."

Sparrowflight was surprised by his praise. He dipped his head in thanks. Antfoot pointed to the center of camp where Tigerkit and Gingerkit were running around and playing with Icesplash watching from the nursery. "I get to see my mate and kits again today because you saved me. I won't forget that." Sparrowflight looked over at the dark ginger tom. "There was nothing you could have done about your mother." Antfoot told him. Sparrowflight thought to himself. Was Antfoot right? He should be happy. He saved the deputy. But I could've saved my mother.

Sparrowflight sighed "I'm going to sleep." He padded tiredly to the warriors den and curled up in his nest, sleep quickly falling over him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Sparrowflight woke up it was about midday. He stepped out of the den to see Antfoot look over at him from where he was laying, sharing a rabbit with Icesplash. "Sparrowflight, could you join Thorntail on the afternoon patrol? I want you to check the Shadowclan border." Sparrowflight nodded and turned to see the golden tom waiting at the camp entrance with his apprentice, Lilypaw, and Batfeather. Sparrowflight tried to meet his sister's gaze, but she looked away coldly.

Sparrowflight's thoughts were interrupted by Thorntail scolding his apprentice "Lilypaw I told you! You can visit Hareleap after the patrol. You saw him already this morning." Lilypaw protested "But Sparkpaw's gotten to see him more than I have! It's no fair!" "Sparkpaw is the medicine cat apprentice. That's her job." Thorntail retorted, signaling with his tail that it was time to go.

Hareleap, who was the father of Sparkpaw and Lilypaw, had been wounded badly by having his belly clawed open during the battle. Sparrowflight turned and followed the golden tom out of camp.

Once the group made it out to the moor, Sparrowflight slowed down so he could walk next to Batfeather. "Look I'm sorry." Sparrowflight told her "I'm sorry I didn't help you and Dustbreeze. Now can you please stop giving me the silent treatment?" Batfeather turned her head to look at him "You think I'm mad because of that?" Sparrowflight tilted his head, confused "Why else would you be ignoring me?" He asked. Batfeather shook her head "I was mad about that at first." She admitted, glancing away awkwardly. "But-"

Batfeather was interrupted by a Shadowclan patrol approaching the border. Sparrowflight smiled to himself when he recognized a familiar white pelt. The patrol was led by a warrior named Frogbounce. "What are you doing here?" He asked Thorntail suspiciously. "Patrolling, same as you." Thorntail replied with a shrug "How are things in Shadowclan?" He asked curiously "Why do you care?" A new voice snarled. Sparrowflight then recognized Blissnose "Firestep calm down. He's just asking." Sparrowflight looked over and caught Blissnose's gaze. She walked closer to where he was standing and her sweet scent wafted over Sparrowflight. "I'll uh, be in the back of the group." Sparrowflight told Thorntail. The golden tom nodded and began walking. The Shadowclan patrol began walking the other way along the border.

"Where were you last night?" Blissnose asked, but her eyes showed concern, not sadness "I had to sit vigil. Meet me here tonight?" Sparrowflight asked. Blissnose smiled and nodded.

"Blissnose let's go!" Firestep called irritably. Blissnose flattened her ears "See you tonight." She whispered, running her soft tail along his muzzle as she trotted after the patrol. Sparrowflight shook himself out of his love-struck haze and ran to catch up to his patrol.

"Where were you?" Batfeather asked curiously. Sparrowflight shrugged "I was talking to a Shadowclan cat." Batfeather narrowed her eyes "Which Shadowclan cat?" Sparrowflight gulped nervously "Blissnose." Batfeather rolled her eyes "You know how I feel about that cat." She retorted. "How?" Sparrowflight asked, confused. Batfeather looked at him angrily. "She's a pretty, goody paws who thinks that every cat can just play her game. Honestly, don't you pay attention at Gatherings?"

Sparrowflight didn't say anything. Batfeather narrowed her eyes "She's got you in her little game now doesn't she?" "What are you talking about?" Sparrowflight asked. "Sparrowflight, I've seen how you look at her. When you defended her over me all those moons ago." "You're not still mad about that are you?"
"Of course not!" Batfeather hissed "The only thing I'm mad about is how rabbit brained you are to trust her." She then trotted ahead to catch up with Thorntail before Sparrowflight could say anything. Sparrowflight sighed. He may not have Batfeather's approval, but he would see Blissnose that night.