CW- Implied suicidal thoughts.

A few hours after Junco's acceptance as leader. She has not yet fully descended the mountain.

"Fox dung Junco, I know what you're thinking about and I'm going to need you to step back a bit."

Junco turned away from the cliff face to look at him as he continued, "We both know she would not appreciate that."

The older cat looked at the ground, as though ashamed, "You're right, as always Estacado. Far too wise for your age."

I don't want to be right about what I thought you were thinking about. What kind of messed up world do we live in?

"She didn't say how it works."

Estacado tilted his head. "How what works?"

"The whole afterlife thing," Junco annunciated the word with a wave of her tail. She lifted her twisted paw skyward as though she could pull her dead mate out of the stars. "Are they physically above us or is that too mousebrained an idea?"

Oriole, Llano, and Branch. All dead from the same cat, and within about a moon of each other. Amber, though he had never met his mother. Was Static up there?

"Guess we won't know for a while," Estacado mewed. But if I've learned anything recently it's that we can't be sure about that.

"Do you think I'm allowed to talk with them again? I never saw Branch do it, or Oriole for that matter."

"Guess we can ask Snapdragon, if anyone she'd know."

Is now a good time to tell her? Should I wait and let her have her moment, a moment of glory in becoming leader? Estacado nearly laughed at himself.

No glory here, what was I thinking? He thought almost spitefully.

"I'm gonna be the next healer, Snapdragon said so." I know she really needed to train someone, we all realize she's getting old. Only makes sense it be me, and I'm happy to do it.

He has asked her about it a few days ago but they hadn't had time to announce it.

"That's great!" Junco smiled at him, closing her eyes to hide her grief. Hard to be excited about anything but I respect her for trying.

"Yeah, I figured I'm good enough at it already, might as well make it official. Snapdragon's gonna announce it when we get back down the mountain."

Junco nodded and turned to face the empty space across from them again. From their place near the top of the mountain it seemed as though they could see everything the world was. Estacado could see the river where Branch had died winding in the distance. The patch of trees where Oriole had bled out was much closer and he averted his eyes. Everything is so small from here and yet everything feels so big to me. None of this is of significance to the mountain or the river. The sky will forget us.

Should I feel reassured by that?

"You must hate me," Junco's voice brought him back from his thoughts.

"What? Why would I..."

Junco wasn't looking at him, she was staring down at her paws with her back turned. He could see her shoulders poking through her thick back fur. She hasn't been eating enough.

"I should have saved him, I should have at least taught you to defend yourself. I wasn't thinking and-"

"Hey, nobody else suggested anything either! Who could've predicted anything like this? I could never blame you." Even if that was the most useless and terrified I've ever felt. Llano stood up for Snapdragon even we both had no idea how to fight and I just watched. I watched and he died.

"I'll get Blizzard to teach you when we get back, since I can't even walk right anymore," anger leeched into her voice as she spoke. "And Inky too, if she's still there."

"Uh, yeah, we can do that. Right now, you should get some rest, we'll continue down the mountain in a bit." I know it's been a lot more work for her, with her paw. Getting used to it is frustrating her.

Junco sighed and straightened. She turned to face him and her eyes were tired, resigned. "You're right again, I'll see if there's a soft patch to lie down. Thanks."

She's a good sister and she'll be a good leader, even if she never wanted the position. I only wish it didn't have to happen this way.

A/N- Hey guys sorry for inactivity! Here's just a little from Estacado, sorry it's pretty depressing!