Night falls without the usual comfort that it tends to bring. It falls eerily, less like settling in and more like dropping down onto all who inhabit the land underneath it. There's still dying light to be spotted over on the horizon—courtesy of the moor that seems to stretch on endlessly. Dimmingsun's lungs expand as he takes a breath; not to steady himself, no, but to remind himself of a life that he had not bore witness to, but one that is important nevertheless.
He had seldom spoken to Molewhisker. General courtesy, like greeting one another or offering assistance when it was expected of them, barely even counts. There's something about the fact that Dimmingsun gets closer with cats who require medical attention, or even need his presence in order to keep them tethered to this world. They come to him at their lowest... and as such, Dimmingsun pays attention to those at their lowest. Molewhisker had not been a patient of his, not really.
Still, they had been Clanmates. This is Dimmingsun's first real vigil since becoming a medicine cat.
He recalls the conversation he had with Meadowpaw; hesitant to approach, considering the little break that he had given her in the first place, but her knowledge was important. Turns out, WindClan did not really have a proper spot for burials. The memorial stones come closest to the concept. It'd be impossibly naive to think that they will not need a dedicated area for granting eternal rest to those who had served their time.
Dimmingsun has never been the most sentimental cat. He knows that death looms above them all; the only uncertainty is the when, and the how. This... with Clan culture in mind, he cannot afford to remain indifferent much longer.
He takes a step back from the body of Molewhisker. Their fur has been cleaned, and the damage that the tunnel had caused is more or less hidden by flowers and herbs; it makes them look more... presentable. Dimmingsun supposes they deserve to look closer to how they had been when alive. A grave has been dug out already with the help of WindClan's strongest, gaping just behind Molewhisker, awaiting them.
Not yet, however.
Dimmingsun turns his gaze to Highstones then. It had been his idea; that place means something to them all, through varying degrees of belief in higher power. WindClan's new gravesite is now a few minutes away from camp, offering it a secluded feel without forcing the Clan to carry the dead for too long. Dimmingsun likes to see the significance in this choice. He had explained it to Dustystar, Goldenroar, and then the entire Clan in tow: how the dead can now glance towards the place where the Moonstone rests, and how, perhaps, this will grant them easier passage into the afterlife.
It could mean nothing. It could mean everything.
He had seldom spoken to Molewhisker. General courtesy, like greeting one another or offering assistance when it was expected of them, barely even counts. There's something about the fact that Dimmingsun gets closer with cats who require medical attention, or even need his presence in order to keep them tethered to this world. They come to him at their lowest... and as such, Dimmingsun pays attention to those at their lowest. Molewhisker had not been a patient of his, not really.
Still, they had been Clanmates. This is Dimmingsun's first real vigil since becoming a medicine cat.
He recalls the conversation he had with Meadowpaw; hesitant to approach, considering the little break that he had given her in the first place, but her knowledge was important. Turns out, WindClan did not really have a proper spot for burials. The memorial stones come closest to the concept. It'd be impossibly naive to think that they will not need a dedicated area for granting eternal rest to those who had served their time.
Dimmingsun has never been the most sentimental cat. He knows that death looms above them all; the only uncertainty is the when, and the how. This... with Clan culture in mind, he cannot afford to remain indifferent much longer.
He takes a step back from the body of Molewhisker. Their fur has been cleaned, and the damage that the tunnel had caused is more or less hidden by flowers and herbs; it makes them look more... presentable. Dimmingsun supposes they deserve to look closer to how they had been when alive. A grave has been dug out already with the help of WindClan's strongest, gaping just behind Molewhisker, awaiting them.
Not yet, however.
Dimmingsun turns his gaze to Highstones then. It had been his idea; that place means something to them all, through varying degrees of belief in higher power. WindClan's new gravesite is now a few minutes away from camp, offering it a secluded feel without forcing the Clan to carry the dead for too long. Dimmingsun likes to see the significance in this choice. He had explained it to Dustystar, Goldenroar, and then the entire Clan in tow: how the dead can now glance towards the place where the Moonstone rests, and how, perhaps, this will grant them easier passage into the afterlife.
It could mean nothing. It could mean everything.
"Molewhisker has passed during a tunnel collapse,"
he explains to those who may have just arrived to the scene, and need a bit of context. Their days had been busy after all. "From what I've been told, they likely did not have the chance to suffer for too long. Now they can rest without the pain of life hanging over them."
A beat passes, and that's Dimmingsun's cue to sit down and curl his tail around himself, posture straight. He feels it is the perfect time for family and friends to utter their final farewells before the earth gets to swallow Molewhisker.Set after this thread.
