The First Battle/Chapter 16

==Chapter description==
:Waiting for Turtle Tail and the kits, Gray Wing remembers Wind Runner's words about not knowing how it feels to lose a kit. The cats wonder about Thunder and the others, and Gray Wing asks Tall Shadow if he should look for the kits. Tall Shadow refuses, reminding him about the meeting with Clear Sky the next day. Gray Wing thinks that Tom took the kits to Twolegplace and wonders whether Tom has persuaded Turtle Tail to stay. He then hears the heather rustle and looks as he hears Owl Eyes' mew. Gray Wing finds Thunder and Lightning Tail with the kits, and Sparrow Fur calls for Turtle Tail as Owl Eyes reveals to Gray Wing that they went to the Twolegplace.
:When Sparrow Fur cannot find Turtle Tail, she guesses that Turtle Tail went out looking for them. Gray Wing asks Thunder where she is and says he will go look for her, but Thunder reveals that she is dead. Gray Wing stares at Thunder and argues in denial, and Lightning Tail tells him that she was killed by a monster. This news upsets the kits, and Sparrow Fur accuses Thunder of separating them from Tom while knowing what had happened to Turtle Tail. Lightning Tail tells Sparrow Fur that Turtle Tail would have wanted them to stay with Gray Wing. When she continues to argue, Gray Wing reminds her that they have him. Sparrow Fur collapses in despair, and he comforts her, with Owl Eyes and Pebble Heart joining them. Gray Wing assures them that he will care for them, and Pebble Heart says that the moor is their home. The other cats try to comfort Gray Wing, with Tall Shadow and Hawk Swoop offering their condolences. Rainswept Flower settles with them, reassuring him that Turtle Tail would have been happy that he had loved her, and Gray Wing experiences memories of his mate, falling asleep.
:Rainswept Flower awakens Gray Wing as Wind Runner approaches, and she apologizes to him for her words the day prior. She asks him to carry Emberkit to the burial site so that they can say goodbye to him and Turtle Tail. While Rainswept Flower prepares the kits, Wind Runner takes Gray Wing to retrieve Emberkit's body, and she leads him to the gravesite. The other moor cats are already there, grieving, and Pebble Heart scatters burnet leaves into the grave to give Emberkit strength. After a while, Thunder begins burying Emberkit, but Wind Runner wails that he cannot bury her kit. While Gorse Fur takes her back to camp, the others finish burying Emberkit. Gray Wing promises Turtle Tail that he will care for her kits, before taking the others back home. Thunder assures him that the kits will not be alone, and Tall Shadow tells them to rest for the meeting with Clear Sky.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Thunder and Lightning Tail bring Turtle Tail's kits home, and Thunder informs them all that Turtle Tail has died.
*A burial and vigil is held for Emberkit and Turtle Tail.
==Errors==
*Acorn Fur is mistakenly called Acorn Leaf.
==Notes and references==
Category:The First Battle
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc
Category:Chapter subpages