| abstract | - Ravenflight paced frantically back and forth in front of the medicine cat's den. He couldn't lose her. Not after losing Sweetkit and Larchkit. She was too precious to him. As soon as Bumblewhisker's apprentice, Comfreyleaf, made her way out of the den, he was on her. "How is she?" The ginger she-cat didn't meet his eyes. "Ravenflight, you'd better come see her." A cold knot of dread formed in Ravenflight's stomach as he dashed into the den. It reeked of sickness and herbs, but above that was the delicate perfumed scent of his beloved. Mintberry was stretched out in her nest. Her silver-and-white flanks struggled for breath. Her soft mint-green eyes were closed. Bumblewhisker looked up and saw him there. "She's leaving us Ravenflight." "No!" The black tom collapsed by his mate's side. "Mintberry," he whispered. "Speak to me my love. You'll be all right." His thoughts flashed back to their younger days, how lively and healthy she'd been. He could see her perfectly, eyes dancing, delicate and lithe as she pranced around him. How could something like greencough take that lovely she-cat away from him and replace her with this poor cat struggling to cling to life? "Stay with me, darling." Mintberry's eyes met his. For one moment her old spirit returned, a flash of youthful vigour. Ravenflight could see all her love burning brightly in her gaze. "Ravenflight, I wish I could stay, but StarClan beckons me. Don't be sad. I love you." Her head fell back into the nest, and she took one last shuddering breath. Ravenflight didn't believe it at first. "No! We can start again! We'll have more kits! Mintberry!" He was saying anything, anything at all, trying to keep her with him. But he could tell she was gone. Outside, the rain poured in a sudden violent outburst, as if the whole world was weeping for the wonderful life lost. Throughout it all, the vigil, the burial, Ravenflight had been numb. But now the pain wracked him, huge, shuddering sobs. He lay alone, away from the camp, on the border of PineClan's territory. Alone with his grief, memories, loss. Alone. He had never felt so abandoned. And yet, he somehow resented the thought of the company, and sympathy, that his clan offered. A burning anger started in his heart. I can't- won't, go back. StarClan hadn't saved Mintberry. Bumblewhisker hadn't saved her. The warrior code hadn't saved her. He wasn't sure if they could have, but they hadn't. He couldn't face them. She, the light of his life, was gone. He wanted no more part of clan life. Of social life. Every time you opened your heart to someone, they were snatched from you. His parents. His sister, Swanpaw. And now Mintberry. He had no one left. Nothing left to live for, but himself. Slowly, Ravenflight got to his paws. He stalked stiff-leggedly over PineClan's border, turning up his nose at their pathetic attempts to claim their own land. Living for others just didn't pay. It was time for the new Ravenflight.
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