Yeah, I'm trying shorter chapters now, hoping that will motivate me to update more often.

Anyway, this is a alternate look at the scene at the ending of Sunset, and what could have been.

Firestar was lying before Brambleclaw, caught in a fox trap, suffocating, while staring with his half-dead eyes at the ThunderClan's deputy. Emotions were whirling through Brambleclaw. He was only one paw-step from becoming the clan leader... But would he kill cat who meant this much to him do achieve this? He remembered how Firestar left his old friend to die in flames, just to save him. How Firestar encouraged him, gave him hope, and trusted him with his life.

Ambition burned inside Brambleclaw. He thought that making him deputy would feed his ambition for a long time but now, seeing that big fresh-kill that was the leadership, he knew he could barely restrain himself...

But should he restrain himself? Brambleclaw knew he would make great leader. He had strength and foresight, and knew he would lead the clan to a brighter future than Firestar will. Ungratefulness of WindClan slowly turned into open aggression, and ShadowClan was as fierce as ever. ThunderClan was lacking kits, apprentices, and with Firestar as the leader, the clan also lacked the will to fight. Could ThunderClan survive this?

Firestar was coughing with blood. Snare trapped his neck, but it was too loose to kill the leader quickly. "I only need to pull it a bit to kill him... Without even wetting my paws in blood. Or I could pull it out, to save him..."

He moved closer to Firestar, his paws heavy, but determined... As if one was guided by Firestar's spirit and second by spirit of Tigerstar... But both wanted something completely different.

He thought of these two figures who meant so much to him. But time for decision came.

"Forgive me," he whispered.

And he tightened the snare on Firestar's neck.

Blood started flowing out from it, while his whole body twitched in convulsion.

"This is the only way... In these times, ThunderClan can't survive with You as the leader. We will need to be strong, and ready for combat. It's a sad thing that your life ends here. In peace you were a great leader..." - Brambleclaw tried to justify his decision to Firestar, but he knew he couldn't receive forgiveness.

He didn't dare to look at his leader, when he was still fighting for his life. Only Hawkfrost's voice managed to bring him there back.

"He still has lives. You need to finish him."

Brambleclaw looked up. Firestar was still there, breathing. Snare loosened up. Brambleclaw felt so heavy, he could barely move. "How many times will I have to do this?" - he thought. Could he really force himself to kill, again and again, the cat he respected so much?

But was there any choice now? He killed him once. Would he trust him again? No. There was no redemption for Brambleclaw now. "I made the choice I will regret for the rest of my life, but there is no turning back," he added in his thoughts.

He tightened the snare again.

He tried to suppress the sound of dying yowl that Firestar made. To escape from the death that he caused. But he couldn't. It would haunt him for the rest of his days.

Brambleclaw looked up at Firestar, lying in pool of his blood. "So much death. So much pain," - he tried to shake away his thoughts but he couldn't. Was he suffocating from all this pain he caused?

Barely able to stand up he tightened the loop again.

All the time they spent together flashed before his eyes. The terrified sight on Fireheart's eyes when he first saw Bramblekit. The time when Bluestar made him Fireheart's apprentice. How Bramblepaw tracked Firestar's meeting place with his kittypet sister, and Firestar told him what the true loyalty is like. The warrior ceremony, when he meant with his whole life to uphold the Warrior Code and protect his clan. How Firestar emphasized Brambleclaw's loyalty. And his ultimate display of trust, when Brambleclaw was made deputy. All this was now shattered. Veiled in blood.

Brambleclaw couldn't see anything but blood. Was he losing lives along with Firestar? With the last piece of his life he struggled to tighten the snare again.

Brambleclaw saw himself on top of hill made of bones. All around him were the cats of all four clans, all looking up to him with respect and fear. Many bodies of dead cats were among them. All those who rejected his authority. And when he looked in his own amber eyes, he wasn't sure if it was him - or was it there a difference between them now?

Quiet whimper woke him up from his dream. Firestar was still alive. His green eyes pierced him with sadness and regret. Life was flowing away from ThunderClan leader.

Brambleclaw was dying inside. He didn't know how much longer could he manage. "Please forgive me," he only managed to say why pulling the snare again.

He couldn't shield himself from Firestar's death this time. He saw how his green eyes slowly turned cold. His body stopped moving. Firestar's blood drenched Brambleclaw's paws. He knew it was the end.

Firestar was dead.

Brambleclaw stood there silently for a long moment. Scent of death overwhelmed him, he was drowning in blood he spilled himself and the last breaths of Firestar deafened him.

"Was it worth it?" - he asked himself.

He looked up in the sky, seeking consolation in the stars. But sky was clouded.

"May StarClan welcome you..." - he spoke his last words to a dead leader and turned around to meet his brother's gaze.

"Tigerstar was right about you. You will be the great leader." - Hawkfrost said, but his words sounded so empty.

"Leave me alone." - he replied to Hawkfrost and looked back at Firestar.

How long he was standing there? Too long. Maybe he would stand there forever, if he didn't hear the voice behind him.

"Brambleclaw?"

It was Squirrelflight and Leafpool.

Reviews appreciated.