"She's lost too much blood. We couldn't have saved her."

I knew that I was going to die from the moment I tried to save Ivypool. There was nothing that could be done. The Dark Forest warriors were strong, yes. But, the cats of the Clans were a lot stronger, and I knew they could overpower them, even though I was gone. I sacrificed myself to save her, that way she could live on in ThunderClan, and not make the same mistakes I did.

I was glad that I could see Leafpool one last time before my life bleed out in ThunderClan's camp. She was my mother, and although I didn't know that for a good part of my life, I was happy that I got to spend just a small amount of time with her, before StarClan called me home. I'd made my peace with them when I decided to leave Fallen Leaves in the tunnels and come back to ThunderClan's land, back to where I belonged.

Or, at least...that's what I let myself believe. No one else knew, but, I missed that ginger and white tom. He stayed with me, and comforted me when no one else would. He understood me, and was willing to look past the bad. He was my friend, and one I loved more than anything. He was different, and that's what I liked about him. He took care of me when I was sick, and allowed me the freedom to make choices for myself. I was heartbroken when I left him.

"She wasn't meant to die here, Broken Shadow. I...I promised I'd see her again."

I heard Fallen Leaves say that, and I wanted nothing more than to turn around on my walk to StarClan and race to him, twining my tail with his and comforting him, letting him know that I was still with him. We promised that we would see each other again...but since we were both dead, and walked different skies, would that even be possible?

"Fallen Leaves... Leafpool... Jayfeather... Lionblaze... everyone. I'm so sorry. But, I knew going in what I would face. Hawkfrost killed me, and I knew that it would happen. There's nothing that can be done now, so I'll just watch over you from StarClan. Know I love you all, and I wouldn't give anything to change what happened to me." I whispered this to myself, knowing that I was the only one around. There wasn't anything that could be done to bring me back to them, and I accepted my fate. I'd lived long enough without following any rules, or going by the norm. Perhaps it was time I started.

"If only you know how wrong you were, young one."

I turned around, and could see a very faint orange tom with one white paw looking in my direction. His sparkling blue eyes reminded me of the lake, and how it's crystal-clear water made everything look so peaceful. I'd never seen this tom before in my life, but, I felt as if I could trust him. After all, this was StarClan. I hesitantly looked him in the eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked him. It certainly couldn't be a cat from the modern Clans. At least not one that I'd heard of.

"My name? It's been too long since anyone has spoken it." He lifted his one white paw, and flicked his ear. "I was once known as Lightningtail, and I was the very first deputy of ThunderClan, before I was killed by another warrior in battle. However, I go by Lightning now, as to isolate myself from those I once called my Clanmates. They abandoned me when I needed help the most. They sat back and watched as one of the very first Clan leaders ripped my throat out. No matter how many times I called for help, they didn't listen. My life was taken from me by none other than the leader of one of the most ruthless Clans. Shadow took my life, and I'll never forget the look in her eyes."

I looked at Lightning. The expression in his eyes was something I'd never seen before. It wasn't exactly a look of horror, but, I couldn't explain it even if StarClan gave me all the time in the world. "I... I'm sorry to hear that... I can't imagine something like that happening in today's Clans... I mean, it goes against everything the Warrior Code stands for!" It shocked me, having to hear about how a Clan leader of all cats would just murder another cat. "She was a Clan leader..."

Lightning cut me off, and shook his head. "Little one, when I was alive, we didn't have the Warrior Code as you know it. We could hardly be called Clans, honestly. We didn't have anywhere near as much control as the Clans of today do." He paused, and let his gaze wander for a moment. After shaking his head as if to clear his mind of nightmares, he looked down at me. "Now, little one, what is your name?"

"Hollyleaf. I used to be a warrior of ThunderClan. But, I gave my life for that of another, and now I'm here in StarClan. But, I don't see any of the cats I know... I've heard the stories of Bluestar, Whitestorm, and the other former cats of my Clan, yet, I don't see them. Lightning, do StarClan cats walk alone in the stars?"

"No, young warrior. This is a distant part of StarClan, where only few have walked before. Most are spending time with their friends and family. Here, however... this is a very special place. Hollyleaf, you should consider yourself lucky to have found your way here. You mentioned a cat named... Fallen Leaves, was it?"

I looked away. Fallen Leaves was my best friend. What I wouldn't give to see him again. "Yes. But, we walk different skies. How is it possible for me to see him again?"

Lightning looked at me and smiled, something I hadn't seen him do yet. "Well, as I said, this is a very special place within StarClan's territory. It connects with the other ancestors. Young one, you may very well be able to find that special friend of yours. After all, what's a promise, if you can't keep that promise?"

A/N:Yes, Lightningtail is a legit character from Warriors, although it's never said what happens to them. Their gender's not even known, but for this, I decided to make him a tom, and he's got quite the tragic past.

This originally started out as a one-shot, but I changed my mind.

Read and review~
-Snowed Lightning