The Last Star of Night
"Look Dawnlark , it's the first star!" Eagleheart whispered. The two friends sat on a branch, enjoying the last of the blazing sunset. Dawnlark leaned closer and mewed "I have something to tell you. I have feelings for you. " Eagleheart purred. "It took you long enough. I thought you'd never say that." Dawnlark rested her head on his shoulder, then sat up. "Let's go hunting," she meowed. "I know i won't be able to sleep anyway." "Ok," Eagleheart agreed, and the two cats headed towards Sunningrocks. Eagleheart smelled mouse, and raced off to follow the scent. Toms, Dawnlark thought. Never stopping to think. She quietly walked around Sunningrocks, enjoying the cool breeze. A harsh voice suddenly came from the shadows. "RiverClan, attack!" Rippleclaw, the ambitious RiverClan deputy, led the moonlight attack. Three warriors and an apprentice fell in behind him as they crossed the border. Dawnlark reared back, prepared to fight for her Clan. Moonlight glinted on unsheathed claws as the RiverClan warriors circled. "Sunningrocks belongs to us!" Rippleclaw yowled , and he leaped at Dawnlark. She growled and dodged sideways, slicing his black pelt with thorn-sharp claws. Rippleclaw cried out, and warily circled the tabby she-cat. Dawnlark focused all her attention on the clever tom, and dealt him a crippling blow. His ear left his head, impaled on Dawnlark's claw, but in vain. At that moment, Dawnlark felt teeth close in her throat, and claws in her back. She had forgotten the other warriors, and had payed fatally. The last thing Dawnlark saw was her true love yowling a battle cry of grief. Eagleheart whirled through the RiverClan cats, ripping pelts and scratching eyes. A wordless cry ripped from his throat, a cry of lost love and indescribable rage. He was a cat unhinged, mad with grief. All were wounded, and Eagleheart fought with the strength of lions. Grief drove him forward, and he soon pinned Rippleclaw. "My love," he rasped. "You will die, slowly and painfully. Watch well, RiverClan scum." With that, he lifted a single claw to slit Rippleclaw's throat. The two cats stared into each others eyes. In Eagleheart's was only hard rage and agony. But as Eagleheart stared, he saw fear. Raw terror. And also a heart. A good heart, with only loyalty to his Clan. Rippleclaw was a courageous warrior, and he had never meant to kill. No one cat was responsible for death. "Please Eagleheart, " Rippleclaw pleaded. "I never meant, I never meant . . ." His voice died off as Eagleheart pressed a paw harder on his throat. "Don't speak," the ThunderClan warrior meowed. "I am struggling to hold myself back, and you did wrong." His paw shaking, Eagleheart took back his claw. He sat and ignored the RiverClan warriors. He laid down, whimpering like a kit. "Dawnlark," he mewled. "I loved you. I loved you!" Rippleclaw turned away, beckoning his patrol with his tail. Eagleheart touched noses with his love one last time. The beautiful ginger tabby's eyes were blank in a death stare, and Eagleheart whispered to her. "Walk in StarClan, my beautiful. You will be in my heart forever. I won Sunningrocks for you, my Dawnlark. You were my first star, the only one. You will be my last star, my true heart." Eagleheart grabbed her scruff, and headed back to camp as the last star of night sunk over the horizon. As dAwn broke, a bird sung. Night was over.