AN: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed my stories! Every review is appreciated. So here's a new one-shot, which was a welcome break from writing a million romantic ones. This one was suggested by a friend of mine- "Hey, what would happen if Graystripe went to StarClan and met Millie and Silverstream there?" Enjoy!
It was almost sunset, and Graystripe lay dying in the center of the ThunderClan camp. He coughed miserably. Nearby, Jayfeather sat neatly, tail curled around his paws as he listened to the slowly weakening coughs.
Sickness had taken the old warrior's body. A fierce leaf-bare greencough invasion had left the Clan shaken, taking two warriors and now Firestar's best friend.
The ginger tom stood nearby, looking away. They had been the best of friends for as long as any cat could remember, and now that one was about to leave, the other simply couldn't face it.
The rest of the Clan was keeping a respectable distance from the dying warrior. Only their leader stood hardly a mouse-length from him.
The sun began to set. Fire ripped the sky as the sun bled, and the first warriors of Silverpelt soon began to appear. The sky-flame faded, replaced by the gray sky of nightfall, growing steadily darker. A kit hovered by its mother, whispering, "Will Graystripe be in the sky tonight?"
Jayfeather knew the tom would be dead soon. His coughs had grown so weak they could hardly be heard. His breaths were weak and airless.
The medicine cat raised his head, looking blindly at Firestar. The ginger tom looked back at him.
Firestar stood up. Graystripe blinked a few times, looking at his friend. "Fire…star," he coughed. "I-"
He was cut off by the worst coughing fit he'd had yet. It seemed to stretch on for eternity, yet it could only have lasted a few moments. He finally let out one last cough and fell still.
Jayfeather stood as well. "He is gone."
Firestar raised his head. "Though his body has died, his spirit lives on all around us and in us. Let us not forget him."
As one, the cats let out a long yowl and shuffled closer to the fallen warrior, pressing against him as Jayfeather turned away, headed to his den. Firestar bent down, whispering to the dead tom. "I'll see you soon," he vowed quietly, settling next to his friend.
Graystripe awoke in a clearing. Trees hovered at its edges. "Hello?" he called.
There was a rustling noise, and a beautiful starry she-cat appeared. "Graystripe!" she called, running towards him.
"Silverstream!" he yowled, running forward to greet her. He nuzzled his mate, purring, the pretty she-cat doing the same. "I missed you," he murmured.
"I missed you too," she whispered in reply.
They lifted their heads, having picked up a nearby sound. It was very loud and careless; someone was obviously crashing through the forest towards them. A moment later, a star-pelted she-cat tumbled into the clearing. She had died of the same sickness that had taken Graystripe, and it took the latter a heartbeat to recognize her.
"Millie!"
Millie's star-specked fur was bristling. "Graystripe! I knew you'd had a mate before, but I thought you would choose me! How can you be here with two mates? I know you love us both!" she snarled.
Graystripe stumbled back, spluttering. "I-I, Millie, I-"
"Quiet, furball! I know you'll choose her!" Millie growled wildly, leaping at Graystripe. Silverstream's eyes widened. "Calm down, you two!" she yowled, dashing at them.
The three turned into a writhing ball of starry cats that rolled into the forest. Shrieks and yowls filled the forest as the three tumbled through the trees. Finally, they ceased; Silverstream was panting, a few fox-lengths away from the other two. Millie was standing over Graystripe, staring into his wide yellow eyes, one paw held over his throat. "I know you'll betray me!" she shrieked.
Silverstream screamed, throwing herself across the distance. But it was too late; with a vicious swipe of Millie's paw, Graystripe died for the second- and last- time.