Firestar lay on the ground, bloodied and dead. He was the fire that saved the clan, many more times than even Starclan could ever repay. But at what cost? His own life? Graystripe stood above his best friend, he was in shock. His amber eyes clouded with grief, unimaginable grief. He lost his family, everyone but Stormfur. His mate, his daughter, his mentor, and now his best friend. Beside him he could hear Sandstorm, he bowed his head. The clan lost something that could never be replaced. They lost their fire. Firestar, a friend, a leader, a mentor, a mate, a father, a warrior.
He had died fighting for what he loved, the clan he was fiercely loyal to. ThunderClan could never forget, Graystripe wouldn't let them.
For a moment, Graystripe seemed young again, an apprentice meeting his first Kittypet. He watched the ginger kitten stalk the mouse, glowing green eyes focused. The stalky apprentice had no way of knowing this Kittypet would be his best friend and close ally. How could he?
He pounced, scuffling with Rusty before the kitten turned back. Only to turn right back around to fight more, Graypaw hit the ground, surprised. The first time they met, and a friendship had been forged so close that it must have been forged by StarClan itself.
Firepaw raced with him through ShadowClan territory to save the kits. Graypaw was proud to say that he did in fact fight bravely by Firepaw's side. They trudged back to camp together, exhausted and sore. They were even named warriors together. Graystripe and Fireheart, brave warriors of ThunderClan. They kept their vigil that night, chilled and sore. But they did it as friends.
They traveled to save WindClan, they fought through the peril of forbidden romance. Graystripe had lost his first mate, Silverstream, on the SunningRocks. He left ThunderClan, but couldn't leave his friendship.
When he returned, things had changed drastically. But not Fireheart, not their friendship.
They lost their leader, Bluestar, not long after that, and Fireheart became Firestar.
He couldn't wade in his memories any longer. The pain was to fresh, he couldn't bring up recent ones. Although they weren't to recent, it still hurt to bad to remember anything past Bluestar's death. He didn't want to remember that his best friend was no longer the leader of his home Clan.
This was a lifelong friendship, Graystripe thought, a lifetime now laying on cold ground -miles and miles away from where they first called home- bloodied and dead.
Graystripe was not surprised that he and Sandstorm weren't the only ones to stay with Fireheart the night. Brambleclaw, not yet Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, and Dustpelt stayed. All of the clan paid their respect, grooming and saying words of respect.
When dawn came along, Graystripe followed the elders out, and watched his dearest friend laid to rest.
"Goodbye, Firestar," he whispered to the grave, after the elders left. "I'll see you soon, in Starclan, me and Sandstorm'll meet you there."
His words were choked and raspy, and at the end barely there. He bowed his head and turned away, to walk to back his Clan, where the memory of fire would never leave.