Yup. 'Nother one-shot. Another challenge I'm taking on. Don't think I'm just a one trick pony though. I swear I can do more than warriors. I'm just focusing on warriors for now. But you didn't come to hear me talk, did you. Let's get to the part you were waiting for. ;)
Now as I stand in Starclan, looking down at my past clan mates, I remember my life and death. I look back at my adventures, secrets, hopes, and dreams. I remember the cats I knew. The ones who are already with me here and the ones who will one day come here. I remember the cats that will never see Starclan. I am content.
When that Shadowclan patrol attacked us, I had a feeling it was coming. My time with the clans was coming to a close. I lived a good life with many friends. Got to know many a good cat, like Whitestorm, Bluestar, even young Fireheart. Of course, now his name is Firestar. I'm glad Spottedleaf tried to save me, but even she knew deep down that I was beyond saving. I died a warrior's death, fresh from the heat of battle. Protecting my own clan.
As I lay in her den, slowly fading, memories flashed through my mind. There was Speckletail, his mother, curled around him and Goldenflower when they were kits. Pretty snow blanketing the forest. Learning to be a warrior, first under Swiftbreeze, then Sunfall. Receiving my warrior name. Thistleclaw getting grouchy over nothing. Bluestar and Snowfur laughing about something as they eat. Teaching Graystripe how to hunt for the first time. Helping Rusty grow into Firestar. The last was of my own rise to deputy.
A few memories stuck around a little longer than the rest. Finding out Pinestar's secrete was the first.
I was just an apprentice, but I knew something was up. Bluestar had been asking me if Pinestar was acting strangely. She wanted to know what was up with him. I never expected to see him as I was hunting at twoleg place.
I was stalking a squirrel when some twoleg jabber drifted over the fence and scared it away. I was ready to leave, but I heard a cat's voice drift over too. Pinestar's voice. I peaked through a crack in the fence to see him eating right out of a twoleg's hand.
He made me swear not to tell. The secrete burned inside me for what seemed like forever. Too many times, I almost told Bluestar. It was like the secret was eating me from the inside out. I still wasn't sure how I felt about Pinestar leaving. How could you ever love a twoleg? How could you want the soft, choice less life of a kitty pet. At the time it felt like betrayal. When I died, all I felt was confusion.
Would Starclan take him like they took me? Of course, he is here now, but at the time I had no way of knowing whether or not he would join the starry ranks. He did what he felt was right. What made him happiest. It may have seemed selfish of him at the time, but I know now that it was selfish of us to try to stop him. To keep him from being happy. Selfish of me.
The next memory was when poor Bluestar lost her kits. Bluestar had told me herself she had to become deputy. She always was a strong and ambitious cat, but she loved those kits so much. Thrushpelt acted so proud and they both were so crushed when the kits disappeared. It was a shock to come here and find out the truth. But the truth doesn't matter. Not anymore.
My friend became a great leader, but I wondered what kind of life she would have led if the kits survived. She always seemed so sorrow filled. A shadow of torment flickered in her eyes every so often. I saw it, even if others couldn't. When I died, a wish for her happiness to return entered my thoughts. A wish for her to be happy like she was when she had a family. Before tragedy struck again and again.
My last memory was of Graystripe and Fireheart. I couldn't have taught my apprentice to be a better warrior. To think those two would do so much for Thunderclan, saving it time and time again.
I knew when I first saw them on the edge of twoleg place that those two would be trouble. I also knew they'd be good friends, even if Fireheart never left for the forest. As I lay dying, the thought of them calmed me. Thunderclan was in good hands, even after I would be gone. They cared so much about everyone. Sure they break the rules every so often, but sometimes the rules need to be broken. The Warrior code was never carved in stone.