Stone that Falls From Ledge didn't remember his thoughts when the hawk was about to attack his best friend and sister Ripple on Calm Waters. All he knew was his whole body had gone numb, and he was suddenly racing towards them. He remembered his heart pounding when he leapt, his paws leaving the once comforting ground. His claws latched onto its back, the large bird struggled underneath him for a moment, and then they both were off of the ground.
The grey tabby tom only remembered the feeling of his weight dropping as they soared above the earth, holding onto the same animal he had attacked for dear life. Stone suddenly felt the bird fighting to fling him off, having the advantage of its talons free to inflict painful wounds across his body. And all it took was one slip up, and then he was no longer soaring, but falling.
That slip up had been when the pain had become too much, when the hawk began to not only claw at him, but peck and bite at his undefended body. Instinctively, he shifted to try to protect himself, and that had cost him his life. His grip on the bird loosened, and it was finally able to shake him off.
Wind buffered him, thundering painful in his sensitive ears. Stone could only see the bird floating above him, all four of his paw sticking upwards with his back to the ground. He looked down, seeing the mountainside rushing towards him at horrifying speeds. The land that was once so welcoming, that had once protected him and gave him prey, now seemed to be opening up to embrace him.
As he slowly began to see the soft green grass below him, Stone that Falls From Ledge could only shut his eyes tightly. He felt no regret; he had saved his family from the same fate he would now suffer. Instead, pride seemed to warm his heart. Now Ripple would be able to stay with her mate, she would give birth to her kits and raise them to be great tribe cats.
Stone blinked his eyes open, and before he impacted with the earth below, a grim smile rested on his muzzle. Old stories seemed to pop into his head: ones of heroes sacrificing their lives for the greater good. Was that what he had become? Was he now some hero who sacrificed his life for others? Did he really save them? He guessed he just had to have faith, right?
Those were his last thoughts before he heard a loud, resounding thump. Then everything went dark.