Squirrelflight was standing in front of Brambleclaw, her green eyes misted with confusion and shock.

There was nothing more that Brambleclaw wanted than to confide in her and take that weight out of his heart. But he knew he couldn't tell her the truth. She wouldn't forgive him. Nobody in ThunderClan would forgive him. But he didn't want to lose her. They shared so much together. Ever since the great journey, he knew that she was the only cat he wanted to spend rest of her life with. To cuddle to the fire that is burning inside of her.

But could he salvage it?

"Brambleclaw? Tell me... Tell me that you didn't do it." - Squirrelflight meowed, she obviously sounded scared.

He couldn't tell her the truth. Her presence was one of the few things that kept him to life now.

And yet, looking at her ginger pelt and green eyes, he could see Firestar's flame burning inside her. Lying to her would be a mockery of her father's death. A death that he caused...

She moved closer to him, slowly, one paw at the time. Did she fear that he would kill her? Could he do that to a cat he loved so much?

Squirrelflight was standing two paw-steps ahead of him, and he could read expression in her eyes, begging him to deny any responsibility with what happened here.

"Where's Hawkfrost?" - it was Leafpool who asked, and he almost forgot she was there.

"Hawkfrost?" - he asked surprised. How did she knew about him?

"Don't deny it. Ashfur told us he saw you and Hawkfrost as you... killed Firestar." - her voice was icily cold, but Firestar's death must have shaken her.

"Ashfur?" - he thought. It was Birchpaw who told Firestar that Blackstar was supposedly waiting for him near the trap. Birchpaw, Ashfur's apprentice, who he sent to assess him. Ashfur must have planned this all along... And he must have worked with Hawkfrost. Was there no one he could trust now?

"Ashfur? And you believed him, Squirrelflight? Can't you see that he is still jealous? This... This is all his fault, he tries to frame me! I could never do something like this to Firestar. He was like father to me..." - each word grew heavier as Brambleclaw was speaking. Memory of what he did to the leader flashed before his eyes. How he killed him five times. And now he didn't have courage to even admit it. Guilt washed all over him.

How could he deny it? He was all drenched in Firestar's blood. Everyone could see that he was responsible for this slaughter.

Squirrelflight closed her eyes and whispered "I believe you."

And despite all these circumstances she still trusted him. All this trust he didn't deserve made him sick. But maybe he and Squirrelflight could walk away from this together...

But he felt great relief. Not everything was lost. Love would prevail.

Leafpool's voice broke his thoughts.

"He's lying Squirrelflight. You know what really happened. You feel it now." - Medicine cat's voice steady but Brambleclaw could sense fear deeply running inside her.

"Leafpool is right... How could I believe that you were something more than shadow of your father? All these signs showing your murderous nature... And I've ignored them. How could I be so blind?" - Squirrelflight confessed.

What would happen next? Brambleclaw couldn't count on her to keep secret. He knew that only one thing remained. And he would lose another part of his life for it. But did he really had a choice?

He leaned his body to the right side and pushed his paws against the ground. He unsheathed his claws and while doing a barrel roll, he slashed Squirrelflight's throat. Blood splashed his fur. In a heartbeat, he was on his paws again. She didn't realize when he started.

He quickly ran forward past her dying body. He couldn't manage to look at it. But the gurgling sound she made reminded him of the love he slashed away, which was slowly dying behind him.

"Run, Leafpool!" - he wasn't sure whether that were the last words of Squirrelflight, or words he wanted to shout out now. The medicine cat didn't move from her place. All this death must have been too much for her. Her fear-scent was reeking all over the place and the terror in Leafpool's eyes drilled itself deeply into his mind.

"She's the only witness left," he thought. He started moving toward her, but it wasn't easy. His vision was blurry and he couldn't walk straight. Slowly, but surely he managed to go close enough to leap at Leafpool. The small tabby didn't put any resistance, so even in his weakened state he managed to pin her down.

"Only one more slash..." - he hoped, willing to end it quickly and try to put all these behind him. Maybe power and leadership would soot his heart. He knew it wouldn't, but hope of getting rid of memories of this was keeping him awake. "It's as if it was a bad dream".

Brambleclaw raised his paw, preparing his claws for final swipe.

"Please, let me live! I beg you!" - Leafpool pleaded - "I won't tell anyone!"

Why couldn't she face death with Firestar's nobility? Why couldn't he kill her unsuspecting, like her sister? His muscles hesitated. It was an innocent cat beginning for mercy. He wasn't prepared for that. And what would StarClan say about killing a medicine cat? Would he end in that terrible cold, dark place that Tigerstar wandered in?

"Please, Brambleclaw... I'm expecting kits..." - Leafpool whimpered with lasts of her strength.

It could be a trick. A lie, trying to play on his mercy. But something in her voice made him believe that she was telling the truth. Pregnant medicine cat... How could he kill an expecting queen? What monstrosity would he become? He loosened his grip and let her go.

Fear still shown itself in her eyes. She didn't trust him. She had no reason. Many heartbeats passed before she finally turned away and began to run away from Brambleclaw.

He didn't wait, as soon as as she turned around he leaped on her back and closed his head to her neck and bitten her spine.

She died almost instantly.

Was he still a cat? He couldn't control his senses anymore, the scent of death was surrounding him, the taste of Leafpool's blood lingered in his mouth, gurgling of dying Squirrelflight ringed in his ears, all he could feel was blood that he was stepping on, and the three dead bodies was all he could see.

"I need to get to the lake," he thought - "To see who I became". But he wasn't sure where the lake was. He was so confused. But then, he could see the surface of the water. He moved closer, trying to see his face. But all he could see was a blurred shadow. Brambleclaw moved closer, but he was too dizzy. Losing control of himself, he fell into the water.

It seemed to be dragging him toward the bottom, maybe getting rid of him forever. Maybe it was for good of everyone. Maybe he didn't deserve to live...

And then everything went dark.

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