- Alone -

What was the bloody foxheart waiting for? Hawkfrost suppressed a snarl as Brambleclaw closed his eyes, obviously lost in some softhearted memory. As for Hawkfrost, the white-belled, dark brown tom was left staring at Firestar, who had fallen still in the foxtrap in an attempt to keep it from digging in any more deeply.

"Six lives..." came Brambleclaw's murmur.

Hawkfrost leapt upon his chance. "That's right," he hissed. "This is our chance to take revenge on Firestar for our father's death. He could have tried to stop Scourge, but he just stood there and watched Tigerstar die, over and over and over."

From the look in Brambleclaw's eyes - a look of shock - Hawkfrost knew he had said something wrong, but what, he did not know. Hawkfrost repressed yet another snarl of impatience. This was their chance! Their chance to continue their father's legacy! And not only Hawkfrost was helping him achieve this. It was also that fool from ThunderClan, that -

"No." Brambleclaw's voice was steady, bringing Hawkfrost back to the present with an unpleasant start. "I won't do it."

Hawkfrost's jaw dropped.

The dark tabby before him leapt for Firestar, and Hawkfrost's heart thumped again - but the foxheart was only scrabbling at the dirt, trying to free him from the foxtrap that held him. "Keep still, Firestar!" The dirt flew, and in disgust, Hawkfrost sidestepped it. "I'll have you out of this in a heartbeat."

A yowl split the air. Hawkfrost knew it was Tigerstar, voicing his fury, and his only loyal son sprang forward, knocking Brambleclaw aside and pinning him down. "Coward!" Hawkfrost snarled. "Keep away and I'll kill him myself if I have to!"

Brambleclaw thrust upward and flung Hawkfrost away. The brown warrior lay there, panting, trying to suck in breath. You coward! You liar! You traitor! He flung the insults at his half-brother mentally, without the breath to voice them out loud.

He heard Firestar draw in breath.

He's freed him!

Hawkfrost sprang to his paws and leapt at Brambleclaw again. His half-brother dodged, and Hawkfrost only got a pawful of fur as he raked his claws down his side.

"Traitor!" he spat. "You're a traitor to everything our father planned! You were never strong enough to be like him."

"I don't want to be like him," snapped Brambleclaw.

"Then you're a fool, and stupid, too. You never realized that this was a test. It was Tigerstar's idea." And a bloody good one at that! thought Hawkfrost. "He said that if you really deserved power, you would do anything to get it."

"Even kill my Clan leader?" The ThunderClan cat had the audacity to look shocked.

"Especially that, but you're as weak as our dear father feared. We have great plans for the forest, and you could have been a part of them, but we don't need you."

Hawkfrost couldn't possibly let him live now. Any affection he'd had for his half-brother and friend had disappeared. He knew too much, would let on too much to others, and he had to be dispatched.

"Go back to RiverClan," panted Brambleclaw. "You're my brother. I don't want to hurt you."

"Because you're weak!" Hawkfrost hissed. "You care more for kin than for power. But I don't."

This time when he leaped, he managed to carry Brambleclaw off his paws. He leaned close, icy blue eyes glaring into hot amber ones. He dug his claws in and leaned close, ready to tear out his half-brother's throat. He closed his eyes, glorying in the kill. He tilted his head to listen to Brambleclaw's pulse - it was hot and quick beneath his skin, the blood flowing freely in his veins as his heart pumped it through.

He never saw the stick.

He drew back, ready to taste that blood pounding through the veins, and lunged. And he felt the stake drive through his throat. His cry of triumph turned into a bloody, gurgling cough.

"Hawkfrost!" gasped Brambleclaw as Hawkfrost fell away. "I - I didn't want this!"

Hawkfrost pushed himself to his paws. Blood poured freely down his throat, soaking his paws even as he staggered closer to his brother. "Fool!" he rasped; blood spattered from the wound. "Do you think I did this alone? Do you think you're safe within your own Clan? Think again!"

Because I was helped, he growled inwardly. You fool, you are so alone in your own world...

"What do you mean?" demanded Brambleclaw. "Who do you mean? Tell me, Hawkfrost!"

Hawkfrost collapsed over on his side, splashing into the shallow water of the lake, and the cold fire in his ice blue eyes died as the lakewater drifted over and around him.

He opened his eyes and stared into the dark forest where he had visited so many times. Tigerstar was not here to lead him in. He narrowed his eyes and padded confidently forward.

He may have been completely alone, but he wouldn't give up now.