Bumblestripe lay on his side, his breaths coming in rasps. The other elders, Hollypool and Blossomfall, were watching grimly.
"It'll go one way or another tonight." Hickoryfoot whispered. "But I don't think he'll make it."
Bumblestripe could hear them, but they sounded far away. All was quiet for a moment, but then another voice meowed, "How's he doing?"
"Not well, Cherrystar." Bumblestripe listened to his son and leader talk. "I think you should send Violetstreak in here."
"Very well," Cherrystar said softly, and the pawsteps faded away.
"Bumblestripe?" Hickoryfoot whispered. "Dad? Can you hear me?"
"Yes," He rasped, panting from the effort.
"I love you," Hickoryfoot told him.
"I...love…you…too." It was painful to talk.
Hickoryfoot put some herbs on his lips, and he instinctively licked it off. It made breathing a little easier. "Don't speak," He instructed. "Violetstreak will be here in a moment."
Then, two more sets of paws entered the den. "Dad," Violetstreak's voice was choked.
"Grandfather," Bumblestripe recognized Violetstreak's daughter's voice, Flyleaf.
"Love, you both." He managed to say.
Hickoryfoot nudged him with his paw. "I told you not to speak." His voice was stern, but filled with sorrow.
"Is there any chance he'll make it?" Flyleaf asked.
Bumblestripe shook his head. "Can see…stars."
Violetstreak let out a small cry and pressed her face into her brother's shoulder fur. "When?"
Hickoryfoot looked at his father. "I think I'm going to give him poppy seeds so that it can happen in his sleep. I think…he's in pain."
Violetstreak backed away. "All right. Dad?" She leaned close. "Do you want that?"
Bumblestripe nodded, unable to speak anymore.
Hickoryfoot licked his pad and picked up three poppy seeds, placing them on the ground next to Bumblestripe. "Here," He whispered. Bumblestripe lapped them up weakly. "I love you dad."
"Love you," Violetstreak was trembling.
"I love you, grandpa." Flyleaf murmured.
Bumblestripe fell into darkness.
He awoke to a warm, Greenleaf wind on his fur. Strength flowed into his limbs and for the first time in a long time he was free of any aches and pains. He opened his eyes and saw a beautiful field stretch in front of him. At the edge of the field, was a silver tabby and white she-cat. "Bumblestripe," She whispered.
He staggered to his paws, amazed. "Ivypool?" The she-cat bounded forward. "Ivypool!"
They met in the middle of the field. "I missed you!" She purred, licking his cheek.
"I missed you too!" He pressed his face into her fur. "I love you."
"I love you too," She replied happily.
For a while they stayed pressed together, enjoying the moment. Then Bumblestripe pulled away. "This is StarClan?"
Ivypool nodded. "Yup. And we get to stay here forever together."
Bumblestripe smiled and twined his tail with hers. "That sounds perfect."