After the Mudclaw debacle, Hawkfrost figured he'd take his cue from Brambleclaw. Their father wouldn't approve, he knew, but hey—every great leader needed a deputy, didn't they? Couldn't he stand at Brambleclaw's side while his older brother made all the important decisions?
But he knew that wouldn't fly with Tigerstar. Their destiny was supposed to be co-leaders, equal power, equal responsibilities, equal… stress. So instead, he sought out Ashfur and they made their plan. Perhaps if he did Brambleclaw a favour, Brambleclaw wouldn't mind taking control of Hawkfrost's share of world domination.
Things were slightly different when they were standing over Firestar's writhing body. Hawkfrost gulped and tried to rally his courage. To be a little more like Brambleclaw; Brambleclaw had the strength to make the right choice. Hawkfrost had really just… waited for Firestar to walk into it.
But… Brambleclaw didn't follow through. Was he not strong enough? Doubt, panic, fear surged in him and Hawkfrost spat at him, unleashing all the worst anxieties he'd had about himself on his brother. Instead of shrinking back like Hawkfrost would have, Brambleclaw leapt on him.
He supposed his brother had always been more decisive than him. Hawkfrost struggled, pinning his brother beneath him, and stared in horror at the thick brown fur that covered his brother's throat. He wasn't certain whether it was his own heartbeat or his brother's that he felt rushing in his ears in that moment. Then a split second too late, he lunged down at his brother, ready to finish it and kill the only family that had welcomed him with no conditions, and—
The stick's sharpened end slid into his throat with remarkable ease and for a moment, Hawkfrost froze. Then blood poured in and the world swam around him. He stared at his half-brother as he tumbled into the shallows, the water cold on his head, the weapon burning in his throat, the world darkening—Brambleclaw watched him die, staring at him horrified like Hawkfrost had chosen this. But didn't he know? Hawkfrost didn't… he wouldn't… and the world was quiet again.