With her legs trembling beneath her stiff body, and her claws scraping against the dirt of her den. Bluestar found herself unable to do anything but watch as a living nightmare played itself out before her eyes.
Before her, in the tight, enclosed area of her den, stood two cats. On her left, was Fireheart. Young, driven, compassionate Fireheart. An outsider who joined her clan at her invitation, and became her apprentice... he may have had a habit to think with his heart instead of his head, and to poke his nose into issues that didn't involve him. But, Bluestar had been confident that these issues would fade in time, and she was already deeply proud of the warrior he had become, and she fully believed that he was the one that Spottedleaf had spoken about: That he would be the Fire that saved her clan. On her right, stood Tigerclaw. Brave, fierce, loyal Tigerclaw. Her deputy and her friend. They had their differences to be sure, Tigerclaw's apprenticeship under the warlike Thistleclaw shining though in his aggression and distrust of outsiders. Yet, of all the cats in the clan, Bluestar trusted only Fireheart as much as she trusted him. As there was no cat - in all four clans - that Bluestar knew, that were more dedicated in serving their clan than Tigerclaw.
... Except... Except Bluestar could still smell the scent of Tigerclaw's breath. Phantom claws, whose length had given Tigerclaw his name, still dug into her shoulders from how he had pinned her down a few moments ago... and his words, the growl of his voice, filled with so much hated and disgust that it was strong enough to tear the clans apart, direct at her. His promise to take her lives, one, by one, by one. Until none where left. Until Tigerclaw was left as the one in charge. Tigerclaw, who Fireheart had never liked and had long distrusted. Tigerclaw, who Fireheart had claimed to be the cat who had slain clever Redtail all those moons ago, instead of noble Oakheart... Fireheart, who had encouraged his friend to leave ThunderClan and claimed witness to his death to protect him from Tigerclaw...
... It was fitting, she supposed. That in the end, when Tigerclaw's true nature was revealed. When the lies she told herself about his loyalty had been torn a shred by brutal reality. That it was Fireheart that saved her... and Fireheart, alone, that faced off against him.
Yet, for as talented as Fireheart was, he was still a young warrior, and Tigerclaw was one of the strongest cats in the entire forest. As Bluestar watched these two cats stare each other down, each with an intensity unlike any she had ever witnessed before. Her heart wished for one outcome to the fight, but her mind told her that the opposite was inevitable.
Blood dripped onto her eye, and as Bluestar blinked, the battle was over.
"Kittypet!" The taunt burst from Tigerclaw's snarling lips as his haunches shifting. His weight moving back so he could launch himself at his hated enemy. "Come and find out how a real warrior fights." With these final words, Tigerclaw shot forwards. Fireheart tied to dart aside, but his wily opponent had expected that and stretched his forelegs out wide. A paw slammed into Fireheart's body, and the young cat stumbled. That was all Tigerclaw needed to bowl Fireheart over. His greater weight and strength allow him to pin the younger cat to the ground as he fastened his teeth around Fireheart's neck.
Fireheart struggled, fighting back. His claws raking across Tigerclaw's body and shoulders. But with eyes blazing with hatred, Tigerclaw did not loosen his grip in the slightest and weakened from wounds previously inflicted, Fireheart was not strong enough to fight back... Bluestar could do nothing but watch with growing horror as Fireheart's struggles grew weaker and weaker. Even as a detached part of her brain grimly noted that this was expected. Why would Tigerclaw ever lose the fight? Even she would struggle to defeat Tigerclaw, what chance did Fireheart have, despite her teachings? ... Teachings that came from a number of lessons that could be counted on one paw.
As Fireheart grew limp, and Tigerclaw's triumphant, hungry gaze lifted itself up to meet her own. Bluestar realized that this was her fault. Her fault for not listening to Fireheart sooner. For allowing the matter of her kits to cloud his accusations towards Tigerclaw, and failing to investigate the matter privately. For not taking Fireheart's training more seriously, continuing the lessons even after he had become a warrior to ensure that he would grow to his full potential... and for standing by and doing nothing as Tigerclaw murdered Fireheart in cold blood. This was her fault, and as Tigerclaw let go of Fireheart and stepped towards her, Bluestar knew she was facing the price for her failures.
And then Fireheart exploded into life.
Tigerclaw's yowl of shock and pain was cut off as Fireheart's fangs fastened themselves into his throat. His green eyes shimmering with all the fury of StarClan. Tigerclaw struggled, clawing and biting at Fireheart, attempting to rip himself away. Yet, yet despite his strength, despite his skill and his experience. Tigerclaw couldn't dislodge Fireheart from his throat. No matter how badly wounded Fireheart got, he would not let go. Not when Tigerclaw opened a great wound on his belly with his hind claws. Not when Tigerclaws slashed across his eyes, blinding Fireheart... and not even when Tigerclaw collapsed, his great strength finally at its end. Fireheart did not let go, even after Tigerlcaw let out one, last shuddering breath and fell still, his eyes clouding over. For Fireheart... Fireheart was no more.
Bluestar did not know if Fireheart had died after Tigerclaw did, or while he had his fangs around his neck. For all she knew, he actually died before, only for StarClan to send him back to fulfil on, last final duty... Bluestar doubted she would ever learn the truth. But what did it matter? Tigerclaw and Fireheart were dead, slain at the paws of the other.
The Fire had saved her Clan... but it came at the highest possible cost.