This is the last chapter in S.o.t.S.S. I hadn't expected it to be a really big story, just to kind of tell the behind-the-scenes part of 'Shard'. This is what I imagined went on in Sparrowstar's head when Shardclaw/Dewfoot killed him. Check out my other stories! R&R! -Lunaclaw1

Chapter 4

I had been asleep that night, curled up in my nest, when the sounds of low growling reached my ears.

A snarling black cat stood in the entrance of my den, with ragged-looking fur and hateful eyes. Its fangs and claws already were covered in blood. My eyes widen as I recognized the cat. "Shardclaw?"

She didn't seem to hear me, because she lunged at me, landing on my shoulders, biting at my neck and clawing my face. I rolled, squishing her under me. Getting to my paws, the wounds she left dripped blood into my face. I felt the wound on my neck pour blood, and I felt lightheaded. Falling on my stomach, I visited Starclan again.

I met the sad face of Fallingstar again. She only said one thing. "Stay strong, my sparrow." I fell into my body again. Only having two lives remaining, I decided to be more careful.

I unsheathed my claws, but the she-cat was quicker taking advantage of me being on the ground. She raked her claws along my spine, tearing it to shreds. I turned on my belly to attack, realizing my mistake too late. She lunged at my neck, her fangs clamping and piercing my neck. Unfazed by my blood as it pooled in her mouth, she continued to crush my throat. I gasped like a fish out of water, until my eyes rolled in my head again.

I met the eyes of Fallingstar. "This is your last life. Do the right thing."

"What do you mean?" I yowled, but she remained silent as I spiraled toward earth, my words drowning in the loud wind. I hit my body full force, a snarl escaping my lips. I got to my paws, facing the mad cat. I dodged her swipe, landing my own clawed paw on her face. It left three tiny lines on her muzzle. Her head snapped back toward me, baring bloody fangs. She spun, kicking out with her hind legs. They tore my side, and I flew back into the wall of the den. The rocks scraped my face. I lost my breath for a second. She seemed to be waiting, daring me to get up so she can finish me.

Regaining my breath, I glared at Shardclaw, my side bleeding heavily. I had a gash across my eye, and my own claws were covered in Shardclaw's blood. I snarled, and my words seemed to draw forth my clan out of its slumber.

"Traitor!" I yowled. I looked into those crazed eyes, hiding my own fear. I can't kill her I can't kill her I love her Starclan where are you I can't kill her. My thoughts raced.

I saw a flash of black knock Shardclaw off her feet. Duskpelt had leapt on her, and the two tussled for a while, before Redfur came and joined in. Soon, they had the she-cat pinned. Each cat was covered in deep crimson lines, and Duskpelt was missing a few patches of fur, now between Shardclaw's claws. She suddenly stopped thrashing and looked angry at the first cat she saw: me. I looked down at the seething mad black cat on the ground. my words were full of hurt and malice. "Take her outside. I'm going to call a meeting."

Duskpelt and Redfur jerked her to her feet. They shoved her out of the den, but something seemed different. She looked…confused. Angered even. I shook it off.

I parted the ferns, following them. Sharptooth and Darkfoot had joined the escorting party. I glanced toward a cat whose howls rang out in the quiet camp. It was Dewfoot. Eclipseclaw and Risingeye were holding him back. His eyes looked desperate as he called out to her. She looked at him with sad eyes. Sharptooth growled at the she-cat and sank his claws in her flank. She didn't even flinch. Dewfoot was held back again, his eyes blazing with anger.

I narrowed my eyes, and then sighed. I watched the clan slowly gather around highrock, and Shardclaw. The toms who escorted her sat her down in the middle of the clearing. My clan looked confused. The newly named apprentices, Adderpaw, Honeypaw, Sootpaw, Cloverpaw, and Softpaw, sat in a group, looking at Shardclaw and then me. Dewfoot had settled down, but still looked on edge. Shardclaw didn't react, just stared bleakly at her paws.

I sighed once more, before climbing up to issue the verdict. After all, she had taken 2 of my lives, almost 3. I took a deep breath, looking sadly upon the pitiful she-cat. I then remembered those eyes, and pulled the anger from them before starting the trial.

"Shardclaw. You were brought into my clan, and I trusted you. Yet, you attack me, causing me to lose two of my lives." my ears flatten and i barred my fangs. "You should be exiled!" Shardclaw flinched.

"But…I will give you a chance to explain yourself. Meet me in my den, which will be guarded, for safety reasons, but our conversation will be completely confidential. Apprentices, help Lilysong gather herbs to heal Duskpelt and Redfur. Shardclaw and I will be healed after we talk." my clan murmured, clearly confused. I flicked my tail for silence, and then looked down at Shardclaw. I addressed my clan as she climbed up by me, with Sharptooth and Darkfoot. I dismissed the clan, and motioned with my tail to follow. I parted the ferns, Darkfoot and Sharptooth took their places outside, and Shardclaw stepped inside. I followed her, and the ferns fell.

...

I sat. The glow of the moonlight that was pouring through the crack in the den illuminated my den, and her face. She looked at me with sadness and anger, even confusion.

Shardclaw sighed. "Look, Sparrowstar, you know anything I say isn't going to influence you decision to not exile me."

I smiled. "You're a very observant cat, Shardclaw." How have you not observed the way I look at you, why I rejected Ivorytail…for you.

Shardclaw snapped. "Then why am I here?"

I replied. "Well, like you said, nothing you say is going to make me not exile you. However…" I still want you to know that you're the one I wanted. Maybe we can still see each other. Maybe I don't have to exile you, mostly because I can't.

Shardclaw backed into the corner, worried looking. She snarls. "What do you want from me?"

Sparrowstar smiled. This was it. He was finally going to tell her, and she would have to say yes! "My dear, you are a very beautiful cat…"

Her eyes widen for some reason. She wraps her tail around her paws. He took a pawstep closer. "Shardclaw. I want you." I want your love. I want your acceptinace. I want your understanding.

But I saw something else in her eyes. It was heartbreaking. I saw a she-cat who would never accept me, never understand me, never be with me, because…she had someone else… My heart broke into millions of pieces.

Or maybe she's about to attack again… He saw the glint of her claws hidden under her tail. Fear and Jelosity consumed him, and with that, he sprang.

She had been waiting though, and she lashed out with her hidden claws.

I hissed as scores of claws raked his face. I sunk my claws in the she-cats back, pinning her on her belly. She turned at the last second and kicked me with her back paws. My head collided with the ceiling of the den, and I saw stars.

Sharptooth and Darkfoot bounded in, snarling. Two blurs of silver bounded in as well, attacking the two guards. One jumped off an unconscious Sharptooth and onto me. Dewfoot's anger channeled thought his claws as I was clawed over and over, howling as my soft belly fur was torn to shreds. He jumped off me, growling in my ear. "That's for almost hurting my mate, you disguising flea-bag."

Darkfoot, who had escaped the hold of Risingeye, hissed, yowling for Duskpelt. Shardclaw ran to Dewfoot, burying her face into his fur. I saw though glossy eyes Dewfoot's tail wrap around her.

I knew in that moment she would have never given up Dewfoot for me. It never would have mattered, even if some tragedy caused the silver tom to go to Starclan, or the Dark Forest, wherever the tom would go when he died.

Risingeye mewed "Come on. They'll be after us."

I felt my bloody body convulse one last time. I never told anyone that was my last life. I felt myself lift up to Starclan, leaving the fugitives, one of them I still loved, down in my chaotic camp.