Shelheart's Last Conversation By: WyldClaw

Plot: Shellheart's last conversation with his kits. Spoilers for Crookedstar's Promise. Don't own Warriors. Crookedjaw's POV. You might get teary during it.

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I was coming back from a hunting patrol one greenleaf day when my reddish brown muscular brother Oakheart padded up to me. There was deep pain in his amber eyes. "Oakheart.. what's the matter?"

"Crookedjaw... Shellheart wants to talk to both of us in the elders' den."

There was a nervous pang in my stomach-our father was really old. Though he had denounced her as his mate after she had asked Hailstar to change my name after that fateful kithood incident long ago, I knew that Rainflower's death had broken him. I had recently taken his position of deputyship when he had stepped down and StarClan had sent the omen of a squirrel with a twisted jaw to Hailstar. "Wh-why" I sounded like I had a vole stuck in my throat.

He motioned me with his tail and looked me in the eyes. "Brambleberry and Mudfur. They ... they looked him over today and-"

"And what?" I clutched the earth with my claws. Our medicine cats Brambleberry and Mudfur recently found a strange lump in his stomach and told us privately that it was impossible to remove and no cat had been known to survive it. No- please doesn't sa it Oakheart I thought.Not so soon after Willowbreeze's brief capture and Rainflower's death. Though I had never really forgiven my soft furred gray mother for favoring my brother after my kithood jaw incident and neglecting me I felt guilty about not being there in her final moments since Mapleshade claimed being there for the Clan was more important.

He sighed. "They don't think he's going to last the next few sunrises." His eyes showed a great sadness and a cold feeling like a frozen claw gripped my pelt. He.. wants to talk to us before he dies

I felt a mixture of dread, sadness and anger and I looked down at my paws. I still need father's wisdom and advice. Why? First Rainflower dies then Willowbreeze gets briefly captured by Towolegs and now Shellheart is on his way to Starclan . Is this part of your promise Mapleshade? I'm a loyal RiverClan warrior as well as the deputy now. ! why must you continue to torment me like this?

Oakheart waved his right paw in front of me. "Crookedjaw? Crookedjaw?" he tapped me with his tail. "Hello? RiverClan to Crookedjaw.. Anyone there?"

I looked up at my brother. "Huh? Oh sorry Oakheart.. I didn't realize my head was in the river." I took a huge breath. "I was thinking about ...Rainflower" I fibbed

He believed it. "Oh. I miss her too brother. It's unfair that we are losing Shellheart to StarClan so soon after we lost Rainflower... though I never forgave her for the hurt she caused you."

"Yeah..."

Without another word we headed to the elder's den, passing our clanmates along the way. As we headed to Shellheart's nest- the other elders were outside enjoying the warm sunshine- I shuddered slightly at the coolness of the den.

Shellheart looked up as we reached his nest and I held back a gulp. . My once powerful strong-framed gray pelted father was nothing than a ghost of his old self. His limp gray fur hung in ragged clumps on his pelt as if he had given up on grooming himself. He was so thin the unknown lump in his belly protruded out and looked enormous. His graying whiskers twitched as if trying to scent us. His old eyes were a dull color. "Is that you Oakheart? Crookedjaw?" He asked in a scratchy voice.

"Y-yes" Oakheart's voice trembled as he licked Shellheart's pelt.

I nuzzled his pelt, taking in his familiar scent for a few heartbeats. I tried to keep my voice strong. "Y-you wanted to see us fath... I mean Shellheart?" I corrected myself. It was an unspoken rule that cats called their parents by their full names as a sign of respect- never 'mother' or 'father' unless it was a dire emergency or they were kits. As Shellheart was the previous deputy and was nearly in StarClan's paws, I wanted to show my respect.

Not noticing my near slip up he looked up from his nest at us, as if taking us in for the first time. "You both look strong and healthy. Are the fish running strong?"

I nodded. "There were so many of them in the river. We'll be feasting for a while."

His eyes sparkled and his eyes looked away for a few minutes as if remembering something from the past. "That's something I'll miss- the thrill of hunting for fresh fish. I remember having fishing contests with Echomist and Rainflower on warm greenleaf days." his gaze returned to us proudly. "My boys ... You have grown up so fast. I remember when you were both little scraps of fur in the nursery. And now you're both such fine handsome warriors ". At the word 'handsome' I ducked my head in embarrassment and shame. I never forgot about my kithood incident that disfigured my face. Even after all those moons it stung. He looked at me and purred. "Yes, Crookedjaw. Even with your disfigurement you are still one of the handsomest toms in RiverClan. "He let out a little cough.

"Th-thank you Shellheart, " I dipped my head.

He continued, "Even though it was countless seasons ago, I feel bad for your mother's actions when you were little after that incident on Sunningrocks. Ever since I've known her, Rainflower has had a huge problem recognizing and even admitting when she was wrong. She had no right to isolate you like that Crookedjaw" I nodded. "Nor favor you or him Oakheart" he looked toward my brother, who bowed his head.

"I know Shellheart. " he mewed. "StarClan knows how many times I tried to tell her it wasn't right and that it was my idea in the first place but she ... never listened. ."

"I have watched you both grow. It has been a blessing. Crookedjaw, I'm glad you have overcome your injury and since become one of RiverClan's best warriors. Whatever those farm cats taught you long ago has helped you become the tom you are today. My little deputy, I stand by what I said after the Gathering a few moon ago: I'm so proud of you and your loyalty to RiverClan. "

I felt a prickle of unease along my pelt. What would he say if he knew about my training sessions with Mapleshade? Or the promise I made?

His gaze locked on to Oakheart. "I am proud to call you both my son and my apprentice. You have been well taught. You have been gifted with a great amount of courage and guts. You are very loyal to your clanmates and family. I believe that any she-cat would be proud to call you their mate." Oakheart blushed. Shellheart winked at me, "don't think I haven't seen how you act around Willowbreeze Crookedjaw. Re-" he coughed twice- "remember I was the one who caught you spying on her assessment". My cheeks burned like earth on a hot greenleaf day. "I am glad to have seen you two grow up" he licked my cheek and then Oakheart's. "You have made me as proud as a father. I couldn't have had better kits. My mother- that is to say your grandmother Willownose would have loved you both."

A lump rose in my throat. "Shellheart…. Father"-I wasn't paying attention to the formalities, not when he was heartbeats away from StarClan. "Please don't leave us." I buried my nose into his fur again for a fraction of a heartbeat.

"Do you have to go? We c-can't lose y-you as well, not so soon after Rainflower…" Oakheart sounded like he was a kit as he trailed off.

Shellheart chuckled. "No one can stop the paws of time Oakheart,... Not even StarClan.." I looked at my thing gray rather - taking in his thin appearance. "I may be gone in body but my memory will live on. Don't forget, I'll always be in your heart. Plus I'll be watching over you from StarClan" he sighed. I felt tears sting my eyes. He looked at a spot of air near us " is that you .mother? It's been so, so long..."

Oakheart and I looked at one another... " Willownose?" I asked.

he nodded. " yes. She went to StarClan when I was a new warrior.. your.. mother.. " He paused and I could tell that despite everything rainflower had done after my accident Shellheart still loved her despite the fact they hadn't been mates since I was a kit..." she.. helped me heal."

he seemed to see his mother- out grandmother - in the air he was starring at. He stared at it as if Willownose was talking to him." I know it's time.. Let me say goodbye to your grandsons first." He looked up at us again "Crookedjaw, Oakheart, I know you will make me proud. You have great destinies ahead of you. Know that I will always love you". He coughed "...I am going to join ...willownose now. Be brave my boys... be brave..." he closed his eyes and didn't stir again.

Oakheart and I stood there for a few minutes, united in our grief. "Good-bye ... dad." I whispered.

My brother looked at me with sad amber eyes. "He'll always be in our hearts Crookedjaw. He's in StarClan, eating all the Big fat fish he wants and swimming in eternally warm rivers."

"Yeah." I agreed. "He's with his friends and with… With Willownose and brightflower and his old friends and " I paused. " Rainflower."

"Like he said he's Still watching over us." He touched my shoulder with his tail. "We should tell Brambleberry and Mudfur."

"And Hailstar, "I added. "Shellheart was his deputy for many, many seasons."

As we left the den, I cast one last look at the body that been our father but a few heartbeats ago. I'll fulfill your last wish Shellheart. I'll be the best deputy this Clan has seen.