XThe.Big.FinishX

[trissea]

Shakenleaf had awoken early, feeling the need to get out of camp. Alone, he'd wandered away, his mind whirling. He was thinking of Firestar, so he didn't notice he was in the Moonlit Hills. Something felt terribly, horribly wrong. He couldn't put a paw on it, but when he scented what was in the air, he was sure.

It was badger. And it was fresh, less than minutes away. Shakenleaf shuddered, his fur standing on end and his tail puffed out three times his side. He hissed quietly. The badger was coming nearer, and now the petrified tom could see it. He was frozen in place. His black fur was prickling and his claws came out, scratching the soft ground with fear incomprehensibly deep.

And now the badger was upon him, huge, at least twice his size, with its small black eyes glinting beadily in the early light. It trundled around him, with its claws ripping up the grass effortlessly. Shakenleaf knew this was not going to be good. He leaped into the air with a yowl, landing on the badger's coarse-haired back, digging his claws deep into its thick skin. The badger howled and rolled onto its back, crushing Shakenleaf with a sickening crack and a moan.

He lay bleeding on the ground, his eyes closed, panting and trying to stay conscious. The badger left as quietly as it came. Shakenleaf had precious moments to live now..

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Highfrost yawned through his nose to avoid dropping his fresh-kill, a young rabbit for the patients at the medicine den. The wind was blowing away from him, breezes blowing his wiry hair. He was sweaty from the sprinting and the medium-sized tom welcomed the cool morning breeze...until the stench of badger exploded in his face, along with...Shakenleaf's!! The tom forgot about his food and his spat yesterday to dash in the direction of his Clanmate, ignoring the danger of the badger. Luckily for him, it had departed. Unluckily for Shakenleaf, it completely beat him up.

"No, no, no! Shakenleaf, c'mon buddy! Snap out of it! Wake up for me! Stay with me, for Firestar's sake. Shakenleaf!" Highfrost yowled. He scowled worriedly and dragged the other tom onto his shoulders. "Shakenleaf, please!" he pleaded. The tom wasn't large enough to carry the other away. Shakenleaf flopped off of his back and Highfrost meowed helplessly.</sub>

[FIREH!!]

A vicious howl split the air. A ginger tabby she-cat raced up the hills to Shakenleaf. "No! How could this happen!? I can't lose you!" She fell against Shakenleaf, whimpering.

[sorrowfrost]

Sorrowfrost looked around as she heard Firestar call out. She turned ad sprinted in the direction of her agonized tones. She reached to scene to see Firestar fall against Shakenleaf. She knew what an inch from death felt like, but she was sure Shakenleaf wouldn't get through this. Sorrowfrost has been suspicious of Firestar and Shakenleaf and now she believed her guess was true. She gazed at them sympathetically but moved towards the leader quietly. She stopped beside Firestar gently nudged her side in hopes of comfort. She would not tell Firestar it would be alright, because in truth it probably wouldn't be. She knew Firestar would feel the pain for moons to come.

Her gazed wandered over to Shakenleaf, he was battered, his prospects didn't look good. She had never been exceptionally close to the warrior but she felt it all the same. She wished she could say something but the words were escaping her. She gazed at the two, this was a terrible parting. Shakenleaf... she whispered but couldn't find the right words to say. She knew by the time she got Grieverstone it would be too late. But at least he would go with Firestar there. She couldn't imagine the pain that Firestar was feeling right now, but she would assume it was a great deal of pain. And yet she couldn't figure out what to tell her leader, how would Firestar go on afterwards?

[trissea]

Shakenleaf opened his eyes weakly, seeing Highfrost trying to drag him back to camp. He gathered strength and let out a feeble apology- " I'm sorry-" He felt as if the world was on hold. "About the fight the other day. It was my fault, I should've kept quiet. Take care of Firestar during the battle that I'm sure will happen." He coughed quietly.

When he felt Firestar collapse at his side, he turned and licked her ear, for what he knew was the last time. "You'll be alright," He rasped painfully. He pressed his head against her. "I'll be waiting for you." He finished, feeling a warmth enveloped him. It wasn't the same kind of warmth be felt with Firestar, but similar. Something that was inviting. He felt sleepy and he knew he was running out of time. Turning for the final time to the ginger she-cat, he uttered one last phrase. "Its okay, Firestar. Let me go." And then, he was gone. His soul lifted gently to the skies, headed for StarClan. Or was he headed for StarClan. There was no way to tell..

[FIREH!!]

"Noo!!!" She threw her head back, yowling. "Starclan! Why must you take everyone I love! First my parents, then Darkmoon, then Thrnstar, now Shakenleaf!" She cried. Her mind whirled back to the day with Darkmoon.

There they were. Two young, carefree warriors. Darkmoon and Firewind began to playfight. Firewind had almost tackled Darkmoon when she began coughing. Fireiwnd ran to her side. What's wrong? She asked. Darkmoon rasped, Don't worry about me, I'll wait for you from the stars. Her eyes shut for the final time, leaving Firewind in distress.

Firestar's eyes filled with grief and rage. "Sorrowfrost, Highfrost," She whispered, "Why must Starclan rid of all whom I love?''. Her mind whirled to Thornstar.

Thornstar lay, bleeding. He had been scratched horribly. Firewind, his deputy, ran to his side. Thornstar! No! She cried. Turning to the rogue, she hissed, Chaosstar, you did this... I will get my revenge! She howled to the skies as Thornstar took his last breath. He left for Starclan.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"But I can't take care of Firestar like you can, Shakenleaf!" Highfrost protested, feeling completely useless. He hung his head. As much as he liked herbs, healing, and nature, he was no medicine cat and even the medicine cat couldn't heal this wound. "StarClan receive him well...," he said solemnly, turning away to Sorrowfrost to let Firestar have her mourning.}

[FIREH!!]

Firestar rested her head on Shakenleaf's flank. What will I do without you? She whispered. Then, she stood up, tears rolled down her face. Highfrost...... You are a loyal cat. You need to mentor Jaguarpaw, alright? She asked him right out of the blue. Let's get his body back... She stepped to his body and lifted the front half of it.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{"Thank you, Firestar," Highfrost said gratefully. He had taken a liking to Jaguarpaw and would teach the apprentice well. He nodded at her words, bending down to bite Shakenleaf's pelt to slowly haul it onto his shoulders with his leader. "He was a valued warrior, Firestar. StarClan itself would be honored to welcome him as their own," he praised.}

[FIREH!!]

Thank you, She purred hoarsely. She began to tread heavilly back to camp with her dead clanmate and mate on her back.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

<sup>Shardpaw awoke to feel something tense and heavy in the air. Something was wrong. And there was only one thing that could be making everything feel like this.

A cat was dead.

He ran to the camp entrance, trying to pick out the fresher scents.

Firestar, Highfrost, Sorrowfrost...

But one seemed them most trodden over.

Shakenleaf.

Shardpaw followed the scent trail until he came to a place where they were all strong, except for the scent of death. And Shakenleaf's scent was the one that mingled most with that scent.

He was dead.

"Why...?" he mewed. "Why must we lose a loyal warrior?" He hung his head, then lifted it to the sky, let out a mournful yowl, for Shakenleaf, for Firestar, for MoonClan.</sup>

[/sup]