StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 29

Finchpaw felt dizzy. Her paws were wet with the blood of her own brother, and she felt as if her pelt wasn't her own, like she was wearing someone else's claws. She could still feel her claws sinking into flesh, trying to draw backward but not being able to. She had felt the smooth, slippery windpipe of Logpaw, and could only think of the way she had slashed at it with no remorse, until she had realized.

I could've prevented this, if I fought alongside Logpaw and Fallowpaw and Yellowpaw. They had tried to warn her. She hadn't trusted them.

And then Fallowpaw had eaten deathberries... for what? Perhaps he was grieving for Logpaw, and could've live without him. Yellowpaw had pulled the deathberries out of his throat, but he was already unconscious. He twitched every few seconds, but he didn't seem to be... alive. Did I kill both of them?

Then Logpaw twitched.

Finchpaw's ears pricked, and she looked towards her brother, just as a gust of wind blew over the moor. To her shock and distress, Fallowpaw was blown away, like a whisp of mist in a storm. In one heartbeat, he was gone.

Then Logpaw gasped. He scrambled with his claws, raking the grass, and the wound on his throat closed up.

"Logpaw!" Finchpaw cried. She nearly bounded forward and thrust her muzzle into his fur, but stopped herself. I caused his death, even if he's alive now... and... She looked around. Where is Fallowpaw?

"Are you alright? What happened?" Yellowpaw gasped.

Logpaw scrambled to his paws as if he hadn't just died a moment ago. "Fallowpaw!" He glanced wildly around, his tail drooping as he realized that his little brother wasn't there. "Fallowpaw," He croaked again. "He saved my life."

"What? What happened to him?" Finchpaw hissed.

Logpaw's frantic eyes turned to fury as he glared at Finchpaw. "This is all your fault!" He snapped. "Without you, Fallowpaw wouldn't have to do what he did. He gave up his life for mine." The black and white tom placed a paw on his chest. "I can feel him... he gave his own spirit, his own soul, to me. And he wouldn't have had if I never died, and you, Finchpaw, are the one who killed me."

"He's in StarClan now?" Finchpaw gasped, guilt wracking through her. I should've known. I'm not being reasonable... I was being foolish.

Tears began to shiver in Logpaw's eyes. "Not even that!" He spat. "When Fallowpaw gave me his life, he gave up his whole spirit. No StarClan."

"He's gone?" Yellowpaw shrieked.

"Yes." Logpaw's gaze shadowed. "Forever."

***

After the Dark Forest cats fled, Deadbee began gathering up the warriors. Yellowpaw stayed where she was, dreading the thought of explaining what had happened to the light brown tom. She knew she ought to be happy- the battle had been won, after all... but in her heart, it hadn't. Not really.

Finchpaw seemed hesitant. Logpaw was avoiding her. Yellowpaw kept glancing at the spot where Fallowpaw had last been, wondering where he was now- in StarClan? No, he was gone, just as Logpaw had said.

She sensed a cat nearby, and looked up to see her "father", Briar. He was walking unsteadily, with some scratches and cuts, but other than that, he looked fine. "Er, Yellowpaw? I talked to that warrior... Deadbee? He said that your mother did look like you, and my description matched up." He glanced uneasily at Logpaw and Finchpaw, who were staring at him, puzzled. "I think, Yellowpaw, that I am your father."

"Your father?" Finchpaw repeated with a sniff.

Yellowpaw nodded. "I can't say that I really know you," She told Briar regretfully. "But I'll make an effort to."