Shellstar never loved rain. The dark sky, the chilly weather, everything so wet... yet here he was, laying on the ground, in the middle of no where on a ground wet of both rain and his own blood. Alone. So alone... he had tried to get up and walk back to his clan but he could feel his last life slowly draining.

He hated himself for leaving. He hated himself for not being there with them. He hated himself for everything he had and hadn't done. How could there be so much self-hatred in one cat... as he looked up at the sky with his one good eye, he wondered if his spirit would be strong enough to reach the stars with this much clouds.

He panted and groaned, trying to talk to imaginary cats. Trying to apologize to all of those he hurt, all of those he killed... He hoped starclan would forgive him, he hoped everyone would forgive him.

The rain made him feel so heavy and pushed his fur against his old yet strong frame. The Tom coughed blood one last time before he closed his eyes and accepted his fate, his tears mixing with the cold droplets of rain. His eyes flashed back open when he suddenly heard the voice of his daughter. It seemed so distant and as he looked he saw her running toward him just a few tree lengths away. At least he wouldn't die completely alone... and he would be looking at his favorite cat in this whole forest.

When she got at his side, she looked horrified and screamed her lungs out, but Shellstar didn't hear anything at all. Everything became silent and his vision blurred as well. The rain began to turn into stars and he knew if he had to say anything, now was the time.

"Tansyblaze... I-m so sorry" he quickly and clumsily said, his voice shaky as he shivered violently.

The golden she cat shook her head as she cried. What would her mother say ?! What would Fenneltail say ?!

"Don't speak !" She ordered, trying to pick him up, but he was too heavy, so heavy that the medicine cat could not even get him on her back. She screamed for help, but with the pouring rain and thunder it was unheard.

"Tell them all... I-I'm..." the Tom couldn't finish his sentence. He was too weak. His spirit left his body and the light left his eyes as he swam in a pool of his own blood.

The medicine cat looked at the lifeless body of her father and broke down crying on him, thunder crashing louder than ever. Spruceclan had followed Tansyblaze but none were faster than her and when they came, all they saw was the body of Shellstar, the gifted, killed by his own son. Spruceclan mourned their leader but no one mourned more than his family, his two older kits and his four youngest, especially Tansyblaze.

Shellstar woke up in Starclan. There was no pain and his scars were made with tiny little stars. His blind eye was also healed here and he could see with both of his eyes, something he hadn't experienced since his apprenticeship. He looked around and was greeted by all of his loved ones. His mate, Silverbird, greeted him with a large smile. His mentor, Branchstorm was also there, a proud look on his face, Gorsestar, giving him a bow of his head as a greeting. There were also ancient clan members that came to greet the fallen leader. He went to cuddle them all and licked his mate's nose lovingly, talking about how he missed her and how their kits are missing her too. He suddenly heard little paw steps coming from behind him.

"You made it !" A small voice squeaked behind Shellstar.

The large Tom's heart skipped a beat. When he turned around, his best friend was there.

"I told you you could do it ! Look at you now ! I'm so proud of you" purred the other cat.

Shellstar didn't know what to say and simply fell at the other cat's paws, crying and begging for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry for everything ! You were just trying to help me and I see it now ! I'm not blind anymore" he explained, the rest of the starclan cats getting closer and laying next to the leader and his friend. Yes, he would miss his family and clan, but he was so glad to be with these cats again...