Crowfeather could hear the ongoing fighting below, and he knew he would die soon. And he excepted it.

Pinestar stepped out of the shadows behind him, and Crow waited for something to peirce his heart.

"Hello Beast." Pinestar spat. "Leafpool sent me."

Crowfeather's heart skipped a beat. No . . . she couldn't have.

I was right. She doesn't love me.

"Are you in love with her Beast?"Pinestar asked, a scoff etched in his voice. "Did you really think she'd ever want you?"

For a moment, yes. He had believed it for a second, when they were standing side by side on the balcony. He had believed that maybe, just maybe, she let the same.

But then she'd said that she couldn't ever be truly happy unless she was free, and Crow's heart had dropped.

Then Pinestar pulled the trigger.

Crowfeather staggered with a grunt of pain as the bullet hit his flank, inpenitrating his skin and lodging into his muscle.

He slid down the roof and onto a bridge. Oh no.

"Pinestar!" Leafpool yelled at she ran in.

"Leafpool!" Pine grinned at her, then stepped closer. "If you won't marry Tigerclaw then you'll marry me."

She stared at him in disgust. "Never."

Pinestar turned and saw Croweather trying to stand up and start running. He hadn't realized Leafpool was above him.

"You won't get away from me, Beast!" Pinestar yowled, and went after him.

Pinestar ran after him, while Leafpool did her best to stay in view of the fight. Pinestar grabbed a huge rock that had formerly been apart of the balcony and smashed it into Crowfeather three times, at the fourth, Crowfeather grabbed it and stopped him. He then grabbed Pine by the neck and heald him over the edge of the balcony they were on.

Pinestar's blood red eyes were wide with terror.

"P-please," he sputtered, "don't drop me! I'll do anything! Just don't hurt me Beast."

Crowfeather pulled the tom closer, him fury prominent on his face. "My name is Crowfeather, and I am not a beast."

Then he threw the tom to the ground of the balcony, and Pinestar stood up and started running.

"Go!" Crow yelled. "Get out! And NEVER COME BACK!"

He turned and realized Leafpool was standing at the ledge of another balcony nearby, smiling at him.

"Leafpool." He breathed, his heart warming at the sight of her. "You came back!"

"Of course!" The she-cat called. "I had to."

"Stay there!" Crowfeather told her as his wings stretched out instinctively. "I'm coming!"

He'd never flown even once in his life. After the curse he hadn't found any use for them, so he'd never tried. But for Leafpool, he'd fly all the way to the stars and back.

He leapt, and for a moment; he faultered-and Leafpool let out a fearfully yelp as he started falling until he flapped harder and was able to regain his balance.

He started towards her, but right as he was about to land, there was a gunshot.

He grabbed the raling right before he fell to his death, and Leafpool helped pull him up, only for Pinestar to pull the trigger again.

He fell, but Leafpool pulled him up again and they tried to keep going, but again, Pinestar shot Crowfeather.

He crumpled to the ground as the bullet landed perectly between his shoulders. Leaf gasped and knelt net to him.

But as she did, Pinestar grinned triumphantly.

Right before the bridge under him collapsed.

His scream echoed off of the castle walls as blood poored from Crowfeather's wounds. Tears fell like a waterfall from Leaf's eyes as he looked at her.

"You really came back . . ." He whispered.

"Of course I did!" She sobbed. "I couldn't just let you die."

"Well," Crow couged, "I think that's still going to happen."

"No!" Leapool cried. "I-I won't let you!"

"I love you, Audacieuse."

"NO!" Leafpool was so heartbroken she hadn't even processed what he'd said. "You can't just die!"

He smiled at her as a tear fell, and his eyes closed.

Leapool shook her head, tears falling, and plunged her muzzle into his fur.

No heartbeat.

...

Everything was silent.

Greystripe turned to congradulate his love on their win, only to see her drop to the floor, her wings folding around herself.

"Silverstream?" Greystripe whispered as walked for ward, resting a paw on her face. "Silverstream? W-wake up!"

She didn't wake up.

"Squirrelflight!" Sandstorm called as her cart rolled up to them. "Squilf! Oh, where is my little girl?" Her eyes and mouth disappeared from her face, and she went still.

"Mama?" Squirrelflight called out, she jumped off of a tiny cart, the plate she normally sat on smashing against the floor. The coat rack caught her just as her face faded away, and set the little cup down next to her mother.

"Greystripe-" Ravenpaw choked out. "My friend-it was an honor to surve-with you-" He sighed, one last time, and went still.

"Oh, my friend." Greystripe said half sad, half content, if he had to die right then, beside his friends, his love, he couldn't think of a better way to go. "The honor . . . was mine." He spun around as his limbs changed shape, and was still.

Barley, Mothwing, Darkstrip, and Tigerclaw stared at them in utter silence. Moth put a paw over her mouth with a sob, and Darkstripe and Tigerclaw hugged. But Barley's eyes were glued to the little black clock that had gone still.

Why was he so sad he was gone???

...

Finally, Leafpool managed to say, "I love you too, Crowfeather."

She didn't hear the footsteps of Brightheart padding into the room, she glanced at the rose, and knew it was time.

A smile crept onto her ace as a glow erupted from the rose, the dead petals rose and returned to their beautiful, red form.

Crowfeather's body was lifted into the air, Leaf looked up in shock as he shrunk, his wings, horns, and any other dog-like features disapeared. And his blue eyes opened as he sucked in breath of air.

He landed, and stared at Leafpool.

Memories came flooding back, memories of her and Crow huddled in the library under a blanket on a cold winter's day reading 'All the Lovely Bad Ones'. Memories of her playing with him and Squirrelflight.

Squirrelflight, her sister.

Memories of her listening to stories from her parents, Sandstorm and Fireheart.

Endless memories of her life, and she finally realized why she felt so connected to this place.

This was her home.

"Blackbird." Leafpool smiled.

"Leafpool." Crowfeather said as a tear crept down his cheek.

She ran over to him, and they embraced. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

And then, as sunlight filled the room, the two shared a kiss.

1133 words!!