The End of the Story

Markstar lay in his den, his breathing laboured. He had been coughing up blood for the past day. His time was coming to an end. Strongspirit sat near by, her eyes glazed over. Markstar had one life left. All the others had been taken by the sickness. It had never healed though.

"Strong...spirit"

Markstar spoke softly. Her eyes shot to Markstar, and she padded over to him quickly.

"I love you. You've helped me be the leader I am, and was. Take good care of our kits."

Strongspirit nodded, and layed down beside Markstar.

"I will. I love you."

Markstar smiled, and closed his eyes. In the corner of the den, Silhouettepaw, Wanderpaw and Blazedpaw watched. Shatteredpaw was in the medicine cat's den. Markstar's breathing slowed, and he breathed in a deep sigh, and slowly let it out. His moons of sickness were over. His time of leading, ended. Strongspirit lay beside him for a long time as his pelt cooled, silent tears running down her face. Nestflame came in and prodded Strongspirit.

"We have to bring him into the clearing. Here are some herbs, eat them."

He gave the same herbs to the three apprentices, before helping Strongspirit carry Markstar's body out into the clearing. Cats slowly padded out of their dens, ears back. Grin watched, then slipped out of the camp to get his nine lives. Cats lay down in a circle around Markstar, only family, or friends, laying right beside him. Nestflame bowed his head. Winds started to lash, and the rain started to pour down. The clan closed their eyes, and stayed out in the rain.

::---::

A great storm rained down upon them. As Grin closed his eyes at the MoonCrest, thunder shook the earth.

Grin gasped and found himself in front of a StarClan cat.


"Grin. Welcome, I can not explain here, but you must go back to your clan."


"What about my nine lives?"


The cat shook his head.


"All your questions will be answered when you get back. Now go, and hurry."


Grin nodded.

He woke up beside the MoonCrest, very confused. But he ran back to the camp, listening to the StarClan cat.

::---::

A yowl split through the air. Cats raised their heads, but didn't move. Nestflame narrowed his eyes and saw Rippleblaze go to where the yowl came from. He followed. He saw Rippleblaze standing rigid behind the LakeRock, all his furs on end. 

"Rippleblaze...? What's wrong?"

Then Nestflame gasped. There was a she-cat, surrounded by a pool of blood. She was gasping, looking around wildly. She had fresh claw marks, and a wound at her neck, though it was healed. Nestflame's legs shook, and threatened to give out. He backed back into the clearing, and called the closest cat he saw.

"Frostysky! Where did you last see Dreamsea?"

"Dreamsea and Jetblaze went out hunting a while ago with Wakesong. Wakesong came back by herself..."

"Go look for them!"

Frostypelt nodded and grabbed Falcon before running out of the camp. Nestflame looked back at the bleeding she-cat. Rippleblaze was beside her now, licking the wounds. Nestflame closed his eyes, and after a while, he would speak.

This was the end of the story. The story we all knew. Now, the super-natural was taking place.

"Dreamstar..."