Everything was still, so quiet. It was peaceful and honestly, Tigerstar was relieved to have some quiet. It was getting dark and he sat outside his den, his eyes glimmering. He took some time to reflect upon the goings on. His daughters were now successful, fully fledged warriors and he knew Leaopardclaw would be so proud of them. It was such a good feeling, to know he hadn't let her down. Icepaw... He flicked an ear as he stung with a pain no wound could cause. His eyes flickered to the clear skies, it was cold out, icy almost and he could see his breath, his fur ruffling up to insulate him from the cold air. He sighed softly, he had never seen Leopardclaw, not even when he received his nine lives.He wondered if there was a reason why, little did he know, he was about to find out. A mysterious light shot up in the sky, it exploding in a beautiful array of colour, a small 'pop' from above. He had never seen anything like that in all his moons. He watched the residue float down through the peaceful sky, embers disappearing slowly amongst the tree tops. He flicked his tail, wary but it seemed like everything went still after. He waited, to see if anything followed it, but he was impatient. After several moments, he guessed that was it. But what was it that could cause such a beautiful explosion in the skies? Starclan? Maybe twolegs? Whatever that was, it was bound to have scared the prey away for a while. He watched the skies for anything else but it seemed to have gone quiet, eerily quiet. He was unsure and he would be lying if he said he wasn't unsettled by it. There were no sounds and part of him was tempted to go and find out, to trace the  He looked to the Medicine Cat den, wondering if Fleetfrost would have any idea of what that was. Perhaps a sign from Starclan? He hopped down from his den and crept into the Medicine Cat den, the smell of herbs was always very comforting in these times. "Fleetfrost, perhaps the duties of leadership are getting to me, but did you see that?" He asked.  He eyed the direction the 'thing' had shot up from. "I'm going to investigate. Hold the fort for me." He murmured as he slipped out the den and trotted out of camp, narrowing his eyes. He sniffed the air and prowled forwards. Twolegs were high tailing it into a monster, skidding off and he wondered why. Then he smelled it, smoke! He looked around wildly, a small fire was beginning to blaze out of control! He growled and the ground was dry so it was easily set alight. He hissed and turned, running back to camp, the smoke was becoming thicker and he couldn't outrun a fire! He coughed and his eyes were running from the effort of keeping the smoke out. He felt his paws would drop off as he sped onwards, the fire slowling slightly behind him as it chewed up the ground and trees. He raced into camp with a yowl, covered of smoke and spluttering. "Get everyone out!" He hissed, looking to Fleetfrost, "As much herbs as you can carry, get the elders and kits out." He said, turning to find Darkfrost, "Lead the clan out to the north. Get them out of the fire. Go, now. Take the clan." He stated and turned to the clan. The fire was getting closer, the ground crackling with the effort of keeping the fire at bay. He moved to the elders den, hurrying them out, "Slowest at the front, they can set the pace. Move!" He called. The elders den caught fire first, he counted the elders. Where was Brokenjaw? He could see the foundations of the den about to break as he dove in, grabbing Brokenjaw's scruff and dragging him out, "Move." He drove him forwards and towards the others. He turned to the apprentice den, hacking and coughing. He checked it was empty and looked to the cats, "Get out, move!" He muttered. The camp wouldn't have long before it was engulfed in flames and he had to get as many cats out as possible, he would not risk more cats. He was going blind from the smoke clouding his vision. He flicked his tail and started checking the dens. "Get the other cats to safety, I'll get any strays, go now, Darkfrost, that's an order!" He called, the smoke was getting thicker and the best thing his clan could do for him was to get out safely. He looked to the nursery which so far was unscathed, he started helping the Queens with their kits, passing the kits out to be carried by warriors passing by. A kit squealed from the back of the den and one of the Queens turned.
"My kit! No! My kit is still in there!" She wailed.

Tigerstar growled and braced himself before leaping into the nursery, scooping up the kit n his jaws by its scruff as he dove back out just as the nursery collapsed on itself, engulfed by the flames chewing away at it. He handed the kit to his mother and nudged her on to follow the others. He gazed around at his camp, now burning slowly. He would not leave until he knew every cat was out. He would stay his whole nine lives if it meant making sure they were all out. He couldn't see Starclan's light now, the smoke had blocked them from view. He wondered if they his clan, now struggling and crying out. The sound of wailing kits and panicked voices seemed to drown out everything. He knew Darkfrost would get them to a safe place to settle and be safe. His chest rose and fall and the oxygen was getting scarce. He turned to see the cats making their way out of camp, thankfully fairly calmly. He unsheathed his claws and he was beginning to get dizzy from the lack of oxygen in the air. He got down low and crept around camp, checking the rubble for any any cats. A sound made him jolt up, reeling slightly. He didn't know if he was going insane or if... He shook his head, trying to clear his vision. The camp was in total disarray, a smouldering pile of rubble and he so desperately wanted to stay but if any cat was stuck, he knew it would be too late. He growled and hacked, stumbling to find some way out of the smoke, gasping for air and he was confused and disoriented. His heart was so torn, it went against every extinct to leave the camp when there could be cats still left behind but he had checked the camp thoroughly and he knew if any cat remained, then he was unable to save them without causing more damage. The smoke seemed to be closing in on him, he just prayed that his clan had made it to safety. He finally managed to breathe some fresh air. He looked a mess. Bits of his fur were burnt and he was covered in soot and smoke, his eyes and nose running an his throat was so dry. He choked and gasped, following the faint scent of his clan, tripping over his paws. He was exhausted, one of his whiskers burnt off. The tip of one of his ears was singed but he couldn't feel it. His heart was hammering wildly. He staggered towards his clan and opened his mouth to speak. No words came, as he collapsed before them.

There was light, blinding and beautiful. A scent filled his nostrils and he stared in disbelief.
"Leopardclaw...." He murmured and the beautiful she cat came into view.
"I am sorry, my love. You know what this is." She said softly and how Tigerstar had wanted that voice for the longest time, that scent and those eyes Those kind, understanding eyes. He stared at her, drowning in her very image. He knew what this was and he didn't want to go back, it was so peaceful here,
"Don't send me back... Leopardclaw. I want to be here with you. Please-" He was cut off when his son came behind his mother. The dread filled him, the feeling of completely letting them down. Leopardclaw watched the cat she had so yearned for, the cat he had become but she had never lived to see him be. Then there was pain, unimaginable pain. Like everything was being torn from him at once and he yowled. Leopardclaw stayed with him until it was done and a misty figure of himself seemed to wisp into sight. It vanished like a breeze and he stared at Leopardclaw.

His body back on earth was seen to convulse violently as the life was ripped from him.

"You must go back." Leopardclaw said to him quietly. "And know my love follows you, and it always will." She said to him, those pale eyes that could crumble the strongest cat filled with hope and grief. Icepaw watched his father and purred as he turned and seemed to vanish. Leopardclaw touched her nose to his gently,
"I love you." She whispered and Tigerstar yowled in grief as he came back to the living.

He got up and shakily looked around, mortified and he eyed his clan. He stood to his full height, swallowing thickly and he gazed at each individual. He felt so ashamed. What if there were cats behind there still? "You are all to stay here, do you understand?" He said, his voice croaky and dry. "Find shelter. Ah-" He was weak, very weak. He was also shaken up from his visit to Starclan.

He turned from them and looked in the distance at the smoke, his eyes clouded with grief this time. His clan had been torn apart once more. Had Starclan not punished them enough? They would reclaim their camp, eventually. But for now, it lay under ashes. He had to find strength, for the cats watching him.
"We will get it back, We will survive leaf-bare."He said, with all the strength he could muster. Please... We must stand together." He muttered and looked for his medicine cat and his deputy... But he could not see his deputy.
"Fleetfrost... Where is Darkfrost?" He murmured. He knew the medicine cat would want to tend to him but there was nothing he could do that Starclan had not done. Others needed it more anyway. He would speak with Fleetfrost later about Leopardclaw, if he could bear it. They needed shelter, warmth and prey. He had to- His mind was still fzzy, like he wasn't comprehending the trauma he had been through. The smoke was at least clear here, they were a safe distance from the fire and now they had to contend with the winter and the harsh cruelties and they didn't even have a camp. He looked around, seemingly still very confused by everything.
"Any warrior able... help to make a shelter from the cold as best you can- The kits- Uh.. elders." He was struggling to make sense and he knew he had to slow down or do himself more injury. He still hadn't come round properly from it all. Seeing Leopardclaw, Icepaw, losing a life, the fire! He stared around,
"Are we missing anyone? Pl-Please.. Look around and tell me... "He murmured, dreading the answer because if they had, then he had left someone behind him and thus, failed at his job of being a leader.