My Way

Songfic

And now, the end is here,

And so I face the final curtain

Life seemed too short.

And Icepaw couldn't bring herself to say about Cloudwind's death. To say that Cloudwind was dead would make it irreversible and final. And Icepaw didn't want that.

Icepaw wanted to say that Cloudwind died because Aspenfoot wounded him. That would make it a lot better and that big lump of guilt would rise above him. But no, it didn't. He knew deep in his heart that Cloudwind's death was his fault.

Death was a weird thing. When you first experience it, you think that the cat will come back up, come back and keep on fighting. After a while, the truth slowly sinks in.

And then you actually take the blow.

Icepaw sort of wished that there wouldn't be a body to bury, like Stormpaw's death. It would make it feel like Stormpaw would be coming out of the apprentice den, his joyful clear voice ringing out to tease him.

Now it felt like Icepaw just lost Stormpaw and Cloudwind. He pushed the thought of Stormpaw away but his death still remained clear in his mind.

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

''The only fight that was going on was the fight between Stormpaw and Polly. Since the other clanmates had come to help, Icepaw, Deerfang, Stormpaw, and Brookflower wasn't alone. '

''Icepaw thought that Stormpaw had no need to fight. But Stormpaw had a grudge against Polly ever since his birth; Polly killed his entire family. And this wasn't a fight to attack. It was the fight to the death.'

''But before Stormpaw's death, Icepaw knew that Stormpaw wouldn't survive. Polly was a full grown warrior. As Brookflower was about to step in to help Stormpaw, Icepaw watched Stormpaw taunting Polly.

''"What will your rogues do when I defeated you? Maybe they will cower and cry to their mommies?" Stormpaw taunted. But his voice faltered when he saw the true danger. He was right on the edge of the cliff. As Stormpaw gripped the flesh that should have been Polly's death blow, Polly pushed Stormpaw out of the way.

''It happened so slowly. Stormpaw gracefully fell in an arch and Icepaw's scream lasted forever.

Icepaw shook her head violently. He shouldn't have seen that. He didn't have time to replay every single moment of Stormpaw's death. It made it fresh and clear in his mind.

But then he was plunged into another vision of terror.

''Cloudwind... no!" Cloudwind's came rushing up towards the hill. Icepaw didn't need Cloudwind to protect him.. he can protect himself. But Icepaw knew that he couldn't defend against three large rogues, Thorn, Snake, and River.

''But they weren't looking to kill him. They wanted to kill Cloudwind, the deputy and Icepaw's mentor.

''Icepaw froze in fear.

TBC

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and ev'ry highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Yes, it was my way