rereading lights in the mist, i don't know how to take graystripe's entire death other than the fact that it really reads like he intentionally let himself die. i mean, when taunting ashfur, you think he would've expected an attack especially with how volatile ashfur is, right? it makes me wonder that when he finally enters the dark forest, sees firestar and silverstream, he already cements his decision on what will happen.

we can see in graystripe's vow that he never actually managed to move on at all, especially from firestar. firestar was 8 when he died and graystripe had to be 12 at that point. that's 4 years of yearning for your best friend who long died befire you did. like wdym this is a quote in the book. how are you listing all your mates and daughters and then "firestar. always firestar." bro.

what's REALLY funny is that firestar doesn't actually get a lot of lines in this book, maybe 2 at most and those only exist in flashbacks. this whole book is just graystripe yearning for how it used to be because he never actually moved on from firestar who was practically his north star.

also the fact he hid his injury for so long? dude?

he even says "I've lost so many cats I loved, and now I can be with them again." and mind you graystripe also was saying his goodbyes in his super edition, where he says goodbye to stormfur and barley for one last time.

graystripe was never coming out of that forest alive. i think he knew this, and i think firestar knew this too. because in a sea of cats saying he doesn't deserve to die, firestar is the only one who encourages him to come home:

like i might be reading far too into things atp but Come On. It's all there. Between every line. Pasted into every word.

all i can say is that his final moments were probably the best i read in the entirety of warrior cats. it is a circular loop: it began with firestar, it ended with graystripe, losing graystripe will hurt but the thought of being with him again matters more.