Shellfall

**Shellfall** is a broad-shouldered light gray tom with darker flecks and piercing blue eyes.

## History

Born as a rogue, Shell wanders around the lake, constantly fearing of being killed. He comes across Dapplestar in RiverClan territory, and attacks her, managing to hold Dapplestar off for quite some time. Surprised that a rogue could hold his own against her, Dapplestar shows mercy to the rogue and invites him to join RiverClan, saving his life. She changes his name to Shellpaw, and mentors him herself after making him swear to serve her, even until death.
Shellpaw is named a warrior, Shellfall, and is one of Dapplestar's most trusted cats. He sees the changes in Dapplestar each day, but does not say anything, trying desperately to believe that Dapplestar is doing the right thing. One day, when Shimmerwing leads a rebellion against Dapplestar, Shellfall receives news of this. He instantly hurries to where he hears the rebellion is taking place, and sees Shimmerwing and Dapplestar facing off in the flames. Shellfall sees Dapplestar walking into the flames, and screams her name, trying to reach her. Shimmerwing pulls him back, telling him that Dapplestar is no more, and Shellfall argues with her, saying that Dapplestar is right there. However, a tree of burning fire comes down in front of Dapplestar, and she vanishes into the flames. Shellfall screams until his voice breaks, but the space where Dapplestar was in no longer exists.
He demands to know why Shimmerwing did this, citing that she was the closest to her than all. Shimmerwing tells him that she had to do it because she was the closest. Shimmerwing leaves Shellfall, and RiverClan breaks apart into two after Shellfall declares Shimmerwing "an enemy of Dapplestar." The two sides face off in the pouring rain, neither of them losing but not winning. Shellfall silently pleads for Shimmerwing to pull back.
When he realizes that Shimmerwing's side is winning, as Swiftcloud betrayed him to take reinforcements, he takes the commanders of his forces and praises them, telling them that they need to live, to follow Shimmerwing. At first, they disagree, telling Shellfall that they will fight until they die, but Shellfall persuades them, and they obey. Shellfall pulls back his entire army, allowing them to surrender, giving the victory he knew he would never get to Shimmerwing. After wishing the best to his followers, he disappears from Clan territory, and despite search patrols being sent to look for him, he is never found.

## Trivia

These are trivia facts about the character revealed by the roleplayer.

* It is not known what happened to him after he disappeared from RiverClan territory.
* He did not agree with any of Dapplestar's policies, but only avenged her out of his promise to serve his leader until the very end.

## Quotes

"*Shell, is it. It's Shellpaw now. You will serve me until the day you die... for from this day on... you belong to me.*"
—Dapplestar to Shellpaw

"*Shellpaw. Remember this well if you are to serve me. I have great love for those who stand with me, whether Clanborn or non Clanborn. You belong to me, even in death... so be sure you act like it.*"
—Dapplestar to Shellpaw

"*Shellfall. Swear that you will return to me.*"
—Dapplestar after Shellfall offers to take command of the vanguard

**Shellfall**: "*Dapplestar!*"

**Narrator**: "*A frantic cry makes Shimmerwing whip around again. Legs flexing as he hurtles headlong into the burning glade is Shellfall.*"

**Shellfall**: "*Dapplestar!*"

**Narrator**: "*Screaming her name over and over, he extends a paw, trying to reach beyond the flames.*"
**Shimmerwing**: "*Shellfall!*"
**Narrator**: "*Shimmerwing yells, dragging him back bodily.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Let go of me! Dapplestar's in there!*"
**Shimmerwing**: "*...Dapplestar is no more.*"
**Shellfall**: "*What are you talking about? She's right there-*"
**Narrator**: "*With eyes wild and bewildered, Shellfall looks back into the flames. With a whoosh and a crack, another branch comes hurtling down... and Dapplestar vanishes into the depths of the inferno.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Dapplestar!*"
**Narrator**: "*He hollers until his voice breaks, but to no avail. The space in which Dapplestar stood a minute ago no longer exists.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Why?!*"
**Narrator**: "*Shellfall turns and slams Shimmerwing roughly into the ground, pinning her down.*"
**Shellfall**: "*What have you done?! Why didn't you stop this?!*"

**Narrator**: "*Shimmerwing flinches as if each enraged shout is a physical strike against her body.*"
**Shelfall**: "*You were the closest to her of any of us! Tell me why! How could you?!*"
**Shimmerwing**: "*Because... I was the closest.*"
**Narrator**: "*Shimmerwing answers solemnly. Her expression, her voice... all of it contains a cool sense of composure completely at odds with the punishing heat around them.*"

—Shimmerwing and Shellfall about Dapplestar

**Shimmerwing**: "*So you have come to ask, have you?*"

**Shellfall**: "*What?*"

**Shimmerwing**: "*Is there nothing you wish to know of me?*"

**Shellfall**: "*What made you do it? You were Dapplestar's most loyal cat. So why, at the time, did you...*"
**Shimmerwing**: "*It was faith.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Is that all? There's nothing else you want to say, then.*"
**Shimmerwing**: "*That is the only answer I have to give.*"
**Shellfall**: "*I see. And yet, I still want you to live.*"

—Shimmerwing and Shellfall

**Narrator**: "*Shellfall’s lungs heave as he pulls his teeth away from the throat of a dead RiverClan warrior. His impatience at Shimmerwing’s forces is growing intense; they hold their ground no matter how hard he pushes.*"

**Shellfall**: "*Why...?*"

**Narrator**: "*Shellfall’s forces are throwing their full military might behind this, not to mention the rain which will be a massive drain on energy. Yet he has no sense that Shimmerwing is about to order a retreat.*"

**Shellfall**: "*Please pull back.*"
**Narrator**: "*He had no intention of killing Shimmerwing from the start. Not if it was faith that caused her to abandon Dapplestar in the flames. If there is no way for them to defy the turbulent times that they are caught up in...*"
**Shellfall**: "*This is all I can do.*"
**Narrator**: "*By raising an army in the name of ‘vengeance’, he can keep other warriors in check… and while he does this, he is able to protect Shimmerwing from the impending threats all around her.*"
**Shellfall**: "*I am not aiming for your life.*"
**Narrator**: "*Using the rain to their advantage, the warriors make their onslaught against Shimmerwing even more incessantly than before.*"
**Shellfall**: "*So, please, I beg of you...*"
**Narrator**: "*His plea vanishes into the din, somewhere below the rallying cry of the troops and their boosted morale.*"

—Shellfall facing Shimmerwing in battle

**Narrator**: "*With adversaries closing in from every angle, Shellfall readies his stance and begins hacking away with renewed vigor.* I cannot die here! I cannot! *In his periphery, Shellfall sees his blood soaked warriors, still fighting.* We need to go home. *One, more, two more of the enemy down. Shellfall keeps going, moving ever forward. Suddenly, Shellfall leaps back as a sudden cry reaches his ears.*"

**Rippleheart**: "*Swiftcloud has betrayed us! She brought ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan on their way as reinforcements!*"

**Shellfall**: "*This is what we’ve come to and there are reinforcements coming?*"

**Narrator**: "*A scout jogs over to him as Shellfall waxes philosophical on the subject. Runningflame is looking rather grim as he bows his head.*"
**Runningflame**: "*Shellfall... Swiftcloud has betrayed you and has gathered warriors from WindClan, ThunderClan, and ShadowClan. They are serving as reinforcements for Shimmerwing, and are heading right towards us.*"
**Narrator**: "*Though they kill and they kill and they kill, Shellfall’s warriors are growing exhausted under the limitless energy of the enemy. To make things worse, there is no one Shellfall can call upon to give them a boost of their own. There are no reserves.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Very well.*"
**Narrator**: "*Those words leave Shellfall on a heavy sigh. He calls a retreat for those who still retain their lives. The downpour only picks up in strength, washing down over the blank expressions of dead bodies left littering the battlefield.*"

—The final battle

"*When they enter RiverClan’s deserted camp, less than half of Shellfall’s forces remain. He beholds how exhausted they are, how they have been pushed to their very limits.* I have not come out unscathed, either. *Shellfall’s body aches with every breath he takes by the time he manages to stagger to all four paws.* So this is it... *A depressing sense of defeat hangs in the air as they hold up in RiverClan’s camp walls. This is the answer Shellfall has received for these turbulent times.* So this camp is what greets me in my final moments, is it? *The instant he perceives the truth, there in the corner of his mind, all the chaos fades away. There is only one clarity.* If someone must die here, let it only be me. *He had to find a way to set his loyal warriors free. He does not know how much of the situation Shimmerwing had already predicted… but it is a different story altogether if Swiftcloud had gathered ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan’s contingent to come.* My forces are not the one to flee in terror. They will resist. *Knowing their pursuers may be close at hand, Shellfall doubts he will be able to postpone the inevitable for long.*"
—Narrator

**Shellfall**: "*I want you all to surrender.*"

**Icepaw**: "*But what of you, Shellfall?*"

**Shellfall**: "*This is the end of my vengeance. I will not have my warriors follow me into death. Seek protection from Shimmerwing. I do not think you will come to harm in her paws. Hurry. Before Swiftcloud, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan reach you.*"

**Rippleheart**: "*But I... no! I will not surrender and leave you here, Shellfall! I could never!*"
**Shellfall**: "*I have no intention of dying with you all.*"
**Icepaw**: "*Then you intend to die alone? Shellfall... We've still got some fight left in us.*"
**Narrator**: "*Cats who were unable to move are now on their paws, their claws unsheathed.*"
**Rippleheart**: "*We will charge into the fray again.*"
**Runningflame**: "*So please... do not say you will die alone. Your forces will not be destroyed as long as we have you.*"
**Narrator**: "*Shellfall can tell that they have been pushed past their own limits, standing through nothing more than sheer will power. And yet they are still trying to defend him.* How did I come to be surrounded by such excellent warriors?'**"**
**Rippleheart**: "*Go on, Shellfall.*"
**Narrator**: "*Shellfall’s eyes widen. But he understands Rippleheart's intentions.* I cannot die here. *A tuft of fur that had fallen from Shellfall’s shoulders lays on the ground. Shellfall picks up the mottled bunch.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Give this to Shimmerwing.*"
**Rippleheart**: "*I will.*"
**Narrator**: "*They all pour out of the glade against the backdrop of night. There is nothing to be anxious over.*"
**Icepaw**: "*Please be careful, Shellfall.*"
**Shellfall**: "*Thank you all. Be safe. Fight for RiverClan. Live the life of glory you have always wanted to. And... to everyone who lost their lives... I am sorry.*"
**Narrator**: "*He looks around all their faces one last time. Their eyes glitter with hope and fierce determination.* They’ll be all right. They have to be. *Then, Shellfall disappears under the cloak of the night.*"

—Shellfall and his troops