AN: Rather short chapter, but I wanted to keep it that way. There's one more chapter after this, and it is actually in Riverspirit's point of view. Sorry for misleading everyone ;) Thanks to Jayleaf1 for your review; they're greatly appreciated!

Chapter 24

They didn't stop moving forward until Ashia pulled them aside. Wariness crawled over Ravenflight when she spotted a small pool looming in front of them. Ashia stood on one side of the pool while they stood on the other.

"Ravenflight, what you and Coal did was something even we could not do," she said. "You were brave, braver than we thought."

Ravenflight stared at Ashia blankly. Where exactly was this going?

"I'm sorry about Robin," Ravenflight murmured. "We couldn't do anything to give him back his second form."

Ashia's eyes flashed from dark blue to an icy cold look. Ravenflight's fur began to stand on end. Something about that look sent shivers down her spine.

"Actually there is something you can do," she purred. "Normally I would not do this for anyone. But the courage you showed tells me that you are ready."

What in StarClan's name is she talking about? Ravenflight wondered. It seemed like Robin was wondering the same thing.

"I want you both to touch the pool at the same time," Ashia told them. Her gaze drove daggers into Ravenflight as she stared at her defiantly. She hated taking orders from someone else. She was forced to under Storm's careful watch, but this was different.

Moons seemed to pass before either of them made a move. Finally Robin stepped forward. Fear wormed it's way into Ravenflight's stomach when she followed his movements. No, she didn't want any of this! Whatever Ashia had in mind was not what Ravenflight wanted.

Pain seared through Ravenflight as soon as she touched the pool. It felt as though her sides were burning, and her shoulders felt heavy with exhaustion.

Than something else began to claw at her mind. She wanted to scream in pain, but something kept her mouth shut. Instead she soon began to hear someone's thoughts. Panic swept through her when she realized how much fear consumed her thoughts.

Almost as soon as the pain had started, it began to fade away. The dull fear that rubbed the back of her mind was still there. Something had clouded her vision so that she could only see darkness. She blinked for several heartbeats until her eyes adjusted to her surroundings.

"What did you do to me?" she choked out.

"Look at your reflection." Ashia's reply was short, but Ravenflight could hear the grin in it.

Her eyes narrowed as she did as she was told. Ravenflight held back a gasp of shock when she saw a young looking wolf staring back at her. The wolf looked just like Robin, only smaller and a bit more muscular.

"What... how did this happen?" She was shocked to find that the wolf had said the same thing.

"The pool is strange," Ashia explained. "When it seems someone who is worthy, it combines them with someone else who has lost their other half."

Ravenflight stared at Ashia in disbelief. Her? Worthy? Those words never seemed to fit in her description.

"Look, I know you're trying to help but-" Ashia cut her off with a wave of her tail.

"The pool never lies," she simply said.

Wariness crept over Ravenflight's shoulders. She didn't know what to say now. Now that she was aware of his presence, she could feel how happy Robin was. It was almost as if their minds were one.

"So what now?" Ravenflight looked at Ashia cautiously. She never expected this to happen.

"I am afraid that is up to you," Ashia replied. "You have already fulfilled part of your destiny. Now you must choose your own path to follow."

The snow leopard stood up when the sound of pawsteps echoed from behind. Ravenflight whipped around to see Coal staring at her in disbelief. Than he seemed to know what had happened and dipped his muzzle submissively.

"Now I really do have a reason to be afraid," he purred.

"I could never hurt you," Ravenflight murmured. She concentrated on her original form. Relief washed over her shoulders when heartbeats later, she changed back into a cat. Robin tilted his head to one side when she rubbed her muzzle against his.

"We'll always hunt together," he said calmly.

"We will always be a family," Ravenflight told him.

Their gazes locked, and Coal saw the truth in her eyes. No matter where she went, he would follow. And now they no longer had to live in fear. They could finally spend the rest of their lives together.