A/N: Final chapter! ^^ A special thanks to those who are still sticking by this story. I am writing a prequel, it's called "Capturing Daylight", so be sure to check it out after you finish reading the ending! (:
Chapter 25
Echoes of our yowls split the still air as we rushed towards our old home at full speed. Duskstorm, Silver, and I led the front as Everett, Flight, and Boomer held up the rear. Laila and Adder kept to our side, making sure we weren't ambushed as Day stayed in the middle with the other few who joined us. With everyone by my side, I felt invincible. We turned a corner and skidded to halt, Dew already waiting for us—sitting on the porch with a wide smirk across his face.
"Oh?" Dew's mocking voice made my fur bristle. "You brought your friends, did you?" I watched with narrowed eyes as he signaled for his own cats to gather around us.
One by one, we were surrounded by large, well-muscled, battle-scarred rogues. Everett hissed at a dark brown tom while Flight and Adder drew back their lips in a snarl. With my eyes narrowed, I stepped forward proudly—ignoring the taunts of the rogues. Dew stood tall, his silver eyes filled with hatred and disgust. Curling his lips into a snarl, he leaped down from the porch so that our eyes were closely locked.
"I will show you mercy, street-rat," Dew spat, his voice filled with malice. "If you just surrender now."
Snarling, I flattened my ears in defiance. "Never!" I hissed.
Dew's eyes darkened in anger then, his face sparking with fury. "Then die!" he yowled crashing into me. In a split second, everyone launched themselves into battle. Struggling under Dew's weight, I flailed about, trying to dodge the powerful blows from his front claws. Remembering a technique I had seen the younger cats use in ThunderClan, I laid still and pretended to surrender under Dew's power. Dew smirked and yowled in triumph, raising a claw to finish me—but he was too slow. I quickly launched into action, slamming my hind legs against his underside—sending him crashing backwards. Leaping up, I yowled a battle cry before charging him into the stairs of the porch.
Thrashing about, Dew let out an angry screech and sliced my ear with his claws. Yowling in pain, I leaped back—blood oozing down the left side of my face. With another angry yowl, the golden tabby sent me flying backwards with a mighty blow. Rolling against the ground, I felt every muscle in my body burning with pain. My heart thudded in my chest and blood roared in my ears, blocking out the sounds of the battle screeching cats. My vision blurred as I managed to get to my paws, pain soaring across my body in every direction. I could faintly hear Duskstorm calling my name as he sent a large dark gray tabby caterwauling into some bushes.
Blood stained the ground around us, and my eyes widened when I had realized that we were out-numbered. I had to end this, quickly. Everett and Flight fought back to back as they fended off three large toms. Day and a few of the others batted angrily at a group of the rogues while Silver and Duskstorm fought shoulder-to-shoulder. Boomer, Laila, and Adder were scuffling wildly about with a few muscular she-cats. Dew began to charge at me, but my body was too stiff to move. Screeching, I saw Day crash into Dew with rage in her eyes. Cold and utter horror struck me as Dew sent my kit flying back with a sickening thud. Day struggled to get the wind back into her lungs as Dew slowly approached her, ready to finish her off.
Rage filling every instinct I had, I flung myself between them. Pain seared through my side as I bit down into Dew's scruff angrily. I could hear everyone's gasps as I felt Dew grow limp under me. Letting him go, I looked up—vision blurred. I could hear the rogues retreating down the road as Day and Duskstorm called out my name. The pain began to numb as I crashed on my side, blood welling out of the wound from my side. Duskstorm yowled something about getting cobwebs while I heard Silver move Dew's body away. Dew was dead. The battle was finally over and I could feel the life fading my body. My breathing became more shallow as I saw Duskstorm desperately trying to stop the bleeding. Painfully, I lifted my tail to touch Duskstorm's shoulder. He froze and looked at me, horror and sadness in his hazel eyes.
"Day," I managed to croak out.
"I'm here," she murmured softly, touching her nose to my ear.
I coughed, the blood welling down my face from where my ear was sliced open. "Oh, my precious kit," I began. "I'm so sorry..."
Day didn't say anything and Duskstorm lowered his head. "She did everything she could for you," he murmured.
I could faintly hear Day's soft voice murmur, "I know," as she let out a soft sob. Heart aching, I lifted my head slowly and weakly. "Please forgive me," I pleaded. "I did what I thought was best for you."
Meeting her golden gaze, Day touched noses with mine affectionately. "And you thought well," she murmured. "I love you, mother."
Laying my head back down, I could feel the last bit of life fading from me. In the distance, I could make out the faint outlines of cats. My heart soared when I realized that these cats were none other than Dusty and Luwin. Dancing around them, three little kits squeaked with excitement. These kits were the kits I had lost to disease, yet here they were—healthy and strong. To the side, I could also make out the faint outlines of my littermates, their eyes glowing with pride. Dusty padded over to me, her jet-black fur sleek and healthy once more, and pressed her nose to my forehead.
"Come," she said gently. "We have been waiting for you."
Without hesitation, I felt myself standing again. Looking behind me, I saw my lifeless body laying on the ground—surrounded by everyone as they mourned. With sadness in my heart, I turned and faced Dusty.
"Will they be okay?" I asked, suddenly realizing my wounds were no longer there.
Dusty nodded, her blue eyes glowing with love. "Yes," she smiled. "Because of your courage, they will live safely for many more moons—until they too, join us."
Luwin stepped forward, his black-and-white fur vibrant with youth. "Dusty is right," he mewed, touching his nose to mine. "I couldn't be anymore proud of you."
My kits swarmed around me then, as Dusty and Luwin began to walk. With a smile, I joined them—walking into the stars beyond.
