Here's the epilogue I decided to upload! Disclaimer, and enjoy!
Feathershine was quietly padding on the now-familiar path to ThunderClan's camp. Now that the fight with the packs - known as The War of the Wolves - was over, the Clans had settled into their usual life once again, although Clan hostility was definitely toned down a lot more. And ThunderClan had become used to Feathershine's visits to see the young she-cat Leafpaw, now apprenticed. It was the same with ShadowClan and their new apprentice Darkpaw.
Ever since the War, Feathershine had felt - different - about their beliefs. She was now frequently visited by Feathertail, who had the power to tread between StarClan and the Tribe of Endless Hunting, and brought her news, including the fact that their old friend Swift that Flies Through the Stars was [finally] the Tribe's Stoneteller.
The medicine cat sighed and thought about her own apprentice, who had now received her warrior name - Goldensoul, named after all of the warriors who'd fought and fallen to the wolves' claws. She knew that the young she-cat would become a wonderful aid to RiverClan, but she wanted to be utterly sure that Leafpaw and Darkpaw were doing the same.
She walked through the thorns, where the two guards - Spidertail and Daypelt - nodded at her in recognition. Feathershine looked around at the ThunderClan camp, searching for the familiar light brown she-cat.
As if summoned by her thoughts, young Leafpaw bounded over to Feathershine, purring at the medicine cat's appearance. "Hi, Feathershine!" she cried, touching her nose to the other she-cat's. "Hello there, Leafpaw," Feathershine replied, smiling. "Have you been making your Clan proud?"
Leafpaw seemed to swell up with pride. "Yes, I have! In fact, I was made a warrior yesterday, so I'm not Leafpaw anymore - I'm Leafspirit!" Feathershine noticed the name Lightstar had chosen and smiled again. "Very nice, O Leafspirit," she teased, her tail touching the new warrior's shoulder.
Feathershine wondered if it would be the same for Darkpaw.
The RiverClan she-cat left ThunderClan's forest territory and headed for ShadowClan's marsh and headed directly for their camp. But before she reached it, she spotted a patrol - and among them was Darkpaw.
"Feathershine!" the tom cried, rushing over to her. "Hello, Darkpaw. How are you?" Feathershine purred, making sure that the patrol didn't mind the reunion. As she'd predicted, the brightly pelted cat lifted his head and corrected her on his name.
"I'm Darkglint now!" he meowed proudly. "Wonderful name, Darkglint," Feathershine said, feeling a weight seem to lift off her shoulders. She'd been so worried about if the two would remember their past lives, but it seemed that they knew nothing of it - which was good news for both her and Elmwind. "How is Darkstar doing?" Feathershine asked.
"Oh, he's alright, just getting a bit old. He's got a new deputy now, Nightsky, and that warrior's way better than everything I've ever heard about Treeshadow," Darkglint said in a carefree way that made Feathershine's heart ache for the warrior. "That's nice. So ShadowClan will remain strong, huh?" Darkglint shrugged. "It doesn't really matter anymore. Now the Clans are nicer to each other, so there won't be as many fights and border skirmishes. In fact, I think there won't be any at all," Darkglint said, sounding quite pleased at the notion of four peaceful Clans.
"Will I see you at the Gathering?" Darkglint asked anxiously. "Oh, you definitely will. I don't think that Dewstar would ever not let me go to one," Feathershine replied. "And Elmwind, too?" Feathershine purred at that and met the ShadowClan warrior's hopeful eyes.
"Now that he's WindClan's deputy, Swiftstar wouldn't dare try to keep him in their camp at the Gathering," she meowed. Darkglint nodded. "Oh. Well, I'm looking forward to my first Gathering as a warrior!" Feathershine smiled and gently touched her tail to Darkglint's shoulder. "We'll see each other there, Darkglint," she said softly, and left the ShadowClan warrior in peace.
Feathershine followed the group of warriors and apprentices as they made their way to the island. The full moon shone above, and the stars of Silverpelt winked with bright light in the dark. Goldensoul padded beside her mentor, silently thinking of the previous events when she was still an apprentice, here on this very ground.
Here, warriors lost their lives and others gained theirs. Here, triumph swept through the Clans, Tribe, OutClanners, and Elements wolves. Here, a war was fought - and won. And it was here that two noble warriors, Leafgaze and Darklight, whose lives were payment for dismissing memories and reborn as Leafspirit and Darkglint.
RiverClan arrived at the now-polished log of age that stood as their bridge. One by one they filed onto it, bounding onto the island and awaiting the great Gathering that would be held - a Gathering not only of four Clans but of a Tribe, two packs, and a variety of OutClanners.
Under the moonlight, eight leaders sat or stood either on or at the roots of the large tree. Four Clan leaders - Dewstar, Lightstar, Swiftstar, and Darkstar - sat proudly on the branches, gazing down upon the cats and wolves beneath. The new Stoneteller sat with them, her green eyes dancing with joy at the sight of old friends. Next to Stoneteller was Foxy, the briefly appointed leader of the OutClanners. Her silver pelt shone next to Swift's dark one, and the loner shared the once-again felt triumph of the leaders.
And lastly, standing regally by the flowing roots of the tree were Yamora and Okaeli, their eyes a bright point of light in the silvery darkness, their pelts shining and heads lifted. But the attention of the cats and wolves were suddenly drawn as a shower of shooting stars lit up the night sky.
The stars fell, each shining with its own radiance, falling as if they would never stop. The cats and wolves all stared, watching in awe, at the descending of their history, their fallen ones, their ancestors, and those who held the key and answers for them, always.
And a collective breath was drawn as StarClan warriors, Tribe ancestors, and Spirit pack wolves appeared, stars shining in their fur, their eyes lightened by pride. It was Feathershine who stepped forward, and spoke their names.
"Silverdrift. Riverstar. Firestar . . . Stoneteller. Half Moon. Scennia. Nightfang. Koronan. Darkmalice." The spirits nodded, each accepting Feathershine's words. The cats and wolves watched them in awed silence and Silverdrift, with a single leap, joined the leaders on the tree and opened her jaws to speak.
"The War of the Wolves had taken its toll on everyone, StarClan included. We have recovered now, since the huge amounts of power required to send fallen warriors down had exceeded what we thought we were capable of. The War was won, however, and we are proud to have Clanmates who live on!" A roar echoed through the island and the sound raced across the waters, baffling a few camping Twolegs.
Silverdrift moved aside as the first Stoneteller, Half Moon, joined her. "It has been the same for the Tribe of Endless Hunting," she yowled, making sure everyone heard her. "But, like StarClan, we have recovered our power, too. And we are glad to finally welcome our new Stoneteller." It was Koronan who followed the other two cats' example, but hovered by them instead of settling himself on the branch.
"The Spirit pack has been affected by the large amount of power drawn from Tnemele for the War," he said, his gaze sweeping over the shining silver Elements wolves. "We have stored energy but many spirits are lost. We do not know where they have gone." A slight murmur rose at Koronan's words, but it silenced when he spoke again.
"We, like StarClan, are proud to know that at last, the Elements proved themselves of power. We are proud to know that our alliance with the cats have formed once again, that history did not repeat itself. The circle was to be completed, but four - Feathershine, Darklight, Leafgaze, and Elmwind - halted the circle in its tracks. If they had not, the lake would have become that of the Fiercefang and Nightfang packs once more. And long ago, it was that way." A silence had fallen, as they all thought about this.
They had thought that this was the end; the end of a long quest, a long saga of saving the Clans. They had believed that this was to be their last great journey.
But in truth, it was, in a way, only a beginning - the beginning of a long history of four Clans that thrived by the lake. And a new beginning at last, a fresh start, a new circle.
A new beginning that Four brought about, whose names will echo forever in Clan history.
So, did you like it? Thanks to all those who have read this far, and thanks especially to Cinderstar377, who wanted the epilogue up here! Once again, the prequel (The First Four) will be up as soon as Through the Eyes of a Stranger is finished. Thanks again, and see you there!