Final Author's Note.

I'd like to take this opportunity to answer a few question's and give credit where it's due.

Way back when I'd read Terrier, I immediately loved it because I saw so many possibilities for story lines and plots and connections to the future. But when I came onto Fanfiction looking for stories, I found very few. I was disheartened. But, instead of moping, I decided to sit down and hammer out an outline of what I thought Bloodhound should be like, given the fact that I knew about three things about it.

Writing that Outline broke through a personal writer's block that I had been going though, one that had prevented me from writing anything but research papers for more than two years. For me, it was like a sort of depression. I could not express myself fully. I felt lost, not being able to write and be creative and express myself. But writing "Bloodhound" helped a lot.

At first, it was terrifying: when I posted that first chapter, I didn't know if anyone would notice or care. And I wondered whether it was worth writing the next chapters. But then I got two reviews. Both encouraged me to keep writing and that it was good. I kept telling myself to keep going. See, I always wanted to be a writer and knowing that I had two readers, was so small, but so deeply gratifying, that I knew, if I only finish this story for those two readers, then I'll have achieved something.

Eventually, this was a project for me to work on while I was on break. But it became more. As the chapters got more frequent and the number of hits got steadily higher, and the reviews more enthusiastic I became more driven. It wasn't just about those two readers. I had an audience. I don't know how to explain how thrilling that was. To see that people liked my writing, and that they wanted to read what I wrote. It healed me.

Truly healed me. It not only broke my writers block. But shattered it completely, like it was some heinous vase. It was around this point that I rewrote my outline. I had needed to take bulletpoints out, extend others, add more details. But it wasn't horrible. I changed the outline, with gusto. I could not and would not be deterred. My family hadn't seen me writing so enthusiastically, for myself, in a while.

You. All of you. My readers. You healed me. You sparked that creative fire in me and for that I am deeply thankful to all of you. With this story finished, I have this stirring in my core, telling me to keep writing. Keep going while the energy is still there. My own, woefully neglected story is going to be dusted off—meanwhile, I'm going to be re-reading Eragon and Eldest, and eventually, get cracking on a fanfic for Empire.

A few of you have inquired (almost desperately) if I would be writing a version of Elkhound. The Answer is yes. But not any time soon. See. My version of Bloodhound is based on what I knew from Tammy Pierce. She's given out a fair few hints about what will happen in Bloodhound and I worked off of that. But I've only got one measly morsel about Elkhound, and that is: The Prince of Tortall gets kidnapped and Beka has to search the Country to find him. I have a few ideas as to how to play that, but I need just a little something more. For those of you who want to know if I'll write more about Beka. Of course. A few oneshots. A few songfics. Some on my own. Some in collaboration with other writers.

But I must impress upon my readers how much their presence and encouragement has deeply changed me. For that I am truly grateful. I needed this. Needed all of you. More than you can know. So from the deepest reaches of my heart: thank you. Every single one. Thank you.

Special Thanks go out to Pie of Doomeh, Grayscales, and Cheesycraziness, because of their diligence to review on just about every chapter. I can hear your voices when I read your reviews and they make me laugh, literally, out loud. To you three, thank you,

Lioness's Heart also gets her own special thank you, because not only does she point out grammar errors, but understands why I've done anything with these characters. Lioness, you've made me cry a few times, left me confused other times, but I'm never done messaging you. Every time I send one PM, I realize I forgot something and have to shoot you another.

I would also like to thank Crazymugglegirl, PlaidPanda543, Little Miss Elizabeth,Disenchanted Words, Requiem for a Sunburst, XIII Dragon, Mythstar Black Dragon, Beechfield Eros, Satori Blackthorn, SKHKatsu,ScrewyLouie12, and Spotted Path, for their amazing, insightful, funny, touching, interesting, helpful, creative, and CONSISTENT reviews, I knew I could count on you to tell me what you think. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and a million more times thank you.

I would like to point out, that I'd never realized how varied my readers were. Australia, Britain, Canada, China, Germany, New Zealand, and Singapore are just a few of the home countries. Talk about a small world. And of course, not to forget my American compatriots, whether they are from Alaska, Chicago, New York, Miami, or anywhere in between. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for cheering me on. Anyone from anwhere else, I'm sorry if I didn't name your country, but I did look surprised when I saw the little flaggie. To my readers, the world over. Thank you.

And a final, special thank you, to Tamora Pierce. Because all of this really belongs to her. (Should she by any miracle, be reading this story) Thank you Ms. Pierce. You have my deepest respect and gratitude. And a big thank you for not suing me, because I didn't always put the disclaimer on my chapters.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!

May your next story, be an adventure.

Humbly.

- - - Lady Wolf - - -