=Ravenstrike=

The forest was quiet once more. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground and the branches of trees. In the camp, most warriors chose to stay inside the huts unless leaving was necessary. Though the sun was shining and the sky was clear, it was still cold as shit outside. Plus, the snow was so bright it made eyes burn.

Thankfully, the medicine hut was pretty warm.

"You should have seen him. He was crying like a kit. 'Briarsong, don't leave me! I love you! Please don't go!'"

Ravenstrike scowled at his apprentice. Everything Hazelpaw said was true, but that didn't mean he liked the embarrassment that came with the story.

It had been two days since what was already known as the Mad Battle. The whole thing had fallen apart as soon as everyone found out that Eaglestar was dead. The sound of the man's neck breaking still echoed in his ears when he thought about it. The whole damn thing had been Eaglestar's fight to begin with. It made sense that it ended with him.

ThunderClan had lost seven warriors. That was without counting Oakstar, who'd lost one of his lives. The loss, though relatively small, still hit Ravenstrike in a way that made him ache with grief. He was sure his remaining clanmates felt the same. The image of Foxtail and Wolfsong's bodies were forever etched into his mind.

Shortfoot's left hand had been declared pretty much useless. When her wrist was slashed, something was cut, and she no longer had feeling in the appendage. Right now, there was a debate on whether or not it should be left alone to risk an infection, or if Cedarnose should just cut the hand off. Shortfoot herself said she wanted the latter. Why keep a hand that couldn't be used?

She wasn't the only one left injured. Blackmoon had lost half of his tail to a RiverClanner, and Dovetail had been blinded. The latter decided to retire early as a result.

The knowledge that Eaglestar had caused this entire strife made Ravenstrike wish he was alive again. That way, he could kill him himself.

He let out a sigh, and winced when his shoulder moved with the action. Cedarnose had patched him up pretty well, not that he'd really cared about himself much in the last couple of days. No, he'd been too worried about Briarsong to think about anything else.

Said queen was currently locked in his arms. Not that she seemed to mind, with the way she was purring. The vibrations were soothing, a sign that Briarsong really was awake and alive with him. The happiness that gave him was the only thing keeping him from growling at Hazelpaw. Of course, he was just as happy that she was relatively unharmed. Not that the girl needed to know that.

"Well," Briarsong said. Ravenstrike frowned at how raspy her voice was. It only added to the bruises on her neck, "I'm happy you were there to see it for me. Thank StarClan you found him and my mother."

"It's more like Sootstar ran into me," Hazelpaw said, shrugging. The action did nothing to mask how she glowed with pride. Ravenstrike figured she had a right to be proud. If it weren't for her, Briarsong could very well be dead. The very thought made him squeeze Briarsong a little tighter, just to make sure she was really there.

"Soostar?" Briarsong echoed. She sat up straighter in Ravenstrike's arms, "My mother is..?"

"She got her nine lives yesterday, while you were still knocked out," Ravenstrike said. That fact had completely slipped his mind. As it turned out, Hawktalon had been deputy when he killed him. Without him, the choice of leader had been up to WindClan. The amount of immediate support for the woman who'd killed Eaglestar had astounded him.

Briarsong was right. Her mother must be something else entirely. No wonder Hawkspeck was head-over-heels in love with her. That too, boggled his mind. To think that his mentor had fathered his mate.

Well, she'd be his mate if she accepted him.

Briarsong suddenly seemed much more awake. She asked, "Where is she? Has she taken WindClan back home?"

The unsaid question was in the air: Without saying goodbye?

"No," Ravenstrike snorted, "She's holding a meeting with Oakstar and the other leaders. Apparently, while we were all fighting for our lives, Cedarnose and Applepaw went to the Moonpool. Applepaw had a dream."

"A prophecy!" Hazelpaw exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.

"So everyone thinks," Ravenstrike said. He still wasn't sure how he felt about the message Applepaw had shared.

"W-what was it?" Briarsong asked, her tail twitching.

Hazelpaw chirped, "When blood spurts, four become two."

"It's 'when blood spills, four become two'," Ravenstrike corrected, wondering just how the fuck Hazelpaw managed to forget part of a prophecy.

"So..?"

"All the medicine holders think it's a sign that the Clans need to…join together. Cedarnose says it's so that no one leader can do something like this again," Ravenstrike recalled. In his opinion, the idea was crazy. Everyone else seemed to think so too. But in a weird way, it made sense. Eaglestar was able to do all this shit because Sootstar hadn't had as much authority as him. That was obvious when he demoted her.

"Two Clans," Briarsong said. Through she was facing away from him; Ravenstrike could tell that her eyes were probably as wide as the full moon.

He'd had enough of talking about the prophecy. He said, "Hazelpaw, go get some that hawk that Fernpelt caught. Briarsong hasn't eaten in two days."

The apprentice huffed at the notion of going out into the cold, but got up nonetheless. Since the battle, Hazelpaw had been a little more willing to listen to instruction. Ravenstrike supposed that was one good thing that came out of the bloodshed.

"So…you said you love me?" Briarsong asked, tilting her head to look up at him. Her green eyes, though tired, were shining with amusement.

Ravenstrike huffed, holding her tighter as he defended, "I lost a lot of blood. I was delirious."

"Delirious enough to love me?" his queen purred, though the sound came out in a croak.

"No," Ravenstrike mumbled. His stomach felt like it was full of moths.

He'd almost lost her, and could have lost their kits. Seeing her lying in the snow with a knife in her hip, barely breathing, had torn him apart. He'd waited by her side for two days, pleading with her to wake up, fearing that her body would give out and she'd join the many that'd already died. He couldn't even express how happy he'd been when those eyes fluttered open and Briarsong asked for some water. It had taken all of his willpower to not break down and cry right then.

StarClan, how couldn't he love her?

He pulled her closer, "Dammit, I almost lost you. Lost our kits. Fuck."

Briarsong twisted in his arms, a difficult task considering how tightly he was holding her. But she managed it, and she reached up, bringing her hand to his cheek. It was only then that Ravenstrike realized he was crying. He couldn't even bring himself to care.

"I know. I'm sorry," the queen said softly, wiping the tears away. With a purr, she said, "But I'm here, aren't I? And Fennelfur is watching the kits. You didn't lose us."

"I ought to tie you to my side," Ravenstrike murmured. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Promise you won't leave me again."

His queen smiled, "I never left."

"Just promise."

"What if instead," Briarsong said, "I said I love you, too?"

His heart did a flip, "I think I'd be the luckiest man alive if you did."

"Well aren't you lucky," Briarsong cooed. She twisted in his arms, just enough that her lips could peck his cheek. Ravenstrike felt his face grow hot. Briarsong sighed, "I couldn't stop worrying about you. The whole time, I—"

Ravenstrike cut her off, pressing his lips to hers. He didn't know how he'd lived without ever doing it before. His arms laced around her again, holding her close. For a moment, Briarsong was stiff with surprise, and Ravenstrike purred when she melted against him.

…

Hazelpaw shrieked when she came back to find them "busy".

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: OH MY GOD, IT'S DONE. Ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between, "Origin" has come to an end!

Now for the epilogue and bonus scene!

Also, here is a list of all the warriors that died in the battle (plus leaders):

THUNDERCLAN: Wolfsong, Foxtail, Thunderstrike, Rabbitfoot, Bloodsky, Scarletfeather, Leopardtail, and Oakstar (lost one life).

WINDCLAN: Eaglestar (final life), Hawktalon, Hollyberry, Brightfire, Softpetal, Swansong, and Flightpaw.

SHADOWCLAN: Paleflash, Tigerflower, Yellowspots, Mossfoot, Sunpaw, Softcall, and Hawkwing (the father of Dewflower's kits).

RIVERCLAN: Hailfire, Scarredface, Splashtail, Rainstorm, Nutfall, Ripplestar (lost one life).

As always, please review! I'd absolutely love to know what you guys think about the end of this story!

Fun-Fact: As Eaglestar's behavior was caused by a tumor, there will be no sign of his madness in the afterlife.

Later, my lovelies~!

- Tina