You're leaving...
You're leaving...
You're leaving...

Rough spasms racked my body and pain flooded through my head.

I knew I couldn't stay like this for much longer... It was far too much to take.

I knew I was leaving, leaving my body.

I was also aware of cats around me: Brook pressing up against me, Stone and Feather right beside her, and a few others in the Tribe had Gathered beside me.

Brook pressed her nose further into my fur. "Oh, Storm," she meowed, voice choked with emotion. "Storm... Storm... What will I do without you?"

I smiled weakly at her. "I've lived a good, long life," I rasped. "I had you, I got to see my kits grow, and I became the healer of the Tribe of Rushing Water. Brook, I could ask for nothing else. This is...far better of a life here than I could have ever lived, and I've probably out-lived all of the leaders of Clans." I released a relaxing sigh. "Yes, I am ready to go."

Brook's eyes were filled with emotion, Feather's and Stone's, too. I couldn't stand to see them so...in anguish. It pained my heart more than the sickness that I had.

I closed my eyes. "Brook," I whispered, for that was the only way I could say a thing.

She gazed at me with all the love and affection she had shown me when I told her that I was staying with the Tribe. "Yes, Storm?" he meowed, voice choked with emotion.

"I love you, you and Stone, and Feather," I meowed hoarsely. "Good-bye..."

I felt the pain lift and a blackness wash over my eyes. A few moments later, I was standing before eight cats.

Silverstream's beautiful eyes held love for me and welcoming; Graystripe's held all of the courageous love they always had; Stonefur's eyes held the loyalty he had shown me as a kit; Mistyfoot's held welcoming, and the same love a mother has for her kits; Stoneteller's held wise understanding as he welcomed me, Talon right beside him; Crowfeather stood on the edge of the crowd, his chest puffed out and proud; and Feathertail, my sweet Feathertail... She stood beside her love, her eyes shining.

As one voice, I could hear, "Welcome, Stormfur of RiverClan and Storm During the Dark Night of the Tribe of Rushing Water, to the middle of StarClan and the Tribe of Endless Hunting boundaries! May you live here with all of us forever in peace!"

After their few words, I knew it: I was home.

Ah you're leaving home...