I'm back! BTW, I am STILL not in school yet, so I have plenty of time! I feel like a retired person :D

Ya know, I made a discovery. Remember after WWII, there were the baby boomers? The same thing happened in Warriors! All the cats that appeared between The Last Hope and Bramblestar's Storm were a cat version of the baby boomers!

Just felt I had to mention that. I'll get on with the story now.

The Great Battle.

A horrible phrase, one only the survivors of the battle understood.

About a season ago, I lived in the tunnels that ran under ThunderClan territory with Fallen Leaves. I then realized that my heart lay with my former Clan, not in the endless darkness.

So I came back.

To my friends.

To my family.

Lionblaze and Jayfeather had figured out who the other cat was in the prophecy while I was gone; at first, I had thought it was me. But we were wrong.

It had been another cat of Firestar's kin: Dovewing.

I turned, slashing at a Dark Forest warrior. He turned and fled into the bushes.

I heard a yowl from behind me.

It was one of my Clanmates, Ivypool.

Ivypool had been a spy in the Dark Forest, getting information to bring back to the Clans. There were some rumors that Tigerheart had done the same.

Hawkfrost had her cornered, and was growling something to her. Two other dark cats were battling a bloody figure in the corner.

As I jerked my gaze back to the ice-blue-eyed warrior, I realized he had stopped speaking. Instead, his muscles were bunched as he prepared to leap.

I had to save Ivypool.

Hawkfrost hadn't even managed to get a good blow in. We tussled for a minute, before I gave him a fierce blow that sent him running.

I stood in triumph before slumping to the ground, wet seeping from my fur.

Blood.

The pain, a haze of red blocking my vision overwhelmed me.

I heard the sound of pawsteps as Ivypool raced to help me. Then everything went black.

.

.

.

The only thing I remember is waking up to see my brother's blue gaze staring down at me.

My mother, Leafpool, was on the other side.

I sighed contentedly, knowing I would be with my closest kin before I died.

Leafpool began to lick me, sobbing.

I opened my eyes a bit.

"Hollyleaf! Hollyleaf, you're okay!" she yowled in relief.

I smiled. "Leafpool. It's okay; I feel StarClan calling me."

"No, Hollyleaf! You'll be okay! I'll make sure of it!"

I shook my head.

I summoned up all my strength, knowing exactly what I would say.

"Leafpool, Squirrelflight," I whispered, "I…I understand now. I know what you did and why."

"I...I'm sorry," I rasped. "For everything. I'm sorry for causing you grief and worry, I'm sorry for running away. I know I can't run away from my problems. Ashfur, wherever he may be, I'm sorry I acted so rashly. I'm sorry for telling everyone the secret at the gathering. Leafpool, I'm sorry you lost your place as a medicine cat. It's my fault, all my fault."

I felt a powerful surge of love for my family. I took a ragged breath before beginning again.

"Squirrelflight, I'm sorry I couldn't call you my mother. You'll always be my mother to me. I know you were always proud of me. I'm sorry I was so blind once I found out."

Squirrelflight pressed her nose to my flank. "I'm sorry too, for making you think I was your mother." Lionblaze pressed to Jayfeather, their eyes filled with worry.

"I forgive you," said Leafpool suddenly. "Even as a medicine cat, I loved you more than anything in the world, and losing you to my mistakes was worse than losing my place in the clan or losing the trust of my clanmates."

"I forgive you too," said Squirrelflight. "Everything you did made me proud, and I would have been honored to be your mother."

I felt a surge of happiness.

"Hollyleaf!" cried a voice. Dovewing rushed in, grief and anxiety brimming in her eyes.

"Dovewing," I purred to her. "Dovewing, thank you for always being there for me. You handled everything much better than I could ever have, and it always comforted me, knowing that the prophecy was in good hands."

I felt myself slipping away.

"And you two," I went on, looking at my brothers. "Thanks for being the best brothers in the world. While I was in the tunnels, I always wanted to see you. My heart ached every day. I wanted to come back more than anything. But I didn't know how. I didn't know what I would say to you, or how to explain everything. My heart told me that I was right, but everyone thought I was wrong."

I sighed, feeling my worries, my fears, leave.

"But since this is my last chance, I knew I had to say everything." I closed my eyes, feeling warmth begin to seep in my body.

"Goodbye, everyone. I love you all, no matter what it seems." I smiled for the last time, slipping into death.

The pain was free from my chest. The responsibilities, the worries, the pain from my past life was gone.

I glanced behind me, into life. I knew I couldn't go back, but I still turned and pressed a paw against the invisible barrier.

"My kin, I will always be there for you," I whispered.

Leafpool's ear twitched, before she slumped back down. She'd heard me.

I turned, glancing back one last time, and walked away, following the path of stars.