"Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?" -Author Unknown

I never liked goodbyes, especially if I knew I would never again see the one I'm saying goodbye to. We all went back to school with everyone else who had gone home for the holidays. I was glad to be in Hogwarts again; I had all my friends, family, and my new boyfriend to spend time with, and there were no more secrets. It was a good week.

Unfortunately the end of said week came all too quickly, and I found myself back in the forest where the cats lived. Why was I there, you might ask? Well, it wasn't a happy moment, nor was it completely depressing; it was more like bitter-sweet.

We arrived in the forest, we being me, Jayfeather, Keira, James, Scorpius, Al, and my parents (Leafpool and Firestar had already returned the week before), that Saturday afternoon. The forest was beautiful: the cold, mid-winter sun dappled the ground, turning the landscape into a mix of reds and oranges. There were a few patches of melting snow, but most of it was gone, promising a warm, fast-approaching spring.

I was sad to see Jayfeather go, but happy that he had been reunited with his clan once more. There was only one thing missing…

'Jayfeather?' a voice asked as I set him down in his forest home. He swiveled his ears toward the sound and sniffed the air. There was a rustle in the bramble bush behind me and out came a thin, orange cat with sparkling green eyes.

'Squirrelflight!' Jayfeather cried out with glee. We all watched with surprised expressions as Jayfeather was reunited with his foster-mother once more. 'Squirrelflight, I'm so glad to see you!'

'Oh, Jayfeather, I've missed you,' she murmured into his fur. Suddenly, she looked up and shrank back from the seven humans watching the two.

'Squirrelflight, these are my friends,' Jayfeather explained earnestly. Squirrelflight didn't seem to believe him, so I stepped up.

'Hello, Squirrelflight,' I said softly, bending down. 'My name is Lily.' Her eyes widened, but Jayfeather laughed.

'While you were away,' he said chuckling, 'I had an adventure of my own!' He nuzzled her again. 'C'mon, let's get back to camp.' As soon as the words left his mouth, a sad expression crossed his face. He turned to me and jumped into my arms. 'Thank you, Lily,' he whispered. 'For everything.'

'And thank you,' I replied just as quietly. 'I probably wouldn't have gotten through this year without you.' Keira came up and stroked Jayfeather's head, as did all the others, each saying they're own words of farewell. After a long while, I set him on the ground again and he padded over to stand beside his clan mate.

'Farewell, my friends,' Jayfeather said formally. 'Perhaps we shall meet again, Starclan permit it.' He dipped his head and headed towards his camp with Squirrelflight.

'Goodbye…Jayfeather…' I said softly, letting the tears I had been holding back since that morning flow freely. I felt Scorpius wrap his arm around my shoulders and I cried into his jumper, all the while watching the two cats disappear into the forest.

'He's where he belongs now,' Scorpius murmured into m y ear, stroking my hair. 'He'll be happier here.'

'I know,' I replied sadly. 'But still.'

'I know.'

I never saw Jayfeather again, but sometimes he walked in my dreams. We played and laughed together like we used to back when we first became friends, and I knew, no matter what, we would always be together.

A/N: There you have it.

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