Chapter 30
Technically...this is the last chapter. :o The next one will be the epilogue...I'll write all the sappy stuff there. For now, enjoy this one! :)
Darkness fell, casting a shadow over the forest. The moon was full, but it didn't seem to be as bright as usual to Bubblestar. Maybe it was her own feelings that were blotting out the light? Two days had passed and she hadn't heard anything from Coyotefur since he had stormed away. She was still angry at him for being so insensitive. After all that had happened, she almost hadn't been surprised to hear something like that. Apparently, Coyotefur had been.
She collected her group for the Gathering and they set out. She knew Coyotefur would be there, but she didn't know if she'd want to talk to him or not. She remained silent for the whole journey, letting Nightfur do all the talking.
Of course, when they actually reached the Gathering, she wouldn't be able to get away with that. Though she didn't feel like it, she had to speak for the other Clans.
She jumped up to take her spot and waited for ThunderClan to show up. Cranestar and Darkstar sat on either side of her, watching their Clans mingle. Bubblestar noticed the WindClan leader glancing at her now again, but she was too busy combing through the crowd for Coyotefur to register it.
"Bubblestar," she meowed suddenly after a while. "Coyotefur isn't here."
Bubblestar looked up in alarm. "Why not?"
Cranestar cocked her head to the side. "I think you should know why. He is still upset about his recent discovery."
Bubblestar ground her teeth and flicked her ears in annoyance. "He's being childish and foolish."
"You must feel some sympathy for him, Bubblestar."
"I had to go through something much worse than he is. And yet he told me I wouldn't understand. I would have felt sympathy, empathy, if he hadn't been so insensitive." Her mood darkened further as she recalled the event again.
Cranestar sighed. "You realize eventually he'll have to go back to RiverClan."
The RiverClan leader's eyes widened slightly. "Why do you say that?"
"Cheetahspots and Honeyclaw have been sharing dreams lately, since you fulfilled your prophecy." As she spoke, ThunderClan leaked into the clearing. "You'll have to ask them yourself later."
And so the Gathering began. All of the Clans had had problems because of the "zoo" animals escaping, but all was well now. There were no more strange creatures in the forest. Bubblestar reported that Ribbonflame, Feathersong and Wreathberry were now warriors and they had new apprentices as well. The Gathering was concluded soon after that.
Bubblestar raced over to where the four medicine cats and their apprentices sat. Since the last time she had seen Cheetahspots, her apprentice, Inkpaw, had become a warrior—Inkpool.
"Honeyclaw, Cheetahspots," she panted. "Please, tell me about your dreams."
The two medicine cats exchanged a glance. Inkpool watched intently, her tail swishing. Cheetahspots began. "In our dreams, a coyote is being swept away by the wind."
"Then he finds a river, and jumps into it. The wind stops—" Honeyclaw continued.
"And bubbles rise up from the river as the water warms up. The coyote settles comfortably in the water," Cheetahspots finished.
Bubblestar's jaw hung open. She couldn't think of anything to say. Then she looked at Honeyclaw and meowed, "Aren't you supposed to come to me first when you have a sign from StarClan?"
Honeyclaw chuckled. "In this case, I went to Cheetahspots and Cranestar first. When Cheetahspots was having the same dream, and even Inkpool was having flashes of it, I knew what it meant, and that what it meant was meant to be."
Ignoring the confusion of the sentence, Bubblestar asked, "What is meant to be...?"
"It should be obvious," Inkpool interjected sharply. "Coyotefur belongs in RiverClan now."
Bubblestar didn't dare let her heart leap for joy. "He...? But...won't that cause problems?"
"That's another part of the dream," Inkpool went on. "When the coyote jumps into the river, the water warms up. That means RiverClan will warm up to Coyotefur. And the coyote's loving it, especially when the bubbles start to come up out of the water. Obviously, that's you. So therefore, you won't have very many problems with it. Coyotefur won't be rejected by the Clan. He'll be warm and cozy in RiverClan, with you by his side."
Cheetahspots purred. "Well said, Inkpool. And well analysed."
Inkpool's mouth curled into a smile.
Bubblestar's brain was working hard. "Well...how can we tell him that? Will he even listen?"
Honeyclaw sighed. "That's the problem. The sooner he comes to RiverClan, the better. But if he's so mad, I don't know if..."
"I think he will," Inkpool mewed, a glint in her eyes.
Cheetahspots stiffened. "What have you done this time, Inkpool?"
Inkpool grinned. "Before we left, I blew some bubbles from a cobweb ring in front of his den. I'm pretty sure he'll think it was a sign from StarClan that he needs to go see you."
"Inkpool!" Cheetahspots scolded, but she was smiling.
"Come on, Honeyclaw, let's head home," Bubblestar mewed suddenly.
Honeyclaw exchanged another glance, amused, with Cheetahspots before she turned and joined the cluster of RiverClan cats getting ready to leave.
As soon as the hurried journey back to camp was over, Bubblestar told Nightfur she would be back soon and raced off toward the border between RiverClan and WindClan.
She didn't want to cross the territory and cause problems, especially since now that she was leader. So she stopped at the border and looked around, hoping she would see the Phantom Cat she was looking for.
She didn't have to look hard. Coyotefur came bursting out of the bushes in front of her and skidded to a halt. He stood upright, panting, and looked at her with shame.
"Bubblestar..." he started hesitantly. "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have freaked out on you like that."
"I know," she purred, rasping her tongue over his ear affectionately. Then she stepped back.
Coyotefur blinked. "What's wrong?"
Bubblestar told him about their medicine cat's dreams. He stood still for a while after, brooding. Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"What do you think?" she asked, her tail tip twitching.
He looked over his shoulder. "I...I need to talk to Cranestar about this."
Bubblestar opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it and just nodded. With one last glance at her, he ran back to his Clan.
Inkpool knew immediately that Coyotefur had seen Bubblestar and they had forgiven each other when she saw him rush into camp and go straight to Cranestar's den. She smiled a little. Her fake sign had worked. She silently apologized to StarClan for pretending to be them.
"Cheetahspots," she called back to her mentor.
The older cat turned around. "Hm?"
"I just saw Coyotefur. And he was sure in a rush to see Cranestar," she mewed with an amused tone.
Cheetahspots flashed her a grin. "Congratulations. You're sign worked."
Inkpool giggled and sorted through some herbs that didn't need to be sorted through. Cheetahspots straightened suddenly, staring at her.
"He'll be asking to move to RiverClan now, I suppose," the medicine cat mused, glancing out the entrance to her den, where a small crowd was gathering around the den. She figured news had already spread. "He can be where he belongs. With the one he belongs with. His search is finally over. He can rest and enjoy his life properly now."
"Mm," Inkpool agreed, still inspecting things that didn't need inspecting.
Cheetahspots cocked her head to the side. "Inkpool," she meowed. "I rarely see you like this."
Inkpool made a quiet hissing sound. Cheetahspots smiled.
"I know you care about him. But he's going to be happy now," she continued. Inkpool drew in a breath but Cheetahspots spoke again before her. "Yes, he was happy here too. But not without Bubblestar."
Her back still turned to her mentor, Inkpool nodded.
Cheetahspots turned abruptly to the opening of her den again. "I think he's coming out. Do you want to go see him?"
Inkpool inhaled. "In a minute."
Cheetahspots sighed. "You can't hide it from me, Inkpool, foolish child."
Inkpool turned around to face her mentor, her lip trembling and her tears making trails in her fur. She buried her face in Cheetahspots' fur with a moan.
"I'm going to miss him so much," she breathed, her voice high and quiet with her tears.
"I know," Cheetahspots whispered. "I am, too."
Coyotefur had a strange feeling in his body as he walked back calmly to meet Bubblestar. Like he was floating, like he was just in a dream. But he knew it was very much real.
Cranestar had smiled and nodded. She had been expecting the question. He suspected Firestone had too. He'd had moisture in his eyes as Coyotefur told him goodbye. So had Coyotefur. His goodbyes with everyone else hadn't been nearly as emotional as the one with his oldest friend. Well, it might have been if he had seen Inkpool and Cheetahspots. But he was kind of glad he hadn't. Then he would have completely broken down.
Bubblestar stood immediately when he approached. There was an excited light in her eyes. It made him feel excited, too. Along with the warm feeling he got every time he saw her. And now, he thought, I can see her every single day. The thought made him walk faster, a grin breaking out on his face.
When he got closer, Bubblestar asked, "Everything went okay?"
He nodded, unable to calm his grin. It had infected Bubblestar, as well. "Yes."
Her eyes shone, as did her smile. "You're going to join RiverClan?"
His grin got bigger. He hadn't even thought it was possible. He nodded again, twining his tail with Bubblestar's. "Yes."
Weeelll, that's the official end of it, folks! But don't worry, there's gonna be an epilogue too.
Man, this fic was...I think this is my oldest fic up. O.o OHMYGAGA. I just finished my very first surviving fanfiction. :D After like, two years, it's finally finished. :3 I hope you liked it. And I hope you like the epilogue too. X) Hee hee ~ Remember to REVIEW and ask whatever questions you have cuz soon you won't be able to anymore ~ GIGGLE