Man this was a tear-jerker. Be forewarned, this is a very melancholy yet happy chapter. So many conflicted emotions! And yes, the huge question as to Thornflight's love life is answered in this chapter! Yay! Review Answers!
The Endless Hourglass: Isn't is just so sad when the story ends? It makes me sad :( And 114 reviews! That's amazing! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you! You definitely deserve each and every one of them :)
Devil's Sunshine: aww, I made you cry :) You're welcome haha. And thank you :)
Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: I can sense your many emotions xD Yes, Gingerstrike leaving was really sad for me, but also kinda perfect for the story. Just added another element of tragedy to it. And you will see in this chapter as who Thornflight ends up with...I think you shall be very surprised...
CrimsonEyedWolf: YES! I made you cry two times in a row! That...is exciting xD And thank you my dear, for your wonderful review :)
kingszey: awe, you make me smile :)) I have enjoyed your reviews ever so much hehe. Yes, here is the epilogue, and yes, I am working on another warrior's fanfic, as you shall see in the bottom A/N :)
WatercolourRainbows: Isn't it? OMG, I FREAKING LOVE FAIRY TAIL. Okay, enough fangirling. Moving on to your fantastical review, please forgive me :( I love you!
Ashheart15: indeed she is :( And thank you so much. I'll always remember you!
Mistyflower68: Thank you for your wonderful review. Thornflight's love life is solved in this chappie, do not fret :) And thank you for your compliments. I didn't really think it was all that great, but greatly appreciated :)) And i shall read your story! When I have time! I'm kinda rushing through this A/N, I have to get ready to go somewhere. Love you!
Winter Forest Shadows: Liking the new name :) I do enjoy your rambles. I though I gave people plenty of hints to Roseheart's death, but someone wasn't reading very closely...haha, I'm totally joking, though I tried to sprinkle some hints in there. Thank you for the amazing compliments, they warmed my heart :) And you caught me on the typo. I went back and read it and I was like *facepalm*. I am such an idiot sometimes xD
Viper332: You're right about the battle. I was kinda distracted while writing and I had so much to cram in and agh! My writing skill just wasn't up to the climax I had set before myself! And Roseheart's death was sad, I know. but hey, I am Monkey, and main character deaths make a great story. Though very depressing xD Love you!
On with the story!
Epilogue
Thornflight
The sweet scent of growing green things reached his nose on the cool evening breeze. With it, the faint yet heavy smell of roses permeated the air and he drank it in happily. The forest burst into song as he gazed at the graves before him. Birds sang, leaves danced, and the forest was alive.
Thornflight was content as he stared blankly at Roseheart's grave. It had been a moon since the attack. Since her death. Many changes had occurred not only within him, but within the Clans as well.
Snowpaw and Poppypaw had both received their full medicine cat names on the same half-moon. Snowpaw was now known as Snowflower, a fitting name he reflected. Poppypaw had been given the name Poppyleaf and she reveled in her new status within the Clan.
Ravenstar had chosen Mosspelt as her deputy, soothing the Clan's frets about breaking the warrior code by telling them of a dream sent to her by StarClan. Mosspelt would receive an apprentice when Snowpelt's kits were born. The she-cat, though young, served with energy impossible to deny. The Clan respected the younger warrior, just as she often asked advice of the senior warriors. So it worked out.
Lilyspeckle had just announced she was expecting kits, a proud Grayclaw being their father. The announcement had brought on a new attitude in camp and cats walked with their heads held high once more.
Now, Thornflight thought of his own personal changes. For the first few days, the Clan had left him alone, respecting his grief. Featherstream had watched with concern from afar, allowing him to wallow in his sorrow in peace. In return, Thornflight had retreated from his Clanmates. None of them truly understood his pain, and the one who did had left. Ravenstar threw her grief into working for her Clan. She had no time for him anymore.
At the Gathering, he had spoken to Dapplesong about their future.
"Dapplesong, I love you, I really do," he had mewed. His heart had broken at the hopeful expression in her eyes, only to change to pain as he continued. "But we can't be together. We come from different Clans, and without Roseheart…" he trailed off. She'd gazed at him sadly, brushing her tail against his face.
"I understand," she murmured sweetly. "I miss her too. And I wish you the best." And then she was gone.
He missed her, Thornflight realized suddenly. He missed her scent, her eyes, her voice, everything. He missed his friend with an intensity that hurt. He'd lost Roseheart and now he'd lost Dapplesong too. And though it broke his heart, it was for the best.
In the beginning, Featherstream had been hopeful that he would lather his affections on her. However, when he remained cold and distant, she moved on. Though neither had officially talked about it, they both knew that what they had once had, was over. Now, Thornflight was happy to see her with Branchfur. The other tom could give her more than Thornflight could.
Thornflight returned to the present, where the air was cooling and the sun was setting. The scent of roses grew stronger and he sighed.
"Everything has changed, and they're all moving on," he meowed aloud. "But I'm still stuck here, where I left you behind."
"Sometimes, it's better to focus on now," Ravenstar mewed from behind him. He shrugged, not bothering to glance at his mother. She sat down beside him, gazing at the graves as well. "They may be gone, but they're always here, Thornflight."
"I know. But I still miss her," he answered. She licked his cheek gently, reminding him painfully of his sister.
"All cats must die. Her time came sooner than most. But she's always here," Ravenstar murmured. She stood and left, leaving him alone with this thoughts.
Another wind blew against him, harder this time. He closed his eyes, imagining that he felt her fur brushing against him instead of empty wind. As the breeze continued, he realized, all over again, that she was truly gone. It seemed surreal to him, her leaving. He realized that Gingerstrike was right when he said Roseheart wasn't in the forest.
Padding amongst the trees, he would sometimes catch scents or hear something that would take him back to a time with Leafstar or Fernstep. But only when the wind blew and howled in his ears did he ever feel Roseheart. It made him feel so…empty.
Thornflight opened his eyes. The wind had died down and his sense of Roseheart was gone. Truly, she was the wind. Wild, free, and untamable. She lived on, forever, in the breeze, the howling gales. She ran, faster and faster, across the moors and distant mountains. She had never belonged to the forest. She belonged somewhere wide and free.
He stood and made his way back to camp. Free. Yes, she was free at last, where sorrow could not touch her. He only wished he could join her.
Thornflight slipped into camp, mewing a greeting to Featherstream and Branchfur as he passed them on the way to the prey pile. Mosspelt was also there, picking out her prey. "How's life as a deputy?" he asked politely, drawing out a squirrel.
"Tiring," she answered honestly. "But fulfilling."
They sat down together to eat and he listened to her tell stories. Finally, silence lapsed between them and he gazed at the stars above in wonder. "You know, I never told you I was sorry, about Roseheart. We all really miss her," Mosspelt murmured suddenly. Thornflight mumbled a thanks, looking down at his half-eaten squirrel.
"I miss her so much," he whispered painfully. Mosspelt nodded.
"I miss my mother, too. But you know what? I think they would want us to move on. They would want us to keep going and just live, you know?"
Thornflight gazed at her in wonder. She was right. Roseheart may be gone, but she would want him to live. Really live. "Thank you," he meowed, standing. Mosspelt looked at him, confused. "You're right. She would want me to live." Mosspelt's gaze softened and she purred.
"You're welcome."
Thornflight, for the first time in a moon, dreamt of peace that night. He was running, running across the barren moors, with the wind all around him. And Roseheart's voice in his ear.
"Freedom at last, brother," she seemed to say, and she sounded so happy. Thornflight laughed aloud.
"Free at last," he called joyfully to the wind, and he kept running. He awoke to a fresh dawn with tears on his cheeks and filled with a new energy.
Free at last, free at last. Thornflight raised his head to the sun. They were both free at last.
*sniff* It's...over. The emotions...I can't contain these emotions. *sobs hysterically*. Here is my message to you guys!
It's been a crazy ride. Raven's Wing and T&R have literally consumed about half a year of my life. To have them over is so...strange. I can't exactly describe how I feel about it, it's too early. But I do know how to tell you guys I love you. You are all so crazy, original, lovely, beautiful, spontaneous, and just plain brilliant my readers. I love each and every single one of you. Seriously. You have all made me a better me. You've brought me up from my depression and I can't possibly ever thank you enough for that. The fact that you guys actually took the time to read this and review it, it brings me to tears. Your dedication and your love just inspires me. You guys, I want you to know that, my real, actual inspiration for this story was YOU. You kept my going and I dedicate this entire story to all of you. I wrote it not for me, but for you :) Thank you and I love you.
I will be debuting my new Warrior's story in a few days. I've been working on it for a while now. It is called Legendary and you can find a full summary on my profile. I will probably also publish my Eragon story, which I've also been working on for quite a bit. That one is called Oath Breaker and you can find the summary also on my profile.
Now, I must go to get ready to go somewhere. I love you all, and my heart breaks to say this final good-bye. All good things must end I suppose, but it still hurts. With that being said, we move onward! To new adventures, and untold stories of faraway lands! Let us go! The ships are ready, we need only sail them! To a new story, a new adventure!
~Farewell, Monkey C~