Last chapter! For real this time! I know it is sad, but I am sure you will love the ending. I was going to call this the epilogue, but it seems like part of the story more than the aftermath. Enjoy Heathertail and Lionblaze's last chapter! I really enjoyed writing this story as much as you liked reading it. :D

You are free to check out any of my other stories if you want more, and perhaps you can always prepare for the possibility of a sequel. But hey, we'll see. Like Lionbalze and Heathertail, I am not really sure what the future holds.

The Heart of a Lion

Chapter 28: An Ending

I looked outside the walls of the nursery at the clear night sky above. The moon was a waning gibbous, getting closer and closer to being full. I looked up to that moon, knowing it marked three moons since I joined ThunderClan.

I retreated back to my nest. It felt so strange being in a nest made of moss instead of long meadow grasses. You are probably wondering what happened over the past three moons.

Well, Lionblaze talked to Firestar and brought me into camp for the first time. He talked to Lionblaze for a long time and then disappeared in his den with his mate, Sandstorm. They talked it over while I nervously waited in the clearing, being stared at from vaguely familiar warriors I had seen at Gatherings and others I had never seen before. He finally agreed, and I was accepted into the Clan.

Things were rough at first. After Sol exposed our secret, many of Lionblaze's Clanmates were skeptical he could be trusted anymore, as expected. They turned some of this distrust on me, but there were other cats that made me feel like I did have a home here. Daisy was no nice and gentle even though she wasn't a real forestborn Clan cat. When I moved into the nursery, Fernclous also accepted me. I had no idea she was the queen who was temporarily taking care of my kits. She seemed reluctant to give them up, but she knew they were mine and couldn't bear to say anything when my three darlings clambered over me, so glad to see me again.

I was the talk of the Clan for awhile, but soon everyone was friendly to me. I actually felt like I had a home under these trees. And Lionblaze was there the whole time. He spent every moment with me and the kits when he wasn't on patrol or doing other activities. The kits officially got to meet him for the first time, and they learned they would be spending their lives here from now on. They didn't seem to mind. Kits are always so accommodating to the mistakes adults make around them.

As for the battle Onestar promise to rain on ThunderClan, but that resolved itself too. At first he was infuriated that he lost the kits and one of his warriors, but instead of causing more trouble, he stood down. He used this as a learning experience. I imagine he wished he could have been more understanding, and if he was more involved in this, he could've prevented the tragedy from happening. I wish for the best for him. I never thought of him as a bad leader, and I wished the best for my former Clan. Peace came for the Clans at last.

"I will get you! Get back here!" Silverkit was chasing her littermates across the camp. They squealed and dived under Cinderheart's paws, using her as a living shield. They giggled as Cinderheart pretended to bat at them like an enemy warrior.

I couldn't help but smile. Seeing my kits play was the most heart-warming moment I had since coming to live here in ThunderClan. The joy I felt was real, not the fake joy I put on for Lionblaze most of the time when I was feeling homesick. It made me sure that I had made the right choice and that my kits would grow up happy in a Clan that appreciated them.

Lionblaze came back from hunting. He was carrying three little mice. The kits meowed excitedly and pelted him at the camp entrance, eager to claim their prizes. He purred as they clustered around him. He cast a glance at me, and I lifted my paw in greeting. He gave the kits the mice to demolish and hurried over to me.

"How was hunting?" I asked.

"Great. I will have to visit you later. Firestar wants me to go out on patrol now."

I batted him with my tail. "Don't keep the patrol waiting." I watched him rush off to join Brambleclaw's patrol. I always missed him even for the shortest times he was gone, but I knew he would come back for me. He always did. Even in WindClan when I lay awake at night missing him, I always knew he could come back to me.

StarClan always brought him back to me. That made me think it was meant to be. I smiled warmly and watched our kits play. Yes, there was no doubt that this was all meant to be.