And here it is. The epilogue of War of Shadows. It is so tremendously happy I have to wonder if it is the same story. It's also a perfect 700 words - wow, never done that before. Anyways! Please enjoy this epilogue.

Epilogue

Jayfeather

Six Weeks Later

Icecloud gasped out, and Jayfeather stepped back as the final kit attached himself to her belly. He smiled, half-to-himself.

"Well done, Icecloud," he said. "Two toms and three she-cats."

"Five kits, Icecloud," said Lionblaze, pressing his nose to his mate's. "They're absolutely beautiful."

"I want to see them!" mewled a tiny voice coming from the back corner of the den.

"Bluekit, sit down for once in your life," said Ivypool crossly. "They've just been born, they aren't for playing yet."

"They're so tiny!" exclaimed Greykit.

"Thank you, Jayfeather," said Icecloud. Her happiness was radiant. It spread throughout the den like the warm sunlight. Even Rustkit and Stealthkit, who to Jayfeather's knowledge never shut their mouths, had nothing to contribute in the light of Icecloud's happiness.

Jayfeather turned out of the den after giving what he thought was a warm smile. His brother's new family deserved it.

"All cats who walk the stars gather for a Clan meeting!" Jayfeather looked up at the unfamiliar voice and met the eyes of a cat he had never seen before. His heart stopped as he recognized the amber of the small cat's eyes and the golden pelt he bore. He looked up at the sight of this cat, so brave and powerful, sitting above him.

"Jayfeather, honestly," another voice floated at him, and Jayfeather saw another cat, this one bright ginger and with Hollyleaf's profound green eyes. "Where have you been? I was worried about you." She curled her tail around her red-tinged paws and observed him.

"ThunderClan, to me!" The most powerful voice so far rang out, and Jayfeather turned a different direction as a third illusion came to him, and he saw a cat with Lionblaze's powerful shoulders, but this cat was silver, and when he looked up, he met Jayfeather's eyes with his own blue stare of utmost confidence. It was a look mastered by only the greatest of leaders.

"Oops! I'm sorry!" He ducked out of the way as a fourth vision appeared, this one bearing icy blue eyes. She was a pretty little thing, her eyes pretty and her white-tipped tail waving. "Don't get too close, remember?" She danced out of the way, her white paws leaving no trace that she had stepped near him.

"So it begins." That fifth voice, and Jayfeather turned once more to see a majestic and beautiful she-cat sitting there, her sky-blue eyes piercing and her mottled pelt lovely and scarred only by one imperfection. "Hello, Jayfeather. I hope you're prepared for us."

Then she vanished, and Jayfeather's palate of grey took over.

"Are you alright, Jayfeather?" said Doveheart from nearby. "How are the kits?"

"They're beautiful!" Lionblaze's voice boomed, and he burst out into the clearing. "Icecloud and I have five kits!"

ThunderClan cheered as a whole. Ivypool slipped out of the nursery, too, appearing in a shadowy and silent move as always.

"They're important," said Jayfeather to the sisters. "Lionblaze's kits."

"What?" said Lionblaze, excitement half-given to shock.

"How do you know?" said Ivypool.

Goodness cannot falter, but it must bow to the Five that will come in glory.

"A dream, a thought, a vision," he said idly. "But I'm not worried."

"No?" said Doveheart.

"No," said Jayfeather. ThunderClan swarmed towards them with congratulations for Lionblaze. Jayfeather sat back, not being one to get into crowds if he could help it. He heard Bouncepaw laughing, heard new warrior Cherrymist begging to see her former mentor and her kits, heard Bramblestar himself mew a congratulations, and he could smell all of their scents mixing together to form that one, happy feeling in the pit of his stomach. ThunderClan.

Jayfeather lifted his eyes to the sky, and a sixth vision returned to him, this one familiar. Five stars in the sky, not-quite-stars, more like small spheres of elements. They rested underneath their three stars – if he looked closely, he could make out four up there. The first time he saw it, it had frightened him. Now, he smiled at its familiarity. This was bigger than him, but he would need to guide now, not fight.

Goodness had conquered evil, and all was as it should be.

THE END

(right?)

I would like to thank the following people for favoriting, following, and reviewing this story: Arianna Flamepelt, Carella Aleksi, Cinderpaw11, Happyuy1, Hidden in the Shade, KittyMew113, ShastamaeFirepool, Spottedmoth123, Tealfeather123, WarriorCat4Life, Welcome to the New, XEagleheartX, XxSilverpool of MoonClanxX, YoungMarinePFC, lithdrea23, Shimmerstar1212, ShadownightXShadefang, lavi0123, The Golden Sun, PikaBolt101, and Moonbirds. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

I would like to specially shout out to Tigertail24 for taking the time and trouble to review every dang chapter of this crazy-long adventure. Thank you, and I hope it lives up to your expectations!

If you aren't aware of the other Elemental-verse stories, I would love to refer you to my profile, where you can read Elemental, which is a four book series accompanied by...what are we at, four extra books? Willowshine, Hollyleaf, Sunstrike, War of Shadows - yeah, four. Sunstrike's Story was completed alongside this, and the other two - Willowshine's Adventure and Hollyleaf's Retelling - are currently in the works. Elemental, the main series, follows the story of the five cats portrayed in Jayfeather's vision.

If you have questions or comments for me, please leave a review, and I'll answer them. If there are enough questions people have, I may edit this chapter or post a section dedicated to FAQ on my profile. Probably that latter thing.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

~Elsi