A/N: It has been probably close to a year since I last posted and to all my readers I do apologise, it was an insane year (and the world hasn't exactly gone less insane unfortunately), and between hobbies and a full time job it is difficult to find time to write, but I will strive to continue to post and finish the story sooner than later.

Sweat trickled down Redclaw's brow. The rat stood at attention in the courtyard of the ruins, his eyes fixated on the makeshift gate, the Wolf Guard also at attention on either side. His eyes fell upon the approach of three, the two wolves he recognized, however, the wildcat was not familiar. His focus was on the large wolf in the center. Towering over the others, the emperor stood as a perfect and intimidating specimen of his kind. Redclaw gulped heavily as he knelt before Authran. The wolf slowly lowered his eyes to the large rat, "Groveling is beneath you, Baron. On your feet," his voice was cold, yet eerily calm. Redclaw struggled to his footpaws clutching his gun in pain. Authran aided his cohort carefully, "Wounded? You're getting slow in your age, old one," the emperor's voice shifted from cold to teasing.

"It was a damned mouse of all things," the rat snarled.

"Perhaps you need to go back to the basics," the wildcat strolled forward, snorting in amusement at Redclaw's words.

"When I'm healed, I'll show you just how skilled a swordbeast I am, cat!" Redclaws words growled through his muzzle.

Arrogantly, the wildcat smirked, "If you were a skilled swordbeast, you wouldn't have been wounded by something as insignificant as a mouse in the first place."

"You insolent young bastard…"

"Enough!" Authran roared, the two quickly silenced themselves, "You two want to kill each other, by all means, do so after the war is won, but for now I need my commanders," his eyes darkened and once again shifted to Redclaw, "Even those who have proven failures as of late," Redclaw almost cowered at his emperor's expression, "Baron Verith," he turned to the wildcat, "Return to your legion and get them settled."

"Yes, Excellency," the wildcat bowed and swiftly left.

"Captain Berian, do the same with the Wolf Guard."

"Of course, Excellency," Berian similarly departed. Authran once again focused on Redclaw, "Redclaw…walk with me," Redclaw submissively nodded and followed the emperor in silence. The two wandered around the inner perimeter of the ruined fortress for a time before the emperor at last spoke, "I expected you to have pushed beyond the beachhead, Baron."

"Forgive me, Excellency, I was not expecting them so prepared to defend here," Redclaw defended himself as best he could, his voice almost begging.

"The enemy has entrenched themselves well, attrition can only achieve so much."

"Excellency, we had them outnumbered…"

"They have been entrenched and prepared for our invasion this entire time, strategies must change to account for such! I would have expected you to understand that, or perhaps your age truly has begun to catch up with you," Redclaw stood there, submissive and silent for what felt like hours to him before the emperor spoke up once again, "Nothing to say in your defense?"

"What could I possibly say? I failed you, your Excellency."

Authran released a long exhale, "I still need you, old friend, despite the setbacks," his voice turned from the biting fury to an eerie calm, "See to your creatures, I need a report come tomorrow on the status of your forces," Redclaw bowed to the emperor deeply before taking his leave. Authran strolled around the ruins of Marshank, and the makeshift attempts at his armies to rebuild the shattered fortress. His eyes slowly fell over every crack and crevice, inspecting every inch of thatch, wood and, stone; every weasel, ferret, rat, and fox. His footpaws halted when he reached the makeshift prison, his focus on the one prisoner, a stoat he had not seen for seasons, "Tramun Clogg, I never thought I'd see your wretched hide again."

The aging stoat turned his head in the direction of the wolf emperor, "Tha' voice…familiar it is, aye…"

"It has been some time, not since I challenged you and your partner, Badrang when you raided imperial trade," Authran approached the gate, "What happened to Badrang?"

"Dead, much like you will be if you stay."

"Open it," Authran gently commanded one of the guards, the rat looked at him in confusion, the large wolf scowled at the soldier, "Did I stutter?"

"N-no, y-your Excellency…" the rat hastened and fumbled to open the wooden cage, Authran pushed past the rat and knelt beside Clogg.

"You claim to foresee my death?"

"All your deaths, I have seen a burning empire, a sinking ship, and the bones of a wolf, wildcat, and rat…stay and your fate is sealed, emperor," Clogg's maniacal laughter swiftly turned to chaotic gurgles, a dagger blade suddenly piercing his throat as his blood flowed over his chest and the wolf's paw.

"I have no room in my ranks for mad rantings and superstitions, my empire has lasted for generations and it will last for more," Authran snarled, eventually the stoat's twitching ceased and the prison grew silent. The emperor pulled his dagger from the stoat, rose to his footpaws once again, and stepped out of the cell, "Clean up that mess, and if I hear rumors of a prophesied end to the empire, I'll know who to deal with," he growled at the guards as he cleaned his dagger and paw, then proceeded on his way.

Martin wandered the old hills where the Fur and Freedom Fighters once held during the rebellion against Marshank. Now it served as a memorial for those lost during the rebellion, gravestones neatly aligned, surrounding a monument bearing the names of those who died. At the top, two statues: one a squirrel, javelin in paw, the other a mouse, sword held high. Martin smiled, wandering to the grave he remembered. It was much nicer than the makeshift headstone they made so long ago, another stone by it. The first read, 'Here lies Felldoh, commander of the Fur and Freedom Fighters, hero and beloved son,' the other, right beside it, 'Here lies Barkjon, free beast and loving father of Felldoh.' Martin knelt between the two graves, both paws resting on them, he felt his fur around his eyes dampen as he remembered his two friends.

"I could use your help about now, old friend," a sigh escaped the warriors lips as he focused on the first grave, a feeling if longing and regret swelled in Martin "If only I could have been there, maybe you'd still be here…" tears gently rolled down his cheeks as he focused on the other grave, "I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to see you again, Barkjon, but I am glad you are with your son again."

"He passed peacefully and free thanks to you," a voice came from behind the young mouse, Martin turned to see a somewhat familiar young mouse before him, "Something I hope you haven't forgotten," the young mouse smiled.

"Brome?"

The young mouse nodded and rushed over to the warrior. Martin felt Brome's unexpectedly strong embrace engulf him, "It's been far too long old friend."

"Dear lord you've grown so much! I hardly recognized you." Martin chuckled, returning the young chieftain's embrace.

Brome smirked at his older friend, "Well it has been many seasons since we saw you last, surely you would have suspected a change."

"Be that as it may, it's still a surprise dear friend," Martin laughed.

"Keyla said he saw you during the battle, I wondered if I'd find you here."

"I wanted to visit Felldoh's grave," a gentle smile crossed the warrior's lips, "But… I didn't expect to see a statue of myself…"

Laughing himself, Brome grinned at Martin, "When the Tanarians heard the stories about you and Felldoh and everyone who fought Badrang I suppose they thought it fitting."

"Honestly, it's a little embarrassing," Martin sighed, "I never expected to be remembered in such a…permanent way."

"You are a hero to a great many, as was Felldoh. I am glad more creatures would be able to know you," Martin deflated defeated at the words of the chieftain, Brome chuckled, "Forget about that, come on, many a creature is eager to see you," Brome beamed as the two set out to the Noonvaler camp. The two strolled through the alliance encampment in silence, realization had dawned on the young warrior, dozens of thoughts and questions filled his head. Brome at last broke the silence, "Martin? Are you all right?"

Martin snapped out of his self-inflicted trance, "Hmm? What? Oh I…er…was just in thought…" he paused, standing in the middle of the pathway, "Brome…Boldred told me…Rose…i-is she…?"

Brome halted and turned to the warrior, a gentle smile found its way to the chieftain's face. He wandered to Martin, a strong paw resting on his friend's shoulder, "I think that might be a better start, the rest of us can wait. I imagine she's nearly finished helping tend to the wounded, come," Brome practically dragged Martin through to the healers' camp, Martin stood there, not knowing what to do or say. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Busy and oblivious to the warrior, there she was, cleaning her paws, seemingly focused entirely on her work until at last her eyes fell upon the dumbfounded mouse several feet away. Brome grinned helplessly, "I think I'll leave you two alone," and quickly darted away, not that Martin would have noticed.

The whole world seemed to stop and disappear around him, his stomach felt in knots. The mousemaid wordlessly approached him. He still struggled to believe what he saw, it was all the same, the soft brown fur, the same gentle hazel eyes he remembered. "You were at a loss for words the first time you saw me," she felt his paw caress her cheek and longingly leaned into it before feeling him squeeze her cheek sharply, "Ow!"

Sorry," Martin rapidly apologized, "I just…wanted to know you were real and not a drea…Ow!" he felt Rose's paw snap up and squeeze his cheek likewise.

"Well now you know you're not dreaming," a mischievous grin swiftly appeared across her lips. The two stared at each other briefly, before laughing helplessly. As the laughter died down Rose felt Martin's strong arms embrace her firmly. She squeezed him to herself as tightly as she could, her fur dampening whether from her own tears or his she couldn't tell.

"I thought you were gone…"

"I'm still here…"

Martin pulled from her just-so, but struggled to release her entirely, "I missed you so much," he said, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I missed you more than anything," a slight giggled intermingled with Rose's words. "I don't know who needs tears wiped away more, myself or you."

"Both?" Martin chuckled attempting a compromised.

Rose giggled, "Yes, I think both," she pulled from him a bit more and slipped her paw into his, "Come, think you could escort me back to the Noonvaler camp?"

"I think I can do that," Martin smiled.

"Tell me all about your adventures since we last saw each other! I want to know everything!" Rose giddily commanded the warrior as they strolled.

"Everything? I couldn't possibly tell you everything, there's far too much to tell!"

"Absolutely everything!" Rose beamed. Martin sighed and relented, attempting to condense his stories, his capture and escape from Kotir, the journey to Salamandastron and training under Boar the Fighter and the reforging of his sword and the final battle in the war against Tsarmina Greeneyes, continuing to his journey to discover his father's fate. Rose listened intently, the realization dawning on her, "You really have had quite a life…more than anybeast…" as she glimpsed his face she began to make out the few scars she could see. She gently traced one across his cheek, "There's more isn't there…?"

Martin gently grasped her paw, "Much more, the life of a warrior brings with it many scars…of all kinds," his eyes met Rose's eyes for some time. She felt her heart flutter and her face flush, quickly lowering her gaze only to soon after feel Martin lift it, "Let's go, I think everybeast is waiting," he smiled.

Rose nodded quietly in agreement and followed after the warrior. She couldn't help but gaze at him, he had changed so much, taller, stronger and stood with a confidence she had never seen before, especially as one who seemed to carry the weight upon his shoulders. "Have we both changed so much?" she thought to herself, "Could things even return to how they were?"

As the two continued on their way, in the distance, another watched them…