Epilogue

Cinderstar sat quietly on the highledge. Four seasons had passed since Bramblestar's death. He had died calmly in his sleep. She had lead her clan in peace, and the clans rarely fought anymore. Only Starclan knew how long that would last, Shadowclan had already accused Thunderclan of prey stealing. But overall, the clans were in peace.
Looking down to the camp, she could see her own son, Mountainstripe leaving camp with his apprentice, Grasspaw. Jayfeather was helping Honeyflower treat Crowfeather's sore pads. Last moon Crowfeather had moved into the elder's den with Leafpool. Strangely, Squirrelflight, Leafpool's sister, did not want to be an elder, so she still took part in warrior's duties. Cinderstar turned her head, she saw Lionblaze entering the camp with Lakefur and their apprentices Birdpaw and Fawnpaw. Her mate looked up to her, and locked eyes. Cinderstar got up and climbed down to the camp.
"How's it going?" She murmured to Lionblaze.
"Good, Birdpaw is really good at hunting," He mewed warmly,"Where's Leopardspot?" He was talking about their daughter, she was round with kits. The father was suspected to be Twigstorm, who would always check in on her.
"In the nursery, I suppose," Cinderstar answered. Lionblaze nodded, licked her head and set off towards the nursery. A flash of bright orange made Cinderstar turn around. Her deputy, Sandheart was organizing patrols.
"Leaftail, take Rainheart and Lightningsky on a hunting patrol." Sandheart reminded Cinderstar of Sandstorm, strong and determined, that's why she chose her as Thunderclan's deputy. She also wanted a cat that had lived through the Great Battle, even if she was only a kit. Seeing that everything was under control, Cinderstar turned around, running right into Dovepelt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" Cinderstar mewed.
"Sorry Cinderstar!" Dovepelt exclaimed. the younger gray she-cat's fur was fluffed up.
"I'm fine Dovepelt," Cinderstar soothed.
"Have you seen Stonefang?" Dovepelt mewed. Cinderstar shook her head."Okay, I guess I'll keep looking for him," Dovepelt raced off.
"If you can't find him, come back!" Cinderstar called after her. Dovepelt flicked her tail in acknowledgement. Cinderstar sighed, even though her clan was getting along fine she thought she could still scent traces of the Great War. Whether it was a black hair caught in the cracks of her den left by Hollyleaf, or the tunnel in the back of the medicine den. She wondered if the Dark Forest would ever try and take over again, and her heart started beating faster. She couldn't handle that again. She hoped that none of her precious clanmates would ever have to go through the torture, death, and war that she had.

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"And that's how you cure bellyache," Echosong mewed warmly to her apprentice, Meadowpaw. She was finally back at her own camp, it had taken them longer to get back than to arrive at the lake clans. They had to stay in Thunderclan's camp while Leafbare's harshest storms left them stranded. Meadowpaw was only seven moons old, still a young and eager apprentice. She was a tawny colored she-cat and the daughter of Cherrytail and Sharpclaw. But it was Greenleaf now, and the gorge was full of chatter and life.
"Thanks Echosong! Can I go see Wingpaw now? She said she was going to do some battle training with Leafstar and I said I might come and watch!" Meadowpaw said enthusiastically. Wingpaw was her sister, a dark ginger she-cat like her father. Echosong nodded.
"Thanks!" Meadowpaw curled her tail happily and sprang down the rocks towards the training area. Meadowpaw was nothing like her sister, who was very quiet and reserved, while she herself was always nosy and very loud.
"Just like Squirrelflight and Leafpool in reverse," Echosong murmured under her breathe. She had become close friends with the two sisters while in Thunderclan, and Squirrelflight brought back fond memories of her father, Firestar.
"Echosong, I found some horsetail down by the stream. I thought you could use it," Clovertail padded up to her. She was round with kits, and Echosong suspected that Patchfoot was the father.
"Thanks Clovertail,"  Echosong flicked her tail over the queen's ear happily and trotted down to the river. Even though Echosong was born and raised as a kittypet, her pads had grown hard against the sharp stones of the gorge.
Echosong quickly located the horsetail, it was growing in a large bushel so she picked a few stems and headed back to the medicine den. It was sunhigh in the camp, and Skyclan was as healthy as ever. Echosong had grown bored over the past few days, and had decided to explore some of twoleg place where she grew up.
After carefully placing the herbs in her den, she climbed up the ridges of the gorge and casually walked towards twoleg place, catching a mouse on the way. Finally she reached the thunderpath, which too was quiet. She crossed it carefully though, incase any monsters decided to sneak up and attack her. Her paws thudded against the hard black stuff and she slid under a long hedge of bushes. She was in a twoleg backyard, full of flowers and twoleg things. Short, sharp grass was split in the middle with a long hard piece of stone dividing it. She hopped atop the wooden fence and carefully balanced herself along it. She crept along until she came to a small thunderpath behind the row of towleg houses. Echosong recognized the fence on the opposite side of where she stood as her old housefolk's den. She hopped down and crossed the small thunderpath, hopping back up onto the white fence. It looked almost the same, except a tree where Echosong had climbed as a kitten was gone and replaced by it was a large rose bush. Echosong jumped down to examine her old home, and a small black and brown dog ran out of the den. Hissing, Echosong launched herself back up the fence. The little thing jumped against it, barking its head off and clawing against the wood. Echosong jumped down and hissed again at the little nuisance. The sun was setting lower in the sky as Echosong made her way back to the gorge.

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Twilight stretched his long, black legs. A rabbit lie in front of him, plump and succulent. But he left it. Tonight was the half moon and Twilight was going to receive his full name in front of Starclan. He had been taught by Jayfeather everyday with Jayfeather's own medicine cat apprentice, Honeyflower. But tonight he was going to end his apprenticeship and gain his clan name. He had refused to accept one until he was in the eyes of Starclan.
"Are you sure?" Jayfeather had murmured in his ear one day.
"Yes, Starclan will need to be there to accept me," Twilight mewed proudly.
It was about ten seasons ago that the war ended, and he left the group of loners he traveled with for so long. Except for Cristy and Sasha that is. Sasha had gone to live with Riverclan because she was now to old to hunt and care for herself. Cristy had come with Twilight, she said she had liked how all the cats hunted and cared for eachother, even during Leafbare. She was a warrior now, and had taken a warrior name, Forestpelt.
Finally, Twilight stood and walked out of the camp.The sun made his pelt shine like silver as he carefully trotted through the grass thickets until he reached the border of  Thunderclan and Windclan. He liked to be the first one here, to survey the surroundings. He could see a patrol of Windclan hunting on the top of the highest hill, and he could see a Thunderclan patrol border patrolling on the lake shore. He wondered how the other clans were doing sometimes, but this had been a bountiful greenleaf. All the clans were plump and herbs grew nicely.
The sun descended casually in the sky, the lake glimmering. Twilight wished everyday could be like this, but the clans bonds that had held them in peace for so long were breaking. Shadowclan had openly accused Thunderclan of prey stealing at the last gathering, and Riverclan was scented on Windclan a few days before.
"Hello Twilight," A tortoiseshell she-cat was on the other side of the stream, flanked by a gray tabby.
"Hello Honeyflower, hi Jayfeather," Twilight greeted them warmly. Jayfeather nodded briskly.
"Hows prey running in Windclan?" Honeyflower mewed cheerfully.
"Good. Though one of our warriors, Fawnsky, has been having trouble with her shoulder. I've tried a poultice of poppy seeds and marigold but nothing has worked." Twilight sighed.
"How long has this been going on?" Jayfeather mewed inquisitively.
"A few days. She keeps telling me it doesn't hurt anymore, but I can by the way she limps." Twilight muttered.
"What do you think Honeyflower?" Jayfeather murmured to his apprentice.
"Maybe if you add daisy leaves to the poultice along with goldenrod if you have any," Honeyflower mewed happily. Jayfeather nodded. Twilight spoke his thanks.
"Hey look! There's Eaglepaw and Jackelface!" Honeyflower pointed her nose towards the lake. Two cats were trotting towards them. Jackelface was Gingerstep's and Oakfur's single kit, now the Shadowclan medicine cat. Eaglepaw was his apprentice, a small, blue gray tom. He was unusually shy.
"Greetings," Jackelface mewed. Twilight dipped his head politely. Jayfeather and Honeyflower both said their welcoming.
"How's apprenticeship coming Eagelpaw?" Twilight looked down the apprentice.
"Good."
Twilight sighed, if this cat wouldn't talk to him then Twilight wouldn't ask.
"Where is Willowshine and Foxpaw?" Jackelface murmured. Twilight shrugged.
"Knowing Foxpaw, he's probably slept in," Jayfeather muttered coldly. Twilight knew Jayfeather wasn't particularly fond of the thick headed apprentice who made it a point to disagree with whatever the blind medicine cat said.
Honeyflower rolled her eyes,"Look, theres Foxpaw's ginger pelt next to the lakeside right now. Their almost here."
"No problems in Shadowclan I hope?" Twilight turned his attention to Jackelface.
"None except that Wingpaw has a bellyache that I can't get rid of," Jackelface responded.
"It is serious?" Honeyfower gasped.
"No, she can still perform apprentice duties, but they are quite painful at night." Jackelface mewed.
"What are we all talking about?" Willowshine padded up to them.
"Wingpaw has a stomach ache that I can't soothe," Jackelface filled her in.
"Have you tried watermint?" Jayfeather suggested.
"Well, I-" Jackelface was interrupted.
"Of course he tried watermint! What do you think he has thistledown for brains! Any medicine cat knows watermint cures bellyache!" Foxpaw exaggerated.
"Foxpaw! You know better than that!" Willowshine scolded. Twilight knew Jayfeather was about to hit him over the head with his paw, whether his claws were sheathed was another matter.
"As I was saying, Wingpaw is allergic to watermint, so I couldn't give her any without making her more sick," Jackelface stated, with an edge in his voice.
"Has she eaten anything poisonous?" Twilight murmured.
"Why don't we talk about this while we're walking," Jayfeather retorted angrily, but Twilight knew his anger was directed at Foxpaw. The others nodded.
"So did she eat anything poisonous?" Twilight repeated. Jackelface shook his head.
"She's been like this too long for poison to still be affecting her," Jayfeather added. Twilight nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe a mix of chervil root and and feverfew leaves," Willowshine added,"We have lots of chervil back at camp if you need any,"
"Yeah, I collected a bunch today!" Foxpaw mewed cheerfully.
"If you need any feverfew our stores are plentiful," Jayfeather added.
"I'm sure he had enough feverfew, Jayfeather," Foxpaw retorted hotly. What followed was a shrill whimper from the cheeky apprentice.
"What was that for?" Foxpaw murmured, he had stopped to examine his ear in a puddle, which now had a nick. Jayfeather growled.
"That'll teach you to not talk back to me," Jayfeather hissed. None of the other medicine cats spoke.
The rest of the patrol walked on in silence until the came to the rocky path that led down to the moonpool. Twilight's fur prickled with anticipation. He wondered what name Jayfeather would choose for him. Maybe Twilightfur? That was so long though. Maybe he would change it altogether, into Blackfur? Twilight shook his head. He hoped Jayfeather wouldn't change his whole name, his mother had given it to him as a kit. It showed history and difference between him and the other clan cats. Finally, the cats took their placed around the pool.
"I, Jayfeather, medicine cat of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve Windclan for many seasons. Twilight, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clans, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" Jayfeather recited carefully, his cloudy gray eyes brimming with pride.
"I do," Twilight murmured, his own eyes brimming with excitement.
Jayfeather cleared his throat,"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true medicine cat name. Twilight from this moment on, you will be known as Twilightcloud. Starclan honors your thoughtfulness and keenness to learn." Jayfeather touched noses with Twilightcloud.
Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud thought his name was perfect! He couldn't wait until Starclan met him and called out his name!
"Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud!" The medicine cats cheered, Honeyflower was especially loud. Foxpaw was cheering as well, and even Eaglepaw was louder than his usual whisper.
"Thank-you," Twilightcloud whispered.
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Foxpaw didn't see why Twilightcloud was so special. He was just a medicine cat like everyone else. But worse was that he was a rogue before joining the clans, that meant he would never be a true clan cat. Foxpaw sneered. Even though he had cheered for his fellow medicine cat, he always felt a little twinge of anger anytime he saw him. Plus, he was good friends with Jayfeather, the old grouchy medicine cat who was always out to get Foxpaw.
"Come on Foxpaw, we're going to be late," Willowshine murmured. Foxpaw and the other medicine cats had already shared their dreams with Starclan and had woken up only a few moments before. Foxpaw's dreams were nothing unusual, just about where to find s huge supply of borage leaves. Foxpaw yawned. Nothing exciting ever happened with the clans.
"Foxpaw, I said now." Willowshine scolded. Foxpaw stretched and got up at his own pace. Willowshine was a push over, she wouldn't punish him, he never got in trouble. The only one who ever punished him was Jayfeather. Only yesterday had Jayfeather swatted him over the head with his unsheathed claws and made Foxpaw bleed. Foxpaw hadn't even done anything!
Foxpaw took a step forward and followed Willowshine out of the moonpool area. Eaglepaw, the small Shadowclan medicine cat apprentice was a pace in front of him. Foxpaw stuck out a paw and tripped him.
"Sorr-ee," Foxpaw mewed innocently. He did this to Eaglepaw every half moon, and every time Eaglepaw said nothing. The younger tom was so scared he rarely spoke, because if Eaglepaw ever told anyone what Foxpaw did to him, he knew there would be a punishment. Foxpaw sneered. Eaglepaw was weak, Foxpaw was strong. The only reason Foxpaw didn't want to become a warrior was because he was smarter than the other apprentices. His mother had told him that. She also told him medicine cats were smarter than warriors because they had to memorize all the herbs and they knew about everyone in the clan. No one could keep secrets from medicine cats. Foxpaw liked the idea of being in control of the clan without actually coming right out and saying it like Reedstar. He also knew that medicine cats could sometimes be trusted more than leaders because medicine cats had a better link with Starclan.
"Keep up Foxpaw!" Willowshine commanded. Foxpaw snorted and set their pace faster by running at the head of the patrol. If they wanted to go faster, he would make them go faster. Another cat ran next to him, a grayish looking tom. In the dim light of early morning, Foxpaw mistook him for Eaglepaw and slid his paw underneath the tom's front legs.
"Oof!" Jayfeather spat as he flipped onto his back, sending dirt everywhere.
"Foxpaw!" Willowshine gasped. Foxpaw knew there was only one way to get out of this.
"My paw!" Foxpaw gasped as he flopped onto his stomach. "Help me! Jayfeather stepped on my paw!" Foxpaw sneered inwardly.
"No I didn't! You tripped me you little foxheart!" Jayfeather spat angrily.
"Where does it hurt?" Willowshine mewed sympathetically. Foxpaw shot a spiteful glance at Jayfeather.
"Here," Foxpaw nosed his paw. He looked around at the other medicine cats. Twilightcloud has his eyes narrowed, Jackelface was watching indifferently. Eaglepaw was studying his paws, he looked up for a moment. Foxpaw caught his gaze and glared at him. Eaglepaw's eyes widened in fear then he looked back down at the dirt. Foxpaw smirked.
"I can't see anything, I think it's just bruised," Willowshine declared.
Foxpaw sniffled dramatically,"So I'll be okay?"
"I thought you were tough," Jayfeather retorted.
"I am tough!" Foxpaw sprang to his paws, angry that any cat would call him weak, especially a half clan cat like Jayfeather.
"What about your injury?" Jayfeather's eyes narrowed in triumph. Foxpaw cursed himself inwardly.
"I'm just a quick healer thats all..." Foxpaw muttered. Jayfeather nodded.
"Lets go back to camp," Willowshine murmured, he tail fluffed out in embarrassment. Foxpaw wanted to hiss at her. How could she pretend nothing was going on? She was as scared as a kittypet and the only thing she cared about was her image, not about Foxpaw.
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Oakfur's stomach roared. He hadn't eaten since this morning, but right now he was busy.
"Can catch me!" Gingerstep giggled, as she circled him. They were night hunting in Shadowclan territory, and Oakfur was having more fun then he'd had in ages.
"What's the matter?" Gingerstep murmured.
"Nothing," Oakfur sighed.
"You would tell me if something was the matter right?" Gingerstep padded next to him. Oakfur didn't respond.
"Oakfur?" Gingerstep looked offended.
"Nothing is wrong, its just," He sighed again,"I was thinking about Flowerkit," Gingerstep nuzzled him.
"Flowerkit is in Starclan now, with all the prey she could eat and she doesn't hurt anymore," Gingerstep whispered.
"But why did she have to die?" Oakfur murmured in his mate's ginger fur. Gingerstep's eyes sparkled in the moon's gentle glow.
"I don't know,"
Oakfur sighed. He hadn't meant to bring her down too, especially when they were having so much fun.
"Why don't we go down to the lake?" Gingerstep suggested. Oakfur nodded. The two cats padded silently down to the lakeside, enjoying the calm silence around them. Mist engulfed the pine trees, swirling around their paws. Oakfur yawned. His feet thudded against the forest floor, his eyes were drooping and his senses were dulled. He didn't even notice the toad that leaped out from under one of his paws. But finally, they reached the shore, the waves gently rasping on the pebbles. The moon cast a silver glow, making it look like a plump silver tabby.
Gingerstep stopped at the shore and looked out onto the lake.
"I wonder what the other clans are doing right now," Gingerstep murmured.
"Sleeping is my guess," Oakfur yawned again.
"I wonder if Twilight received his medicine cat name tonight," Gingerstep rasped, casting her gaze towards Windclan. Oakfur tried to see any cats on the moorland, but it was too dark to see anything.
"I hope everyone is okay," Gingerstep muttered.
"Why so worried?" Oakfur mewed to his mate curiously.
Gingerstep ignored his question,"Do you remember when Echosong brought me back after the battle, I had so many poppyseeds for pain I thought the batttle was still going on-"
"And you tried to fight Bramblestar because you thought he was Tigerstar!" Oakfur interrupted. The two mates chuckled for a time. Oakfur's eyes closed again. Gingerstep started to lick his head, causing Oakfur to fall asleep next to his mate.
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"The tribe shall honor Stormfur," Stoneteller's voice echoed throughout the cave. "He lived a brave life, saving the tribe many times even though he was not born with us. He will be welcomed into the Tribe of Endless Hunting with warmth," The tribe cats yowled their agreement. Stoneteller padded over to Stormfur's body in the middle of the cave. His mate, Brook, and their kits Mouse, Cloud, and Thunder, were crouched over his body, their eyes closed but all of them were quietly praying.
"How are you?" Stoneteller murmured to Brook.
"I could be better," Brook murmured without looking up. Stoneteller wrapped her tail around Brook's neck and sat there. Stormfur was one of the oldest cats in their tribe, he had lived through so many things, like the clans, the battle with the Place of No Stars, and so much more. His wise words could've been used well in the tribe.
Stoneteller sighed, thinking back to the stories she heard as a kit about the great war. Her mentor, the Stoneteller before herself, had given her insight about the great battle. Many cats had been lost, but more had lived thanks to the bravery of the clan cats and of the tribe. Stoneteller hoped this would never happen again, at least not in her lifetime.
A gust of breeze made her long tabby fur sway, sending leaves into a puddle. Stoneteller gazed into the shallow depths. A gray tom's face was shadowed, Stormfur's. He had made it to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Stoneteller sighed in relief, at least the Tribe of Endless Hunting was still looking out for them, just like they always had.
"Stoneteller?" Another silver gray tabby approached her.
"Yes Puddle Where Rain Falls?" Stoneteller looked up.
"Sky Where Eagles Soar is having a stomach ache, is there anything you can do?" She murmured. Stoneteller thought back to her days training as a healer. What had Stoneteller said about stomach ache? Her mind buzzed in confusion, finally, she took a deep breath to clear her mind. Chervil root. That was it. Stoneteller padded to her den in a tunnel that led to a smaller cave. She poked her head into a crevice, plucked the root off the cold stone floor. Stoneteller moved towards the shallow dips in the ground which made nests for the cave guards and prey hunters. Sky Where Eagles Soar was a cave guard, and known to have severe stomach problems. Hopefully this was not another bout of his pain that kept him awake at night and was just mild pain. Sometimes he responded well to herbs, but other times he would vomit up anything she gave him.
Stoneteller approached the brown tabby tom, who was nestled warmly in his moss laden den. It seemed one of the to-bes had left him a hawk, still warm and tempting. But Stoneteller stayed away from the prey. She pressed her paw on Sky's belly, and waited for the spasms that usually passed along it.
"Wha-" Sky rolled over lazily.
"I'm just checking, Puddle said you had a stomach ache," Stoneteller pressed her head against his soft belly fur. His heartbeat rumbled softly in her ear.
"I'm fine now, I think I just ate a tough piece of prey last night," He rolled back over.
"Wait, I just want to make sure," She pulled his scruff forcing him to roll back over.
"What now?" Sky grunted.
"Come on, I just need to check your stomach. At least eat some chervil root," She nudged the brownish pale root towards the tom.
"Fine," Sky rolled over and munched on the fat root. "And don't think I'm doing this 'cause your my sister, it's only because your the healer and leader of the tribe," He dabbed his free paw at Stoneteller's ear. She growled playfully and wacked her brother in the head with her forepaw.
"Ow, that actually hurt!" He grimaced, holding a paw to his head.
"Really?" She mewed, pulling her paw back tentatively.
"Nope," He growled as he launched himself at her, bowling her over and scattering the prey behind them. The two tussled for a few moments before Brook padded up to them.
"Why don't you two make yourselves useful, instead of playing around like a bunch of kits?" She growled, but Stoneteller could tell in her eyes she longed to play with her older brother, Talon.
"Sorry Brook," Stoneteller pulled herself off her brother and started to clean her fur.
"Yeah, we'll be more professional next time," He smiled, eyeing his sister playfully.
Brook eyed the littermates up, and smiled knowingly,"You better," Stoneteller giggled as the elder made her way back to Stormfur's side.
"If your fine, why don't you go help out a hunting patrol?" Stoneteller murmured into her brother's ear.
"Okay," He got up and trotted to a patrol that was getting their selves together.
"See you later," Sky flicked his tail at his sister's face.
"You too," Stoneteller called. She settled down in her brother's nest, and fell asleep, content that the tribe would be okay.



*Sigh* Sorry it took FOREVER to get this done. But, I wanted it to be perfect. Also Heightened Senses, the next installment of the War, really takes place before the epilogue :P Well, hope you liked Aftermath :D
~Firefoot