Author's Note: And we're finally at the end. A shorter story than usual, I know. I wrote this story in exactly a month (30 days). Editing took a bit longer, of course, but it was a quick one. I know I could've done better (there were so many italics. Why did I do that? If it bothers you, let me know and I'll do more editing).
Special thank you to Not-So-Happy-Hufflepuff. While I was writing my story Broken Nature, I asked the readers what they wanted to see next and listed a number of options, including this one. It was Not-So-Happy-Hufflepuff whose response caused me to decide to pick this one.
Another special thanks to Lightning of the West for your kind words and your stunning review.
Also thank you to all of you fantastic reviewers! I finished this story before posting and, like I said before, I didn't spend spend all that much time on it so I wasn't too confident about it but you guys seemed to really enjoy it. I know this was a more emotional story but I'm not all that experienced in that department so I didn't think it would get the response that it did. I'm happy you all enjoyed.
There were three core ideas behind this story. It was based off my thoughts on Crowfeather's Trial, my reaction to the Broken Code, and an idea I came up with probably three years ago mixed with something from a book I'm reading.
I got this idea while reading Crowfeather's Trial. Jayfeather's relationship with Crowfeather feels very overlooked in the series so I wanted to touch on it. They did have their little moment but Jayfeather never accepts Crowfeather like Lionblaze does and Crowfeather doesn't have any kind of relationship with Jayfeather despite the fact they're so similar. It feels like the authors were just skimming over it and the bits that were in there were there just for the sake of it existing. In all honesty, I thought that the concept of Crowfeather's Trial was a good one since it focused on themes we don't usually see in the series but the characters were written pretty poorly.
When I read the Broken Code, my biggest reaction was "wtf is happening." A lot of the old characters are still there but they have a very background role. The new characters weren't as well established as characters were during the first four arcs and I didn't feel the same connection as I did with the other characters. As seen in Chapter 2, Jayfeather's feelings about the clan come from my own confusion. He feels like ThunderClan isn't home anymore because I feel like ThunderClan and all the clans have changed too much from the Power of the Three.
Back when I first started writing around 4 or 5 years ago, I wrote this story that I never published but I had high hopes for. The thing was I didn't know how to end it. Now I always make sure I know how the story's going to end so it doesn't just go on forever and ever but back then I played with the idea of just abruptly killing everyone anticlimactically. No one would see it coming. Evil, I know. I'm not doing that. I still held onto the idea though. Shortly before reading Crowfeather's Trial, I bought this book called "They Both Die At The End." I do not know what happens in the book, I haven't read it yet, but the title got me thinking. The line used in the summary "Jayfeather knows he's going to die" stuck with me and I really wanted to write his thoughts about death.
I did not intend for Jayfeather to be so negative and angsty but Jayfeather writes himself and I like where this story ended up. He is not a happy cat and he left a life of happiness with the Ancients behind to serve his clan and live out the prophecy. He really deserves the best.
Like I said before, I wrote this story in thirty days with a two week break in the middle. It's not my proudest work but all your amazing reviews have helped me find a new appreciation for it. I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully we'll see more stories like this in the future.
FFN says that you can't post an AN as a chapter so here's a bonus scene several seasons in the future. Enjoy!
Crowfeather's body felt heavy. Why did he feel so heavy? And his chest ached. He didn't understand why. He just knew he was in pain.
Confusion filled his mind. Part of him knew he was in the medicine den but he couldn't remember how he got there. Kestrelflight stood over him. Crowfeather tried to lift his head to look up at him but he didn't have the strength. He could hear Kestrelflight speaking, voice desperate and pleading, but he couldn't make out the words. He tried to ask him what he was saying, why he sounded upset, but he couldn't get the words to form in his mouth and they just came out as a weak gurggle.
Paws pressed lightly against his chest and ran over his flank. Crowfeather tried to push him away but he didn't have enough control over his body to make any gestures to say so. He knew that should have been a sign something was wrong but his thoughts were too unclear for him to notice.
Eventually, Kestrelflight gave up and just say beside him, running his tail over his spine. Crowfeather still couldn't understand him- his ears had long since started ringing by now- but his tone had become soft and comforting. It made Crowfeather relax a bit and his muscles let go of any tension they'd been holding, letting him collapse in the moss. He was already lying down but somehow he just felt so much better now that he wasn't struggling. How easy it would be to just let go…
Crowfeather took a breath and suddenly he felt light. The pain that had been clawing at him mere moments ago faded and his mind became clearer than the lake on a greenleaf morning. He rose to his paws, the stars of his own pelt visible in the corners of his vision, and looked around. A silver furred, star pelted tabby with brilliantly blue eyes was watching him.
"Jayfeather…" Crowfeather breathed, grief welling up in his throat. It had been so long since he'd seen his son. Were they finally going to be reunited?
"It's time to go home," Jayfeather told him softly and Crowfeather's heart soared. He was going home. "Feathertail, Leafpool, and Hollyleaf have been waiting a long time to see you. Are you ready to see them?"
Crowfeather nodded without hesitation. He'd wanted this for so long. He knew he was leaving behind Nightcloud, Breezepelt, Lionblaze, and Heathertail but he didn't care. He just wanted to see the cats who'd left him behind.
Jayfeather broke into a soft purr and turned, beckoning him with his tail. "Come on. It's a long way to Silverpelt."