Epilogue

Mapleleaf carefully made her way out of the warriors' den, wincing as her muscles ached. She let out a purr of delight as she saw Deerstar sitting outside his den. It was many seasons later and Mapleleaf was getting old. So were her clanmates. Most of the cats who had once been her clanmates joined Starclan. There were a new generation of Thunderclan cats.

"How are you?" Deerstar asked, yawning.

"Feeling like an elder," Mapleleaf replied ruefully.

"Perhaps you should think about retiring," Deerstar murmured, placing her tail on her shoulder.

"I'm not that old!" Mapleleaf protested. "You're even older than I am!"

"We're a couple of the oldest cats in Thunderclan," Deerstar reminded her.

Mapleleaf looked at the clan. Since it was sunhigh, most of the clan were in the clearing. Snowfrost was playing with her kits Blackkit and Antkit while her mate Bluetail watched in amusement. Tigerstripe, Fallensnow, Ashheart, and Icywater were huddled deep in conversation outside the warriors' den. Rosethorn and Ferretnose were sharing a mouse. Thrushpaw, Heatherpaw, Lakepaw, and Greenpaw were play fighting in front of the apprentices' den. Even Fawnpaw, who was training to be a medicine cat, joined the fun. The five young cats let out high-pitched mews of excitement.

Mapleleaf saw Honeyflower, Fawnpaw's mentor, let out a hiss. Fawnpaw left the play fighting and padded back to the medicine cat den mournfully, her ears flattened and her tail thrashing from side to side.

The thorn barrier rustled and Owltalon, Shimmerdust, Foxtail, and Flytail were returning from a hunting patrol. Redfoot, Larkflight, Sagefur, and Cloudshade, we're sharing tongues drowsily outside the elders' den. Clan life was going on as usual.

"The apprentices are doing well," Mapleleaf remarked.

"Yes," Deerstar purred, "They'll be great warriors!"

"I'd better talk to the patrol to see if they have anything to report," Mapleleaf said.

Mapleleaf got to her paws and went over to Owltalon, the leader of the patrol, and said, "Anything to report?"

"No," Owltalon replied, "Shadowclan border was quiet."

"Thank you," Mapleleaf said, dipping her head to the dark brown tom.

Since leaf-bare was coming, the days were shorter so Mapleleaf and the rest of the clan went to sleep early. "My nest is always a little colder without Deerstar," Mapleleaf thought wearily, settling in her nest with a sigh.

Mapleleaf drifted off to sleep. She felt odd, like she was becoming weightless. She felt like she was drifting away...

Mapleleaf opened her eyes. She was in a starry, moonlit clearing. At once, her memories flooded back. She turned and a familiar ginger tom was standing there. "Thunder!" Mapleleaf gasped. If the Thunderclan leader was here, that meant...

"Am I dead?" Mapleleaf whispered.

"Yes," Thunder replied, dipping his head, "Mapleshade, you have served Thunderclan well. You have used your second chance extremely well and have gained entry into Starclan. You have been Mapleleaf, Thunderclan's wise and loyal deputy. You would have been a great leader of Thunderclan.

"Then you did you take me from my clan?" Mapleleaf challenged.

"It was your time," Thunder said simply. "Look, your clanmates are waiting for you."

Mapleleaf looked past him and saw her clanmates- both from her life as Mapleshade and as Mapleleaf. "My friends, my family!" Mapleleaf thought joyfully. Then she bounded past Thunder to join them.

(And that's that! I'm thinking of writing a story about Yellowfang. What do you guys think? Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys are the best! :)