Last chap! Leafpool's POV. Thanks so much to everyone that read, reviewed, and faved this story. I had a good time writing it, and it has a semi-cliffie ending that will be wrapped up in the Power of Three fic that I've decided to do. I'll do a Sunset one too, possibly- depending on what pops into my head after I read Twilight.

The prophecies all came true.

The realization ran swiftly through Leafpool's head, echoing like the bird calls ringing outside the stone den. She and Cinderpelt sent Whitewhisker to the warriors' den to rest, her wounds patched up with marigold. She repeated her thought to her former mentor, who looked up from the herbs, blue eyes bright against the dusky evening sky. She twitched her tail in agreement. "Blood kin spilled blood tonight, and the lake ran red, just like StarClan predicted."

Leafpool shuddered as the memory of the two fighting cats from her vision in the Moonpool burst back into her mind. She hadn't been able to identify the cats before, but she could now. It had been Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost, fighting for their lives. Of course it had been- how come she hadn't been able to think of that before?

"I could have stopped it," she whispered. "I could have. Then maybe Tawnypelt and Hawkfrost would still be here…" She heaved a sigh.

Cinderpelt's tail rested gently on her shoulder. "Don't think that way, Leafpool. There was no way you could have known. Prophecies are always vague; sometimes impossible to understand. Trust me; you aren't the first to not understand what StarClan told you until it has come to be."

"Then what is the point of prophecies at all?" demanded Leafpool, claws scratching at the soil beneath her in agitation. "Is that what StarClan does? Torture us with messages that we'll never understand, that never help?" As the words tumbled out of her mouth, she realized she must sound like Mothwing. But she wasn't like Mothwing…was she?

The older medicine cat flicked her ears. "You must understand that they aren't simply warnings, Leafpool. They aren't just to let us know what we should avoid. More than that, they are words of reassurance from StarClan, no matter how horrible and confusing they may seem when you recieve them. They let us know that our warriors ancestors know what is ahead, and they are watching over us as we go through it."

Leafpool stared at her white-tipped paws, thoughtful for a few moments. Then she looked up to meet her former mentor's eyes. "That makes sense."

"Good." Cinderpelt was quiet for a couple of heartbeats, and then her eyes narrowed as she searched Leafpool's amber gaze. "You were out collecting herbs when Squirrelflight found you?"

"Yes." A hot flush crept through Leafpool's skin, and she was relieved that it would not be visible beneath her pelt.

"All right." Cinderpelt's tone was neutral, but Leafpool still had to force herself not to wince. "But I want you to remember something, Leafpool- and I'm probably the wrong cat to be saying this."

She took a breath, ears flicking as she chose her words carefully. "The Clan is important. The medicine cat and warrior codes are important. What StarClan and I tell you is important. But most important of all is you being happy. StarClan chooses the paths we walk, but they never meant for your path to hold you back. They never work against us, and force us into a destiny. If you wish to venture off of you path, that is your decision, and no cat can hold you against it. Not even StarClan."

Leafpool opened her mouth, but Cinderpelt was already retreating into her den. Confused, the tabby she-cat could only look after her for a few heartbeats. Then she stumbled out into the main clearing. She was just in time to see Brambleclaw pad out of the thorns, looking more tired than Leafpool had ever seen him before. There was a rustle as Squirrelflight slid out of the warriors' den to meet him. The two cats touched noses with a tenderness that made Leafpool ache inside.

Quickly she padded around the clearing, squeezing out of a tiny exit she had used before. The night was clear and still, the stars seemingly following her into the forest, twinkling eyes that held no emotion. For a few heartbeats, the medicine cat craned her neck upward, searching them as she had done so many times before. Abruptly she jerked her head back down. No, StarClan could not offer her answers now. This was her choice to make.

It's always been my choice. Why didn't I ever think so before?

She turned around to watch the ThunderClan clearing, eyes lingering over her father's den, the shapes of Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight as they stood in the middle of the clearing. She stopped at the medicine cat's den that was her home, where she had treated so many cats. She had come to love the stone hollow just as much as she had loved her home in the old forest. She didn't hear anyone grumbling about missing the gorse tunnel, Sunningrocks, or Fourtrees anymore. Even the crankiest of the elders had become used to the land around the lake.

Leafpool sighed to herself as she turned back around. The path to WindClan territory was familiar now, and she traveled swiftly. Her wounds stung as she ran, but she ignored the pain. All she was aware of was the beat of her heart, growing steadily quicker as she neared the rise at last. She felt the same way she had all those moons ago, when she had come running for him after her dream. Fear of StarClan's disapproval had loomed over her then. This time her head and tail were high, and her eyes were clear. She knew what she wanted to do.

She saw the shape of her mate on the hill. For a moment she only watched him, then opened her mouth and let out a hesitant mew.There was no turning back now.

Crowfeather turned with surprise as he heard the familiar call, but his gaze was warm as he padded down to meet her. He let out a welcoming purr that she returned, all the while gesturing into the shadows. He followed her, his blue eyes widening with astonishment as she began to meow to him quietly. Crowfeather's ears pricked up and he meowed back, his voice low and urgent. For a long time they argued back and forth until at last he dropped his head, twining his tail tightly with hers.

Leafpool and Crowfeather got up then, and they padded away into the darkness. Both looked back only once. Memory flooded their eyes, and worry. But there was joy, too, and not a shred of regret.

It's over...thanks very much to my editor, Dewflower, and once again to everyone that read this story.