Hello! oh my gosh, I just realized recently that I said there would be a chapter and an epilogue... I was wrong, just an epilogue...But its good!

REVIEWS

"walkswithwheels"- Yes, the epilogue will answer it.

"Crowstar54"- Yeah, I never got a good moment to put it on, and yes, just read to the bottom...

"Blazerkitty129"- Yeah, it was time for her to be at rest.

"Leviathan48"-Thank you.

ShadowHawk- Well, I'll say so if I do.

Dawnfeather- Thank you! and here it is!

Blizzard- Yeah, I feel sorry for Shadowpaw too and hate all the cats that aren't quite perfect

"NyanNyan-suru"- Yes! finally almost done!

Clawface22- Sorry, and yes, Brightslash died.

BramblestripeTC- I know, right? And I won't be doing much with the Dark Forest cats.

"Crystalstar Of LightClan"- I know! so excited!

"Silverwind of Forestclan"- Maybe (its a yes) and I won't be doing any reincarnated stuff, sorry.

"ShadowQuest2000"- Yeah, sad-happy ending, I suppose its called a bitter-sweet ending.

"Ravenwing of ThunderClan"- I hate myself too ^_^

"feather of jay"- I haven't though of Greystar, so can't answer that yet.

"I Am Basic"- Sounds cool, 'Sad-Sunday,' nothin' better then that.

AEIOU- I know, its awful that its ending. And please don't haunt my dreams, I already have siblings barking for that job ;)

Pie- Thanks

Rainbow- Why, thank you! I'm delighted that you think my writing is good!

frostfoot228- That's exactly what I was planning... now I have to change it

Epilogue

"After the investigation into the deaths of Blueshadow and Brightslash, Foxtail has made his conclusion," Silverstar stepped back. It was three days after the gathering and seemingly abrupt deaths of Blueshadow and Brightslash.

Foxtail stepped forward, facing the Clan, his heart heavy and eyes dim. "As you know, neither of the bodies were recovered, though we have concluded that, due to the scents of Blueshadow and Brightslash, and the broken piece of Brightslash's tail, that the two fought to the death and fell into the gorge," Foxtail mewed.

Yowls of shock erupted in the Clan, it'd been assumed that RiverClan had attacked the two warriors and they'd been killed, but Foxtail had reported no scents of RiverClan as fresh as the two warriors. "My theory of what happened was that Blueshadow, angry that she was going to be removed as deputy and replaced by Brightslash, attacked the young warrior and they killed each other. Blueshadow is condemned for murder," Foxtail's words were met by silence.

Blueshadow sighed, her shimmering silhouette invisible as she listened to her wrong sentence. Silverstar had come up with that theory, and no cat knew why Brightslash hated her, just that neither of them had gotten along well.

She looked around the camp, her kits were muttering together defiantly, obviously none of them agreed to that. Many of the older cats seemed to be on Blueshadow's side, while a lot of the younger warriors sided with Brightslash. But they were both dead, nothing could be done to them now.

Blueshadow looked at Shadowpaw, her black daughter looked as if she wanted nothing more then to yowl the truth, misery and sadness at the decision must have been pulling at the apprentice's heart. But she'd promised Blueshadow not to say anything, and she looked determined to keep that promise.

Upon that, Shadowpaw, the day after Blueshadow had died, had found Crystal and talked her into the Clan. Crystal had been renamed Crystalpaw, wanting to keep part of her weird name, and was mentored by Leopardberry.

The yellow and white she-cat didn't look as if she agreed with the decision, stubbornly siding with the cat who'd taken care of her wounds and requested her entrance in the Clan. Shadowpaw had told her that to convince her, but had asked her not to say anything of that to the Clan.

But now the meeting was breaking up, the new deputy, Stormsky, announced the days patrols with quiet authority. She'd make a great leader. Bitter resentment stung Blueshadow, whatever she'd imagined the Clan would think of her, a murderer was not one of them.

"Don't make it harder on yourself then it needs to be," a voice murmured in her ear. She leaned over, feeling Thornclaw's warm flank pressing against her, solid despite the shimmering fur.

"Its just…. Its just not fair, I gave away my entire life to this Clan, and that's how they remember me? A murderer? A cat to threaten kits with at bed-time?" she mumbled, forcing back her sorrow.

"I know, but when they come to StarClan, they will all know the truth," Thornclaw mewed encouragingly.

Blueshadow sighed, "Not that it matters, the living cats, my memory, won't change," she sighed.

Thornclaw shook his head, "My memory isn't so bad though. Come on, lets go back home," he murmured. Blueshadow padded with him a few steps, the dull forest disappearing and reappearing in the shape and form of StarClan's lush forest ground.

"Good to see you, Blueshadow, I-I heard what the Clan said," Blueshadow sighed and nodded at Blossomcloud, the amber-eyed white and gold warrior padded past, star dust skimming her paws and Tumblefoot following her, nodding at her respectively.

Blueshadow froze and narrowed her eyes as she saw a shape, a cat she hadn't though of for a long time, who'd tried to kill her with Tangleclaw. Ferretclaw, the name seared through her mind, though she'd forgotten his name long ago, forgotten everything about him, other then he had been Dapplemist's mate.

She tensed her muscles as the former ShadowClan warrior stalked by, he didn't talk to her, hardly glanced at her, but just gave the faintest nod and quickened his pace a bit. Blueshadow let out a heavy breath, "I never thought of meeting cats I'd killed here," Blueshadow muttered.

Thornclaw glanced at her side-ways. "You killed me," he pointed out gently.

Blueshadow glared at him, "I know! Don't remind me! I'm a horrible, horrible cat!" she grumbled.

Thornclaw laid his tail on her shoulders and led her over to a clear blue river that splashed and sparkled on the border of a bright green meadow that turned to moorland, and the forest. "You know that I asked you to do that, I would have killed myself if you hadn't done it," Thornclaw mewed.

Blueshadow blinked, "Then why didn't you kill yourself? I couldn't think about you for moons because I felt so awful," she muttered, laying on the soft grass and narrowing her gaze at the bright, warm sun. She wished it'd be cloudy for once.

"I wanted to know if you cared about me enough to do whatever I asked," Thornclaw mewed.

Blueshadow snorted, "Doesn't make sense if you ask me," she grumbled, and Thornclaw purred.

"Blueshadow!" the squeaky voice broke through the comfortable silence and Blueshadow purred as a little white she-kit tumbled head-over-tail down to her and falling on her back in between Blueshadow's small paws, looking up at her with mesmerizing green eyes.

"Hello, Rosekit," Blueshadow purred, feeling a rush of affection for her star-lit kit.

"Hello! I'm so happy you decided to stay with me!" Rosekit purred, nuzzling her and curling up on her paws, just to jump off and pounce on a little beetle a moment later.

Blueshadow flicked her tail, life in StarClan was good; sunshine, plenty of prey, and time with missing friends and family. Honestly, just having Thornclaw back made it worthwhile, but she couldn't help but miss all her friends and family back in the forest…

… Half A Moon Later …

Blueshadow flicked her tail as she stood in StarClan's Fourtrees, the one part of the forest that was exactly the same in StarClan. Moonlight glimmered on every green blade of grass, purging it silver. The night wind was warm and smelled of stars and life, ironic because this was the place cats went when they were dead.

The half-moon hung above and she could almost see, in the back of her mind, Softberry presenting her new apprentice to her ancestors in front of the Moonstone. Blueshadow had been allowed the job of telling him he was accepted. Her paws twitched, she'd received an omen, she'd worked out what it meant, and it only seemed to concern ThunderClan, nothing too dangerous, but it could help save a life or two if it was followed.

She pricked her ears as two cats absolved in front of her out of thin air. They were both grey, one pure pale, one with dark grey tabby stripes on pale grey fur, he was smaller. "Whitepaw, Softberry," Blueshadow mewed, stepping toward the two medicine-cats.

"Bl-Blueshadow?" Softberry stuttered. "I-I thought you wouldn't be here," Softberry muttered.

Blueshadow rolled her eyes, "And you, Whitepaw," she prompted. "Do you think I wouldn't have been allowed into StarClan?" Whitepaw was staring at her with wide blue eyes that blinked happily.

"I never doubted it," his voice vibrated with honesty.

Blueshadow purred and glanced at Softberry, "You should follow your apprentice's lead," she mewed cheekily. Softberry just dipped her head and Blueshadow rolled her eyes. She would have shot back a retort if I were still alive, but now she just accepts it. Fool.

"Whitepaw, StarClan accepts your apprenticeship, we know you will make a great medicine-cat," Blueshadow mewed, voices of thousands of forgotten StarClan cats joined her voice. They may have been forgotten and lost, but their spirits still rang on in the ceremonies of the Clans that would go on forever.

Whitepaw purred with happiness and Blueshadow touched his head gently, he purred, as if he was a kit in the nursery again, and dissolved to wake up again. But Blueshadow led Softberry out of the clearing and to a small pool.

"I have learned of an omen," Blueshadow murmured.

Softberry's ears pricked. "What does it say?" the medicine-cat asked, her soft green eyes searching hers imploringly.

Blueshadow leaned over the pool and breathed on it, ripples echoing out, the wind rising around them. "Stones scrape stones and tumble down, taking the Clan with them." The voice was not Blueshadow's, it came from a more mysterious side of StarClan. Then she blinked, met Softberry's eyes, and the medicine-cat disappeared.

… Four Moons Later …

Blueshadow raised her head proudly. Finally! She watched Stormsky stand in the clearing, her eyes glimmering with expectation. Silverstar sat in the front, her fur glimmering that of a fresh rank.

She was there to give her daughter one of her nine lives. Silverstar stepped forward first, giving her a life of tireless energy, something that the leader could have used in her own life. Then came forward Leafpaw, Stormsky's apprentice, who'd been killed by green-cough. She gave her mentor a life of courage, to face each problem like a true warrior.

Then Lilypool gave a life of hope; Berrypool, a life of respect; Voleear gave his half-sister a life of joy; and finally, Leaftail, a life of faith. Stormsky was looking dazed now, filling up with lives until she would overflow.

Then Rosekit padded forward, Stormsky's eyes softened when she saw her dead half-sister and bent her head to allow the little kit to give her a life. The white kit raised her head and mewed steadily, "I give you a life of care, so that you will never forget its the youngest and oldest that need your help the most," Rosekit pronounced, touching Stormsky's head, then nuzzling her before trotting back to Blueshadow, who stayed shielded by a row of cats, she'd seen Stormsky looking for her, her eyes filling with fear. But Blueshadow had refused to move forward and allow herself to be seen until it was time.

Then Thornclaw padded toward his daughter, Stormsky's eyes crossed with confusion as she looked at the ShadowClan cat. "I give you a life of love," he paused and looked at her, his eyes holding hers for a moment. "For you will never regret what love gives you," he gently laid his nose on Stormsky's head, Stormsky stiffening in pain.

Then he stepped back a pace, and Stormsky looked at him, understanding filling her eyes. "Y-you're my father?" she gasped. Blueshadow swallowed thickly, what would Stormsky do with that knowledge? But Stormsky just nodded, as if she'd known it all along.

Then there was a moment of silence as Thornclaw sat down by her. Blueshadow rose slowly to her paws, slipping in between two other cats and stalking over to her daughter, her eyes glittering with defiance. Stormsky watched her, almost awe-struck, and dipped her head.

Blueshadow looked at her a long moment, she'd thought long and hard on what life to give her daughter, then decided on something that had been illuminated in her life, though in a different way than most.

"I give you a life of loyalty to your heart, you know what is right, even if it seems wrong," she glanced around the clearing, seeing the faces of her kits and mates, all things she'd come by for being loyal to her heart. "Your heart may lead you into trouble and shadows, but it will also lead you to happiness," Blueshadow breathed, meaning the words for Stormsky alone.

She touched Stormsky's head and thought of all the pain she had suffered for her choices, she saw Stormsky whither in agony as she received her pain, had it really hurt so much? All together it did. Then she thought of all the joy she'd experienced, ending with her seeing Thornclaw waiting for her patiently in StarClan.

Stormsky was purring by the time she stepped back, her eyes glimmering with the thanks that she could not say. Blueshadow raised her head and mewed solemnly, "You are now Stormstar, leader of ThunderClan."

…

That was moons ago, Blueshadow had been a resident of StarClan for so that many cats in the Clans had never met her, just heard her name in dark nursery tales, her memory marred by a misunderstanding that was never fixed. Even Stormstar had decided to not try to clear her name, which Blueshadow understood, the leader had more important things to do then that.

Blueshadow had never fully become detached from the Clans, always watching right there at gatherings and during important ceremonies. Thornclaw had discouraged it at first, then excepted it. They'd both been there to give Marshstar his nine lives, and had grown forever closer so that they were hardly ever apart.

Whitefoot and Greystar had both joined them, and Blueshadow had made them except that she loved Thornclaw more then she could them, they now avoided her, but she didn't care.

But now she was standing on a bloody battle-field. A dark thing had happened, the omen had failed to be warning enough, and the battle had happened. Frustration pricked her, she'd wished she could help, but she would have died by old-age anyways. Her first litter of kits, Mossleaf, Redsky, and Gorseclaw were elders now.

She picked her way carefully through the blood pools, the rain falling in a hissing sheet. Two other StarClan warriors stood around, guiding their own cats to StarClan. Blueshadow paused by two blood soaked she-cats. One was white and silver underneath, the other still red, they'd been killed by each other

"Snowshade, Heathersky," Blueshadow whispered, touching them each in turn. Grief stung her, two of her kits, practically littermates what more, dead in the same battle, next to each other and the claws that had struck the matching throats.

Heathersky and Snowshade stirred and drifted to their paws, their spirits detached from their bloody bodies. They looked at each other, dark green eyes met soft green eyes, dulled by sadness.

"I'm so sorry," Heathersky whispered.

Snowshade hung her head, "So am I, we were wrong to allow ourselves to be divided by this, but its over now, and the shadows are fading…" Blueshadow nodded her head at Snowshade's words.

She turned to look at youngest daughter, standing with her black fur over the battle-field, her blood soaked paws unwashed and her eyes unmoving. Their gazes locked for a moment and Blueshadow couldn't have said what she was feeling, but she just turned and led two of her daughters to their new home in the stars.

The shadows are fading, things are changing, I just wish it hadn't been because of me…

...

blah blah ominous blah blah omen blah blah evil blah blah something that doesn't make sense blah blah. That's what my siblings think this epilogue is like! They're probably right...

Ahem, so, if you haven't guessed, there WILL BE A SEQUEL, called= 'Fading Shadows,' with an animated black cat with green eyes as a cover image. It will not be as long as this story, in fact, I want to write it for no longer then three months... So an estimated 15 chapters, it'll explain some of these things...