AshClan's Future {COMPLETE}

Epilogue

Riverstorm returned to her camp, her entire body exhausted from the wounds that laced her body. She looked around what little Clanmates she had left, their bodies also broken and wounded but their eyes were filled with a little bit of light behind the exhaustion. Riverstorm lifted her head, looking around her camp. It had been so long since she had been here, not since she, Silvermoon, Haresong and Lilyclaw all fled the camp to escape from Thornstar's tyrannical hold over their Clan.

AshClan camp was almost unrecognizable, bones of prey and crowfood were strewn about the camp and it reeked of rotting prey. Dens were in disrepair and it looked so...dead. "First things first." Riverstorm raised her voice. "We need to get our camp cleaned up, we to return it to its former glory."

"I think need to discuss a few other things first." Ashblaze spoke up. "We have no official leader and no medicine cat."

Riverstorm sighed. "We will discuss leadership--"

"I think it's obvious who the next leader should be." Silvermoon mewed, getting the attention of her Clanmates. "It should be you, Riverstorm. You were deputy before Thornstar took over and honestly, you are the most deserving of you. You kept us rallied, you gave us hope and you helped lead AshClan into victory."

"I agree." Ashblaze stood next to his mate. "But as a Clan, we should decide." He turned to his Clanmates. "All those in favor of having Riverstorm as AshClan's new leader, say I!"

"I!" Every single cat in AshClan raised their voices, taking Riverstorm by surprise. They really want me to be their leader. She was overcome by emotion, she had honestly given up on her dream of becoming leader of this Clan.

She had only focused on being there for her Clan, especially when Thornstar took over she had to focus solely on protecting her Clanmates, but here she was now, in the place where she had wanted to be almost her entire life. If this is what my Clanmates want, then I will be happy to honor their wishes.

"I thank you all so much for entrusting me to be your leader, I promise I will work my absolute hardest to bring our Clan back to the way it used to be, strong and powerful but I cannot do it alone. Our Clan was once full of many warriors, and we are now very small. Please lend me your strength as we work together to reforge the Clan we love so much." Riverstorm could see the light and energy returning to her Clanmates eyes. "I will go to the Moonstone tonight, for now, let's get started."

The cats of AshClan worked hard to start rebuilding and cleaning up their camp and Riverstorm was left with her thoughts and she wandered out to get building material. She wondered just how well her Clan would be able to recover from this, let alone Riverstorm. She felt an unbearable guilty weighing on her shoulders.

She couldn't get the image of Echoheart fleeing out of her mind. The sister she should've loved, the sister she should've built up instead of tearing down. I'm so sorry Echoheart. She thought. I hope you know I love you, I really do. Perhaps if Riverstorm had been kinder to Echoheart, his never would've happened. I was a terrible sister and Clanmate, but with the help of my Clanmates I can rise above and be better. Not only for my Clan, but for myself.

Riverstorm returned to camp with moss and bracken and helped rebuild the damaged dens. Her paws were sore and she was exhausted, but it had to be done. When she finished with the warrior's den she glanced sadly over at the medicine cat den. She stepped inside and was instantly overcome with grief.

She sat down in the den, feeling emotion wash over her. Oh Moonwhisker. The medicine cat den had clearly been empty for so long, she remembered all too well when she left Moonwhisker alone in the forest after telling her plan and she was killed by Echoheart. It's my fault. Riverstorm had done so many wrong things in her life, she felt as if she had caused the deaths of so many. I hope to see you in StarClan, sister.