A Leap of Faith - Foxleap X Ryefall fanfic

Epilogue

Dawn broke, stirring Destiny from her slumber, but as she emerged from the den, her brother Rye was nowhere to be found. Concern knitted her brow as she ventured deeper into FireClan's territory, a nagging worry about his whereabouts gnawing at her. "Rye? Where have you gone?" she called out, her voice tinged with apprehension, the crimson-tinged grass underfoot hinting at something ominous.

Her frantic search came to a sudden halt as her gaze fell upon the lifeless bodies of her brother and Foxleap, both still fresh with the stain of blood. Horror gripped her heart, rendering her momentarily speechless. "Rye... who could have done this to you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with sorrow and disbelief. Determination surged within her as she realized she had to warn others, starting with Crystalpaw.

"Crystalpaw!" Destiny's voice rang out urgently as she hurried to her sister's side.

"Destiny! Hi! It's actually Crystalblaze now," Crystalblaze corrected gently, her tone warm despite the confusion.

"Crystal, we have to leave. Now!" Destiny's urgency was palpable, her eyes wide with fear. "This place isn't safe! We need to go!"

Confusion clouded Crystalblaze's features as she struggled to comprehend Destiny's distress. "Destiny, what's happening? And where's Rye?" The weight of her sister's absence hit Destiny like a physical blow, and she faltered for a moment before finding her voice. "...where's Rye?" Crystalblaze's concern deepened, her worry evident.

"I found him—his body, on FireClan grounds. We're in danger here!" Destiny's words spilled out in a rush, her panic rising.

"I'm sorry, but..." Crystalblaze's voice caught, grief shadowing her features. "BrambleClan is my home. I can't just abandon it."

Frustration mingled with grief, igniting a fierce anger within Destiny. "You're choosing these clans over your own family!" She accused, her voice rising in pitch. "They killed Rye, and you want to stay with them? Are you insane?"

"BrambleClan didn't do this! It was FireClan!" Crystalblaze countered, her own emotions running high.

"You might as well have killed him yourself! This is your fault!" Destiny's anger lashed out, fueled by her pain. "If you hadn't joined these clans, Rye would still be alive!"

The accusation struck a nerve, and tears welled in Crystalblaze's eyes as she fought to hold back her own grief. "Really? The blame game?" Crystalblaze snorted. "Well, if someone didn't dare me to poke a literal badger, I wouldn't have been injured! So who's fault is it now?!" Tears began to spill from the calico's eyes.

"You recovered from that! It's not like it killed you!" Destiny shot back, her voice raw with emotion.

"Stop blaming me for everything! We're both mourning Rye, so stop trying to make me the villain!" Crystalblaze's words carried a desperate plea for understanding.

"You're right..." Destiny's anger deflated, replaced by a heavy sadness. "I'm sorry..." With a heavy heart, she turned away, her steps heavy as she left the territory. Before leaving, however, she paused at the makeshift den, retrieving the golden budgie feathers Rye had gathered for her. The ones that made Rye meet Foxleap, the ones that got him killed- With an angry grunt, she tossed the feathers into the nearby water, watching them float away. It wasn't long before she began tearing up the entire den, throwing every bit into the water.

With the den gone and her teeth clenched, Destiny moved on to find another place to stay, to continue her travels, just like her parents did before her.

With the remnants of her past life discarded and determination fueling her steps, Destiny ventured forth to seek a new haven, following the nomadic path of her parents. Across vast landscapes she traveled, leaving the territories of the clans far behind, determined never to return to the clans. Seasons came and went, marking the passage of time as Destiny roamed.

Eventually, as the weight of age settled upon her shoulders, Destiny found herself drawn to the tranquil embrace of a farm. Here, amidst fields of golden grain and the gentle sway of trees, she discovered solace and companionship in the form of a kind-hearted tom named Nightmare. Unbeknownst to her, FireClan was just a day's walk away, but such thoughts never crossed her mind amidst the serenity of her newfound refuge.

As Destiny and Nightmare welcomed the arrival of their two precious kits, joy overflowed within them. "They're perfect, Destiny," Nightmare purred, nuzzling his mate. "Oh my, I've been so wrapped up in preparin' for the kits, I haven't thought of any names! You got any ideas, love?"

A soft smile graced Destiny's lips as she gazed upon her kits. "Yeah, I do," she murmured. "The gray she-kit, I'd like to call her Crystal, after my sister. And the tom-kit, Rye, after my brother."

"Those are beautiful names," Nightmare purred in agreement, his voice warm with affection. A fleeting sadness flickered in Destiny's eyes as she spoke of her lost siblings, a reminder of the journey that had brought her to this moment. Yet, as she looked upon her family, the weight of her grief was lifted by the boundless love she felt for them, a beacon of light amidst the shadows of her past.