Warriors: Rippling Waters

Epilogue

Blood.

All of it was covered in blood.

Skipheart let out a wheeze, his breath labored as his eyes became blurry. His chest and neck felt like fire, like lightning had struck him and was sizzling throughout his body.

He was dying.

How... how can it end like this...? Ravenheart just became a warrior... my son-

The sound of claws against stone grabbed Skipheart's last bit of attention.

"I will gain control of everything you once stood for... and you will die knowing that you failed your clan."

A paw pressed into the side of his head and his neck gurgled out more blood.

His eyes met his attacker's cold eyes one last time, and then everything faded to black.

C'mon! You have to keep fighting, don't leave Ravenheart!

He forced his eyes open. But he wasn't where he had last been.

Skipheart was surrounded by a glittery forest, with sweet smelling winds and rustling trees.

"H-hello?" He called, standing up and looking around. Where was he? Was anyone else there?

He glanced down at himself, before nearly leaping out of his fur.

He had stars all over his body, and his wounds from his fight were all gone!

Am I in StarClan?!

"HELLO? ANYBODY?"

"Skipheart!"

He turned around, his eyes widening as he took in the beautiful sight of a white and brown she-cat.

"R-rosestep?"

"Skipheart, oh my StarClan, it is you!" She leaped at him, and the familiar scent of his mate that he hadn't smelled for many moons, flooded into his senses.

Tears dropped down his face as he embraced his long lost mate, the warmth almost too much to bear.

"Skipheart, what are you doing here?"

"I... I was attacked-"

Rosestep's paws flew to her muzzle,"Oh... Oh no! Is Ravenheart-"

"ROSESTEP! And... Skipheart?" A puffy gray cat leaped from the brush, her fur all spiked up.

"Who are you?!" Skipheart asked, standing up.

"There's no time for that. Rosestep, the medicine cats want to talk to you! It's about a vision they had!"

Rosestep shared an alarmed glance with Skipheart, and all Skipheart could do was follow warily.

Why would medicine cats want to meet with Rosestep?

They approached a clearing, and a large group of cats were surrounding something, sitting in a big circle.

"Rosestep, come quickly! Oh, and Skipheart is here too? Very well, there's no time for introductions. Both of you come look at this!" A brown tabby instructed, her green eyes flashing with worry.

Skipheart crept forward, looking down at what the medicine cats were gathered around. It appeared to be a small pool of water, and as he gazed deeply into it, the water rippled, showing him a horrific scene.

He could instantly recognize his son; his black and gray pelt was easily distinguished. He seemed several moons older, stood in camp, his muzzle dripping with blood and a dazed look in his eyes. He shook his head and droplets of blood scattered around. His eyes flared a little, and they hardened fiercely.

"Bubblestar... you said you did it?"

The blue-gray tom stepped into view, his curled ears and bob tail even more distinguishable against the darker coats of the rest of the clan. His eyes seemed hollow."Y-yeah. Rubyseeker's gone too... your father's finally been avenged."

"Wait! No no no, you're saying Ravenheart becomes a murderer? And Bubblepaw becomes leader... and also a murderer?" Skipheart asked, his voice getting higher and higher.

"No, Skipheart. Bubblepaw will grow to be a leader, but he is not a murderer, and neither is Ravenheart. There's something horrible happening in the clans, and your murder was just the beginning of it."

"What's going to happen to Ravenheart?" Rosestep asked, curling her tail around Skipheart's.

"He has a great destiny ahead of him, but his friend Bubblepaw will be the one that stops the evil."

"So what does this have to do with my son?"

The tabby sighed, obviously growing impatient,"Ravenheart is Bubblepaw's best friend. He will help guide him to where he needs to be. Blazestar will choose Bubblepaw's father, Onyxpelt, to take your place as deputy. And once Onyxpelt becomes leader..."

"Bubblepaw becomes deputy..." Skipheart whispered.

"I know it's a lot. But once Bubblepaw has... grown a little and had an apprentice, he will be chosen for deputy. Ravenheart will be Bubblepaw's right hand cat, and will be there for the heartache that will come in his life."

Oh, Ravenheart... I'm so sorry I can't be there for you anymore. But you can make your way through your grief to help save the clans.

Help Bubblepaw to grow into the kind of cat ShadowClan needs, and save the clans from whatever cat lusts for power.

It was up to Bubblepaw and Ravenheart now. 

A.N: Alright, I know it's a short epilogue. It's fine, just pretend it's longer.