The Peace of the Wanderer

Epilogue

Shadow purred as she lay on her side by the warm fireplace, the flames warming her to the bone. She listened to the crackle of the logs as the fire burned them and watched as snow silently fell outside.

It was nice to be back home after the whole ordeal in the woods. Bella had welcomed her and Mowgli back home happily, yelling "Well lookie here! The young'uns are back!" She had been a little confused when she met Midnight, but after getting an explanation, she immediately took to him like a bee takes to honey.

The Hind-Walker family had allowed Midnight and Snow to stay with them, as their home could easily take on several more cats. Shadow had to convince Snow to live with them, but the white she-cat had only agreed when she heard that there were others. She had told Shadow if there were other animals residing there, she could help heal them when needed.

Patsy's greeting had been more warm than expected, she unhelpfully telling her "Why, my child, your fur! It's so matted and filthy! Why did you ever leave the comfort of this place?"

Shadow had tried to explain her reasons, but the old she-cat just sniffed, thrusting her muzzle into the air snobbishly. No matter how much Patsy had acted like a name-dropper, Bella had told Shadow she had told her that she was rather happy that the 'little cat' was back, though Shadow definitely was not that little anymore.

Okay, so she was smaller than most, but she had grown a considerable amount during her time in the forest.

Pansy had verbalized her pleasure that Shadow was back by simply saying hello. Pansy was the shyest of the cats, but Shadow noticed the contentedness in her leaf-green eyes, making up for her quiet greeting.

Shadow stared intently at the crackling flames. She had finally punished Regan for what he had done. But she also had hurt Tab.

Tab had stayed with the group until the edge of the forest. By then, she and Shadow had made amends, speaking quite often and having a tearful farewell. In the days before they departed, Tab had told her sister about how Reagan warmed up to her and had took her in as his own instead of killing her. Tab had always thought of him as a second father, apparently.

Shadow should've known. The way Tab had wailed when he had died, the way she had turned against them... She had been idiotic to assume anything else.

Shadow felt a gentle touch to her shoulder. A tail tip, no doubt.

The she-cat spun around to see a large tom looming over her. Mowgli.

Shadow cocked her head. Now he was coming up to her? He had pretty much left her alone in the months since they had came home, so it was strange he had finally came up to her.

The other cats had heard about what had happened between Shadow and Mowgli and had basically shunned him, but seeing him in such proximity to the she-cat immediately made the level of tension smash through 100. The other residents all anxiously stared, that is, except for Midnight, who was sleeping on the sofa.

"Hey."

Shadow acknowledged him, returning his greeting.

He plopped down next to her on the rug, kneading his claws in the soft carpet, before speaking again.

"Look, I'm sorry for not really talking to you in all the time we've come back home." he began. "I just needed to sort out my thoughts and emotions, but... " He sighed. "I think I need some time away from here. Just so I can get my life under control."

Shadow's tail tip twitched. "You know what happened when I did that. It didn't turn out too well, if I remember correctly," she said, a twinge of sarcasm in her voice. "Where do you plan to go?"