AN: Woot, last chapter! OK… yup, that’s it. Thanks a lot to Squirreltail for all her kind reviews, and to everyone else who commented! I’ll start another story soon, one NOT about a cat with a mysterious past and a journey to find his/her parents.

Silverclaw nearly fainted. “A-Amberstorm?” she stammered. Winterheart had pressed against her, his body shivering with confusion. “But… does that mean Copperpaw…?”

“He isn’t Amberstorm’s true son, and Scatterpaw is not her daughter either,” Bristlestar replied hesitantly. “They were the kittens of a rouge queen. Please sit, I must explain everything.”

Silverclaw obeyed, and Winterheart followed suit gradually.

“Amberstorm and I met during apprentice training,” Bristlestar began forlornly, as though it pained him to remember. “We were testing, with our mentors following us. She and I had both managed to lose our mentors, and she had crossed into our territory… North Forest.

“At first we fought, and she fought very well. I eventually had to surrender. We started to talk, first as enemies, but we finally came to know each other better. We came back to Crossing Rock sometimes to meet, but at Gatherings we stayed away from each other.

“Back then,” Bristlestar paused, looking sheepishly at his paws, “I was foolish, and like most toms then, craved power. We all wanted to be on top. I was driven by my passion to work harder, and eventually Lightningstar chose me as his deputy.

“I was thrilled, and so was Amberstorm. And it wasn’t long after that she was also appointed deputy, for ForestClan. She was equally thrilled once she knew you and your brother would be born.”

“My brother?” Silverclaw asked breathlessly.

“Yes,” Bristlestar meowed, “Blazonwing.” Silverclaw and Winterheart both started, but settled down to hear the rest of the story. “But over time,” Bristlestar continued anxiously, “ my quest for leadership blinded me. Flickertail came to me one day with a prophecy he’d foreseen.

“He told me that he told me because it was about me. Flickertail said that I would become leader, but my daughter would cause my downfall.” Silverclaw let out a soft whimper. “So when you were born…” He stopped abruptly.

“Go on,” Winterheart urged after Silverclaw also fell silent.

“That’s why I abandoned you,” Bristlestar mewed, shifting himself to look down at her. “I regretted it every day since then.”

“I forgive you,” Silverclaw purred, nuzzling her father gently. “But what about Copperpaw and Scatterpaw?”

“Yes, yes,” Bristlestar muttered. “After you were to be born, she had planned on saying you both had died. While on patrol, though, Amberstorm ran into a rouge cat who had died after her own kitting. Copperpaw and Scatterpaw were alive, mewing so feebly Amberstorm had to help. She suckled them in the forest until you and Blazonwing were born, and I took you with me. She told me about them and then took them back with her. Everyone thought the two kits were hers.

“Then she found you while on patrol the day after her kitting. Needless to say, she was furious at me. But her death was not my fault…” his voice trailed away into a somber mew. “She was killed by the rouges that Copperpaw’s mother belonged to when she refused to give him and Scatterpaw back. I never had a chance to apologize to her. She wouldn’t have accepted it, anyway.”

“I’m sure she would,” Silverclaw mewed reassuringly, but Bristlestar shook his head.

“That’s why I’m leaving,” he said, his distressed voice becoming firm. “Flickertail’s prophecy has been fulfilled. I’m leaving, because now that you’ve forgiven me I have no other reason to stay.”

“But fa- Bristlestar!” she stammered, her voice wavering. Winterheart nuzzled her head gently.

“He must choose whatever path he seems fit,” Winterheart murmured. “No one can stop us from living how we want, and I think we should wish him luck.”

“But, he’s my father!” Silverclaw protested. “I’ve finally found him, and now-“

“Now I must leave,” Bristlestar whispered, getting up slowly. “Please don’t worry about me, Silverclaw,” he said, nuzzling her tenderly. “I’ll always love you.” And with that he slipped out of the den, bounding down the rocks lightly. The moon caught his back, the white arrow almost glowing. Then he was out of sight.

Many seasons had passed since then. Cragstar gained control of MountainClan, taking Blazonwing as his deputy. Copperpaw and Scatterpaw had become warriors once ForestClan had returned, taking the names Copperstreak and Scatterblaze. “It fits,” Winterheart had said after the naming ceremony. “You did run quickly back when you met Featherflight.” When ForestClan had returned to their camp, they found it barely damaged. Few repairs were needed.

The glowing sunlight filtered into the queen’s den, refracting off of the raindrops hung on the mossy door and shimmering like stars. Autumntip lay, both irritated and amused, with her four kits tumbling over her back.

“Nearly apprentices,” Treepelt said warmly as she came in. She nuzzled the little kits as they ran to greet her, mewing happily. She shook them off gently and padded over to the black she-cat lain in the back of the den.

“How are you, Silverclaw?” Treepelt asked, looking down fondly at the three tiny kits curled up against Silverclaw’s side.

“Just fine, thank you.” Silverclaw responded in a slightly exhausted mew. She leaned over and licked her kits gently on their heads, one black and two gray.

“The proud father arrives at last!” Frostfire announced jokingly, following Winterheart into the queen’s den. Winterheart nuzzled Silverclaw lovingly, bending over to look at his newborn kits.

“They’re beautiful,” he muttered proudly, “just like their mother.”

Silverclaw purred. “How are Ivorypaw and Maplepaw?” she asked Frostfire.

“Very good,” she replied proudly. “They’re going to become warriors very soon, I can tell.”

“That’s wonderful news,” Silverclaw replied. Frostfire nodded and backed out.

Not a day went by that Silverclaw didn’t wonder about Bristlestar… or Bristletail now. But she was happier than ever now – she knew who her parents were, she had a loving family. She never had the dream about her in the mist, and the only words of Bristletail’s that replayed in her head were the words he’d said when he left: “I’ll always love you.”

AN: The end! Aw, so sweet. Thanks to everyone who commented! First story – complete!