The Tests: Epilogue

The Tests: Epilogue

### Characters Present

Harnor, Ami, Loki, Eclipse, Blizzard, Wren, Mist, Palm, Ollie, Tess, Ami, Iciclefur, Dune, Feather, Luana, Wren, Quintessa, Yedda, Wildflower, Eclipse, Mieginck, Black Bird, Ash, Sunny, Robin, Nest, Thanya, Merri, Natrix, Tornheart, Ambi, Rosica, Arc, Shard, Marina, Storm, Thor, Kaz, Thunder, Tawny, Frost, Flame, Pebble, Jaoien, Dottie, Jinx, Maya, Lantern, Reed, Heidi, Dark Fang, Storm Eyes, Fini, Zero, Fringe, Ifu, Fang

### Important Events

Harnor is reincarnated, the Tests are completed, the cats forge a new world

**The Epilogue** is an episode in *The Tests*.

## **The Tests: Epilogue**

As the cats paced around Harnor, some stayed well clear of the former god.

Harnor heard whispers.

“Why isn’t he a god?”

“He’s the one who forced us here.”

Harnor had power! He had been a god! The small tom lifted his head high.

Ami and Loki appeared in front of him. Their gazes met his for a second, taunting.

Pawing at the dry ground, Harnor rubbed his head with his paw before he lifted his gaze again. He felt powerful.

“I see we lost a few. At least I won’t have to waste my powers on you,” Ami hissed at the kits.

Yet no one reacted. Every single cats’ eyes were glassed over, except for Harnor.

A green gaze cut towards Harnor. Loki padded forward. “What have you done with our pawns, fox-heart?” His hot breath was putrid.

Harnor didn’t react. “Just a little something.” He unsheathed his claws.

As he did so, the rest of the cats did the same, and in a tail-flick, they all attacked the gods.

Standing behind them, Harnor watched the chaos as the gods were overwhelmed by an attack from countless hardened, hateful cats. Well, maybe not that hateful. A little mind control could do that to cats, though.

Ami and Loki tumbled to the ground, scratches covering every inch of their pelts.

Harnor laughed at the madness as Loki and Ami’s form flickered.

Two cats rose to their paws — a black tom and a brown tabby she-cat.

The brown tabby she-cat tilted her paw side to side, watching the ice crystals grow.

Harnor felt a physical blow through himself.

Fang snapped out, barrelling into Loki, her white plumy tail held high in the air.

“Fang?” Loki’s questioning mew cut through the silence.

Harnor hissed back. “You should be under my control!” he spat down to them, but just then, the world seemed to shift, and he was standing on soft grass among the other cats. The sky wasn’t blue; it was a gradient from white to black and reminded him of something in his past, something he couldn’t recall.

A spirit stepped forward with long, flowing golden fur and a black face. Her eyes were the same fierce green as Harnor. “You didn’t think I would let you control them like you controlled me, did you?” Her face was filled with anger as she pushed her way through the cats.

Every cat moved out of the way as if they knew this could be the end.

“Mother . . . I . . . I. . .” Harnor said.

“No!” Harnor’s mother cut him off with more ferocity than any cat could ever muster.

The new surroundings brought Harnor’s memories crashing back to him, and he crumbled to the ground in physical and mental struggle.

“You don’t think I remember it. The little outcast who was just so, so lonely because of his powers,” Harnor’s mother whispered in his ear.

Harnor struggled to pull himself to his feet.

“The little outcast who decided that using his powers would get him love. Mind controlling everyone nearby until you snapped,” Harnor’s mother said.

Harnor hissed at his mother, pulling himself to his paws. “I didn’t snap. They deserved it.”

“Deserved to tear each other to pieces for your enjoyment when all they had done was cast you strange glances and followed your mind control loyally?” Harnor’s mother asked.

Harnor drew himself to full height, not much bigger than Palm and definitely smaller than his mother’s spirit. “I’m the God of Power and Death! You will obey me!”

Harnor’s mother shook her head slowly, turning to the other cats. “He only invited you here because he’s fading. He needs to leech another god’s strength. He was only meant to be a god until all the cats who survived his murder were long gone and he couldn’t hurt them anymore!”

Harnor hissed at his mother.

“And now say goodbye to the God of Power and Death!” Harnor’s mother said.

“Mother, what do yo—” Harnor said.

Harnor’s mother’s spirit crashed into his body, merging with him.

Harnor’s eyes widened and his form began to change. He began to turn into a god again, towering over the cats. Massive wings spread out of his sides, even bigger than before.

Every single cat had to turn away, for the white glow emitting from him was too great to see through. When they could finally turn back, they were greeted with a completely different god to what they had known.

Harnor was even larger than before, and had the long, flowing fur of his mother. His pelt was golden, his legs were blood-red, the same for a stripe right from his muzzle to tail-tip. His golden wings had white tips and around his neck hung an hourglass. On one side was red, and the other white. The good and bad. As it rested around his neck, it had almost completely white sand in it. His kind, warm green gaze drifted over the cats. “Greetings, travellers. I’m Harnor, God of Judgement and the Afterlife.” He waved his paw over the top of the cats.

Some of the cats shrunk down, pressing their bodies to the ground under his shadow.

“I believe that you have not yet reached your time to die, yet you’re too young to still be living wherever you came from.” Harnor grinned at the cats happily. “Let me see what I can do about that little problem.”

The cats felt as if their paws had been lifted off the ground, and as they looked below them, they watched a world grow. Trees sprouted, water flooded into streams and rivers.

With a flick of his paw, Harnor beckoned the kits over to him.

Eclipse cautiously let them run over.

Blizzard and Wren looked at both their parents. They were too old for whatever it was, they knew that; yet they had been cheated out of a childhood, so who was to stop them?

The kits dipped their paws into colourful piles of dirt and threw them across the ground, sprouting flowers across the earth.

Blizzard and Wren grabbed handfuls of light blue and carefully wrote Sky’s name with flowers across the earth.

When it was finally complete, whatever had held up the cats gave way and they fell. Yet it seemed to be a calm fall, if such a thing could ever exist.

Mist floated through the air, using the power Harnor had given him to dance between the cats on the wind.

As the cats came towards the earth, the fall slowed and they gently landed on the ground.

Ruffling his feathers, Harnor mewed gently, “So I think it’s time for us to part. Oh, wait!” he cried out as cats began to walk away. “I’ve got one more thing.” Clamping his paws tightly together, suddenly little wristbands with a bell on them appeared in them. Throwing them to the ground, he mewed, “All you have to do is tap them three times, whisper the name of the cat you want to see, and they’ll hear. Who wants them? If they ring the bell and whisper yes, then you’ll be teleported to them!” He gestured to Palm, Ollie, and Tess.

Palm clamped on a wristband.

So did Ollie and Tess.

Taking a few steps back, Palm tapped it three times and whispered, “Tess and Ollie.”

Tess and Ollie perked their ears as if hearing something. Then, smiling, they rung the bell in unison, whispering yes. In a tiny flash of light, they reappeared next to Palm.

Palm, Tess, and Ollie happily chatted among each other, testing out their wristbands again and again.

The other cats slowly padded forward, squabbling over which color band they got, marvelling on how the bell only rang when they flicked it. No one else could do it, and it wouldn’t disturb their hunting!

Harnor smiled and glanced around the cats.

A few cats cast hateful and nervous glances at him.

But Harnor didn’t care. This world was perfect for them, and they would be safe from whatever problems had faced them. Quietly, in his ear, he heard whispers from the spirits. Silently, he placed his paw on his hourglass necklace and flew away.

**———**

Dune sucked in a breath slowly. His gaze searched through the crowd, seeking one cat who he remembered, more familiar than his own sister. Feather. Finally finding her face among the cats, he padded towards her. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you. I abandoned you; I abandoned our kits. It just hurt so much when you . . . you. . .” He shook his head, unable to say it.

“I’m sorry I killed your sister. I thought it was the right thing, but now I realize that some other cat would’ve been able to do it.” Feather shook her head slowly.

“No. We all would have died. If you hadn’t done that, Wren and Blizzard would have been dead before they could have even seen the sun.” Turning his head, Dune looked over to Quintessa, smiling at her.

Luana and Wren met his gaze and grinned back, padding over with their tails entwined.

**———**

This. This was it. Quintessa’s heartbeat was racing as she tried to comprehend everything that was happening. Time was in slow motion as she pieced it together. *The Tests are over.*  For a while, she was numb all over, feeling a rushing wind blow through her. It was cleansing, in a way. She remembered her time here. When she had first joined, she was cold as ice. Numb to emotions. Her scars showed and she didn’t care. Dune was just a stupid tom in her way. But the friends around her had broken her shell. Seen her in a way she had never thought she could be seen. They had thought she was beautiful in her own way. Her first friends. Later on after the disaster that was Wren’s flame, she had comforted Dune. From then on, they were friends as well, along with some others such as Marina and Storm. And then the moment that had changed her life — the moment she met Yedda. Yedda, the stunning creature beside her who had loved her from the day they had met; Yedda, the sweet, innocent creature who had rescued her from depression; Yedda, the one she felt the strongest bond to. In a way, she was her sister. They never wanted to part. And now, the end of the Tests, though it wasn’t the end of her or Yedda or anyone. They would keep on living, talking, playing, mating, learning, and feeling. They were chosen for this life; clearly fate brought them here. As she looked at her friends, she felt a fire spark deep within her, burning love for them. Eyes tearing up, she muttered two words to all of them, grinning widely. “Thank you.” Her new life had begun.

**———**

Yedda looked around. This was a great time, she figured, to go and meet some new cats! And the best way to meet new cats, she decided, was to sing! Of course, nobody else had that logic, but this was Yedda. So quickly looking through her long mental lists of song names, she chose a tune she liked and started belting out the melody.

*“I need more details,*

*more texts, calls, and emails.*

*Be more specific.*

*Yes, I’m here to listen.*

*I know I’m needy*

*but tell me you need me.*

*No, don’t be afraid, babe.*

*Come on, explain.*

*If you love me, love me, love me like you say*

*darling, tell me all the ways*

*tell me all the ways.*

*And he said*

*all the ways, all the ways, all the ways*

*all the ways, tell me all the ways.*

*And he said*

*all the ways, all the ways — you love me.*

*All the ways.*

*Tell me all the ways, and he said…”*

Yedda took a quick breath, then continued.

*“Take me out dancing, don’t forget romancing.*

*And it’s been a while since*

*I’ve been your princess.*

*Tell me your heart’s blue when*

*when I’m not with you.*

*Don’t be afraid, babe.*

*Come on, explain.*

*If you love me, love me, love me like you say*

*darling, tell me all the ways*

*tell me all the ways.*

*Oh, he said*

*all the ways, all the ways, all the ways.*

*Tell me all the ways.*

*And he said*

*all the ways, all the ways — you love me — all the ways.*

*Tell me all the ways*

*the way you*

*you love me.*

*The way you*

*you love me…”*

Yedda struck a fierce pose as she came to her favorite part.

*“And he said*

*‘Girl, you take care of me.*

*You are my therapy*

*the better half of me’*

*Say it again, say it again, oh.*

*‘Girl, you take care of me.*

*You are my therapy*

*the better half of me.’*

*Say it again, say it again.*

*If you love me, love me, love me like you say*

*darling, tell me all the ways*

*tell me all the ways.*

*And he said*

*all the ways, all the ways, all the ways.*

*Tell me all the ways.*

*And he said*

*all the ways, all the ways — you love me.*

*All the ways.*

*Tell me all the ways.*

*And he said — the way you*

*all the ways, all the ways — you love me.*

*All the ways — the way you*

*all the ways, all the ways — you love me*

*The way you*

*you love me…”*

The way Yedda’s heart swelled and she laughed — it was just like before. Her innocence was an aura coming off her as she grinned like there was no tomorrow.

**———**

Quintessa chuckled quietly. “Silly Yedda,” she murmured under her breath. She had settled down around fifty feet away from the talkative and eager she-cat, laying down. She felt her mind calm down just as she wanted. Her tail-tip twitched as she focused on getting herself back on track. The wind rustled her fur as she murmured something so softly nobody could hear it.

Dune got up and sat next to Quintessa, resting his head on her shoulder. “It’s strange this is all over, isn’t it?”

Quintessa nodded a bit, careful not to hurt Dune’s head. A murky memory reminded her of a time past when he had done the same thing. She had no idea how he found it comfortable. “It gives me a sense of . . . happiness, I guess,” she murmured. “That nobody will have to suffer. Right?” She glanced at him, unsure of herself yet again.

**———**

The end. The beginning. Wildflower almost felt . . . disappointed. Disappointed that there would be no more death? Disappointed that there would be no more sadness, grief? No. They were disappointed that there would be no more adventure. No more friends or love or discovery. But that wasn’t the truth, was it? Their adventure was just beginning. The forest fire leading them to the Tests, the Tests themselves; they were only the beginning. The smoke and flames that once clogged their lungs, protected their heart were battered away, distinguished. And now with Frostsong, Quintessa — and that Dune — Yedda, Sunflower, and all the others they were yet to meet . . . yes, this was only the beginning. The fire was no longer the destruction of their life. After all, they had been reunited with Sunflower, had they not? And now with the wristband, they could find Starshine, Thundercloud, Sunshine — maybe even Father — whenever they wanted to. No, the fire brought life. Burning through layers of dead branches, regret, and grief. To make way for endless new flowers. The fire was the sun bringing life. Lighting the way. As they ran alongside their friends, they left a trail of blooming petals. A new life. A new beginning.  They watched as Quintessa travelled off with a group of cats. Flicking their tail to Yedda and Frostsong, they chased after them, finally catching up. Nudging Quintessa playfully, they mewed, “Didn’t forget about us, did you?”

**———**

Eclipse curled herself around the kits, staring into space. Cats were happily fixing arguments, recovering lost friendships. But what she had lost could never be fixed. Or could it?

Mieginck curled around her.

Eclipse pulled back her lip, revealing her teeth and getting ready to hiss at whoever it was.

“Calm down, Eclipse. It’s just me,” Mieginck said.

Eclipse knew that voice. Mieginck. Meeting his gaze, she licked him playfully on his nose.

Mieginck stood up to move.

Eclipse tilted her head, confused.

“There’s someone who wants to see you,” Mieginck said.

A cat was standing behind Mei, but the sun concealed him.

Walking out of the sun’s rays, Eclipse saw a fractured memory. One she couldn’t decide whether she would rather treasure or forget.

Black Bird.

Ash opened his mouth wide, feeling a great change in the atmosphere. Two cats were now standing above the small black tom’s mother. One of which he didn't recognize, though he could sense something deep in his soul at the sight of the older tom. He had a feeling they were connected. But the other cat. . . "Daddy?" he mewed. His first word.

*Okay. I’ve decided.* Eclipse’s mind raced with confusion, but she looked to Meignick. She looked to Black Bird. She looked to her kits. She rethought her decision. Over and over and over again. The fates of herself, her kits, and the tom who she’d killed in a fit of anger and jealousy stemming from him. But she knew the right thing wasn’t always the easiest. “Oh, Black Bird. I missed you so much.”

Black Bird stared intently at Eclipse’s eyes, his face full of confusion. His eyes flickered to her back, to her once battle-scarred body.

Eclipse looked up, confused. “What, Black Bird? Is something the matter?” Her eyes stared him down — wait. Her *eyes*? She bolted to the water, gazing into it. Both of her icy-blue eyes reflected back to her, not a single scar on either. Rejoicing, she bounded up to Black Bird, smiling brighter than she ever had before. She smushed her face into her brother’s shoulders, happy tears leaking from her eyes. “Oh, brother. Oh, brother!” she laughed. “I’m not ugly anymore! I no longer bear the scars of an evil deed!”

**———**

Sunny lifted her head. Slowly lifting her paw to her throat, she was shocked to find it completely healed. But . . . she had taken her own life. Why was she back? No. She couldn’t be. She was dead. She had cut her throat open. She wanted to be dead. So why was she still alive?

*“Don’t try to run,”* said a familiar voice that Sunny thought she had never hear again.

Sunny turned around and saw a gray tabby tom. “Rain,” she purred softly.

*“We’re here right now,”* mewed a silver she-cat.

Sunny purred again. “I never thought I would see you again.” Then she looked around in confusion. “Are we dead?”

*“We’re neither living nor dead. We’re both part of this mortal world and the spirit world,”* Silver replied.

*“What do you choose?”* asked Rain.

Sunny looked around at the cats around her. Some cats she had never seen before were crowded together, talking and laughing. What was left for her now? Looking around, she saw Eclipse sitting with Miegnick and Black Bird, tiny kits bouncing around their paws. She saw Quintessa with a she-cat she didn’t know as well as Frostsong and Wildflower. Dune was with Feather and his kits. But there were still some friends she could look to. Dune, Feather, Palm . . . she might make some new friends as well. She’d like to talk to Quintessa, Frostsong, and Wildflower as well as that she-cat she didn’t know. She took a deep breath, looking at her littermates. “I’d like to stay here. But first — I’d like to see Mama and Papa.” She turned to face her littermates. “Where do we go?”

Silver purred. *“The stars, my dear sister. The stars. We’ll find Mama and Papa there.”*

“Let’s go, then!” Sunny replied.

Her siblings followed after her.

“Mama?” She was there. She was really there. Sunny’s own mother, standing right across from her. “Oh, Mama.”

*“My daughter,”* purred Sunny’s mother. *“I’ve waited a long time to see you.”*

“So have I,” Sunny said.

Sunny’s mother began licking and nuzzling her.

Sunny felt like a kit. She listened to her mother’s soft words.

*“I would have waited a thousand lifetimes to see you,”* Sunny’s mother said.

Sunny breathed in her mother’s scent, knowing it was something she would remember forever.

*“Do you want to stay here?”* asked Silver.

Sunny thought for a moment. She could stay here with her family, but there was something she had to do. She felt a calling of sorts. And that calling was at the place where all her friends and the other cats were. “I have something to do,” she mewed. “But I promise that we’ll be a family again. I’ll be back soon.” And with that, she left.

Where Sunny stood, a group of cats headed towards her. Only one face seemed to trigger some memory. It was Dune.

“Sunny, I thought you were dead!” Dune tilted his head towards her.

Sunny sighed. “I should be,” she spat.

Looking shocked, Dune spoke again. “Don’t you go all suicidal on me now. Come with us. Everything will get better now.”

Maybe . . . maybe Sunny had come back to have one more chance to finish her life the way she wanted.

**———**

Robin’s head was hung low as she sat next to Nest. Could this really be the end? She . . . she had never found Lily or Lilac. It seemed so pointless, everything she had done — and nothing was gained. Drying the tears from her eyes, she glanced up, meeting a violet gaze. She stopped. *No.* “Lilac,” she whispered as the she-cat’s sister padded out from behind. Lily and Lilac were here. Nuzzling them, her tears soaked into her kits’ pelts. As she slid a wristband around her paw, she turned to Nest.

The four cats began to travel into the distance.

**———**

Thanya glanced around all the cats, wondering how her sister had come here to gain, yet she had left with loss.

Merri’s gentle paw rested on her shoulder.

Turning to face the cat, Thanya was greeted with the view of her sister. Some cats may have been glad to see a lost loved one . . . but her and Merri . . . they were too far gone. “Get away from me! You can’t even pretend to comfort me after all you put me through!” She sprinted away from her.

Merri whispered into the bell.

Thanya heard the whisper of her sister calling in her ear, but she shook her head. She would never ring that bell for Merri.

**———**

Natrix hobbled along. Her stumpy, scarred front paw hung loosely. She was forever scarred — shredded ears and scars all over her pelt. She had lost more than she could ever imagine. Mei was gone, the only cat who had ever vaguely seemed to like her. But as she turned, she saw something she never thought would make her happy. Cats seemed to finally let out a breath they didn’t know they had been holding in. Smiling, she looked out to the world and began to walk, not knowing where she was going or what she would do.

**———**

Tornheart lifted her head. After falling off the cliff, she had thought she was done for. Yet she was back. Grinning evilly, she thought again. She was back, and ready to become powerful.

**———**

Ambi lifted his head to find a familiar gaze meeting his own. “Rosica! Oh my gosh. I thought . . . I thought. . .”

Then Rosica saw everything. There was a whole flashback to what happened. What Ambi was talking about. She had . . . *died*? But . . . she felt so alive! So she was a ghost? A spirit? “What am I?!” she cried out, but she could only see the vision and she didn’t know if anyone could hear her . . . or see her! At all! Then she realized something else. Ambi . . . wasn’t her childhood friend as she remembered him to be. He was a suicidal tom who she had helped. Then . . . they had fallen in love. And she had died. He made a new friend and went to sleep, and that was when she . . . walked into his dreams? *How?!* She wished she had lived! Then they could have been together! She didn’t feel right in a spirit body. She should be in the stars! Able to watch Ambi! She couldn’t do this! She turned to him slowly. “Ambi . . . I’m a spirit now, and I just saw everything that happened. I don’t feel right as a spirit. I’m not free. I need to be in the stars — able to watch and communicate with you!” She shook her head and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Then she unsheathed her spirit claws and she wondered if a cat could die twice . . . “Остани, Амби,” she whispered. “Do you know what that means?” The tears were coming now. “Stay . . . Ambi.” Then she pulled her claws over her throat twice so her second death was short. What did she just do?

“No!” Ambi cried, tears running down his face. “No, no, no . . . Rosica, we could have been mates! We could have gone somewhere else far, far away. . . ” He sobbed into her fur, the warmth fading quickly. “Why? Why, Rosica? You were revived! We could have been together forever. . .” he whispered, his face drenched in tears. “I’m sorry,” he continued. “I should have protected you better. I should have saved you. I should have talked to you first! But please . . . Rosica. . .”

At Ambi’s words, Rosica opened her eyes. Slowly but surely. She blinked. “You . . . protected me more than anyone ever. . .” She shut her eyes again. “I . . . don’t want — I don’t want to go . . . I love you, Ambi. . .” Then she whispered Ambi’s name to the pink wristband just because she wanted to see him forever. She knew she couldn’t, though. Then a tear fell to the wristband and something happened. The scar healed. Fully. And she stood up. And cried. And ran straight into Ambi. “Ambi!”

Ambi looked up and saw Rosica. Actually Rosica. Like, Rosica Rosica. “Rosica!” he cried, dashing towards her. “You're back!” he sobbed.

**———**

Arc watched as cats padded off. He was in two minds whether to walk over to Palm or not. The two had seemed to separate after their first meeting. He was lucky to be alive now, and he knew it. He still remembered the days he had been called Chao, and still he had to stop himself from correcting any cat who called him Arc. Whatever the future held for him, he knew it could never be as bad as what he had faced. He couldn’t help feeling secure. He toyed with his blue wristband, marveling at the power it possessed. Everything had changed so suddenly, but it had taken almost no time to embrace this new reality, to call it his home. He glanced at Palm and the two other cats he was with and started making his way to them. He had never finished that conversation. He could almost hear himself grinning.

**———**

The Tests had not gone the way Ollie had planned. His initial thought was to get in, help some cats, and get out. Short and simple. But there was nothing short and simple about the things that had happened. Thinking back on it, he had helped cats. He had helped Tess come to terms with herself, he had helped Palm find true happiness, and . . . he had helped himself. He had never been more happy. The orange tom glanced at the two cats surrounding him. They looked at ease, at peace, and unharmed. He knew this wouldn’t be the end. There was still more in store for their little trio. There were new friends to make, new adventures to go on, new   discoveries . . . and he was excited. He was ready.

*Huh.* This hadn’t been Tess’ goal. She had wanted to become a goddess; that was it. She wanted to have power, take control. Her plan hadn’t been to make friends. But . . . life had a crazy way of turning the tables on you. And like a special friend of hers had once said, *Every cat has a good side. You just need to help them find it.* It seemed that she had a good side after all. Sure, she was damaged. And she had a whole lot of repenting to do. But she knew she could do it. With her friends by her side . . . anything was possible. So for the first time in a very, very long time, she smiled. She shuffled her paws. “So . . . what now?”

Palm sat between Ollie and Tess, looking up at them both. “Whatever we do, I want to be with you.”

“Cheesy much?” Tess snorted.

**———**

“Well, I guess that we explore the world. Who knows what’s out there? If there are any dangers, we’re going to need to know what they are,” Arc meowed, hoping that his idea didn’t result in their death.

“I never really . . . got to know any of you, to be honest, apart from Ollie. Maybe we could . . . start over?” Shard said hopefully.

**———**

Marina sat with her sister, watching Palm, Tess, and Ollie. There had been a time she would consider herself to be one of them, but seeing them now . . . it seemed like she was in a different land.

“What are you waiting for? I know you like Palm. Go and talk to him!” Storm mewed jokingly.

“I do not like Palm!” Marina hissed in response, smiling.

“I meant in a friend way. Wow. By saying that, it seems like you do like him!” Storm nudged her sister.

Marina and Storm padded after their friends.

**———**

Thor sat alone. He didn’t remember much of the Tests apart from his fight with Feather, Dune, and their kits. Still, he felt like he had missed a chance at power. At least he wasn’t going to die now.

**———**

Kaz clambered up onto a rock, glancing down at the other cats. He would forge his own path in this new world, whether it was morally correct or not.

**———**

Thunder turned his gaze to Tawny, smiling at her, resting his head on her shoulder.

“So . . . that’s it? We’re . . . free?” Then Tawny threw herself onto Thunder. “Now I can live with you! Forever! No one will bother us! Ever!” Her head rested on his shoulder. “And . . . I should tell you something else. I’ve known this for a while. . .”

“I love you too, Tawny, but . . . I have to go,” Thunder said sadly. “I thought these powers were just fun and games until I killed Jay. I can’t stay here knowing I could hurt you.”

“No! You can’t go!” Tawny flew into him, shoving her head into his shoulder. “You can’t! You really, really can’t!” she sobbed. “You never hurt me. I mean. . .” She shuffled her paws. Then she hissed. “Oh, whatever! I’ll just come out and say it all!” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been expecting kits for ages! And I wanted to tell you because . . . because I know they’ll come soon. Any day, actually.”

**———**

Frost looked at Flame. “So it’s over now?” she asked.

“I think so,” Flame responded.

Frost glanced at Pebble.

Pebble smiled back, picking up a flower and resting it in her fur. She loved the flowers in the new world. They were more vibrant than anything else she had ever seen.

Frost walked over to Pebble. “Hi, Pebble. Uh, sorry for not really talking much lately.” She scuffled her paw over the ground.

Pebble looked up, her eyes sparkling with joy. She smiled and let out a little squeal, laughing. “I . . . I’m sorry. It wasn't your fault we weren’t talking. It was mine. I’m too caught up in the past. But Frost. . .” She took a deep breath, gleaming. “Frost, I wanted to say I like you. More than I normally like some cats. I was wondering if . . . if you felt the same way?”

Frost smiled at Pebble. “Of course I do,” she answered.

**———**

*Pebble.* Jaoien had forgotten about Pebble! Now she was alone. Pebble had Frost. Pebble didn't need her. She needed someone, though. *Anyone. Anyone.*

Dottie looked down. She didn't have enough time to meet anyone. No one to be there. She saw a lone cream tabby she-cat and smiled. Yes. She ran up to Jaoien and half-tackled her. Her sister, and she hadn’t even noticed! How stupid. But how special.

**———**

Flame went to go find Jaoien, his friend that he had become good friends with but forgot about for a while, but still liked talking to. He found her. “Hi. Um, do you remember who I am? It’s been a while. I wouldn’t be mad if you forgot. I’m Flame, the one that you hid in the bush with in one of the Waits,” he said.

Jaoein smiled, waving her sister away. She nodded to Flame. “Yep. I know you! I’m surprised you remember me, honestly. That Wait felt like so long ago. . .”

“I don’t think I could forget you. You were the first cat I met that wasn't my sister, and you also jumped into my bush,” Flame said jokingly and laughed. “It does feel like a long time ago, but I still remember the time we spent in the bush. Strange place to find someone, though.” He was just trying to catch up with his friend and reminisce about earlier.

**———**

Rattlesnake looked down at his paw. He was . . . alive. As fire appeared at his paw, he ran from it. And as he caught sight of Wren in the crowd, he closed his eyes, shaking his head furiously. Why wasn’t he dead? A low whisper echoed throughout his brain. He had been dead, but he had come back. So why wouldn't his mother?

A tiny amber she-cat with a rather fluffy tail was right next to him.

Rattlesnake’s mother. Amber. And he loved her.

**———**

Ami barely knew any of these cats, but a few names stood out to them. Jinx, Loki, Ambi, Dune, Iciclefur, Mandelia, Schweiz. Wait. That couldn’t be right. But it was.

Mandi, Schweiz, and Iciclefur padded towards them slowly.

“So do you believe in magic now?” Iciclefur ruffled the tufts of fur on their head.

“Do I ever!” Ami laughed as ice patterns appeared across the ground.

Jinx walked over to Ami. “Hi, Ami. I — uh. . .” She shuffled her paws and looked at the ground, blushing. “I missed you.”

Ami was sitting still, shocked by what had happened. The spell. The spell to turn you into a god. It didn’t just change you outside; it changed everything about you until you were unrecognizable. When they saw Jinx approach, they lifted their head slightly and smiled. “Hey, I guess . . . if that stupid god Harnor hadn’t changed me, I would have missed you as well.”

Jinx smiled at them. Then she rested her tail on their shoulder. “You deserve to be a god.” She blushed loads and looked at the ground. “And, um . . . I . . . I’ve had a crush on you for ages. I’ve never wanted to be with anyone, but I guess it kind of just happened.” She looked up. “I hope you don’t find me weird. . .”

Ami awkwardly smiled and looked down at the ground. They weren’t really sure what to think. No one had ever, *ever* had a crush on them, and they weren’t sure quite how to react. But Jinx . . . Jinx was the one cat who had been nice to them, the one cat here that they could trust. Them and Loki may have had more time spent together, but that was neither pleasant nor something they would want to remember. “I don’t find you weird, I guess . . . no one’s ever had a crush on me before.” They blushed a little, pawing awkwardly at the ground. “To be honest, I’m not really sure how to react. You’re the best friend I have here — the best friend I’ve ever really had ever. I’m not even really sure what a crush feels like!” Becoming aware that other cats were beginning to watch them, they froze time around them, allowing both them and Jinx to move around still. “But . . . I think . . . that if I knew what a crush felt like, if I realized what that strange feeling was, I would turn around to face you.” They lifted their head to face Jinx. “And I would walk up to you with a present.” They leaned down to the ground and picked up a beautiful pink flower in their jaws. “And I would give it to you and say, ‘Jinx, I love you.’” Laying the flower on Jinx’s head and taking a little step back, they took a deep breath, smiling. “Jinx, I love you.” They unfroze time around them, and around their paw, they formed a little ice crystal in the shape of a love heart. Lifting their paw to the flower, they brushed against it. Ice formed around it. “There. Now it’ll last forever.”

“Thank you,” Jinx said.

**———**

Maya couldn't believe it. As she lay there in the soft, blindingly bright green grass, something unlocked inside her. Suddenly memories were flooding into her brain, too many to count, too many to sort through. But it didn't give her a headache like before. It felt as if a clear stream of water were flowing into her brain, clearing her thoughts and making her feel . . . free. It would take a while to sort through her memories. She would need help. She glanced at Lantern, giving a slight smile. There would be more mysteries. It wasn't over for her yet. But at least for the moment, she was out of danger and at peace.

This was it. The end. What was Lantern now? A cat full of revenge and spite? Or an empty shell? Maya smiled at him. *No. I’m not an empty shell. I no longer feel the same way towards Chrysanthemum.* There was a new light in his life. Flames flickering in the distance, melting the ice. And he knew for sure the flames would grow. They would become his sun, lighting each step forward. He felt tension leave Maya’s body. He smiled at her. He didn’t need to look into the future, not anymore; he didn’t need to be controlled by his past — he needed to live his now with Maya. And that kit of Chrysanthemum’s, Rabbit. She needed to go home with her family. Her friends. And he would lead her there alongside Kousuke. Maybe he would even drop a visit to Magnolia.

**———**

Reed didn’t believe it. He didn’t. He brought his bell up to his muzzle as he whispered, even though he knew that the cat wouldn’t say yes. It was worth a try, though. He had to try. He turned around, hoping to see her. She wasn't there. He turned back and lied down, though.

Suddenly Ceadershine was there. His sister, there. She was there. She was there.

**———**

Heidi looked at her paws. The paws the blue-gray she-cat’s sister had rendered useless. The body her sister had killed in cold blood. But her sister . . . her sister didn't deserve her forgiveness. But she would get it anyway.

**———**

Bear looked up, staring into the eyes of his little sister. The eyes of Lily. Her soft, light brown tabby fur and forest-green eyes. He would never leave her again. Ever.

**———**

Dark Fang shifted his paws nervously, sitting next to Storm Eyes.

“Where do we go now? We could venture anywhere, do anything . . . we’re free now from the Tests, the rogues, and all the hold backs of our lives,” Storm Eyes meowed in awe.

Dark Fang shut his eyes tight, fighting back tears. He hated it when Storm Eyes talked about the past. A tear streaked down his face when he thought about Silver Water, his sister the rouges had captured and killed. He dashed off towards a small willow and dug his claws into the bark, relishing the feeling of his claws tearing through the soft bark.

**———**

Fini felt a slightly familiar scent drift over her. *Huh?* Turning around, the she-cat could see a brown tom with a white outline crossing his pelt. “Fir!”

“Thank you,” Fir mewed to Fini.

Fini was beginning to shed tears of joy from her eyes. The last time the she-cat had seen her foster father was when he had told her to leave.

Fir used to look so frail and old, but now he had regained his sleek pelt and slender body. Giving Fini a grateful look in his amber eyes, he stepped forward.

“I missed you,” Fini cried softly.

“And you’ve certainly grown into a quick young she-cat,” Fir purred.

So Fini came closer, only to touch Fir’s nose. Stars glittered from the tom’s pelt and she felt a surge of uncontrollable joy running through her mind. She finally got to see the one cat she trusted. *Thanks for everything.*

**———**

Zero looked around and saw how each cat seemed to have found someone during these Tests except him. He split.

“Stop being so pitiful!” Yelled Zero’s clone.

“Leave me alone,” Zero said.

“We’ve always known you were the weak one, Zero. You being the host, there wasn’t much we could do until now,” Zero’s clone said.

**———**

Loki looked around. He knew he had lost something. He couldn’t exactly remember what it was, but it was powerful and he kind of wanted to know why he didn’t have it anymore. Then something made him not care.

Fringe walked towards him. His mother had returned.

And by Fringe’s side was Ifu.

“I’m sorry,” Loki whispered. He wasn’t sure which of the cats before him he was talking to. They were all there — Fringe, Ifu, and Fang, plus the others who had visited his dreams. Perch, his father. Trixy and Dodge, his sister and brother. Even Sigyn, barely larger than his dead siblings.

“You did what you had to to survive,” Fang replied. “I didn’t really expect you to wait for me. I didn’t know if you’d even remember me.”

“You thought your actions were justified. I can only blame myself for that,” Fringe said. “I shouldn’t have left you with my sister. Shouldn’t have let you go astray.”

“I should have been a better friend,” Ifu added.

“You were hurting. We didn’t know the right way to help you,” Dodge agreed, speaking for both himself, Trixy, and Sigyn.

“I wasn’t there when you needed me to be,” Perch noted. “For that, I’m sorry.”

Loki felt tears trace down his cheeks. He took a step forward, then another.

Each of them pressed closer until all of their pelts were touching.

Surrounded by his family, Loki knew he was home.

**———**

Loki and Fang watched the rest of his family fade, returning to the star land where their spirits belonged.

“What now?” Fang whispered. “We’re . . . free. What do we do now?”

Loki pressed closer to her, folding her in his wings. “We do what we’ve always done. We survive.” He twined his tail with hers. “And maybe, just maybe . . . we finally get to live.”

Loki and Fang watched cats reuniting with previously dead — or thought dead — family, friends, mates, kits.

Loki knew no one, but Fang would trust him; not while he carried the power of the so-called “gods.” But this new world . . . maybe this world needed a few immortals. To keep it in check. To stop the wars that unfortunately were sure to occur. To stop the new Clans from destroying this world as they had the last. To stop another “god” like Harnor from creating something like the Tests again.

“Fang,” Loki whispered. “I’m immortal now. Powerful. I can make you the same.” He paused. “Would you accept this gift? The curse of immortality?”

“We’ll guard this world forever” was Fang’s response.

Loki remembered how his family had named him; had gifted him these powers. He was Loki the Trickster, the Messenger Raven, the Watcher, the Healer, the Outcast, the Avenger, the Fallen Star. His family had given him gifts too. As a leader gained lives in the stories of the old Clans. “I give you the gift of Shadows and Sight,” he murmured. “Of Knowledge, Wisdom, Benevolence, and Understanding. Of Love, Life, and Freedom.” He touched his nose to her forehead. “I name you Fang, the Warrior Queen, the Leader of Nations, the Protector, the Harebringer of Justice.”

Famg gasped as power flowed from him into her.

“In these names, the power of the immortals is yours,” Loki said.

A flash of pure light blinded Fang and Loki.

When Loki opened his eyes, he saw that Fang had grown wings mirror to his own.

When Fang opened her eyes, the gray was lined with a silver ring around the pupil as his eyes were. “Woah,” she murmured.

“This is the dawn of a new world,” Loki purred. “You and I will be its protectors.”

**———**

As the cats began to forge a brand new world, one secret rule was whispered among them. Whatever they did, whatever happened, they would make sure that the tragedy of the Tests would never repeat itself.