Ember's End: The Green Ember Book IV

***Some say it fell from the stars, from the warrior's cluster.*
Whitson Mariner, *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*, p. 165
This article is on a subject existing outside the universe of ***The Green Ember series***.**
- The Green Ember Wiki -

## Ember's End: The Green Ember Book IV

* Official Book Cover
* Original Cover Art

## Publication information

### Published

March 31, 2020 (official publication date)

### Pages

411 (416 including Author's Note and a final illustration)

### Order

SDSmith.net (S. D. Smith's store will not be shipping currently due to the coronavirus pandemic)
Amazon.com

### Amazon rating

**4.85/5** (257+ reviews, 96% of which are either 4/5 or 5/5)

### Goodreads rating

**4.67/5** (950+ ratings and 155+ reviews, 94% of which are either 4/5 or 5/5)

***E******mber's End: The Green Ember Book IV*** is the fourth and final book in the main *Green Ember* series. It was written by S. D. Smith and illustrated by Zach Franzen. It was originally planned to be officially released on Amazon by Story Warren, LLC, on April 14, 2020, but due to numerous requests for a sooner release date, Story Warren and Smith moved the date to March 31. S. D. Smith's store put a hold on shipping due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Amazon began to ship on March 31. Copies pre-ordered through SDSmith.net shipped on March 2.

## Official synopsis

"The end is here. Heather and Picket face off for the last time with their tyrannical foes in this final installment of the main Green Ember Series. The Mended Wood flickers dimly in the vision of the rabbits of Natalia, as they battle bravely for their survival and a hopeful future beyond.

My place beside you,

my blood for yours,

till the Green Ember...ends."

## Plot

### Prologue

> *An excerpt from* Prince Lander & the Dragon War
>
>

Prince Lander and Massie look over the Great Wood, still wild and not yet colonized. Massie asks the Prince for a decision the lords requested regarding a certain matter regarding the Dragons. Lander, meanwhile, relates to him that he can see a good future for rabbitkind in the wood before them, saying that he would dedicate his life to the colonization of the wood. When Massie presses him for his decision, Lander says they must bury the dragon eggs in a mountain, dam up the junction between the rivers Flint and Fay, build their warren, and prohibit entry upon the mountain. Massie asks him what should happen if these should fail, and Lander prophesies that one of his descendants will someday rise and save the day.

### Main story

Jo Shanks, Heyna Blackstar, and Coleden Blackstar are on a covert mission in the Terralain camp northwest of First Warren to gather information regarding the Terralains' attack plan, as they were marching toward First Warren. Heyna and Coleden help Jo get through the posted sentries, and Jo enters a tent in the center of the camp—Prince Kylen's tent.

Jo hears an approaching voice and hides, and then two rabbits enter the tent: Tameth Seer and Prince Naylen, Kylen's younger brother. They discuss attacking First Warren, with Tameth reassuring Naylen of Morbin's trustworthiness in keeping the pact they made with him, also reminding him that Garten Longtreader had sworn the pact on his own niece's blood. Tameth further convinces Naylen to attack First Warren for his father's sake, and in order to remove any threats preventing Kylen from becoming king of Natalia.

Once the two have left, Jo gets out of his hiding place and escapes the tent himself. Using glider packs (inventions of Heyward) and Terralain catapults Cole and Heyna hijacked while Jo was in the tent, they launch into the air to return to First Warren. The three of them are spotted by Terralain archers, however, who damage Jo's glider, causing him to fall to the ground. Before Jo could begin his walk toward the city, he meets a group of rabbits in the wood, one of whom he recognizes and asks for Picket.

Picket, on Helmer's family farm recuperating from a leg injury he sustained previously, is told by Louise that he has been recalled to First Warren in anticipation of the imminent attack of Morbin's horde and the Terralain army, so immediately he leaves for the city. He joins Emma's council at the palace, gathered to discuss preliminary matters regarding the upcoming battle. Their council, however, is interrupted by Jo, Cole, and Heyna, returning from their expedition to the Terralain camp, and (to the surprise of everyone) Wilfred Longtreader, whom Jo encountered in the forest on his way back from the camp. Wilfred tells the council that they would be attacked by the Terralains at dawn, long before their defenses would be ready.

In order to compensate for this unexpected turn of events, Picket, Jo, Helmer, and Cole join Emma in flying to the camp to convince Kylen not to proceed with the attack, also hoping to convince him to join them. When they arrive at the camp, they are intercepted by some Terralain soldiers under Captain Granger; the soldiers accuse Picket of the murder of Bleston, Emma of being a witch, and a Causer sent by Emma as being responsible for the recent assassination of Captain Vulm. Helmer convinces the captain to lead them to Kylen, and thus he leads them into the heart of the camp, where Picket is attacked by Naylen. Picket defeats Naylen but spares his life, denying the rumor that he had murdered Bleston.

Tameth Seer orders the Terralains to kill Emma's party, but Kylen intervenes, and allows Emm and Picket to meet with him in his tent. Sadly, their pleas with Kylen fall on deaf ears, as the ill prince has been poisoned against them by Tameth Seer. He gives the group permission to leave, but warns that his army will indeed attack the city. Lallo then arrives with word that Morbin's wolf armies are advancing, and Picket flies into a rage against Kylen after the prince expresses confusion at this development. Before the First Warren rabbits can depart, they witness an explosion in the distance and realize that it came from Harbone Citadel.

While Lallo escorts Emma back to the city, the Fowlers travel to Harbone to find it in ruins and the Wild Wolf Pack attacking the survivors. They manage to kill or drive off the predators, and then set about a desperate search of the citadel until it proves too dangerous to continue. Wilfred, who had been leading an escort bringing vulnerable rabbits from First Warren to Harbone, arrives with warning that some of the attackers-rabbits-are returning. A battle then ensues between the rabbits of the Cause and a party that proves to be from Longtreader Command, all of whom are slain except for one prisoner. This rabbit, upon learning Picket's identity, then informs him that Heather has been killed by their uncle, Garten Longtreader.

Meanwhile, in Akolan, Whittle and Sween mobilize the Cause there, as they prepare to openly resist Morbin. By throwing stones into rabbits' houses with messages written on them, they invite all of the inhabitants of Akolan to meet at the Seventh District. The Causers gather, approaching District Six in order to also invite the Inwallers. They are, however, prevented from entering by Captain Tram and his soldiers. Whittle tries to persuade Tram to defect, but he remains stubborn, refusing to let them in. Suddenly, the Commandant appears on the wall, ordering Captain Tram to obey Whittle, the Tunneler and the Truth. The Commandant tells the soldiers to accept the invitation to be free from Morbin's bonds; after this, the Causers are let into the city to fulfill their purpose.

Elsewhere, Heather-still alive but fatally wounded-awakens inside the Tomb of Lander's Dragons with Smalls lying nearby, badly wounded but also still alive. She attends to his wounds, and in the process comes across Jone's tonic, which she begins to suspect may be more potent than she previously believed. With her own condition rapidly deteriorating, Heather administers the tonic to Smalls before falling asleep; she later awakens to find him missing, but falls into a coma before she can investigate. Smalls, miraculously cured of his hurts, treats Heather with the rest of the tonic, and she awakens fully healed. After a joyful reunion, Heather briefs Smalls on what has happened since his fall, and the pair then discover another inhabitant of their prison: a living dragon.

Picket flies back to First Warren from Harbone, and encounters Captain Moonlight working as a quartermaster. Weezie, alerted to Picket's arrival, joins him in a wagon ride back to the palace, during which he informs her of the news of Harbone and his sister's supposed death. After a few hours' sleep, Picket is awakened by Jo and Cole, who lead him down to observe the interrogation of their prisoner. Through Maggie Weaver's efforts, they learn from him that First Warren will be assailed by multiple armies of both wolves and Preylords, led by the legendary wolf king Farlock and the Six.

While discussing this intelligence with Emma, Helmer mentions the fate of his fellow Lord Captains, several of whom went missing on a search for True Blue. Hearing this, Emma decides to investigate the mysterious plant, and her efforts lead to a meeting with an ancient apothecary, Missy Dreft. Missy informs the group that True Blue was a miraculous plant discovered by the Leapers, with evidence suggesting that it can both heal and grant long life, with Jone Wissel herself being living proof. However, upon meeting with Jone, newly arrived from Harbone, Emma learns that the last known supply of True Blue has been exhausted.

Back in the tomb, Heather and Smalls' host introduces himself as the dragon keeper, latest of a long line charged with watching over the dragon seeds and meeting with the rabbit rulers of Natalia. The current keeper has never had such a meeting, and Heather and Smalls explain that the outside world is at war while doing their best not to give away too much information. After the keeper leaves them, the pair rest a night, discussing the obscure history of the dragons the following day. The keeper then invites Smalls to help him in inspecting several supports that are meant to keep the caverns containing the dragon eggs from collapsing.

Later, the keeper comes to Heather and asks for her help in accessing a vault deep within the tomb. Under the influence of the keeper's breath, which acts like a drug, Heather accompanies him to the vault, and eventually realizes that it can be opened using the Green Ember. After a tremor and cave-in that separates the pair, Heather discovers that there are many dragons alive within the caverns. She is confronted by the keeper, who reveals that he is in fact the Dragon prince. Before he can kill Heather and lead his subjects in escaping their prison, Smalls emerges from the vault wielding the Stone Sword of Flint.

Smalls kills the dragon prince, and he and Heather briefly take refuge in the vault. Realizing that they cannot escape without leaving the dragons free to rampage across the land, the pair equip themselves from the vault's stores before charging out to battle. Wielding a maul, Heather destroys various supports throughout the tomb while she and Smalls both slay individual dragons, eventually making their way back to the chamber where they were first deposited. Sadly, they are forced to collapse this chamber as well, and prepare to die even as the dragon tomb collapses upon its former inhabitants.

Outside in First Warren, preparations for the attacks of Terralain and Morbin presses onward. After briefly visiting with his comrades among the Highwall Wardens, Jo receives a message from Victor Blackstar and Lady Glen. He meets the pair and Heyna near Chelmsford Citadel, along with a strange group of rabbits and their leader, the Pilgrim. Later, the forces of the Cause muster at the gate to First Warren as the Terralain army approaches. Shortly after word arrives that King Farlock's army is in sight, Emma arrives at the gates with news that the first wave of Preylords is also on its way.

Disheartened and knowing the odds against them, Emma's advisors beg her to flee and find safety, but she refuses. Mounting the wall, she delivers a rousing speech to her army before turning to confront the arriving Terralains. Tameth Seer calls for her surrender, but is then confronted by Prince Naylen for his previous treachery. He and Kylen, who has just been saved from Tameth's assassins by Jo and the Pilgrim's band, confront the traitor seer and his followers, putting an end to Tameth. Farlock's army then arrives and engages the Royal Warrenguard, and Farlock kills Captain Frye before being dispatched himself by Picket.

The Terralains, now aligned with the Cause, charge into battle with Farlock's wolves, and are joined by the forces of Blackstone Citadel. Picket and Emma make their way back to the palace, and are soon joined by Jo and Kylen, the latter apologizing to Emma for his past foolishness and surrendering the Whitson Stone to her. The first wave of Preylords then arrives and begins attacking the city, devastating the defenders as another wolf army attacks from the east. Desperate to turn the tables, the defenders employ the Blackhawk Option, a strategy meant for use against Morbin himself, to destroy Falcowitson, the member of the Six leading this initial wave.

Lady Glen and the Pilgrim's band then arrive at the palace, and after being introduced to Helmer and Emma the odd travelers agree to join Kylen in heading back out to join the Terralains, with Jo eagerly tagging along. Jo and the Pilgrim soon separate from their companions to assist the decimated Highwall Wardens, and soon spot another wave of raptors incoming. Armed with the Pilgrim's unique arrows, the pair target the raptor kings, only to be spotted by their targets and attacked. Jo becomes separated from the Pilgrim in the ensuing struggle, but is able to use his arrow to slay both members of the Six.

Back at the palace, Picket is stunned to learn the story of Helmer's conflict with his traitor uncle, Garten, and the loss of the King's Arm in a failed effort to save the life of King Jupiter. The palace defenders then fight the attacking raptors, who scatter in reaction to Jo's success in killing two of the Six. As the time nears for the Cause to employ a carefully considered strategy, Helmer and Picket go to the aid of a group of soldiers under Wilfred's command at the east wall, enabling their retreat from that front.

The Fowlers and other soldiers gather at a predetermined point, right between the two charging wolf armies. A third wave of Preylords, commanded by another pair of the Six, arrives at the same time. An explosive trigger set by Heyward fails to go off, forcing Helmer to sacrifice his own life to set off the blastpowder amassed by the Cause. As intended, the blast blows a whole in the dam and releases Lake Merle in a flood that sweeps away the attacking wolves, while the raptor kings and their vassals are killed by the explosion. The remaining Preylords then arrive with Morbin at their head, along with a fleet of ships carrying a final army of wolves.

Meanwhile, Heather and Smalls are rescued from the crumbling dragon tomb by the rabbits of the Seventh District, who then sail into First Warren just behind the wolf armada. The former slaves join the rabbits of First Warren in the final stages of the battle, with Picket leading the Royal Fowlers Auxiliary into aerial combat against Morbin's birds. Smalls ascends the Seven Standing Stones in order to confront Morbin, while Garten attacks the ship carrying Heather and her parents. After a confrontation between the Longtreader brothers, Garten is knocked overboard and, refusing help, swept away in the flood and into the Brute's Gorge.

As Smalls and Morbin face off, Picket flies in to aid the prince, successfully blinding one of Morbin's eyes only to be repaid with the loss of his right arm. Determined to give his all for the Cause, he makes a final attack that diverts Morbin's attention and allows Smalls to strike a fatal blow with the starsword, which breaks after doing its work. Picket, even more badly wounded, observes this scene of victory as he plummets from the sky.

A year later, the rabbits have built a new capital, Newcity, in the Mended Wood, and hold the first Feast of the Mending. Smalls announces that, on the day of his coronation, Heather will become his wife and Natalia's queen. He then invites Picket, maimed but alive, to a special table set aside for his family and closest friends, including his pregnant wife Weezie. Some time later, Smalls-now king-reflects on Picket's fall, ensuing coma, and the joyous day on which he awoke to be reunited with his family.

Heather, now queen and a mother, is visited by Emma, and they discuss how things have changed since the end of the war, particularly since the Pilgrim brought new seeds of True Blue that have yielded a bountiful harvest. With their predator foes and even the world's illnesses now conquered, rabbits are free to explore and to spread the joy of the Mending throughout their world. Sorrow has not been wholly cured, however, as Picket continues to find it hard to speak of the war days and continues to mourn for Helmer. Despite this, he-along with Helmer and their families-now live a life of peace and joy, one which-thanks to the benefits of True Blue-seems likely to never end.

## Appearances

Characters

* Airen
* Bannon
* Coleden Blackstar
* The Commandant
* Dalla
* Deever
* Dev Meeker
* Dooker
* Dote
* Dragon prince
* Drand
* Edward Weaver
* Emerson
* Emma Joveson
* Falcowitson
* Farlock
* Farns
* Frye
* Gabe
* Garten Longtreader
* Gern
* Lady Glen
* Gort
* Granger
* Hanna Joveson
* Harmon
* Harmony
* Heather Longtreader
* Helmer
* Heyna Blackstar
* Heyward
* Ikker
* Jacket Longtreader
* Jair
* Jefwood
* Jone Wissel
* Jo Longtreader
* Jo Shanks
* Kell
* Kylen
* Lallo
* Lander (flashback)
* Lillywhite
* Louise
* Maggie Joveson
* Maggie Weaver
* Massie Burnson (flashback)
* Missy Dreft
* Moonlight
* Morbin Blackhawk
* Morgan Booker
* Nate Flynn
* Owen
* Naylen
* Picket Longtreader
* The Pilgrim
* Ray Carter
* Ronan
* Studge
* Sween Longtreader
* Tameth Seer
* Tram
* Tunk
* Vardon (not named)
* Victor Blackstar
* Warken
* Whitbie Joveson
* Whittle Longtreader
* Winslow Joveson
* Wilfred Longtreader
* Zeiger

Mentioned characters

* Aubray
* Bleston
* Booker
* Brafficks
* Clay Fletcher
* Daggler
* Eefaw Potter
* Elska Willow
* Falcowit
* Fay
* Felson
* Fesslehorn
* Firstfoe
* Fleck Blackstar
* Flint
* Frannie
* Galt
* Garlacks
* Gome
* Harlan Seer
* Hendow
* Hewson
* Himson Forn
* Jupiter Goodson
* Lukan Willow
* Mills
* Perkin One-Eye
* Pickwand
* Rake
* Redeye Garlackson
* Redthaw
* Shelt
* Stam
* Stretch Doteson
* Vulm
* Whitson Mariner

Locations

* Blue Moss Hills (mentioned)
* Golden Coast (mentioned)
* Immovable Mountain (mentioned)
* Natalia
	+ Blackstone Citadel (mentioned)
	+ Cloud Mountain (mentioned)
		- Rockback Valley
	+ Decker's Landing (mentioned)
	+ Grey Grove (mentioned)
	+ Great Wood/Mended Wood
		- Black Gap
		- Chelmsford Citadel (mentioned)
		- First Warren
			* Brute's Gorge
			* Moonlight's Citadel of Dreams
			* Helmer's Farm
				+ Helmer tree
			* Lake Merle
				+ Forbidden Island
					- Tomb of Lander's Dragons
			* New Bridge
			* Old palace
			* Seven Standing Stones
		- Harbone Citadel
		- Newcity
		- Votive Sanctuary
	+ Halfwind Citadel (mentioned)
	+ High Bleaks
		- Akolan
			* Lepers' District (mentioned)
			* Fourth District (mentioned)
				+ District Four clinic
			* Seventh District
			* Sixth District
		- Morbin's lair (mentioned)
	+ Jupiter's Crossing (mentioned)
	+ Kingston (mentioned)
	+ Nick Hollow (mentioned)
		- Seven Mounds (mentioned)
	+ Red Valley (mentioned)
	+ River Flint
	+ Terralain (mentioned)
	+ Vandalia Citadel (mentioned)
* Warrior's cluster

Groups and organizations

* Apothecaries Guild
* Battlebucks
* Black Band (mentioned)
* Bracers
* The Cause
* Citadel lords
* Fowlers
* Highwall Wardens
* King's Arm (mentioned)
* Leapers (mentioned)
* Longtreader Command
* Lord Captains
* Lords of Prey
* Royal Fowlers Auxiliary
* Royal Warrenguard
* Seventh District
* The Six
* Terralain army
	+ Terralain royal guard
	+ Terralain temple guard
* Trekkers (flashback)
* Votaries
* Wild Wolf Pack

Events

* Dragon War
	+ Battle of Dragon Mountain
* Feast of the Mending
* The Leaping
* The Mending
* Victory Day
* War for All Natalia
	+ Battle of Rockback Valley
	+ Siege of First Warren

Culture

* Battle burrow
* Blackhawk Option
* Blastarrows
* Blastpowder
* Bowstrikers
* Captain
* "Come, Ye Fine Does"
* Commander
* Dragon keeper
* *The Fall and Rise of King Smalden Joveson*
* Flint-and-fire arrows
* Glider pack
* Green Ember
* Hoopvolley
* Jone's tonic
* Lieutenant
* "The Mended Wood"
* Mossdraft
* Netapults
* "Picket Packslayer"
* Prester
* Preymark
* Priestess
* *The Rise and Fall of King Jupiter the Great*
* Seer
* Smalls' song
* Starseek
* Stone Book of Fay
* Stone Sword of Flint
* Tower Wars
* True Blue
* Whitson Stone

## Differences from the preview

*The First Fowler* contained a preview of the first four chapters of *Ember's End*, with a note stating that it was not final. The final book did include a number of changes, including added dashes that replaced some commas. Changes to the actual wording included:

### Chapter One

* The omission of the sentence "Jo and his friends didn't move." in the scene with the Terralain guard Tunk.
* As Jo is entering Kylen's tent, the final text states "He drew his knife" whereas the preview text read "He ripped free a knife". The description of the inside of the tent also uses the word "area" rather than the preview's "space".
* Naylen is described as "a stout young buck" rather than "a short, stout buck", and the word "strange" is omitted from Tameth Seer's description in the same paragraph.
* In Naylen's conversation with Tameth, King Bleston is referred to by name, whereas the preview simply referred to him as Naylen's father. In the same paragraph, the phrase "even amid his affliction" is added to Tameth Seer's statement regarding Kylen's trust in him. A short paragraph detailing Jo's reaction to Naylen's presence is also added afterwards.

### Chapter Two

* The sentence "Tameth Seer had just said that Heather was dead." was replaced with "*Not Heather.*" in the final text. The word "himself" in Naylen's wish regarding Kylen was also replaced with "well".
* When Naylen makes a final check on Kylen, the phrase "his expression soft with sadness" was added to the final text.
* When Jo escapes the tent, the words "and sliced" were added to the final text; the word "wall" and a comma after canvas were also omitted.
* The word "Then" was removed from the sentence beginning with "Cole was just ahead..."; Jo later shouts "Now" to Cole instead of "Cut it" as in the preview text.
* The paragraph in the preview in which Jo is hit by several Terralain arrows was expanded into two paragraphs in the final text.
* The word "aloud" was removed from what was the final paragraph of the chapter in the preview; a short paragraph with dialogue from Wilfred Longtreader was also added.

### Chapter Three

* The first paragraph from the preview version of the chapter is split into two paragraphs.
* A line about Picket retying his scarf was added to the start of the paragraph where Picket makes the starstick.
* Several paragraphs were added to the final version of the chapter, including the scene where Airen talks about Helmer's leaving home to become a soldier and Picket leaves his scarf with her.

### Chapter Four

* The sentence "But these were only in higher places." was removed from the final version of the chapter's first paragraph.
* The final text adds several lines of Weezie commenting on Picket responding to her words with a grunt.
* The word "wise" was added to Helmer's response to Mrs. Weaver regarding the rabbits being sent to Harbone Citadel.
* The sentence "We have brought all the weapons we can into the city." was added to Heyward's report regarding the preparation of First Warren's defenses.
* When Wilfred mentions Jone Wissel in the final text, the adjective "old" isn't capitalized as it was in the preview.

## Trivia

* The book is dedicated to "Josiah Clair Preston Smith", and has the following Latin words on the dedication page: *Melius ergo est duos simul esse quam unum habent enim emolumentum societatis suae. Si unus ceciderit ab altero fulcietur vae soli quia cum ruerit non habet sublevantem*. This translates as: *Two are better than one more reward for their efforts. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe is the one who is alone, for when he falls, he has none to lift.* This echoes a sentiment found in the book of Ecclesiastes, Smith's favorite book of the Bible.
* In the last illustration of the book, Picket Longtreader is shown as having his right arm, despite having lost it during the Siege of First Warren.
* The hardcover edition of *Ember's End* has a silver imprint of an illustration of Helmer under the jacket.

## Media

The Green Ember EndsA promotional video for *Ember's End*.The Green Ember Book IV LaunchA promotional video for *Ember's End*.Green Ember Finale Book Birthday Bash! Happy Birthday, Ember’s End!A promotional video celebrating the one-year anniversary of *Ember's End*.
## References

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Goodreads | Ember's End (The Green Ember #4)
3. ↑ Ember's End (The Green Ember Series Book 4) | Amazon.com
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 FAQ: Green Ember & S. D. Smith - SDSmith.net
5. ↑ Free Writing Class from S. D. Smith & Ember's End Release Moved Forward | SDSmith.net Official Newsletter (March 2020)
6. ↑ The Warren & The World Vol 8, Issue 8 | StoryWarren.com
7. ↑ [2]
8. ↑ [3]
9. ↑ "Picket's right arm, with glider-wing and sword, fell spinning toward the flood below." - *Ember's End*, pg. 374;

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