Well Hello Warriors people! It is good to be back! (Even though I wasn't gone for long;))

To New readers: I would suggest reading the first four books first, or at least Walking On the Edge, as this takes place during it. You probably won't be confused it would just add more to the story.

To Old readers: Have you missed me terribly? I don't have time for a long review because I must go back to studying=/ Exam week is killer. Wish me luck on my Algebra two exam! So this is just like the Prologue for WOtE, except you see more from Stormfur's feelings and thoughts. I have good news too; Echo should be getting in touch with me soon! That will help the plot process ;) Well hope you enjoy!

Prologue

*The Tribe of Rushing water, many moons ago*

Stormfur awakes with a troubled look in his eyes. His two kits Lark and Pine are standing in front of him. His eyes soften as he looks at them. They are to-bes (paws to him) now, but he will always see them as his babies. He rises gently as to not disturb Brook and tries to put his dream out of his mind.

It is your home – or it was.

"Father are you alright?" Lark asks softly, her eyes wide and worried as they walk to the entrance of the cave. The term "Father" stings him, but they are older now, and have long outgrown "Daddy".

"I'm fine Lark." He mews licking her forehead, "What is it?" The mist from the water fall is lit up golden in the morning light and Stormfur wonders why his children woke him.

"Oh – it's just –" Lark's pelt grows warm and she turns to her brother.

"We're going out today… for real training." Pine mews softly.

"Good luck." Stormfur replies with a wide smile, pride welling up inside him, "I know you'll do brilliantly."

His children gin widely, confidence flooding through them – for that was all they needed. They rush off for training and Stormfur sighs. He misses the Clans more than ever now that they returned once again. So much has changed, but still he feels like a fish out of water.

Or a clan cat in the mountains.

"It's your home. The home you left behind is in danger."

Stormfur shakes his head and ruffles his pelt, trying to shake his sister's voice from his thoughts. Pain shoots through him like a wound filling with blood. A wound that will never heal, never run out of blood, a wound that will continue to refill with blood forever. Oh how he misses her.

"Stormfur?" Brook's voice is soft and gentle and it's all he needs. A sense of contentment settles over him as he rejoins his mate.

"What is it? What is wrong?" She asks, pushing fresh-kill toward him. He tries to say nothing, but finds that he cannot, so instead he leans closer to her and tells her about his dream.

Brook frowns when he finishes and mews quietly, "Well it was just a dream. Perhaps it would be better if you just, cast it away." She sighs and adds, "At least during your waking hours," at his mutinous look.

Stormfur nods slightly and they start to share tongues, too caught up in each other to notice the angry glares being thrown their way.

*Six or so moons later*

Stormfur wakes heavy with pain and loss and guilt. He rises before he has had time to think and leaves the den. By now the mountain paths are a second skin to him and he travels them with his eyes still half closed. He walks up, trying for the highest point of the mountain range.

When he reaches it, he walks in the direction of the Clans and pads on until he reaches an outcrop. Here he looks over the lightening sky and strains his eyes. He can just barely make out a dark patch that may be the forest around the lake.

He closes his eyes and Brambleclaw's face swims in his mind. Seeing him alongside his sister with a starry pelt was possibly the worst thing ever. Bitterness creeps through his veins.

Dead.

He opens his eyes and remembers the three kits with alleged powers… one was Midnightpaw, the other…. Ravenpaw? And the last… hadn't Feathertail said she was still a kit? Echo? Echokit?

He sighs heavily but knows not what to do. He turns away from the sunrise and walks back into the night, barley registering the night turning to day around him.

What had Brook said? Cast it away – at least for waking hours.

And so that is what he resolves to do, try to cast it away.

*Moons Later*

Stormfur sits with Brook licking her pelt. Her stomach is swollen again and Lark and Pine are ecstatic, loving the idea of little siblings.

"How many are there?" Lark asks for the hundredth time.

"Three, they think," Brook replies lovingly.

"D'you know what their names are going to be?" Pine asks excitedly.

Brook looks up at Stormfur and mews, "Well I named the last two- it's your turn."

"Well I'd like to name one for Feathertail…" Stormfur mews quietly.

Lark moans immediately, "Awww why couldn't I have been named for Feathertail?"

At his kit's words, Stormfur closes his eyes, half wishing he hadn't told them those stories.

"Lark!" Brook admonishes.

"I-I'm sorry." Lark stammers, looking confused.

"It's all right dear." Stormfur mews, opening his eyes, "It's not your fault. I'd like to name one of the others for Brambleclaw but why don't you two name the last one, hmm?" He suggests, smiling as they gasp in awe and trot away squabbling over name ideas.

"That's sweet. Do you know for sure…?"

"Not yet." He replies softly, licking Brook's ear, "I'll just wait to see them."

She smiles up at him in a weary sort of way. "Well you won't have long to wait."

Stormfur lets her sleep and closes his eyes, his brain immediately going to the Clans. The seed of worry has mutated, by now it's practically a tree. He can hardly think of anything else and what he hates most of all is knowing he can't do anything. It makes him feel so helpless and worthless, yet he can't stop thinking about it.

He opens his eyes and decides to hunt, hoping to distract himself. This time, as he walks to the entrance of the cave, he notices the glares and his tree of worry sprouts a new branch.

*After Stormfur shows Feathertail his new kits*

Stormfur starts awake as Screech calls to him.

"We have to hunt. Come on."

And so Stormfur stretches, stumbling up, with a plan forming in his mind as he follows Screech out.

"Do yourself a favor, okay?" Screech grunts sharply as the fall behind the rest, "Stop acting like a Clan cat. Cause you're not anymore, right?"

"Thanks for enlightening me Screech, that fact had completely slipped my mind." Stormfur replies dryly rolling his eyes at his friend.

"I'm not going to stick my neck out for you anymore Stormfur. It is what it is. You choose this."

"I know." He replies, more than a little stung by Screech's tone.

"Just making sure." Screech mutters with an incredulous snort.

Later, Stormfur makes his way to the small den where Brook is. "Hello love." He mews as he enters. She looks up from their feeding kits, immediately suspicious.

"What?" She mews sharply and he raises an eyebrow. "You're acting shifty," Brook explains.

"I have to go back to the Clans. Just for a little while." He mews softly. Brook looks down at their kits and Stormfur stares at them too.

Feather Floating on a Gentle Breeze is curled up in a small ball with Moon Beam that Lights Our Path snuggled up next to her. Bramble that Watches Over the Forest is lying half on his sisters, stretching to reach the milk.

"Lark and Pine did a good job with Moon's name." He mews at last unable to bear the silence.

"What's happened?" Brooke asks without preamble.

"Feathertail asked me to come back, to help in the war. If it wasn't important –"

"She wouldn't have asked. I know. She died for a group of cats she just barley met. I know." Brook's silent for a moment, and then, "You'll have to wait for a bit. The kits will open their eyes soon, will be able to walk, then we'll go."

"Wh-what?" Stormfur stammers.

"I'm going with you." Brook mews firmly, "and the kits will have to come."

"What about Lark and Pine?" Stormfur asks, his voice shaking slightly.

"They know their parents well enough not to be turned by prejudice against them." She mews quietly with tears shimmering in her eyes. "But of course we will go. The Clans gave us everything, the least we can do is repay the favor."

Stormfur smiles slightly, despite the situation. His only thought is: I'm going home!

So did you like? I think it's good, but I practically completely forgot Sign of the Moon and the online version only lets you go to chapter six so if I messed anything up… whoops;)

Not sure when the next chapter will be up as I literally just finished this and am waaay over my allotted time for writing so I really must go study! Hope you loved it and review for me please? You all were so amazing with WOtE=)

~Midnight