This challenge is for EmberClan again. I hope you guys enjoy and come join. In EmberClan we have fun challenges, rp, and many other things.

The brown tom laid still looking out the window of the twoleg nest. He sighed missing his home, RiverClan. Dustfur was lonely and trapped without any chance of escape. He pricked his ears when he heard the twoleg kits coming. Oh great, he thought, here come the ear pulling annoyances again. Sighing Dustfur got up trying to find a hiding place from the loud, stomping twoleg kits. The dusty brown tom finally found a quiet place away from the loud mews of the annoying kits. The tom heard one of the warrior twolegs come in the back. Quickly he darted to the noise but, he was too late.

"Frog-dung," the tom hissed out. He padded around trying to find something to do. He padded around and settled on a soft thing that the twolegs had gotten for him. Dustfur looked out of the clear thing that was placed by something wooden. He sighed wishing he could be free instead of stuck with noisy, annoying kits. The tom drifted to sleep hoping and wishing there was some way for him to go back home. While he slept he dreamt about the day he was caught.

-…-

The she-cat was running bleeding heavily from her shoulder.

"Mother," the dusty brown warrior exclaimed. Dustfur ran up to Brownstorm who was bleeding out.

"What happened?"

"Fox…attack," she breathed out.

"Where are the others," Dustfur asked with worry.

"T-They a-are f-f…f-fighting the f-fox n…n-now." Slowly the she-cat stopped breathing. Dustfur stood in shock as his mother died. First my farther, then my brother, now this, Dustfur thought in dismay. While he thought someone disturbed him.

"Dustfur we need to help," Aspenflight, the deputy, told him. Dustfur looked at his mother one last time at his mother before following his clan mates

-…-

Dustfur blinked open his eyes sleepily. The tom gazed around and saw an amazing sight. His twolegs were leaving and they left the door open by accident. Dustfur looked around checking to see if anyone was there. He heard one of the twoleg kits rushing towards the door trying to close it. Before it could though the tom darted out not looking back for a second. Finally Dustfur was free from his prison.

"Yes," he hollered with glee as he ran.

"I'm finally free! No more rabbit dung for food, no more being cooped up, and no more ear pulling I'm free!" Although Dustfur was happy it didn't last long. The brown tom stopped in his tracks as soon as he heard some growling. Quickly Dustfur spun around and saw russet fur. Oh great, he thought not moving one inch. Dustfur knew he was out of practice from fighting so he didn't stand a chance. He closed his eyes ready for death but, then he felt something barrel into him moving him out of the way.

"Why weren't you moving," a dark blackish-blue she-cat hissed. The strange she-cat sighed angrily when Dustfur didn't answer.

"Ok I'm Juniper kittypet. Now we don't have much- Look out," the fox was running for them. The she-cat clawed at the beast trying to shoo it away.

"Well don't just stand there kittypet help!" Dustfur looked around with fear trying to find the will to fight. Finally the brown tom lunged at the fox trying to remember his training at RiverClan. He clawed at the legs trying to get the animal running away. After a while both cats drove the animal away. Dustfur cashed after it until it was long gone. Finally he collapsed on the ground out of breath and tired.

-…-

Dustfur awoke a few hours later confused and frighten. The brown tom gazed around then memories began to return to him. He remembered his escape, Juniper, the fox attack, and then…nothing.

"H-Hello," the brown tom called out. An elderly black tom emerged from a bush.

"Hello," he rasped.

"Why am I here and where's that she-cat Juniper?"

"My daughter? She's out hunting with her friend. Don't worry she'll be back soon. So what's your name," the old tom asked.

"Uh Dustfur," the RiverClan warrior replied.

"Oh so are you one of those um…those clan cats? I mean you have a name like them."

"Yes. I was born in RiverClan and captured by the twoles. I escaped earlier, fought a fox with Juniper, and I ended up here…wherever here is."

"Oh RiverClan?! Well they're not that far from here. If you wanted you could go back now! But, I wouldn't suggest that because, you're injured Dustfur." The RiverClan tom nodded his head then rested quickly falling back asleep. When he awoke again it was dusk. The tom hauled himself up and padded out of the makeshift den and out into the cat's 'camp'. He looked around and saw many cats. There was an elderly pale brown tabby sitting next to the tom he saw earlier those two were most likely mates. Near them was another brown tabby with kits at her belly. Curled up by her was a grey tom. Farthest away was Juniper and a blueish-black tom with all white paws. All eyes were on him as Dustfur padded out. For a moment each cat was locked into a star off but, that was quickly stopped by the brown tabby she-cat with the kits.

"Hello," she purred with a voice of honey.

"I'm Dusk and this is my mate, Rain. These are our kits, Stone, Bark, and Buzzard. What's your name?" Although Dustfur was shocked by her boldness he told the cats his name.

"You already know me," the elderly tom said.

"I'm Night and my mate is Honey. You already know our daughters, Juniper and Dusk. The tom beside Juniper is my son, Runner. Now we probably need to put some more yarrow on those wounds of yours Dustfur. Come here." Night began to put some more herbs on Dustfur's wounds and the tom was grateful.

-…-

It was a moon after Dustfur had escaped. The tom was dealing well and he was enjoying the company of the loners. Stone, Bark, and Buzzard were growing fast and a new she-cat named Blue had joined the group. It was obvious that she had grown on Runner. The two hung out as much as they could away from everyone else. Night had told him that with his injuries he wasn't ready to make the long trek back to his home and Dustfur reluctantly agreed to it.

"Hey Dustfur," Juniper called out.

"Let's go hunting ok. Now come on." The she-cat was very straight forward not even giving Dustfur a chance to speak. The tom followed the loner through their territory trying not to get lost in the process. Finally the she-cat halted and the pair split up. Although he wasn't use to catching ground prey the tom managed to catch three mice, a small rabbit, and a squirrel. He also found a small pond where he caught many fish. After he was done he met back up with Juniper.

"So that was a good hunt," the clan cat purred merrily.

"Yes it was. Now can you help bring all this prey back?" Dustfur nodded then they began to haul their catches back. They had to make multiple trips and finally they were on their last. As they brought the last of the prey back traces of fox filled Dustfur's nose. The tom looked around as soon as he smelled he stopped in his tracks trying to find the animal.

"Hey Juniper I smell fox." Dustfur waited for her to reply but, there was none.

"Juniper…Juniper where are you," while looking for her he realized that she must have gotten ahead of him. As he looked for the blackish-blue she-cat he heard a scream.

"Don't worry I'm coming," he yowled aloud. Already the loner was fighting the fox fiercely not willing to let the russet animal take the prey. Quickly Dustfur ran at the fox ready to fight it. He snapped at it's back legs and clawed it's flank. The animal didn't stand a chance against the pair of fighting cats. Finally it ran away and Juniper followed it. They ran towards a rocky Cliffside near a Thunderpath. The fox narrowly missed it while Juniper ran right over the edge. Without a moment's hesitation Dustfur ran over not knowing what he'd fine. He looked down and saw Juniper hanging off a loose branch.

"Don't worry I'll get up back up." Slowly he lowered his muzzle trying to reach for her scruff. Finally he grabbed it as the branch gave way. Carefully he hauled Juniper onto solid ground not wanting to have her falling once more.

"T-Thanks," she breathed clearly grateful.

"No problem. Now let's get the prey back." The pair walked back to where the food was waiting.

-…-

Another moon passed and Dustfur had to stay longer. He'd opened up his wounds during the fight with the fox and a bunch of dirt had gotten into them getting them infected. Although he was recovering quickly it was hard for four loners to catch enough prey for ten cats. Dusk's kits were learning how to hunt and fight. Already their son, Buzzard, had learned a lot. More than his siblings. Their only daughter, Stone, was learning how to hunt, fight, and the usages of herbs. Blue was already expecting Runner's kits and Juniper had grown a bit closer to Dustfur. The full moon shined brightly from above and the RiverClan tom knew that it was a gathering night. Missing his old home the tom decided to go for a late night hunt.

"He Juniper want to go hunting," he asked the pretty she-cat. The loner agreed and the pair made their way out. When they were far enough away they began to talk. Juniper asked about Dustfur's home and about all the things the clans did. He explained everything to her. From their customs, to ceremonies, and so on. They talked through the night not giving any sign of stopping.

"Wow RiverClan sounds so amazing Dustfur. So in your clan do you have a family?" The tom looked away from her green gaze with sadness pulling at his heart.

"N-No. My father died before I was born, my brother died during a greencough outbreak. My mother died from her wounds before I was taken. T-There's no one left for me there but, I still have to go back."

"Why? I mean if you have no family…why would you go back?" Dustfur thought for a moment trying to find something to say.

"T-They're my clan. RiverClan is all I've known and t-that's where my home is. I-Ir's all I have left Juniper." The she-cat nodded and soon after they padded back not speaking.

-…-

Dustfur was excited from the news he was just told by Night. The tom was finally well enough to go home. Although he was happy a sadness hung in his heart. As Duskfur began to prepare to go back to RiverClan Juniper volunteered to go with him. Happily Dustfur agreed. After many sorrowful good byes the pair began to go on their way. After many hours the air finally reached the place where the ThunderClan border began.

"I-I guess this is good bye then Juniper," Dustfur said sighing.

"I guess it is," the she-cat replied back. For a moment the two sat in silence not wanting to speak. Finally Dustfur opened his mouth to speak.

"Hey maybe you can, I don't know, come join me i-in RiverClan." Juniper smiled then it quickly faded.

"I-I'd love to Dustfur but, you know what they say. Home is where the heart is and well…most of my heart is here Dustfur." The tom nodded sadly then he began to get up.

"G-Good bye then Juniper. S-See you around." Dustfur began to pad away not looking back. The tom sighed then he soon ran. Through the ThunderClan forest he ran all the way to the RiverClan border. Finally he had reached the border but, he hesitated to go. Quickly the tom crossed the sunning rocks and headed to the RiverClan camp. As he got closer he stopped in his tracks remembering what Juniper said.

"Home is where the heart is," he mumbled to himself. He realized where his home was. As if his paws had a mind of their own they ran back on the trail.

"Juniper...Juniper I need to talk to you," the tom yowled. He followed her scent all the way back to the makeshift camp.

"J-Juniper I…need to…talk to…you," he said out of breath from his running.

"What is it," the she-cat purred clearly happy.

"Y-You said 'Home is where the heart is' and you said that most of your heart is here. Well I've realized that m-my heart is here. With…With you." After Dustfur had finished Juniper was at a loss for words. She stared at the tom happily the she moved closer.

"Basically what I'm trying to say Juniper w-will…will you be my mate?" The she-cat licked his cheek and stared into his soft golden eyes.

"Yes Dustfur I will." A few moons later the tom was a father of one tom and she-cat named Storm, after his mother, and River, after his home. Dustfur loved them all and he knew he was home.