A.N.

I don't own the Warriors franchise.

Chapter 2

At Squirrelflight's cry Cloudtail shot past Brambleclaw his fluffy white tail streaming behind him. Brambleclaw quickly followed startled by Squirrelflight's words, his warriors stayed close behind. He had almost reached them when a familiar sight, and scent made him freeze.

There on the beach laid Firestar, the Thunderclan leader was unmoving and for a second Brambleclaw feared they had lost him before he had even come back. Then he realized it was not the wind moving his old mentor's fur but Firestar himself with each shallow breath he took.

"Someone go get a medicine cat. I think Jayfeather is with Mothingwing," Brambleclaw said unable to look away from the scene before him.

Cloudtail and Squirrelflight were both attempting to rouse Firestar. Squirrelflight was roughly licking the top of his head while Cloudtail crouched next to her saying something Brambleclaw couldn't quite make out. Then suddenly all four clans were surrounding them the medicine cats from each looking over Firestar.

"He's not injured and he's breathing. I don't know why he's not conscious though," Jayfeather Thunderclan's medicine cat said. His blind eyes turned to Brambleclaw piercing his soul.

"So there's nothing you can do?" He asked him.

"No."

Brambleclaw's gaze traveled past Jayfeather and to the sight of his mate desperately trying to wake her father, whose appearance was still unexplained.

"We could try water," Mothwing offered.

Every cat looked at her.

"You know the lake is cold we could get some water from there and try splashing some on him. It could jolt him awake."

Jayfeather was nodding "It might work."

No cat had to be told what to do. Several Riverclan warriors sprung into action grabbing shells from the shore of the lake and swam out to fill them up. Once they reached the shore again they were handed off to Thunderclan warriors who looked at Brambleclaw for guidance. He turned to Jayfeather.

"We have the water now," he said softly, informing the medicine cat.

"I know that!" He snapped, then turned to the waiting warriors. "Come over here and on my cue dump the water. Squirrelflight, Cloudtail, you might want to take a step back."

Cloudtail got up, and gently guided Squirrelflight to Brambleclaw. She pressed herself against him.

"We could get him back Brambleclaw. We could get him back, and then he could finish training you in how to be a leader, and Sandstorm would be happy again!"

Brambleclaw nodded realizing how much the clan would benefit from the return of a strong, wise leader, and the recovery of the clan's best hunter. Ever since Firestar's death Sandstorm had been stricken with grief, unable to do much else she was moved to the elder's den. Graystripe and his mate Millie slept with her there watching out for her, and taking care of their warrior duties during the day.

Jayfeather's voice pulled him from his thoughts and he looked up just in time to the signal be given.

"Now!" Jayfeather ordered.

Water splashed down onto Firestar and the cats watched as his body jumped slightly at the sudden cold. They waited watching him closely. Slowly but surely emerald green eyes began to open. They were clouded with confusion, but open.

Squirrelflight raced to her father's side.

"Father!"

He turned and looked at her, blinked a few times, then looked at all the cats around him.

"What happened? Why are you all here?" He asked his voice slurred as though he had been asleep for a while.

"Why are we here? How are you here?! You died!" Squirrelflight said.

"Died…" Firestar echoed. "That's right I was in Starclan."

"But now you're here with us Firestar back where you belong," Brambleclaw said making his presence known to the Thunderclan leader.

"And you're exhausted and soaking wet. We need to get you home Firestar there will be next gathering for you to explain everything," Jayfeather said.

The fiery colored tom didn't argue and with the help of Cloudtail and Lionheart, Jayfeather's brother, they began to help a weak Firestar back to camp. Brackenfur began to follow but Brambleclaw stopped him.

"Wait for us at the training hollow," he ordered his clanmates.

Several tails waved in acknowledgement.

"I want to make sure the other clans get off our territory," he whispered to Brackenfur who nodded.

"We appreciate your help, but Firestar will need time to recover if you all would be so kind as to let Thunderclan tend to him we would be grateful and will pass news through border patrols," Brackenfur explained to the waiting clans. The two thunderclan warrior's waited and wondered what would happen if the others disagreed with them.

Finally Mistystar spoke. "That seems fair enough to me Riverclan looks forward to news."

"Windclan agrees with the request," Onestar said.

"As does Shadowclan. Give our best wishes to Firestar," Blackstar said over his shoulder as he led his cats off Thunderclan territory and to their own.

Brackenfur stood next to Brambleclaw as the three other clans left their territory.

"Let's catch up with the others. Jayfeather will want to get Firestar back to camp as soon as possible," Brambleclaw said.

Brackenfur fell in step with him as they headed further into Thunderclan territory. Brambleclaw glanced up at their starry ancestors.

Thank you for sending him back to us.