The journey through the forest was much shorter than Starpaw expected, and the only troubles they came across were just crossing streams. He had finally caught his first prey too, and funny enough it was actually a sparrow! Except, when he caught it the bird was injured and Starpaw, surprising himself even, let it go because he just couldn't bear to kill it for some reason. He made up for it in squirrels, mice, and other prey though at least. And also, though the little journey was very short, Starpaw really could call Sparrow his friend. He was a lot different from when he first ran into him with the squirrel incident too.

"Hey, Starpaw, what do you call a shaved dog?"

"Dunno, what?""A really ugly two-leg!" They both gave a mrrow of amusement, even though the joke was very bad. By now they learned to laugh anyways. The whole time they traveled together they talked and joked, so they grew close enough to laugh even at stupid ones. Starpaw also learned that Sparrow was a lot more immature then he acted, always flinging mud at his face when he got the chance to. So really, the time they spent getting to their destination would have been a lot shorter if it wasn't for all their fun and games. It almost felt like they were brothers. I guess this is how it feels to have a friend outside the kittypet world… Most of the cats he met kind of annoyed him, and he had to force himself to put up a nice act for them.

When they were three quarters through the forest Starpaw noticed something for the first time; Sparrow had a ring-a-ma-bobber dangling from his neck with two sparrow feathers tied to the ring…

"Hey, where'd you get that…?" He motioned to the necklace/collar/whatever it was.

"Oh, this? It's a dream catcher. My father gave it to me as a good luck charm when I was born, telling me it'd keep away bad dreams and nightmares…" Sparrow looked fondly at it, and for a second he almost seemed lost in memories… "He told me the string around my neck was made by horse tail hairs…"

"The herb?" Starpaw blinked, it wasn't green, it was brown!

"No, the animal of course! He also told me that the ring was made of reeds, and that the strings inside of it were made of caught-ten, or something. Obviously the feathers are from sparrows." Sparrow's lip curled, and Starpaw thought for a moment that it quivered.

"Sooo… how'd he get it?" All that handiwork in making it couldn't have been done by a cat!

"Stole it of course." They burst into laughing, before Sparrow continued, "no, actually he found it, on the tallest boulder in our lands, and he knew it must be a gift from our ancestors, and that when his kits were born one should be named Sparrow." Sparrow bit his lip, "when he brought it to camp a past kittypet told him about it, so my father decided to give it to his to-be first born son, who happened to be me..."

From there they were relatively quiet, except at some point they were just being quiet because the other was quiet. Nonetheless, Starpaw knew Sparrow was a lot more mature and sentimental than he acted, and they both continued focusing on getting out of the forest in one piece.

They were very eager to leave too actually. Sometimes through the forest the lighting would increase, and they would both pick up the pace, only to be embarrassed when it darkened again. Each time they smiled sheepishly at one another, and pretend they hadn't been fooled. Though finally, at one point, the lighting continued to grow stronger.

"Hey, we must be nearing the end!" Strawpaw exclaimed, Sparrow nodding in agreement.

"This is definitely the end, I've never been familiar with anything here, but I sure know this!" Sparrow gave a little jig of joy, making them laugh, but Starpaw couldn't help but notice a hint of melancholy in it.

As the trees thinned out Starpaw's fur pricked, the scents of a few other cats lingered about. So Sparrow had been right about there being other cats somewhere in the forest, that, or the tribe was much closer than Sparrow gave him the impression of. Well, either way he could see past the forest now, but sadly all he saw was an abandoned farm, which was a no wonder to why there were cat scents around, and… a few apple trees! Starpaw picked up his pace up even more, wanting to show off his jumping skills even more by grabbing an apple in midflight, and honestly, just plain wanting to try an apple.

He noticed Sparrow had tensed up a bit, and suddenly Starpaw felt a tad confused… and though he did not realize it quickly, he felt the lurking suspicion of betrayal. Could Sparrow have… lied? He was so sincere and honest though before when talking about his tribe! Starpaw saw it in his eyes… So why was Sparrow's tail all in a bunch all of a sudden? Sparrow stopped once they reached the farm, and Starpaw knew his suspicions must be confirmed by this, that or Sparrow had not prepared him for a bunch of not-so-friendly rouges.

"Starpaw of Skyclan…" Sparrow turned, and Starpaw's fur bristled more than it ever could, like death was eminent. "I'm sure you realize already, but I lied to you. I do come from a tribe, but it's already dead and I hardly remember any of it. But how my tribe died was not by the fangs of wolves, but by the teeth and nail of rats, a swarm of rats that flooded the entire camp. And the rats' arrival… was all Skyclans fault. They pretty much chased the rats into our lands. I, and the few others that survived, have lived in this farm for most of our lives, swearing that we'd take our revenge out on any Skyclan cat, or rat, that crossed our paths… and even now, I plan on keeping to that oath. Starpaw, though I can call you a true friend, someone I can trust, you are of Skyclan blood, and I will keep to my vow as promised!"

Sparrow pounced and suddenly there was a flurry of fur. While Sparrow had distracted him with that speech three other cats must have snuck out from the barn! All Starpaw could see was red, all he could feel was the warmth of a liquid staining his fur, and all he could hear were hisses, snarls, and splashing and slashing. He had no idea what he was doing, and he could only flail his claws around helplessly at the other cats. He had not been trained to fight! He was just a kitt- No, he was a Skyclan cat! But any tree he could leap to was too far away…

Suddenly he got a hold of something with his teeth, and he didn't let go. He slowly opened his frightened gold eyes to see why everything had stopped like time was frozen, and they widened in shock. In his mouth hung a limp Sparrow, though he was still alive miraculously. He was injured, and he did not dare make a move for fear it could be his last. This was the first time Starpaw smelt fear scent, and it scared him, just like when he caught that sparrow that didn't even have a chance at escaping. He seemed to just stay like that for an eternity, before he loosened his jaw and let the chunk of flesh fall from his fangs and hit the ground like dead weight. The other cats could not move, and Starpaw nudged the brown and slightly mangled body, his heart skipping a few beats.

Nothing happened, and Starpaw felt his spirit fall and hit the ground with a thump like Sparrow had. Sparrow had betrayed his trust, manipulated him, and deceived him… but he was still his friend, his first friend. And sadly, now, his first fallen friend.

Suddenly Sparrow stirred, and Starpaw lit up, relieved to see his flank slowly rise and fall. The other cats quickly rushed over to him and Sparrow, and Starpaw could have sworn he smelt something that brought him back to the days of his kithood with his mother. But the faint memory vanished as soon as in came. Though Starpaw was left with a feeling that Sparrow was going to be reviving the Tribe of Waking Howls soon.

The three cats had seemed to have forgotten about Starpaw, and were all tending to their friend. Their bond was greater then their lust for revenge apparently, and really… Starpaw could not see the evil that resided in them, even if they wanted his guts shredded by their claws. He bit his lip, before backing away. Sparrow was his friend, but he no longer belonged here. He was ambushed, saved by Starclan, and he had spared Sparrow's life. He had finished crossing his first step back home.

Nodding his head once he turned away and started to pad where his heart led him, flicking his tail as he heard a "thank you" from behind him. He had strayed far from his personal mission, but… it was worth it. Before he was even a fox-length away from the group though he heard a cat call wait. A fat orange tabby she-cat dashed over to him, carrying Sparrow's dreamcatcher in her jaws.

"He wanted to give this to you…" Starpaw knew Sparrow wouldn't just let anyone touch his most precious possession, so the she-cat must have been large for a reason… He looked at the feathers, than nodded, it was important to Sparrow, but he would not give it to him without meaning it.

"Thank you, tell him I'll keep it more close and safe than any cat could imagine." The she-cat smiled, than tied the dream catcher around his neck.

"Starpaw… you be safe as well." Starpaw felt tears well up, before nodding as Sparrow seem to speak through the she-cat. "You're a good cat, I'm sure you'll make it back to Skyclan." Getting up she began to pad back to her mate. Quickly she called over her shoulder to him, "by the way, I'm Glory! Remember it cause Star is gonna be the name of one of my kits!" Starpaw grinned, than nodded.

"I wouldn't forget any of this for the world!" No, he wouldn't. An entire tribe, reduced to four cats, only clinging to revenge as a reason for living, and he of all possible cats, was the one to give them the spirit to build back up. And all he did was spare Sparrow, to show them that they were still alive.