The trail to the Moonstone went as smooth as the time he first went. They managed to get there before dark took over and slept and ate before finally going into Mothermouth. The cave was just as he remembered dark and had sharp edges but soft voices could be heard if are silent enough.
He could hear voices of the past as they went further and further down, he caught the scent of Goosefeather, Thrushpelt, Rosetail, and others he didn't recognize. The stary scent made almost made him purr and snarl at the same time. It was powerful, no wonder Tiger-roar fled that time.
The light from the stone made his eyes burn like the sun so Raveneye had to guide him to the stone. He didn't flinch when he felt the cold rock hit his nose and let sleep take him.
-Dream Start-
"When I first met you, I never thought you'd get this far but I'm amazed that Bluestar let you stay in the clan long enough to even be in this position"
Icefire opened his eyes and was face to face with a cat he'd been avoiding since Goosefeather dragged him around Starclan, Lionheart. The golden tom's form seemed tall but it didn't seem to hold anger. Icefire could see bite marks on the back of the former deputy's neck, his bite marks when he snapped his neck.
"Been a while" the golden tom mewed
Icefire nodded, not knowing what to say or what he was supposed to say in this situation.
"Thunderclan seems to be doing well with you as deputy" he continued "I'm glad, I'm also glad you are a good influence on Cinderfrost and Brackenfang and I know Frostbite sees you as a son-"
"I didn't kill you to be deputy" he blurted out
"I know" Lionheart replied "well I realized later on but at first I was enraged"
"Understandable"
"Is Bluestar the only one who knows?"
"Her and Nightshade, I truly believe she was going to kill you but I beat her to it. At least you were killed to end your suffering and not for some agenda"
"Wish I was lucky" For a moment Icefire felt fear when he thought it was Birdshade but he blinked and realized it was Leopardfoot "My own daughter seemed to want my death"
"I'm sure Nightshade cared but hid it"
"Maybe but I never raised her or Tiger-roar to be killers" she padded forward "I'm sorry"
"Why are you-"
"We are sorry" Adderkit looked bigger and more lively than he had been when alive
"A..Adderkit?"
"Adderfoot" he corrected "I got a warrior name like Birdshade"
"That's wonderful" he mewed
"Could you tell Cypressflower to not blame herself for my death or how Voletail turned out?" Adderfoot asked
"I will"
The world around them started to shake, Lionheart wore an annoyed expression "Our time is up, we must be going"
"Shame" Leopardfoot drawled "We will talk again Icefire"
-Dream Ends-
Icefire breathed softly as he woke. The others still slept except for Raveneye. The black cat's pelt turned gray in the moonlight. Their purple and yellow eyes glowed with affection but he wore a smirk on his face.
"Someone talked to me"
He motioned for them to move. They sat close to the entrance, huddled close together.
"Robinwing came and yelled at you" he guessed
"Something like that" Raveneye admitted, flicked his tail "I took her feathers out of spite in her funeral you know, I'm surprised she's in Starclan"
That made him want to gag. A wretched cat like her was allowed into their ranks?
"Did she say anything about Wrenfeather's attack?"
"Yep, let's leave it at that Raveneye replied "Who did you see?"
"Leopardfoot" it wasn't a lie, he didn't want to talk about his experience with Lionheart "She said she was sorry for her kits mistakes"
"She shouldn't be" Raveneye mewed "She didn't do anything wrong" he began grooming Icefire's ears and in turn Icefire curled his tail over Raveneye's back. They stayed like that until the others started waking up.
Milkpaw pounced "Well I saw-" Goldenflower shushed her "It's for you and you only to know"
"We should head out" Willowpelt mewed "I'd like to head back to camp as soon as possible"
"Let's hurry then" Seedspots replied, she quickly dashed out of the den with Cottonpaw following after. They managed to hurry out of Mothermouth but were stopped by four figures, Nightlight, Barley, Rose, and Jacky.
"Rook?" Seedspots sneered "What are you doing here and not in your twoleg den?"
"We found Cloudpaw" Nightlight replied, her blue collar jingling slightly
Icefire's eyes widen "Are you sure?"
"Yes" she mewed "I may have left but I remember what he looks like, These three found him and I identified him"
"What are we waiting for?" Meadowpaw purred "Let's go get him"
"Wait" Seedspots hissed, grabbing the apprentice by the tail.
"Is he happy where he is?" Icefire asked
"He didn't look pleased" Rose mewed "Looked right spooked"
"Who cares?" Seedspots rolled her eyes "He chose kitty life like you did Rook, he's fine where he is now let's go back home"
"No" Willowpelt mewed "If Cloudpaw is unhappy than that means we should go get him, right Icefire?"
"It's your call" Goldenflower admitted
Icefire sighed "Let's go and we will ask Cloudpaw ourselves"
Bluepaw has seen many strange things but never did she think Leopardfur and Silverstream being together crossed her mind. It was like a fish and a squirrel were together.
Her and her siblings weren't spotted but they did end up asking about it. Silverstream didn't even know how to respond, he was just as confused as they were.
She gazed at her reflection, narrowing at the flower that was twined to her ear fur, a black eyed bee meaning encouragement and motivation in her case, the other meaning was justice. Shadepelt got a calla lily meaning magnificence and beauty, Blackpaw got a gladiolus meaning strength of character, faithfulness, and honor, and Darkpaw got an orchid meaning exotic beauty.
"That flower suits you" Stormstar mewed, his flower crown laying close by. Featherkit was sleeping soundly around his tail. The kit was honestly a joy to be around.
"Thanks, Grandpa" she replied, her gaze moved to the flower crown "Who gave you your flowers?"
Stormstar chuckled "The gladiolus was given by Brambleberry and the amaryllis was given by Rainclaw, Willowbreeze, and Bluestar"
"Bluestar?, were you still in a relationship?" she asked somewhat nervously
"Publicly no" he replied, his voice soft "I'll always love her, in Starclan will be truly happy"
Those words filled Bluepaw's heart "I'm glad Half-clan relationships aren't bad like others say"
Stormstar pulled Featherkit close, her paws clinging on his belly fur "No they aren't, you can't help who you love sometimes" he looked up, his blue eyes teasing "Why? you crushing on someone in another?"
Bluepaw felt her fur grow hot, she didn't tell anyone about this and she was not having this talk with her grandfather of all cats "N..No" she replied
"Well I have seen you around that apprentice Shadowclan apprentice-"
"What about the forget-me-nots?" She was not having this talk.
Stormstar seemed to curl his tail in amusement "Those are from me, I like these flowers and I'll admit Willowbreeze and Bluestar got me into them-" Stormstar started coughing
"Grandpa?" Bluepaw mewed, she pulled Featherkit close to her.
"I'm..fine" the gray tabby replied with a rasp
"Should I get Mudfur?"
"I don't want to worry him, probably something in my throat"
"You worry me, I could get you some honey"
Stormstar opened his mouth but was stopped by another bout of coughing but this time, blood came out.
Bluepaw felt her fur shoot out from her body "I'm getting Mudfur"
"I hate dogs!" Seedspots hissed "Filthy furballs"
"We all do, now shut your mouth" Goldenflower snapped
Icefire was looking into the window, trying to get a glimpse of Cloudpaw. He spotted a dog, it was barking and running between the human's legs. The human reached down and patted the noisy mutt, Icefire hissed under his breath, then sat up in surprise as Cloudpaw strolled through a doorway into the room. When the dog rushed up to Cloudpaw he was surprised that Cloudpaw didn't freak out and just ignored it.
"How's he so calm?" Maplepaw mewed "I would swat that mutt's face"
"Can he see us?" Meadowpaw asked
Icefire ignored them, trying to subtly gain Cloudpaw's attention by waving his paw slightly. It worked when Cloudpaw let out a delighted yowl. It alerted the humans and Icefire jumped down in an instant.
"What's wrong?" Raveneye asked
"Cloudpaw saw me but so did the twoleg" he replied "Get ready to grab Cloudpaw and run"
The human let out a yell of annoyance "Stupid cats, I already set food out" it said. It seemed to zoom forward, three more following. They were all trapped.
"Quick! this way!" Cloudpaw yowled, the white tom ran out the doorway and ran across teh grass
"Move! Move!" Icefire ordered
They kept running and running. The humans words became nothing but distant yelling and the howling of dogs became softer and softer.
They stopped sometime after, panting and some of them falling over.
Cloudpaw rubbed himself against his sisters then did the same with Icefire "Thanks for coming"
As much as he was glad his nephew was back, he needed to say it.
'Do you want clan life?" he mouthed
The young cat lifted his chin, his eyes clouded "Of course! I've learned lesson"
"Have you?" Seedspots growled padded forward "You would've kept going if the twolegs didn't take you"
Cloudpaw shook his head, he looked for any cat for defense but Icefire glares at his nieces to be silent. Cloudpaw needed to do this himself.
"Why should me believe you?" Tansypaw asked
"You came to find me, so you want me back" Cloudpaw replied
"We need trust!" Milkpaw snapped, startling her siblings "You ditched the clan for kittypet life, ditched me, Cottonpaw, Meadowpaw, and Snowfeather, what's stopping us from thinking you'll do the same?"
"I didn't choose" Cloudpaw replied, his blues pleading "I was taken"
Milkpaw looked away, she unexpectedly ran for it.
"Milkpaw!" Cloudpaw yowled running after his sister.
"Starclan, help me" Icefire growled chasing after them, the group following.
Milkpaw had reached the highest part of the uplands, where deserted badger sets lay, the sun lifted its head above the horizon and sent a wave of golden light across the heather.
"Milkpaw, come back!" Meadowpaw called running after them with Cottonpaw and Cloudpaw trailing. Tansypaw and Maplepaw were about to follow when Seedspots stopped them with her tail.
"Let them" Seedspots mewed "Milkpaw's heading back to camp, I can smell it"
"And I smell Thunderclan intruders!"
The group spun around, their fur bristling. Rushtail was the lead of the patrol, his tail held high and eyes filled with disgust. A rustle in the heather revealed Robinpelt, Whitewhisker, Thrushwing,Pigeonwing with his apprentice, Smokepaw.
His niece looked nervous when she spotted him, she looked like she really didn't want to be here.
"We mean no harm" Goldenflower mewed
"We came here on a rescue mission, nothing more" Raveneye added
"That's not what this looks like" Rushtail snarled
"Rushtail, we should go" Whitewhisker mewed
"We were on a trip to the moonstone" Tansypaw snapped
"Then we found Cloudpaw-" Maplepaw was cut off by Willowpelt
"I say we fight" Smokepaw hissed
"You're outnumbered if you try" Icefire retorted "We want no harm but we will fight if you don't let us pass"
Rushtail hissed and launched forward, crashing into Icefire and starting a battle. Icefire landed a sharp swipe at Rushtail's shoulder, blood dripping onto the grass. Rushtail tried to grip his shoulders to slam him but Icefire dodged and bit into the brown tom's leg. Rushtail in turn landed a blow on his flank.
Maplepaw was wrestling with Smokepaw, striking the gray tabby across the face. Goldenflower and Pigeonwing were locked, both on their hind legs and front legs around each other necks. Robinpelt was pinned by Willowpelt, the gray queen was stronger than she looked. Raveneye and Tansypaw were ganging on Thrushwing while Seedspots was trading blows with Whitewhisker.
"What is going on?" Deadfoot's yowl boomed through the heather "Rushtail? did you do this?"
"They were trespassing Deadfoot!" Rushtail replied
"As far as I know, they were trying to get to an apprentice having a moment" Deadfoot hissed
Cloudpaw, Meadowpaw, Cottonpaw, and Milkpaw were grouped together, Whitetail and Webfoot behind them. Milkpaw and Cloudpaw seemed to have worked out their issues by the looks of it.
"I'm sorry you were attacked" Deadfoot mewed "Take the apprentices and go, Rushtail you and I will have a chat with Duskstar when he get back"
/
They traveled swiftly through the forest, which was ringing with birdsong and thick with tempting smells of prey. Icefire raced through the gorse entrance, ignoring the ache in his side.
A few early waking cats were sunning themselves at the edge of the clearing, Whitestorm was first to approach them.
"I'm glad you're back safely"
Icefire dipped his head apologetically "Sorry you all worried, we would've been back sooner but we had to grab one more cat" he flicked his tail towards Cloudpaw
"Cloud!" Snowfeather yowled rushing over to her son "You're safe"
"What happened to you all?" Miststrike asked
"Windclan" Raveneye replied
"We'd thought you'd gone to live with twolegs" Whitestorm mewed, his gaze rested on Cloudpaw who returned it
"Yes" Darkstripe's mew sounded lazily across the clearing. He lay outside the nursery. "We understood you decided to join kittypet life" He pushed himself to his paws and padded to Whitestorm's side.
The other cats watched, waiting for a response from Cloudpaw.
"I was taken by force" Cloudpaw mewed
"Knew that" Ashpaw replied "Wouldn't have left without a fight"
"Typical twolegs!" Speckletail called
"Nightlight and the farm cats found me" Cloudpaw added, he turned back at the group "They came to rescue me"
"And fought Windclan?" Chivestalk asked
"Yes" Seedspots replied "Sent them running"
"Cloudpaw fought like a warrior" Meadowpaw mewed
"Is that it?" Darkstripe asked "Do we take him back?"
"We'll see Darkstripe" Bluestar's voice made everyone turn. Her gaze was locked onto Cloudpaw "Come" she said simply then walked back to her den. Cloudpaw only followed his mentor.
Icefire released a breathe he didn't know he was holding when Snowfeather rubbing herself against him "Thank you"
He only hummed in reply as he felt Cinderfrost check his wounds.