Mistyfoot awoke at the sound of thunder. The last days of green-leaf were coming to and end, the first chill of leaf-fall hung in the air. Mistyfoot started out at the sky. The moon had not yet left the trees. A stillness hung over the camp. She dragged herself wearily out of the warrior's den, shook condensation out of her fur and set off out of camp.
As she wandered among the trees of RiverClan, so did her mind. It was moons since the day that ThunderClan was sheltered on their land. Moons since the day Tigerstar first spoke to Leopardstar. Moons since the day she was held prisoner with her brother and Graystripe's kits. Moons since Stonefur died. So much had happened, so much had changed.
Stonefur was gone and Mistyfoot was lost. Without her brother, she felt as if a piece of her was missing. And what of Bluestar? Now that Mistyfoot knew the truth of her parentage she had a sense of longing and need that she had never felt before. Greypool had been like her mother but the truth remained. Bluestar was their mother. Questions tugged at her mind, always there. Always wanting one more moment with Bluestar, always wanting the answers and the truth of her past.
But Featherpaw had saved her from fear and doubt. The knowledge of being a cat of ThunderClan and RiverClan drew her closer to her apprentice. Featherpaw was the daughter of Graystripe, deputy of ThunderClan. Mistyfoot had been like a sister to Silverstream, watching her kits grow was like watching her own.
A strange thought came to mind while wandering the forest. Featherpaw and Stormpaw would become warriors soon. If felt like yesterday that Firestar, then Fireheart, and Graystripe crossed their borders to bring the kits to the camp.
The sun's first light was peaking over the horizon. Mistyfoot reluctantly turned back to camp. Her duty as deputy overpowered her desire to pad amidst the trees. Leopardstar would be waiting for her when she returned, Featherpaw would be sitting patiently near the entrance to the camp. They looked onto her for help, she looked onto them for the love and support that had left her moons before. Before so much bad had happened.