Leopardfur led Dawnwhisker into the small camp, her heart racing. She prayed Sasha would be receptive to her plan—she hadn't dared mention it in case RiverClan had turned her away.

Dawnwhisker looked worried as well, as though she were nervous about encountering a rogue.

"Sasha?" Leopardfur called. "I brought someone here to see you."

The den rustled, and Sasha slipped out. She looked tired and confused. Her gaze fell on Dawnwhisker, and she bristled. "She smells like the Clans," she hissed. "What's going on?"

"Are you Sasha?" Dawnwhisker asked, her voice gentle. "Leopardfur told me your daughter is sick. I think I can help you."

Sasha's fur flattened and she straightened up, her eyes bright with hope. "Are you a medicine cat?"

Dawnwhisker shook her head. "No, but I'm a warrior of RiverClan. Leopardfur talked to me about bringing your family to stay with our Clan, and I think she's right. We have medicine cats with us who can take care of your daughter and plenty of prey for all of you."

Hawk padded forward, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Leopardfur, do you know her?"

Dawnwhisker crouched down to Hawk's height, and Leopardfur gave him an encouraging nod. "This is Dawnwhisker," she meowed. "She will keep you safe, Hawk."

Hawk leaned closer and sniffed Dawnwhisker's muzzle. "You smell weird!"

Dawnwhisker huffed in amusement. "You'd better keep that to yourself in RiverClan," she chuckled. "Some of my Clanmates offend easier than I do."

Sasha glanced at Leopardfur, her eyes round. "Leopardfur, are you serious? RiverClan?" She looked almost fearful. "I—I don't know if I can bring them there."

"They will be safe there," Leopardfur meowed. "I promised you I would protect them, and this is the best way I can think of. It's Moth's best chance, too."

Sasha glanced at Hawk, then back towards the den. She took a breath. "Okay. We'll go." She looked at Leopardfur once more, her gaze pleading. "You'll come with me, won't you?"

"Of course," Leopardfur replied. Sadness weighed down on her shoulders. But I can't stay with you. She pushed the feeling away. There would be plenty of time for that in her exile. "Fetch Moth," she said. "Let's get her home as quickly as we can."


Sasha pressed against Leopardfur's side as they approached the reed barrier. Dawnwhisker was carrying Moth just a few steps ahead. Leopardfur could smell Sasha's fear-scent even above the strong scent of RiverClan. Her heart was racing as they reached the edge of camp. She feared what her Clanmates would say when they stepped inside the boundary.

Dawnwhisker padded through the reeds. Sasha hesitated just outside them, her eyes round. "Leopardfur," she whispered. "Are you sure?"

Leopardfur nodded wordlessly. She nudged Sasha gently, encouraging the queen forward. Sasha drew her tail around Hawk and they padded together into the reeds.

Leopardfur followed last, steeling herself.

The Clan noticed the arrival slowly, then all at once. First it was a few cats glancing briefly towards the reeds before looking back again, eyes wide. A few more bristled suspiciously. Then the whispers started, and in a heartbeat, it seemed all eyes were on Leopardfur.

The stares did not last long—at least, not for Leopardfur. It was impossible not to notice the pair of kits and complete stranger that had arrived with her. Sasha pressed against Leopardfur again, the fear rolling off her in powerful waves.

"Dawnwhisker?" Silverstream was the first cat to approach them. "What's going on?" Her gaze flicked towards Leopardfur, and her eyes narrowed. "Why did you bring her here?"

Dawnwhisker gently placed Moth on the ground. "This kit needs attention from our medicine cats," she meowed. "I'll explain it all after she's seen to."

Silverstream looked irritated to be dismissed, but with a glance at the ill kit, her expression softened. "Alright," she meowed. "Take her to their den." She looked at Sasha. "Are you her mother?"

Sasha blinked, looking more like a shy fawn than a rogue. "Yes," she meowed. "My name is Sasha. This is my son, Hawk, and that is Moth, my daughter. She's been very sick." She shifted uncomfortably. "My friend Leopardfur told me your Clan would help me."

"Friend?" Silverstream looked flabbergasted. "Sasha, you're… a rogue, yes?"

Leopardfur felt dimly embarrassed that it was such a shock to Silverstream that she would be friends with Sasha.

Sasha nodded. "Yes," she meowed. "I've not come to harm your Clan. I just—" her voice strained. "I just want Moth to be okay."

Silverstream's tail flicked to-and-fro. She was visibly torn between showing sympathy for Sasha and scorn for Leopardfur. "Of course we'll help your kit," she meowed. "I can't imagine Firestar wanting any cat harmed."

The brief scathing tone made Leopardfur wince. She kept her gaze firmly on her own paws. This isn't about me, she told herself. This is for Sasha.

Sasha sighed. "Thank you," she meowed.

"As for you…" Silverstream fixed Leopardfur with a glare. "You need to leave. Now."

Leopardfur met her gaze. She nearly stepped back obediently—but she felt herself stiffen. "No," she growled. "Not until I know Sasha and her family are safe here."

Silverstream's tail lashed. She looked ready to speak again, but she stopped as they all noticed Firestar crossing camp towards them.

"What's going on?" the young tom asked, frowning in confusion. "Why are you back?"

Silverstream quickly reported to Firestar about Sasha and the kits. Hawk remained still by Sasha's side, his eyes wide as an owl's as he took in all around him. Leopardfur curled her tail around him and gave him a reassuring smile. He seemed to relax, his gaze settling on Firestar.

"Of course we'll help," Firestar agreed. "Mudfur and Yellowfang will take care of her, I promise."

"May we stay here while she's being treated?" Sasha asked. "Please… I can't leave her behind."

Firestar nodded without hesitation. "I'll have the apprentices make a nest for you in the nursery, if that's alright with you." He glanced at Hawk and smiled. "There's a couple of other kits that are their age in there, too."

Sasha's shoulders finally slumped. "Thank you so much," she murmured. "I'll do whatever you need to make up for this—I can hunt, or we can be gone as soon as she recovers…"

Firestar shook his head. "Don't worry about that," he purred. "In RiverClan we don't expect nursing queens to hunt unless they want to." He touched his tail to Silverstream's side. "Will you take Sasha and Hawk to the nursery and introduce them to everyone?"

Silverstream shot Leopardfur a strained look, but she nodded. She gestured for Sasha to follow with her tail. Sasha briefly pressed her muzzle to Leopardfur's cheek, and Leopardfur felt dizzy. She pulled away and padded after the deputy.

Hawk hesitated. He looked up at Leopardfur, frowning. "Are you gonna come?"

Claws pierced Leopardfur's heart. She crouched down. "I'm sorry, Hawk," she murmured. "I can't stay. Look after your mother for me."

"What?" Hawk's eyes widened. "You have to stay."

Leopardfur shook her head. "No, Hawk. I'm sorry." She gave him a gentle nudge with her muzzle. "I'll see you again… someday."

Hawk looked confused, but he glanced towards his mother, who was still padding away. "Okay," he murmured, his tail drooping. "I'll miss you, Leopardfur."

Leopardfur gave the tom a lick. "And I you."

Hawk padded after his mother, casting an unhappy glance over his shoulder back at Leopardfur. Her chest felt impossibly tight. I'm sorry, she thought. I wish…

"Leopardfur," Firestar meowed. "Can we talk in my den?"

Leopardfur wanted to sigh, but she nodded. Just send me away and be done with it. Together they padded towards the Leader Den and headed inside.

Firestar sat down. "When did you find Sasha?" he asked.

Leopardfur's gaze fell to her paws. She almost came up with a lie—but what was the point? "I met her shortly after I was exiled," she said. "I attacked her because she was trespassing, until I realized she was a queen."

Firestar's ear twitched, but he did not speak.

Leopardfur shuffled her paws. "She's been living on the edge of the territory. I—I should have told the Clan, or chased her off, I know. But she and her kits were starving, and I won't apologize for helping them. I had no choice but to bring them here."

Firestar blinked. "So you brought them because you had no choice?"

Leopardfur shrugged. She wasn't about to pour out the depth of her feelings to Firestar of all cats—the thought made her want to retch. "What, I can't not want to see a kit die?" she growled. "I've done enough wrong in my life. If I could spare Sasha a little more hardship, I figured I should."

"You care about her," Firestar commented, his gaze strangely warm. "Leopardfur… that was really… nice of you, you know?"

Leopardfur stared blankly at him. It was Firestar's turn to shift awkwardly. She watched him for a heartbeat. In some moments, he still looked like the troublemaking apprentice she had once wanted gone.

"I know I have no right to make requests of RiverClan," Leopardfur meowed. "But I want you to ask Sasha to join RiverClan for good… or at least forgive her for trespassing for so long. She has not had an easy life. She had to make hard choices to protect her kits, and—"

Firestar's gaze softened. "Of course I can ask her," he meowed. "I'm… honestly kind of impressed you would even ask that."

Leopardfur lashed her tail. "Why?"

"You've never exactly been friendly to outsiders," Firestar retorted. Was that a hint of resentment in his voice?

Leopardfur felt a prick of guilt. "I was hard on you," she sighed. "I see that now."

"It's not just me," Firestar meowed, shrugging. "It's not a secret that you don't like cats outside the Clan." He looked thoughtful, and briefly, he seemed hesitant. "Leopardfur… what would you say if I asked you to come back to RiverClan?"

Leopardfur blinked. "What? Why?" Is this a joke? Are you trying to torture me?

"Helping Sasha was surprisingly selfless of you," Firestar meowed. "Do you regret everything you did to get banished?"

Leopardfur's mouth was dry. "Of course I do," she murmured. "I'll say it as many times as any cat needs to hear it. I would take it all back in a heartbeat." She let out a soft sigh. "And…I'm sorry that I exiled you. I was angry and minnow-brained. Perhaps if I had listened… things could have turned out differently."

"Thank you," Firestar meowed, his voice quiet. "I appreciate that." He shook himself slightly. "My offer still stands. RiverClan needs you back, and I believe that you regret what you've done."

Leopardfur's heart soared as it began to sink in. I can come home. It lasted for only a few heartbeats before she frowned. "What will the Clan think?"

Firestar sighed. "Cats are still angry with you," he meowed. "But I think to earn their forgiveness you need to be here, not out there. Can you stay here if you know they haven't forgiven you yet?"

Leopardfur sat very still. Her throat tightened. The hatred and disdain cats had shown her in exile made her want to back away for good. But she thought of her deep misery and loneliness in exile—and, with a sliver of warmth, thought of Sasha—and she straightened her spine. "Yes," she meowed. "I want to be here. I want to come home."

I have to work to earn their forgiveness, she thought. I accept it now.

Firestar nodded. "Alright," he meowed. "There's a few patrols out right now. I'll call a Clan meeting when they return."

Leopardfur felt her limbs beginning to tremble. I'm a RiverClanner again, she told herself. I'm home. "I'd like to go see Sasha," she meowed. "May I?"

"Of course," Firestar replied. "Go ahead."

Leopardfur nearly sprang out from the den like a hare, but she collected herself and padded out calmly. On the inside, she felt as though she could burst. She bounded across camp, ignoring any harsh glances she received. Leopardfur ducked inside.

Sasha was sitting inside, and it looked as though she had been speaking to Beechflower. Featherkit and Stormkit were sniffing Hawk curiously, their tails lifted in a friendly gesture.

"Sasha!" Leopardfur called.

"Leopardfur?" Sasha turned around, her eyes wide. "I—Hawk said you were leaving!"

Leopardfur shook her head. "Firestar said I can stay," she breathed. "I'm not going anywhere."

Sasha purred loudly and was at Leopardfur's side in a flash. She pressed against her, pushing her muzzle into Leopardfur's shoulder. Leopardfur staggered, feeling warm and dizzy. "I'm so glad!" Sasha meowed. She pulled away and lashed Leopardfur with her tail, her eyes gleaming. "I can't believe you thought you could leave without saying goodbye to me, anyway."

"So you're back?" Beechflower asked. Leopardfur met his gaze. He wasn't clearly hostile… but he didn't look friendly, either.

She nodded. "Yes," she meowed.

Beechflower's tail twitched. "Okay." He turned away and returned to arranging a mossy nest.

Leopardfur felt a flash of relief. She wasn't exactly being welcomed back with warmth… but it was better than cats calling for her death. She glanced at Sasha again. How do I tell you it would have hurt too much to say goodbye? Her throat felt tight, but she swallowed it back. There's plenty of time, she told herself. Let Sasha worry about Moth, for now.

Sasha bumped her head against Leopardfur's shoulder, and the warrior returned the gesture, hope warm in her chest. I'm home.


The announcement had been received less furiously than Leopardfur had anticipated. Beetleclaw had seemed to be the angriest, but the worst he did was snarl loudly and return to his den. As she expected, no cat cheered or made a point to welcome her home, but being home at all was enough for her.

Leopardfur crouched near the edge of camp, picking at the remnants of a small fish. Her gaze remained watchful as she ate, observing the comings and goings of her Clan. In a way, it was strange to be home, and to be out in the open. Even in her last days as leader, she had been in complete isolation.

Her ears pricked as she caught the sound of pawsteps approaching. She turned to see Dawnwhisker padding towards her, her expression difficult to read.

Leopardfur sat up abruptly. "Dawnwhisker," she meowed. "Good evening."

Dawnwhisker sat down a fox-length away. She curled her tail around herself, looking uncertain. "You don't have to be so formal," she murmured.

"Sorry," Leopardfur blurted. She shifted her paws. Silence hung over them for several moments, making Leopardfur's pelt lift slightly.

Dawnwhisker's gaze traveled up to the stars. She spoke, finally breaking the silence. "Did you mean it when you said you were sorry?"

Leopardfur's stomach clenched. "Of course I did," she meowed, her throat tight. "I regret so many things, Dawnwhisker…" her voice was thick with grief. "Hurting you, especially. I should have told you about it all from the moment Tigerstar breathed a mention of his ideas to me… StarClan, I shouldn't have done any of it in the first place."

Dawnwhisker nodded briefly. "I want to believe you," she whispered. "I want to, but…"

The but cut Leopardfur to her core. She hung her head and looked away. "You don't have to forgive me," she murmured. "I don't deserve it."

Dawnwhisker sighed. She turned to meet Leopardfur's gaze. "I know I don't have to," she replied. "But I don't want… I don't want you to think you don't deserve anything. I heard about your fight with those BloodClan cats. I don't want—" she took a breath. "Leopardfur, I don't want you to throw your life away. I still…" she hesitated. "I still care about you. So if you want me to forgive you, don't get yourself killed like a minnow-brain, okay?"

Leopardfur blinked in surprise. She felt a storm of emotions as she met Dawnwhisker's gaze. "Okay," she rasped. "I won't."

"Good," Dawnwhisker replied. She shifted her paws and glanced at the nursery. "Do you think Sasha will stay?"

Leopardfur followed her gaze. "I hope so," she meowed. "I think she would fit in well."

Dawnwhisker smiled wistfully. "I can tell you care about her," she said, softly. "I'm… glad she has you."

Leopardfur glanced at her former mate again, her throat dry all over again. "I care about you, too," she murmured.

"I know, Leopard," Dawnwhisker sighed. "I know." She stood up and fluffed out her pelt. "I'm going to sleep," she meowed. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Leopardfur replied. She watched as Dawnwhisker turned and padded away.

Oh, Dawnwhisker… Leopardfur's heart felt as though it had been dragged through a bramble bush. I hope I can show you how sorry I am. She sank her claws into the sand and looked up at the stars.

It had been some time since she could see the sky so clearly, not hidden behind any trees. The deep blue stretched as far as she could see, speckled with all the stars of Silverpelt. Leopardfur stared up at the expanse and felt herself relax.

StarClan, she thought. I'm sorry. Crookedstar, if you can hear me, if you can see me… I'm sorry how I betrayed you. RiverClan was never being ruined by you. I see that now. Leopardfur took in a breath. As long as I live, I swear I'll defend RiverClan, truly. Even if they never look at me the same… I will keep RiverClan strong and safe.

Leopardfur did not expect a response from the stars, and a response she did not receive. But as she watched the night sky, she felt a deep sense of peace settle within her. This was her home, and she would not forget again what it meant to be loyal.