The camp seemed to be frozen in time. Cats stared in shock, even Brambleclaw looking at her in a new light. The brown-and-white cat who had dropped her meal had tears pooling in her eyes, as well as the flame-coloured tom. A light ginger cat could be seen emerging from the lichen, also crying.
Slash didn't know what to think. She barely remembered her old home before BloodClan, only knowing that there was one. Could it be possible that she was from here? Maybe her thoughts were the reason for the sudden slowing of time, but even as Slash straightened up, aware that even here there could be threats, the camp did not move back into focus. The pair of cats out of the rock-den were still frozen, the camp still silent but for the call of a blackbird above them.
Finally the world snapped back into focus as she was engulfed by fur.
"Oh, my kit, you're alive!" The light ginger one called.
"I can't believe it… StarClan has spared you." The darker one told her.
The brown-and white tabby said nothing, but moisture dampened Slash's fur where her head was.
Finally they emerged, leaving Slash to stare in shock.
"I'm sorry." The dark ginger one told her. "It must be pretty confusing for you."
"Yeah, it is. I just got here, ready to join or leave, and now I have family here?"
"You will always have family here. I'm Firestar, leader of ThunderClan and your father. Your mother is Sandstorm and this is Leafpaw, your sister."
"Nice to-" she fumbled for the word. "-re-meet you, I guess. I'm Slash – apparently I'm your daughter?"
"You are – I've never forgotten your chest marking."
It was true – she had a tuft of white fur on her chest that resembled a misshapen heart if a cat looked closely.
Slash nodded, satisfied.
"I don't know if you want to return to your previous name, but Sandstorm and I called you Squirrelkit."
"I'd prefer to return to Squirrelkit if that's alright. Slash is a name for a less happy time."
"Of course. But you wouldn't necessarily be called Squirrelkit. We Clan cats have a tradition of changing a cat's suffix throughout their life. Since you are not a kit and not old enough to be a warrior, you will be an apprentice, taking the paw suffix and learning the ways of the Clan."
"Thank you."
"It was never a problem. Thank you, Brambleclaw, for bringing her back."
"W-well it wasn't intentional." The tabby stammered. "I met her near Twolegplace a-and kept meeting her. I didn't recognise her, but we started to become f-friends and then m-mates. If you wish to p-punish me then I'll gladly accept it."
"Warrior codes don't always encompass all the good in the world. Graystripe can attest to that. Now, Brambleclaw, you'll want to rest – Graystripe's putting you on evening patrol."
"Thank you, Firestar. May I stay for Squirrelkit's apprentice ceremony?"
"Of course."
Firestar leaped onto the large rock, eyes shining.
"Squirrelkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Squirrelpaw. Your mentor will be Dustpelt. I hope he passes on all he knows to you."
A brown tabby emerged from the crowd, eyes gleaming.
"Dustpelt, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have received excellent training from Redtail," he told the warrior, putting emphasis on the warrior named, "and you have shown yourself to be loyal and steady. You will be the mentor of Squirrelpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."
She hesitantly padded up to Dustpelt, who leaned forward. Her first instinct was to jump back – proximity in the alleys never meant anything good – but then she heard a small whisper to touch her nose to his from her mother. Flame rose in her cheeks. Of course, they wouldn't wound an apprentice! She hesitantly did as asked, greeted by cheers from the Clan. Her sister moved over to her. "We should check you over. BloodClan aren't known for being the most hospitable."
Squirrelpaw was led into a den filled with the scents of leaves, where her sister inspected her critically.
"You have an infected cut on your flank."
"That's been there a while. It hasn't stopped me from hunting."
"It doesn't matter if it stops you from doing things, you need to get it treated. Now lie down and hold still. I'm going to put some marigold on it."
Squirrelpaw did as instructed, and Leafpaw had a leaf bundle of cobweb and a yellow flower, which Squirrelpaw presumed was marigold. She applied some crushed marigold to the area before covering it in cobweb.
"There, that should stop it from getting worse. You have nothing else that's fresh, and I reckon some good prey will fatten you up. Tell Dustpelt that you're not to do any training today. Medicine cat's orders."
She nodded. "Thank you, Leafpaw."
"You're very welcome. I'm just glad to have you back."
Squirrelpaw smiled. "I'm glad to be back."
That night, she slept in the apprentices' den. The breathing of cats was nothing new to her, but the softness of the moss felt alien to her. Eventually, tucking her tail under her nose, she managed to sleep.
AN: This was always meant to be a short fic, and it will remain as such. Feel free to take this idea and run with it, though!