Excitement drove my paws onward into the forest, which was thinning out to be replaced by open rivers and reed beds. We had passed into the territory now, and I had forgotten to be careful due to lack of interaction with clan cats. "Stop! Prey thieves!"

I halted as a patrol of cats prowled up to us. A Riverclan patrol. One of the warriors hissed to his clanmates. "That's not prey, those are kits!"

Another answered, and I felt I should recognize him. It was a golden tabby tom. "They're probably kittypets, let's drive them over the river into Thunderclan territory, they've always been kitty-friends," he sneered. The rest of his patrol meowed agreement.

Bronzeslice. The name flared in my mind, but I stayed quiet. Silently, they surrounded us and, hissing furiously, drove us over the river. Lighting shot an exasperated glance at me. "Are all clan cats that rude?" he asked when they left.

"Not really, the other clans are, but not Thunderclan."

He snorted. "Come on, let's go."

I started to walk but froze almost instantly. We were being watched, eyes peered from the dark forest. "Lightning-" I began, but they burst out of the tree-line and fell on us, spitting hatred. "Get off out territory you Riverclan scum!" one of the cats, probably an apprentice, hissed.

"Back Honeypaw!" another cat growled. He padded up to me, checking over me and his hard gaze turned to confusion and awe. "Phoenixpaw?"

I flinched, and tried to recognize the warrior. His thick, fluffy gray pelt seemed familiar... "Graystripe?" I asked slowly.

His gaze lit up. "Phoenixpaw! And... your mate and kits?"

"Yes, this is Lilykit, Cometkit, and Solarkit." I told him, placing my tail on each one as I said their names.

Lilykit hopped to him. "You smell funny."

Graystripe bent down. "You'll get used to it." He turned to Lightning. "What's your name?"

He puffed out his chest. "Lightning."

"Please, just take me to Pinestar." I pleaded.

Honeypaw snorted. "Pinestar? Mouse-brain! Pinestar's-"

Graystripe flicked his tail over the apprentice's mouth. "She doesn't know let." He turned back to me. "We will take you back to our leader."

"What?" Another cat I hadn't realized in the patrol hissed. It was a brown she-cat with a single black stripe on her back, the dark colors only relaxed by a single white spot in it. "Why would we bring an apprentice in the heart of our clan?" Despite her words that made her seem perfectly loyal, her eyes glowed with menace and her voice made me shiver.

Graystripe turned to her. "Addertail, I understand your concerns, but Phoenixpaw is one of us."

"I remember her. The pathetic weasel that fell into a coma after her first fight. I was a new warrior when you four were born." Her voice turned to a growl. "Which is why I have no clue why you're deputy and I'm not."

"You're deputy Graystripe?"

He sighed. "Yes, and some warriors don't like it." He glanced at Addertail. "Come on, let' get you back to camp."

Graystripe lead me straight towards the leader's den. "Wait," I murmured, and he turned to me. "Can I see Bluefur and Lionheart first?"

Graystripe shook his head slowly. "Follow me." He poked his head into Pinestar's den. "May we come in?"

"Yes, come in," the voice replied, but it wasn't Pinestar.

"Thank you." He beckoned us into the den, and he disappeared on the other side of the lichen. Cautiously, we followed him.

Inside, I was utterly shocked to see who was sitting in Pinestar's nest. "Bluefur! What are you doing in Pinestar's nest? Won't you get in trouble?"

Bluefur flicked her tail. "Graystripe, why have you brought this stranger into my camp?"

"I'm sorry Bluestar, but this is no stranger."

"I stepped forward. "Don't you recognize me? Bluefur, it's me, Phoenixpaw."

"Phoenixpaw?" She repeated, her voice slow.

"Yes."

"And what about the others? The other cats?"

"Bluefur, this is my family, my mate and kits. Lilykit, Cometkit, and Solarkit," I motioned to each one. "And Lightning, my mate."

"You're family? Seems you did well on your own. Now, why did you come back?"

My heart sank. I wasn't wanted anymore. "I came back because this is my home."

Her gaze softened. "Like a true warrior," she murmured. At that, she seemed to remember why I left in the first place. "You killed a Starclan warrior," she pointed out, her voice as confused as if it happened again right in front of her face.

"Yes," I answered quietly. "But Starclan forgave me."

"Come on," she told me, dropping the subject with a sigh. "There is a lot to catch up on."