Honestly never thought I'd return to this story but here I am. When my computer crashed ages ago, I lost all personality descriptions for my toms, so I'm just winging them. Hope all my readers are still about. I'm sure everyone moved on because even I moved on for a while - but I'm back now and I hope you all are back too.

What has happened so far?: Blossomfrost escaped OakClan with the help of Mintswip and made it across the river with the help of Jay the loner. She meet up with BloomClan and told them about the rival clan across the river. Petalstar, BloomClan's leader, took most of her she-cat warriors from camp and is currently leading them across the river. Her intentions when reaching OakClan are unknown.

Breezepaw of OakClan got captured on a patrol and was taken, unconscious, across the river by Danger's Rogues and sold to BloomClan. He briefly lost his memory but recovered it after Petalstar took her large patrol of she-cats out of camp. He managed to convince the toms to leave with him with the help of Fox, one of Danger's rogues. He's currently in a camp outside BloomClan, waiting to move across the river. His position as leader of the band is perilous and is his authority.

Time: Day 6

Character: Breezepaw of OakClan

"Rise and shine," I shouted at the lazy toms all laying on the ground all about me. They were probably the most pathetic bunch I had ever seen, but they would have to do. I hated to admit, but I needed them. Without them, Fox was all I had and there was no way I trusted him.

But I needed to bring back at least capable fighters if I hoped to avoid Nightclaw's wrath. He'd smack me till I blacked-out if all I brought him was more mouth to feed.

"Get up, you lazy pieces of mousedung," I shouted again.

Under my watchful eyes, the toms slowly started to stir. Too slowly and too weakly.

"See what food you can find," I instructed Fox, "I'll begin teaching them how to fight." Fox rolled his eyes at me but followed my orders nonetheless. Phew, one crisis avoided today already.

"The sun's not even up," commented Beartalon, one of the youngest tom's in the group, "what are we doing up?"

"You're not going to learn to fight by sleeping," I scoffed at him.

"I don't want to learn to fight," squealed Duskkit.

I was already beginning to regret by decision to grab him. At the time, it seemed the perfect idea to strike at the dumb queens. Well, Nightclaw always said I was impulsive. Just thinking of Nightclaw's disapproval made me want to strike at something and dumb little Duskkit was the perfect target.

But just as I raised my paw, Stromclaw intervenes by grabbing Duskkit. "Of course you want to learn to fight, little one," he says calmly, "Don't you want to prevent Bightkit from hurting you? Don't you want to not hurt anymore?"

"Of course not," he squeaks, "but fighting hurts. And Breezepaw is a bully."

"And your she-cats aren't?" I snarkly reply back. "You are so used to getting bullied. Just listen to me already." My rage kind of cowed them down, the docile little things they are. "I'm going to show you how to fight and you are going to copy everything I do. Understand?"

My statement was followed by nine heads quickly bobbing up and down. Nearly all the toms in the Clan. A couple refused to follow me, but that's their own problem. Actually probably made my life easier by removing the ones most likely to complain or be sympathetic to the she-cat.

The next hour of my life consisted of attempting to teach the biggest kits I've ever meet how to fight. Stormclaw and Secretthorn were the only ones with any aptitude. The group of them even had me missing Pinepaw, who was the biggest mousebrain ever, but at least he knew how to fight. Nightclaw would not have stood for any of the nonsense I was dealing with.

Duskkit even ran away once and I had to send Adderblaze after him. Now that cat may not be a good fighter, but he was quick. Maybe he could still be useful. The others probably couldn't even be useful guards - half the time they couldn't even see a paw swipe coming down right in front of their faces. When Secretthorn knocked Beartalon, the young tom tripped over a tree branch and exposed his stomach in possibly the least graceful fighting move I'd ever seen.

Fox came back with a fish and two sparrows about that time. I was ready to find the river and throw myself into it, so he really was a life-saver. Not that I would ever tell him that.

He took a quick glance at Wolftalon attempting to knock over Spacetalon and basically just threw the prey in the dirt. "I see you've accomplished nothing in the time I've been gone," he snorted at me.

I bristled at his comment. "You wouldn't have been able to do any better," I snapped back at him. "It's not like I had anything to work with."

I saw Fox slowly take a step towards me, but there's was no way I was going to back down from whatever he was going to do. Had to stand my ground; that's what any OakClan warrior would do and I was basically guaranteed to be made a warrior upon my return.

Stormclaw must have seen Fox's intention too because he stepped away from Tigerblaze, who he was practicing with, to move between us.

"I have no clue what issues you guys have," he told us, "but you need to solve whatever they are so we can get where we need to go. Breezepaw, it sounds like you don't know how to get across the river. And Fox, it sounds like you don't know where this OakClan camp is. So I'm pretty sure you both need each other, and we need both of you."

Mouse dung, that dumb kittypet was right. I was blacked out most of my trip across the river and as a consequence, had no idea where I was right now. Not that I would ever admit it.

"Let's just eat and getting going," I announced, somewhat sullenly.

Fox smirked at me but didn't contradict what I said so I took that as a victory. Nightclaw would be so proud of me, being respected as a leader and everything. They'd name me Breezetalon or Breezestorm, something to show how strong I was. With my chest all puffed up, I grabbed the bigger of the two birds and took it over to the three toms who should be apprentices.

Beartalon immediately tore into it, but Spacetalon and Wolftalon waited until I had eaten a couple bits to begin to tear in. I had to cure them of this patience and weakness before we got to OakClan because it just would not be tolerated.

Minutes later we were ready to roll out. Duskkit complained about still being hungry. I was about to snap at this useless piece of fur when Tigerblaze whispered something to him that shut him up.

"That's his father, you know," Stormclaw whispered to me. I hadn't realized that but I didn't say anything. "You think you are so much better than us, but you know nothing about us. We are so much stronger than you think."

"Yeah, I doubt that," I quickly retorted. I was saved from having to say anything else because Fox flicked his tail, and we began to file away.

Time: Night of Day 6

Character: Blossomfrost of BloomClan (formerly OakClan)

I felt like I was going to throw up the vole I had just eaten. Piper, followed by Petalstar, had just walked onto the thunderpath and the rest of the Clan was lining up to fall behind. Lightcloud briefly hesitated, and I saw Leopardheart snap at her.

I had already crossed it once with Jay but that seemed like a lifetime ago. That's when I thought I was heading to a better life; now I'm heading back to the one I had just escaped from. I was heading back and bringing death with me.

Quickstreak must have sensed my uneasiness because she pushed her way next to me. "No need to worry, Piper has never lost a cat to this crossing. I doubt she plans on starting now."

I smiled because I sensed that's what she wanted me to do, but she had completely miss-guessed the reasons for my misgivings. Getting attacked by a monster was something that used to happen daily to me. It was not understanding that monsters that I was standing among that made me uneasy. Of course I didn't trust them, but they were better than what I had had before. Stepping on the thunderpath with everyone just felt very final to me, and I didn't think I was ready to make that decision yet.

And then I was next. I could see Leopardheart looking down on me like I was weak, like I deserved everything that had happened to me. No, I wouldn't except that any longer. So, in that split second, I decided to be a BloomClan warrior. I stepped up on the thunderpath and walked like I deserved to be there.

The rough ground scratched at my paws but in the couple days of my freedom, they had toughened up a lot.

Everyone was moving slowly. I think everyone was battling conflicted emotions about what we were going to do. I think I even heard Duskfern whispering if Petalstar was even doing this for the right reasons.

"I think all Petalstar wants is more toms for us to mate with," she whispered to Lightcloud. "I'm all for getting a mate, but this is not the way to do it. I have a feeling that those she-cats are just going to be put down as collateral damage."

"Just have faith in Petalstar," comforted Lightcloud. "She'll do what she thinks is right."

"That's what I'm afraid of," she responded.

And their conversation died off because all of a sudden because the lights of a monster began barreling down upon us.

My knees locked. Both Petalstar and Leopardheart were shouting orders, but no one could hear them over the roar of the monster. Not that we needed orders; everyone collectively decided that pressed against the cold barrier was the best place to be.

I heard someone muttering prayers to StarClan, and I think I heard another cat crying. The eyes of the monster kept getting closer and closer and the sound became nearly deafening. I heard myself vowing that if I survived, I'd make sure all my friends survived and were not just "collateral damage". I closed my eyes as the sound of the monster matched with the river rushing below me drowned everything out.

And then as quickly as it had come upon us, it was over. As we all unfolded away from the barrier, I heard tears and thanks from every cat. But Brightpaw, who just started laughing like it was all a joke.

"That was awesome," I heard her shout. "You were all so scared, but I wasn't."

Both Moonstripe and Petalstar went to confront her. Whatever they were saying was lost to me because they whispered too quietly.

"This is why we shouldn't have brought kits to do a warrior's job," complained Ferretclaw. "They just don't understand the seriousness of everything we do. Our job is not a joke and a good deal of fear is healthy. Back in my day."

And before she could continue, Spiritclaw interrupted her. "Don't get stared on one of your rants," she joked, "we've already been almost killed once. We don't need to be bored to death."

I heard Stormbreeze, Quickstrike, and Lightcloud attempting to stifle their laughter, and I found myself wanting to laugh to. And just like that, our near death experience had been washed away. I really was stronger than I had ever been before.

"Rally yourself," shouted Leopardheart. "We're over halfway across. Just a couple of fox-lengths through the Twoleg camp and another bridge, and we can stop for the night."

There was some good natured groaning but everyone got up and continued walking. It was mostly silent as I believed everyone was still on edge expecting another monster. I, however, was weirdly calm, and felt my thoughts drifting over to Moonfrost and wondering how she was dealing. She was a strong cat, but we were always stronger together. "Please StarClan," I prayed, "Don't let Pinepaw hurt her. Don't let anyone hurt her. Let them all stay strong until I get there."

Soon I was dead on my feet and barely getting one in front of the other. My stomach was rumbling but there was nothing I could do; I couldn't separate from the group and even if I did, I didn't know how to hunt. I was on the black, rough dirt then back on grass and then on a smooth tree. It all made no difference because I was just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Eventually, the column stopped which broke my stupor. "What's going on?" I asked Quickstreak who had been walking beside me for some time.

"I think we're stopping for the night," she responded. "At least I hope so, my old muscles aren't as good as they once were and they desperately need a rest."

Hearing how tired she was, I no longer felt any shame in wanting to stop either. Everyone was tired, and it wasn't just because I had lived all my life in a cave. With that, I collapsed on the ground, ready to fall asleep right there and not care.

Then, Leopardheart was standing right over me. "Get up," she commanded. "Petalstar needs to speak to you." When she saw my hesitation to get up, she added a firm, "Now."

Wearily, I rose to my feet to follow her. I was too tired to protest, and if I was honest with myself, I had been raised not to protest so I knew this was the easier and quicker way to get back to by bed.

Petalstar was deep in a conversation with Lightcloud and Stormbreeze about something. I vaguely heard a mention of kits when Stormbreeze stormed off. Petalstar saw me, said a couple more words to Lightcloud, and then dismissed her. Lightcloud didn't look pleased with whatever happened but I was too tired to ask why. When I had the energy I'd make sure to ask - Lightcloud reminded me of Moonfrost. She had a certain fierceness about her that only showed when those she loved were affected.

"Blossomfrost," started Petalstar, snapping me about of the little trance I had fallen in, "can you direct us to a good place to camp? I don't want to leave us unprotected in this hostile territory."

"The first time I'd ever seen outside the camp was when Jay brought me over here," I told her honestly. "I have no clue where we are let alone where to camp. Here seems as good as any since everyone is dead on their feet."

Then her black paw came out and swiped me across the face. I was so taken aback in shock that I just stood there. My brief faith that I had found something better shattered before me.

"You dumb she-cat," said Petalstar with almost no emotion, "Why did I even welcome you into this Clan if you know nothing? Just another mouth to feed, like your friends would be."

"My friends would have more spirit while fighting than anyone in this Clan," I snapped back at her, all my old ferocity at injustice coming to the surface. "You just wait and see. I'll get them and show you."

Petalstar did an old technique trying to establish dominance, walking close to me and trying to fluffing her fur to seem bigger. "You will do no such thing," she commanded. "Since I've suffered to give you food and shelter these last couple days, you are a part of this Clan despite your shortcomings. You obey my orders like everyone else."

Obeying orders didn't get me to where I was today but pretending I was did, so I simply nodded. Then to show I wasn't cowed by her, I turned and walked away without waiting to be dismissed. It was a small thing, but the small things got me through many moons.

Quickstreak approached me as I walked away. "Wanna bed down the night with me and Ferretclaw? We've decided we're not moving anymore for the night, and she went to go collect moss."

"Actually, I want to bed down for the night by myself. This day has been so long and I could use some alone time."

"Understandable," replied Quickstreak, hiding disappointment well if she was disappointed, "but if you ever want to join us, there's always a spot."

I found by own spot on the edge of the small clearing where everyone had bedded down. I made sure it was a particularly uncomfortable spot to help me stay awake long past when the rest of camp fell asleep. I saw the guards Petalstar posted go to their positions but they were looking for intruders, not for cats escaping from the camp.

And now I waited. My eyelids felt so heavy, and I was so hungry and tired; I just wanted to pass out and forget everything that hurt, but I knew I couldn't. Moonfrost and the others were depending on me.

So after what seems like forever, every cat's eye in the camp closed and even the sentry's were dead on their feet. Mye eyelids were no longer trying to close as adrenaline coursed through my body. It was far too easy to easy to just sneak out. My act of rebellion had given me an extra shot of energy as I bolted away from camp.

I didn't know where I was going but I knew soon enough I'd recognize some scent that I could follow. The tasting the air thing really worked.

Please be kind to an old writer just getting back into it. And if any readers are still about, please review.

Updating is going to be tough as I'm in college now, but I've fallen back in love with the stories of my childhood and this one especially. I'm really going to try to see it to the finish.

Next chapter is going to be all Breezepaw. I needed the BloomClan cats to make it across the river before Breezepaw really gets his chance to shine.