Sandstorm and Socks lead their kits outside into the yard, now green and full of life. Their housefolk put a purple collar around Tinykit's neck.
"What's this for?" Tinykit asked Socks.
"It's a collar, to keep you from getting lost." Socks replied.
"You don't have to wear one." Tinykit said to Sandstorm, his mother.
"I don't really like them, to be honest. Besides, I have a collar of my own...this pearl necklace!"
A sound caught Sandstorm's attention, and her eyes widened as she heard the familar cries of cats.
BloodClan.
She quickly sniffed the air.
Praise StarClan! They're far away from here...for now.
"What's wrong?" Socks whispered.
"BloodClan's coming back." She replied in a hushed whisper.
"Tell us about the forest, mom!" Tinykit said, swishing his tail.
Sandstorm nodded, and waited for Tinykit to calm down. Then she began to speak.
"Once, there was a forest here. One of your uncles explored the forest once."
"The one I'm named after?" He asked.
Sandstorm nodded. "Yes. Back then, the forest was still standing. He went into the forest, and he loved it there. He tried to join the clans, but they didn't want him there."
"Why not?" Tinykit asked. "Firestar was a kittypet, and they let him join."
"Well, your uncle was just a kit back then." Socks said, "Teased by his own littermates, he wanted to be in the forest with the clans. But one cat chose to teach him to stay away from their territory in a way that was too harsh. So he left the forest, and his old home."
"Is he still around here?" Tinykit asked.
Socks slowly shook his head. "He decided to start a new clan of his own. This clan is fierce and is deeper into twolegplace. He isn't leader anymore, but other cats are in charge now. And now...they're even more fierce. They don't show any mercy to kittypets like us."
"We should go there! I could teach them a thing or two!" Tinykit said, leaping into the air. He fell onto the ground, grass and soil on his face.
"Your pouncing needs work, but don't worry. Keep practicing!" Socks said, licking Tinykit's head.
"Can we rest, Badgerstar?" Mittens asked.
"You kittypets are so soft! Keep moving!"
He bit Mittens on her left ear hard enough that a few drops of blood hit the ground, and she quickened her pace.
Up ahead, Badgerstar spotted the twoleg nests. He sniffed the air.
Sanddust is here...and so is the scent of kits. Perhaps they are hers?
"BloodClan, we are almost near the homes of kittypets! Stay close to me, and we won't have any problems." He showed his teeth to Mittens, and her tail flicked several times.
"Well, I have a problem with you trying to kill me!" Mittens hissed. She slashed his left ear and ran off towards twolegplace.
"Let her go." Badgerstar said, "She's weak enough already. She's not going to be alive much longer."
Mittens limped on all of her paws. Her body hurt everywhere that it could. Blood dripped onto the ground from her left ear. She felt her breathing become tight, and she realized that her old collar was still around her neck.
Even after all this time...my collar is still there. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Why did they have to take me from my housefolk?
She kept running, and in the distance caught the scent of twoleg nests.
I have to keep running, can't stop, I need to-
She froze, and spotted a monster coming right towards her.
I'm sorry that I couldn't get back home. But I tried...
She fell to the ground, and felt something comforting.
"Mittens! Oh my...we have to get her some help right away!"
She faintly saw her housefolk, smiling back at her. Slowly she closed her eyes and felt nothing at all, and her body became numb to the pain.
I'm home...did you miss me? I've missed you all...so much. Now I can be safe with you...forever.
Author's Note: Flashback time! Mittens wasn't always in BloodClan. In fact, she used to be a kittypet before being captured.
Mittens opened her eyes, and heard the some of her housefolk.
They seem to be scared of something. She thought. What's the matter with them?
She looked out the window, and spotted several cats.
Rogues! Mittens realized. I need to protect my housefolk!
A fluffy black she-cat ran down the stairs and out the open door where a monster was resting. Mittens followed as quietly as she could, but she wasn't quiet enough.
"Mittens! What are you doing here?" The black she-cat hissed.
"I have to keep them safe!"
"Go back inside! These rogues are too strong! I saw them injure one of our housefolk, and they were bleeding on their front paws."
"But Zoey-" She cried.
The brown she-cat hissed at them.
"Bring me those two she-cats. They'll be our prisoners!"
"No!" Zoey cried. She slashed their eyes, blinding them.
"There's not much time. Run!" Zoey said to Mittens. She ran back inside as their housefolk called for their names.
"Stay away from our cats!" One of their housefolk yelled, holding a long snake-like object in their hands. Sudddenly, water came out of it and some of the rogues ran off.
Mittens ran off, and in the distance she saw a cream tabby tom.
"Butterscotch! Get back inside! These strays are dangerous!" Zoey said.
Butterscotch shook his head, and a black and white tom ran over to him.
"Sneaks!"
A few of the rogues pounced on top of Mittens.
"Run, Mittens!" Sneaks cried, "We'll deal with these rogues the best we can!"
Mittens ran onto a quiet thunderpath, and the rogues ran after her.
Her paws slipped, and she fell to the ground, scratches on her pelt from the fall.
"What's your name, kittypet?" The brown she-cat said.
"My name?" She asked.
"Yeah, you have a name don't you?"
Mittens nodded. "My name is Mittens. Please, just tell my friends where I am and leave me alone!"
"Sorry, but we came to get some new members for our clan. You're brave...for a kittypet. Bring her to our camp."
"Yes, Mollystep." Wolf said, nodding.
"Mittens? You're alive!"
Slowly Mittens opened her eyes. She saw Butterscotch, Sneaks, and Zoey.
"You were pretty injured. They almost hit you with their monster!" Sneaks said.
"Sneaks...I thought I would never see you again."
"So did I. But now we're together, and that's all that matters. There's still a future for us. We can still start a family."
Mittens noticed behind him some boxes.
"What are those boxes doing there?" She asked.
"Our housefolk are moving, Mittens. This place is too dangerous for us. We're going to a new home to live in. They're taking us there, too."
"Praise StarClan!" Mittens cried.
"StarClan? What's that?" Sneaks asked.
"It's a long story. In fact, I might as well tell you what happened to me after those rogues managed to capture me..."
Sneaks nodded, and he called Butterscotch and Zoey over to them.
"Well, I ran like you told me to. But I fell...and then I woke up in their camp. It was horrible. But now, I'm happy that I can be safe with you."