Chapter 22

Waterpaw stared at the SkyClan warriors she had come to know, grief making her throat tighten. After Cloudleaf's warrior ceremony, Darkshadow announced that JayClan was no longer needed so they would leave at the crack of dawn in hopes of returning home in the least amount of time possible. The evening had been great. Waterpaw had gone on patrol with Jaggedclaw, Ratpelt, and Birchfeather and then accompanied Smudgefur and Arrowface on a hunting patrol. When they got back everyone feasted and then shared stories about their youth- or in the apprentices' cases sharing stories about recent adventures. Then they had all drifted off to sleep together for one night not being separated by titles or Clans. Lizardfang and Darkshadow passed out next to each other after seeing who was stronger while Airpaw had curled up with Cloudleaf and Mintstar. That had been the evening and morning had come much too quickly for Waterpaw's liking.

Waterpaw padded next to Darkshadow and Airpaw as Ratpelt and Cloudleaf escorted them to the border of SkyClan territory. All the SkyClan warriors had yowled goodbyes to their friends and Mintstar had honored them by saying that their names would be remembered alongside Firestar and Sandstorm's. Waterpaw had felt particularly sad about leaving the old leader because- even if SkyClan somehow entered her life again- Mintstar most likely wouldn't be leading them anymore. Waterpaw felt the same amount of loyalty to Mintstar as she did Woodstar for the old gray tom had been her leader for nearly six moons. Still, Waterpaw was looking forward to seeing her father and friends again.

"Well this is goodbye," Ratpelt meowed and the small group of cats stopped at the border. Dipping his head to Waterpaw and her kin, Ratpelt added, "Thank you all for everything. For helping expose the truth about Sandfire and then saving SkyClan from his bloody paws. As Mintstar said earlier, your names will echo forever even when all who remember you are gone." Ratpelt then shared a glance with Cloudleaf for he continued, "I'll let you all say goodbye together. Cloudleaf, I'll be close by when you are ready to return home." Home. That word bothered Waterpaw. Her sister's former home had been JayClan yet now her loyalties lied somewhere else. Cloudleaf would no longer be Waterpaw's Clanmate.

Cloudleaf sighed, "This is going to be harder than I imagined."

"Then don't say goodbye," Darkshadow asked quietly and Waterpaw wished her sister would agree to their older brother's words, but knew that her sister's place was here. Just as Waterpaw's place was in JayClan.

"I have to," Cloudleaf meowed in a low whisper, "This is my home. I think it was always meant to be my home. I was the one who had the first dreams of SkyClan and I think that was StarClan's way of telling me where I was really meant to be."

"What if you're wrong?" Airpaw asked and Waterpaw added,

"We're part of a prophecy. Everything could go wrong if you don't come back to us."

Cloudleaf paused before whispering, "StarClan made me fall in love. I think I was meant to be with Ratpelt."

"Are you bearing his kits? That would be one way that StarClan can show you that you are with the cat you are meant to be with," Airpaw growled quietly and Waterpaw could have swore she saw her brother's eyes flash towards Darkshadow.

"Great StarClan no," Cloudleaf meowed, "I've been a warrior for barely a day. I think there is going to be quite sometime before Ratpelt and I even think about having kits."

Darkshadow sighed, "I guess there is no way to dissuade you. You're stubborn."

"Yes," Cloudleaf purred, "I am a lot like my older brother in that way."

Darkshadow and Cloudleaf touched noses before Cloudleaf turned to Airpaw, "Airpaw, take care of yourself and these two." Cloudleaf purred nodding to Darkshadow and Waterpaw, "You were always the leader to me out of the four of us, but I don't follow you anymore. At least that's one less cat you have to worry about."

"I'd rather worry about you then say goodbye to you," Airpaw meowed softly and Cloudleaf brushed her muzzle against his before turning to face Waterpaw.

"Waterpaw, good luck with everything. I'm going to miss you holding onto my paw." Cloudleaf added the last part in a purr.

"I'll miss you," Waterpaw meowed sadly.

"And we'll meet again, sister, I swear it," Cloudleaf mewed.

"Doubt it," Waterpaw grumbled.

"Don't be a pessimist," Cloudleaf meowed.

"A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist," Waterpaw added quietly and the two cats purred in unison. "Take care, Cloudleaf."

"You too, Waterpaw." And with that Cloudleaf touched her nose to Waterpaw's ear and meowed hopefully, "We'll always be together even if we don't serve in the same Clan anymore."

"Four of kind," Darkshadow added with a purr.

"Birds of a feather," Airpaw continued.

"Forever and ever," Waterpaw added and with that Cloudleaf was gone.

"I'm going to miss her," Darkshadow sighed.

"She's home now," Airpaw comforted him.

Waterpaw nodded and with new strength flowing through her limbs meowed, "Now we have to return to ours."

*

"I don't remember home being so far away!" Waterpaw wailed, her paws aching for a chance to stop. The three cats had been on their journey home now for nearly half a moon and the strain of the trip was putting stress on everyone.

"Last time we stopped with the Tribe of Rushing Water," Darkshadow growled, keeping his two younger siblings at a quick pace.

"Why didn't we stop again?" Waterpaw asked.

"Just think there should only be another day or two," Darkshadow meowed.

"I think its going to be shorter," Airpaw mewed suddenly.

"Why do you say that?" Waterpaw asked.

"Look," Waterpaw followed Airpaw's stare and there was JayClan's territory sprawled out underneath them. They were home.

Author's Note: Yay! They're finally home! Next chapter will be them finding out what has happened since they disappeared. Get ready for new warriors! New apprentices! New kits! Until next time.