Chapter 23
Darkshadow led the cats towards JayClan's territory, his heart racing as he thought of seeing everyone again: Woodstar, Gingereye, but mostly Lakesky. Since declining Birdheart's offer to stay in SkyClan with her and his unborn kit, he had been longing to see his dearest friend again. It had been almost six moons since they had said goodbye on the day of his departure and fearful thoughts were easing their way into Darkshadow's mind. He was worried in the time that he had been gone, Lakesky had found herself a new mate, one who hadn't decided to leave her to go on a heroic journey. Darkshadow's heart sunk, but he realized that if the worse had happened, he deserved it completely. After all, he had accidently become the father of another she-cat's kits when his heart still belonged to Lakesky.
"So what are we going to tell them?" Airpaw panted as he raced forward to catch up with Darkshadow. Since leaving SkyClan, Airpaw's attitude towards Darkshadow had improved and the black warrior wondered if his younger brother realized the choice that had been forced onto him. He hadn't just left Birdheart because his heart belonged to Lakesky. It was because it belonged to JayClan to all the cats he had grown up with. He could probably be happy in SkyClan, but it would never be his true home.
"About?" Darkshadow asked, so lost in his thoughts that he didn't have the slightest idea as to what Airpaw was meowing about.
"Cloudleaf, of course," Airpaw answered as though it was an obvious question. Which it was. "What are we going to tell Woodstar? That his daughter had abandoned her Clan to join another? Abandoned her family? And what about Maroonfeather? He was her mentor. I know I would be annoyed if my apprentice had become a warrior without my consent."
"They'll just have to try and understand," Waterpaw meowed from behind them. "Even if they don't its too late. We can't go back all the way to SkyClan just for Cloudleaf. Woodstar might miss her, but he isn't that stupid."
"Speaking of Woodstar, any idea on how we should enter the camp?" Darkshadow asked. "Do we just walk in and be like 'hey everybody we're home?' Or should we do something much more dramatic like enter through the back of the camp?"
"If we enter through the back then they'll probably think we're the rogues," Airpaw meowed, "I don't want my first return to JayClan to involve us being clawed to death by our Clanmates."
"Good point," Darkshadow purred.
"So what are we going to do?" Waterpaw asked.
Darkshadow was about to answer when a familiar scent crossed his path: Lakesky. In a second, he was off running leaving Airpaw calling, "Darkshadow! Where in StarClan's name are you going?"
Darkshadow ignored him and instead continued running towards Lakesky's scent, not even using his other senses to see if anyone was near him.
Suddenly he was shoved to the ground and Darkshadow felt some cat sink their claws into his shoulder. Thinking fast he turned on his back and kicked hard and was about to run away when his attacker jumped back on him, pinning their claws back onto his shoulders. Flashbacks went through Darkshadow's mind as he remembered all the hours of play-fighting and the countless days of training with their mentors.
"Lakesky!" Darkshadow breathed, staring up at his friend. Lakesky froze, her amber eyes wide and it took a second for Darkshadow a second to realize she didn't recognize him. His heart sunk a little at that. True he hadn't recognized her in the beginning of their fight, but still he hadn't been gone that long... maybe it was awhile. Six moons was a very long time. "Lakesky, its me. Darkshadow."
Lakesky's amber eyes widened more and she murmured, "Darkshadow?" A heartbeat passed and then Lakesky exclaimed, "Darkshadow! Great StarClan! You're back! When did you get in?"
"Just a moment ago," Darkshadow purred as Lakesky covered him in gentle licks.
"Where's Airpaw and Waterpaw? And Cloudpaw?" Darkshadow looked away at that and whispered,
"Cloudpaw is now Cloudleaf," Lakesky stared at him with confused eyes and Darkshadow explained, "She decided to stay with SkyClan. They needed her much more than JayClan does."
"I'm sorry," Lakesky whispered, "What about Airpaw and Waterpaw?"
"Both are fine," Darkshadow meowed, "In fact, they should have been here by-"
"Great StarClan! We're JayClan cats! We're JayClan cats!" Darkshadow and Lakesky shared a glance just as Airpaw and Waterpaw ran past them being chased by a dark ginger cat.
"Who is that?" Darkshadow asked, but Lakesky was already chasing after them, leaving the black tom no choice, but to follow.
"Flamepaw! Flamepaw, stop!" Lakesky yowled and the dark ginger apprentice halted, Airpaw and Waterpaw stopping a couple badger-lengths away, their eyes wide. "Flamepaw, what did you think you were doing?"
"Chasing out rogues," Flamepaw meowed, glaring at Airpaw and Waterpaw.
"Those aren't rogues! Those are JayClan apprentices!"
"But I don't know them!"
"Surely you know that four cats left JayClan to help SkyClan!"
"Yes I know, but-"
"But nothing! Flamepaw, for the rest of the day you can hunt for the elders!"
Flamepaw paused and then growled, "Yes Lakesky."
"Now Lakesky, no need to be so hard on him," Darkshadow meowed gently, "It was an easy mistake to make. We left long before he was born. Couldn't you just talk to Woodstar or Flamepaw's mentor?"
Lakesky turned to look at Darkshadow, "I am Flamepaw's mentor."
"Oh," Darkshadow meowed.
Lakesky nodded and then sighed, "Darkshadow's right. Flamepaw, I know that Voleheart is leading a patrol this evening. Why don't you accompany him? It will also be good for you to see how other cats fight and hunt." Flamepaw nodded and Lakesky turned to look at the three cats, "Shall we return to camp now?"
Darkshadow nodded and together the five cats raced towards the island.
*
Darkshadow hovered outside the entrance to camp, the four other cats surrounding him. Flamepaw was pacing impatiently, growling, "I don't see why we can't go in, Lakesky."
"We're a Clan," Lakesky snapped a her apprentice, "We'll walk in together."
Darkshadow sighed, stopping his nerves, "I'm ready. Airpaw? Waterpaw?"
"Ready," Airpaw whispered and Waterpaw nodded.
The five cats entered the camp and Darkshadow glanced around at the home he hadn't seen in moons.
Songbird, the only Clan elder, was napping outside the small elders' den while Gingereye was sitting outside the nursery. Darkshadow noticed two kits playing outside: a ginger tom with white paws and a tiny white cat. Lakesky followed his glance and murmured, "Yes. Those are your kin."
Talonclaw was sitting alone, eating a fish, his expression thoughtful. Darkshadow wondered if StarClan had showed him any signs that they would be returning home soon. Reedtail and Sunfoot were talking by the freshkill pile while Voleheart stalked by, his expression serious. My old mentor, Darkshadow thought to himself. Voleheart jumped up to Hightree where Darkshadow's father Woodstar sat, nodding at whatever his deputy was telling him. Flamepaw left their side and instantly headed over to Maroonfeather and Orangepelt, waving his tail as he told them something. Darkshadow would bet a moon worth of dawn patrols that it was about them. When Maroonfeather and Orangepelt's eyes glanced at him, Darkshadow knew that his suspicions were correct.
"Darkshadow! Airpaw! Waterpaw!" Orangepelt exclaimed and suddenly the whole Clan knew they were there.
"Welcome home!" Voleheart.
"How was the journey?" Talonclaw.
"Give them some air! They can hardly breathe!" That was Sunfoot although it appeared that no one was listening to him,
"What was it like?"
"Was it different from JayClan?"
"Is SkyClan alright?" Darkshadow's head spun as so many cats asked him questions and he was grateful when Gingereye meowed,
"Let me see my kits!" Gingereye pushed forward, Woodstar behind her, and stared at her kits, eyes wide, "Thank StarClan, you've come home!"
"Where's Cloudpaw?" Woodstar asked suddenly.
Darkshadow paused, trying to think of what to tell his father, but before he could say anything, Airpaw meowed calmly, "Cloudleaf. She decided to stay with SkyClan and assist them for they were in need of many warriors."
"She's gone?" Gingereye whispered.
"My apprentice got her warrior name without me?" Maroonfeather asked.
"She's happy," Waterpaw meowed. "She's where she belongs."
Maroonfeather nodded, "Sometimes the Clan you're born in doesn't necessarily be the Clan you belong in."
"What does he mean by that?" Airpaw whispered in Darkshadow' ear, but the black tom didn't say anything. He wasn't going to reveal Maroonfeather's secret even though most cats in the Clan knew it.
"Mama, who are they?" Darkshadow looked down to see the white tom, his kin, pad over to them, flanked by the larger ginger tom.
"They smell different," The ginger hissed, his gold eyes scrunched up.
"They are your siblings," Gingereye meowed gently, "I told you they went on an adventure and they have come home to us."
Woodstar nodded, "Darkshadow, Airpaw, Waterpaw, meet your brothers: Thunderkit and Sleetkit. Thunderkit and Sleetkit, meet Darkshadow, Airpaw, and Waterpaw."
"Hi," Sleetkit squeaked while Thunderkit just nodded.
Orangepelt then padded forward and meowed, "Woodstar, if you don't mind me saying, I think the paw part of Airpaw and Waterpaw's names should be changed. They should become warriors."
Airpaw and Waterpaw gasped and Darkshadow nodded, "I can vouch for them, Woodstar. I know they didn't receive the most orthodox of training, but they proved themselves a dozen times during our travels."
"Reedtail, do you agree? After all, you are Airpaw's mentor," Woodstar asked and the black tom didn't say anything. He only nodded. "Then they shall be warriors. I Woodstar, leader of JayClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn. Airpaw, Waterpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Waterpaw meowed and Airpaw nodded firmly.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Airpaw, from this moment you will be known as Airstorm. StarClan honors your respect and endurance and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan. Waterpaw, from this moment you will be known as Waterdrop. StarClan honors your patience and your love and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan." Woodstar touched both new warriors and they both licked his shoulder in respect, their bodies quivering in excitement.
Darkshadow was the first cat to start chanting their new names: "Airstorm! Waterdrop! Airstorm! Waterdrop!"
When the crowds quieted, Darkshadow glanced at the kits and watched Thunderkit pin Sleetkit against the ground in a play-fight. He purred until a voice whispered in his ear: "Four will take one and make five, making history repeat itself. Thunder will fall on the lake and the Clan of birds will be no more. The end is now."
Darkshadow froze as he heard that. Did the prophecy center around one of the two kits in front of him? What was StarClan trying to tell him?
Author's Note: Well there's that chapter. For whoever suggested the name Waterdrop thank you. It really stuck with me and I couldn't think of a better name. So anyway please review :)