Hey guys; boy has it been a long while! I must admit that a lot of stuff was happening between the last update and this one – a lot of stress and just other stuff in my life made it so my priorities had to shift drastically. I had to focus way more on my job and that made it difficult to write this.

Now, I do plan to finish this series – it's a fun project and sort of a tribute to my love for the Warriors franchise as a whole. But whether or not I go back to revisit BoT is very, very unlikely. It's been a very long time since I've touched that story and frankly, it wasn't turning out that great in my opinion. I don't remember a lot of the stuff that I had planned anymore and I'm not really excited to try and pick it up again. If I do any more Warriors fics, I think it will be something more original, from a concept I've had for a long time.

I hope you all understand, and that you enjoy the rest of the TB series!

-Twilight

Chapter 22

"Tinyclaw?" Tigerstar lifted his great head from his paws when Tinyclaw entered. The big tabby was hunched over in his nest, fur rumpled and ruffled and ungroomed. Tigerstar looked as if he were waiting for terrible news, his amber eyes flashing with caution. Had he moved at all since Tinyclaw had last seen him?

"Cloudpaw is back," Tinyclaw announced. Being blunt was the only way Tinyclaw could do this – he had no idea how Tigerstar would react to news nowadays. It was best to be straight with him, lay it all out. "She was in Twoleg territory beyond the uplands, near Barley's territory."

"And she found her way back here?" Tigerstar's voice was careful.

"No," Tinyclaw answered. "Ravenpaw came into our territory to tell me where she was when he spotted her."

"R-Ravenpaw…?" Tigerstar stammered.

"Your old apprentice," Tinyclaw offered. StarClan, does he not remember Ravenpaw?

"I know, I know!" Tigerstar snapped, eyes blazing. "What was he doing here?"

"He came to tell me about Cloudpaw," Tinyclaw repeated.

Tigerstar's tail fluffed, and he big tom tilted his head. "Cloudpaw…? Cloudpaw is back? Why did she come back?"

Tinyclaw did his best not to stare at Tigerstar in astonishment. Mouth dry, he meowed, "She wants to rejoin the Clan. Regardless of her mistakes, the Twolegs took her against her will."

"So StarClan led her home," Tigerstar mused quietly.

"Ravenpaw helped," Tinyclaw added.

Tigerstar looked down at the sandy floor of the den. "I thought that StarClan had wanted Cloudpaw to live a kittypet life," he meowed quietly. "I can see I was wrong." His head lifted up again, amber eyes meeting Tinyclaw's ice blue. "Ravenpaw helped you?"

"Yes, he led us to where Cloudpaw was shut in," Tinyclaw replied. "He saved us from some dogs, too."

Tigerstar nodded. "What did he say when he heard of Bluefur's treachery?"

Tinyclaw frowned. "He was s-shocked, of course," he stammered.

"He tried to warn us," Tigerstar recalled, his amber eyes growing distant, sad. "I should have listened. He was my apprentice… why did I not see?"

"You're Clan leader, Tigerstar," Tinyclaw offered sympathetically. "There was a lot going on then… and his claims were fantastical compared to the rest. Bluefur hid her treachery well, remember – every cat admired her."

Tigerstar sighed. "I misjudged Bluefur, and I misjudged Ravenpaw. Because of me, much was stolen from him – should I invite him back to the Clan?"

Tinyclaw frowned, shaking his head. "I don't think Ravenpaw would want that. He's happy where he is, living with Barley. Clan life wasn't meant for him – StarClan showed him the way, you were right about that."

"But I was wrong about Cloudpaw," Tigerstar rumbled quietly.

Tinyclaw's head whirled. This conversation was spiraling out of control, heading in circles that were making his thoughts spin. "I think Clan life will suit Cloudpaw, in the end," he told Tigerstar. He had to put this talk back where it belonged. "She's very determined – but only you can decide whether or not we take her back."

"Why shouldn't we?"

"Some of the Clan is worried Cloudpaw might be tempted back to the Twolegs," Tinyclaw admitted. He would not say that deep down he was just as worried.

"And what do you think?" Tigerstar wondered levelly, eyes on Tinyclaw like small suns.

"I think that Cloudpaw has a long road ahead of her – but she's learned her lesson," Tinyclaw explained. "I think she's learned that her heart lies in the forest, just as mine does."

Relief flooded over him as Tigerstar's eyes brightened. "Very well," the big tom meowed, "she may stay."

Tinyclaw breathed, "Thank you, Tigerstar!" He was excited for Cloudpaw – but his own doubts nagged. How long until she grew bored with training, or frustrated by having to catch her own food? How long would this 'new' Cloudpaw, with that determination in her eyes, last? She's like her father, he recalled. She's flighty, unless it suits her. But she fought well against WindClan – that had to mean something.

Tigerstar went on thoughtfully, "We should ensure the Clan knows to welcome Ravenpaw as a denmate, if he ever makes his way here again."

Tinyclaw nodded in agreement. Ravenpaw hadn't had too many friends as an apprentice, thanks to his cowardly nature, but there was no reason for any cat here to hold a grudge against him now. "When will you make the announcement?" he wondered. It would feel good to see the Clan leader on the Highrock again.

"You tell them," Tigerstar meowed, shaking his head. Tinyclaw felt a stab of disappointment. Was Tigerstar not confident enough to show his face in front of his Clan? As much as Tinyclaw wanted to feel for him, Cloudpaw's return might not be completely accepted if it didn't seem like it was Tigerstar's decision. He left so many duties to Tinyclaw, how could any cat be sure?

Tinyclaw's head spun so much he couldn't move – he stood there in silence.

"Perhaps Cloudpaw ought to be the one to spread the news?" Tinyclaw suggested. "She would be more than happy to."

Tigerstar sighed. "Very well," he meowed. "Send her to me."

Tinyclaw nodded. Was that the best decision? He wondered as he padded out of the den. There were no strong objectioners from the Clan. Had there been, he would have thought to have them do it, not Cloudpaw herself. Oh well; this way she'll be even happier, to hear it from Tigerstar himself.

The cats had barely moved – and Cloudpaw was sitting stock-still, eyes widening as Tinyclaw padded up to her. She bounced to her paws, blue eyes small moons. "What did he say?" she wondered.

"Tigerstar wants to talk to you," Tinyclaw meowed.

Cloudpaw's wondering gaze faltered, and her tail fluffed with worry and anxiety. "R-Really?" she stammered.

Tinyclaw nodded. "Yes," he meowed. "Go on." He tried to sound mild – Cloudpaw deserved this scare, more than anything – but he couldn't bring himself to be outright mean.

Cloudpaw looked at the Highrock. She took a deep breath, and then nodded. She padded past Tinyclaw, her fluffy white tail straight up. Tinyclaw watched her pad away, unable to contain his pride in her. She was going bravely to face Tigerstar, to be told whether or not she would be staying. Tigerstar was not an easy cat for a warrior to face, let alone an apprentice.

"She tells an interesting story," Whitestorm mused behind Tinyclaw. "She made the whole ordeal sound like quite the adventure." He gave no indication of being offended by that. "Is she staying?"

Tinyclaw nodded. "She is – and if she so much as looks over a Twoleg nest, I'll have her pelt before I chase her from the Clan myself."

"Harsh," Whitestorm chuckled. "But good. She needs that."

The white tom turned away to the rest of the Clan. Tinyclaw sighed. Soon it would be all over the camp. Cloudpaw was home – it felt like a great, heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders. On to the next thing, whatever it might be.

Tinyclaw got to his paws as his belly rumbled. He turned away to get something to eat.

Tinyclaw curled up in his nest the following evening, feeling more than pleased. His training session with Cloudpaw had gone well – she was rusty, but hadn't lost all her edge just yet. For once, she listened to every word said, and there was no denying her skill. I only hope it lasts, Tinyclaw thought as he drifted to sleep.

A foggy forest rose from the ground in his dreams, trunks so thick and tall their branches were hidden in the clouds. Tinyclaw felt smaller than small here in the oppressive fog. His voice was sucked into silence when he tried to call out, and an acrid stench filled his lungs instead. A smell he knew, but could not name.

The softness of another pelt pressed against him, and a familiar scent touched Tinyclaw's nose. Redtail! The tortoiseshell tom, just a whisker taller than Tinyclaw, was stiff, amber eyes wide. His distinctive red tail bushed behind him.

"What's happening?" Tinyclaw wondered, his voice rasping and his throat raw.

Redtail opened his jaws, but his reply was drowned out by the screeching of Twolegs. Thundering shapes of blundering Twolegs filled the fog, running and screaming unintelligibly. Tinyclaw tensed – but Redtail darted away. Tinyclaw called after him – but the fog thickened in his throat.

Tinyclaw's eyes opened with a start – and found that his dream had invaded his reality. The whole den was filled with a thin fog, that acrid smell in his nose. Tinyclaw's entire body tensed with fear as he poked his head out the den – orange lights flickered in the distant woods.

Suddenly, Tinyclaw understood, horror prickling his pelt from ears to toes.

"FIRE!"