Chapter 17

Yeah so I hope you guys liked the last chapter, I had a bit of trouble making it, but thankfully Keeper was there to save my butt! Thanks Keeper! And as you guys know, every five chapters a new POV is chosen for that chapter. Now I'm going to give you the options early just to be prepared. Here they are: 1. Regnantstorm 2. Terror 3. Moonfire 4. Keeper. There you guys go, and I don't mean to sound annoying, but I would love if you Ashes comment on the chapters, it just makes me happy you can always comment on plot ideas or OC's or PM me if you're more comfortable -majesty

"Foxflame!" Juniperfrost cried, rushing to her sister's side. Pouncer and his patrol had made it to camp carrying the kits, exhausted. Zelda brought up the rear as they entered the tunnel. Juniperfrost was nuzzling Foxflame, fussing over her and Wolftail entered a few minutes later, eyes misty.

Petalheart led the queens to the nursery, while everyone stared at Zelda. "What are you doing here?!" Thornlight spat, fur ruffled. Many surprised mews and yowls rose up, questioning their old leader.

"Coward!" Lightningfall hissed. Sunpaw stood protectively next to Zelda, hissing at any cat that challenged Zelda. Moonfire glared at Zelda, eyes vivid with rage.

"Sunpaw get over here!" She snarled.

"No!" Sunpaw snapped. Moonfire's fur ruffled up in rage. Her eyes closed, and she walked away. "Mom wait! I'm sorry!" Sunpaw cried, racing after her.

Suddenly, a cream and white shape came pelting into the tunnel, a curious smile on her face. "Zelda!" She cried, jumping onto Zelda, nuzzling her cheek.

"Deli get off of me!" Zelda hissed. She pushed Deli off of her, claws sheathed. Deli kept smiling, tail brushing against the tunnel ground excitedly.

"Who is she?" Grayfur asked, staring at Zelda.

"Her name is Deli. She's incredibly annoying, and I found her in a kitty-pet den," she answered sharply.

Kitty-pet den? So she's a kitty-pet. Pouncer cast his attention to Wolftail, who was staring at Zelda. Finally, the gray tabby walked up to his ex-leader, and stared her right in the eye.

"Zelda, I won't ask you about your journey, I'm just glad you're back," Wolftail smiled. Zelda stared at him, not making a sound.

"I'm not staying," she said quietly. No one said a word, no one dared to speak up.

Pouncer finally puffed out his chest and walked over to Zelda. "Why did you come back?" he asked gently.

The tortoiseshell she-cat's green eyes flared. "I saw Sunpaw in danger, Terror had her in his jaws, literally. I saved her, ok?" Pouncer smiled at her, and Moonfire walked up to them, eyes wide.

"Y-You saved my daughter?" Zelda nodded, eyes sharp as claws. A smile crept onto Moonfire's face, and she licked Zelda's cheek. The tortoiseshell stiffened, claws unsheathed. "Thank you for saving my daughter," she purred, voice thick with emotion.

Zelda nodded, eyes softening a little bit. "She's my kin too, I would never abandon her," she said quietly.

"Zelda I owe you an apology, I-I'm so sorry I was rude to you. I blamed you for taking Regnantstorm away, and I shouldn't have. Zelda, I-I'm expecting his kits," she cried.

Zelda stepped back a little, stunned. "Moonfire, it kills me to say. But I'm sorry as well. I hated you for a long time, for taking my brother away from me. He's all I have."

"You have Sunpaw now, and me as well," Moonfire replied, smiling. Zelda returned the smile and nuzzled her.

"I'll find Regnant, and bring him home." She swore. Zelda made her way to the front of the tunnel, ready to make an announcement. Before she could make an announcement, Deli leapt onto her. "Deli get off!"

"Just know you have me too," Deli purred. Zelda stiffened, and even gave her a slight smile.

"Thank you Deli," she laughed slightly, before facing her clan-mates. Pouncer watched, interested. "Memoryclan! I would like to apologize for my absence," she stared, clan-mates listening intently. "I needed my space, but now I'm here, and I'm staying here!"

Wolftail smiled, eyes shining. "Wolftail, you've filled in for leader position wonderfully, thank you," she purred. "I would love for you to continue to be my deputy."

"Of course Zeldastar," he smiled. He touched his nose to her muzzle, and then ran into the nursery. She's Zeldastar again, I know she won't leave us again.

Pouncer noticed a few of his clan-mates bristling with anger, Larkstar the most. "Zeldastar! You weren't here for Clawstrike's death! How do we know you won't abandon us again?!" She challenged.

Zeldastar glared at her, green eyes burning. "Choose to believe in me or not, but I'm your leader," she hissed. Larkstar hissed and lashed her tail in annoyance, before leaving to hunt.

"She's seems happy about that," he snickered. Cinderblaze, who had sat next to him when Zeldastar was speaking, laughed queitly.

Cinderblaze flicked her tail tip at her brother's ears. "That's my best friend's mother your talking about, dork." Pouncer shrugged. Larkstar has always been a grump one, and sassy.

He padded over to Juniperfrost, who was sitting with her kits outside the nursery. "Pouncer? D-Did Flamekit live at all? I should have been there with her!" She clawed at the weeds living in the cracks of stone, ripping them to shreds.

Pouncer laid his tail on her back to comfort the queen. "Flamekit's destiny was planned in the stars, nothing could have saved him," he said sadly. Juniperfrost sniffled and buried her face in his fluffy gray fur. "Hey, your kits are becoming apprentices soon, right? And then Moonfire will move into the nursery, you'll become a warrior again!"

She smiled and fluffed up her white and ginger fur. "Well I guess it is great that I'll be a warrior again, Grayfur and I will get to patrol and hunt again without him fussing over me like I'm a kit," she blushed.

Pouncer chuckled and pressed his nose to her ear. "Grayfur will always fuss over you, warrior or queen. I-It's what mates do," he smiled cheerfully, but inside his heart pinged. Keeper used to care for me…What am I think?! Nightfall is my mate, and we love each other!