Clear Sky disappeared off into the bushes with a promise of meeting again soon. "You're all welcome to visit… no guards on the borders anymore. I promise." Not many cats believed him, but for all their differences Thunder knew he wouldn't lie about this. They could see him still lingering about the clearing with a couple of cats from his camp who refused to leave him behind, while the moor cats regrouped with each other on the other side and headed back home themselves. Tall Shadow trotted ahead at the front of the group discussing things with Gray Wing and Thunder. While the others muttered amongst each other, sharing their fears and thoughts for the future.

Acorn Fur kept glancing backwards like a startled hare as she padded along the rest but at a much, much, slower pace. Thunder glanced over to see his friend falling behind. Was she hurt? He slowed down to match her pace, "Acorn Fur? Are you doing okay?"

Acorn Fur blinked her voice shaking, "Yeah… it's just going to be so lonely back home without Hawk Swoop and Jackdaw's Cry…" She trailed off wondering how to explain, the complex emotions swirling inside of her. "Do you still think Clear Sky's offer to join his camp is open… o-or River Ripple's…" Her gaze once again came to linger at the tall trees of the forest.

Her brother stared at her aghast. "What?! Acorn Fur, you can't be serious!" His black and white tail lashed back and forth."How can you leave me?" came her brother's pained whisper. Acorn Fur stared back at him guilt swirling in her eyes, she didn't want to leave her brother alone, but the idea of going back to camp as if nothing had happened, she'd never seen Jackdaw's Cry, never got to say goodbye or even speak to him near his death… a pained cry came out of her mouth before she quickly closed it again. Maybe joining Clear Sky's group could somehow bring her closer to him, the place where he had last resided even if it was forced…What to do, what to do?

Acorn Fur refused to meet her brother's eyes staring down at her claws kneading the soft ground, "Do… Do you want to come with me? It's not very far… M-Maybe Clear Sky will even let us visit if we don't all decide to live here…" came her quiet whisper like it came from the spirit-cats. Thunder didn't want to answer her question, he knew Clear Sky cared too much about controlling his cats to consider their families being torn apart.

Thunder stepped forward, saving Lightning Tail from having to formulate his response out of his stutters. "We… we might not even be living at our camp much longer. I'm sure Clear Sky will still take you in later. Wait until we make a final decision?" he suggested, touching his nose to the younger cat's ear. It was a fragile solution but it seemed to do the trick.

Acorn Fur swallowed hard before letting out a small sigh forcing her gaze away from the cats gathered across from their group, her belly still churning with thoughts left unsaid, "Okay…" They continued on, bones weary and heads drooped, the long thick grasses of the moor had never felt so hard to push through. Lightning Tail glancing back to check on his sister as if he thought he took his eyes off of her she'd vanish just as so many other cats did…

They seemed to be doing okay though… Thunder glanced around for any more cats he needed to help, Gray Wing always made sure every other cat was taken care of and Thunder was going to do well and follow in his pawsteps, and there was plenty to do with so many cats injured. Dappled Pelt stayed close to Tall Shadow who as much as she tried to hide it, paw was twisted badly. Their pace was so gruelingly slow that they weren't even halfway back to their camp as the first streaks of morning light began to dapple the sky.

They were sitting ducks. If something were to appear their best choice would be to have him try to lead it away, but it wasn't as if the creatures here were all stupid they'd go after the weakest before taking an interest in him. Thunder followed closely beside Gray Wing who's breathing kept getting worse and worse, gently nudging the gray tom who insisted he was fine despite the low harsh rattles that came from his chest.

A slight rattle that didn't sound like it came from Gray Wing broke Thunder from his almost dream-like haze of putting one paw in front of the other. His ears swirled towards the sound and Thunder could feel eyes on his back, he whirled around to see a pair of golden eyes underneath a thick gorse bush. Tasting the air revealed nothing, "Who's out there? Show yourselves!" he demanded, stalking closer, three cats appeared from the undergrowth.

They certainly didn't look like much of a threat. They were mangy and wiry, with unkempt fur and wide eyes. "We saw the battle and heard what you said afterwards…" said the black she-cat with fluffy spiked up fur and flattened ears, "We were wondering if you would have room for three more cats." The other two, both brown toms, one with darker brown paws and the other with a small torn ear looked up hopefully still in defensive positions.

Tall Shadow circled around the trio like she was inspecting her next prey. "You were wise not to get involved in the fight." she said appraisingly, "But who are you, exactly?"

"I'm called Holly." said the black she-cat, affectionately shoving her companions "These mouse-brains are Mud Paws and Mouse Ear." Thunder liked their energy, and mouse-brain… that was a new one, although Wind Runner occasionally referred to some cats as "hare brained" so it wasn't all that odd, their coats carried scents of the musty undergrowth across the Thunderpath close to Clear Sky's territory. "Try to guess how we got our names."

"Well that one is easy." meowed Thunder playing along, and flicking his ear towards Mud Paws, "It looks as if he has been treading through a muddy field all day." The brown tom's gave a sound of confirmation.

Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail had looped back around to join Thunder to inspect their guests as well, "You must be Mouse Ear because your ears are the size mouse's." replied Lightning Tail.

"What!?" Mouse Ear's hackles rose whirling to Lightning Tail who took a step back.

Thunder bunched up his muscles preparing to pounce if Mouse Ear got too close. Holly meanwhile was calm, even letting out a snort, "It's okay." she meowed, flicking Mouse Ears almost comically small ears, "Mouse Ear may look like a bully but really underneath his hard shell he's just one big softie."

Mouse Fur backed away addressing Holly, "Hmph! Unlike you!" Holly began bristling once more, this time her fur really showing how long and fluffy it was, opening her mouth for a retort.

Then Acorn Fur popped up from behind her brother tilting her head slightly, "Ohhh I get it now, Holly, because you're as prickly as the bush you guys were hiding under! Am I right?"

"Maybe…" said Holly, raking her claws across the ground while her friends snickered in the background. Thunder couldn't help but be amused by their antics, when he glanced over at Tall Shadow though her face had softened slightly her expression remained distant, she had never been too accepting of new cats even after they allowed Wind Runner and Gorse Fur to join their group.

"Why would you want to join us? You said you saw our battle. Can't you see that we're injured?" questioned Tall Shadow after a moment of silence, "It will be no easy life with us. You may end up only helping to tend the wounded or dragged down in conflicts that aren't yours." Her tail gestured vaguely to the forest.

The moor cats waited patiently for their answer, the three sent uneasy glances between each other before Mouse Ear spoke carefully, "We think you're all very brave," Mouse Ear went on. "We like living in the Pine Forest, but it's lonely when it's just the three of us. And we think that you could benefit from having us around. I can fight off just about any cat." He puffed out his chest. "I even got the better of a badger once! And Holly is really good at sensing whether cats can be trusted."

"Those do sound like pretty useful talents." mumbled one of their campmates.

Holly nodded along, "When you're hard to please, like me, you definitely get the sense of which cats deserve the benefit of the doubt." Mud Paws seemed to the reserved one of the group Thunder noticed,. "And Mud Paws is an excellent stalker. Those paws will take him anywhere, as silently as a spirit-cat."

Now that got Acorn Fur's interest, "Spirit-cats?" she flitted nervously before anyone else could.

"It's just an expression we have." replied Mouse Ear, "That would be too creepy, imagine if they just stood around watching you constantly even while you slept." He gave out a mock shudder.

Acorn Fur chuckled not at all obviously. "Y-Yeah!" In her mind she was imagining that odd imagery and cringing as well. Behind them the cats began to whisper not so quietly their opinions on the newcomers who sat before them awaiting judgment.

"It would be good to have some more cats around."

"They won't make up for the ones we lost." replied another one sharply.

"I know."

"Don't be rude, Wind Runner, they seem nice."

"I wasn't. It would be good to have more cats."

"I like them, they have been here much longer than we have, it sounds as if they could teach us a lot."

Thunder stifled a yawn, "Come on, you can accompany us." Their ears perked up happily bounding along with the rest of the cats at his words, Thunder shot a nervous glance at Tall Shadow hoping he had made the right decision, her expression gave away nothing though simply turning away and following the rest. She had no energy to quarrel with the young tom, all she wanted to do was to return back to their hollow, she signaled with a swish of her plumy for the rest of the bleary eyed cats staring at their new additions to continue onwards before the sun creeped up towards the middle of the sky.