Life 2:11

Windclan woke the next morning to a bright and clear day. The moor's tall grasses waved invitingly to the homesick clan. A feeling of elation and excitement was making itself known throughout Windclan's cats. It was infectious. With the sun peeking over the horizon, Windclan departed Barley's barn, determined to reclaim their home.

Tallstar looked upon the moors with a joyful nostalgia. He'd honestly missed these plains. This was where he grew up. This is where his cats were raised. They'd fled it once fearing for their lives, but no more. They'd grown stronger in their exile, not through body, but through willpower. They'd been tested and tempered by the challenges of living outside their home, and they found salvation, adapting to the trials and beginning to thrive. A fair number of cats had expressed their interests in digging after aiding in clearing Wander tunnels. A new appreciation for their land was found, not just for its flat lands through which a cat could sprint for miles without interruption, but also for the hidden network of tunnels beneath the land. Tallstar still knew well the failings of the tunnelers from when he was an apprentice. The division of digger versus runner had almost caused a civil war. At the same time, he now knew the value of the practice of tunneling that had been forgotten. Windclan had lost its strongest brawlers when they had to adapt to running. They'd weakened. No more! This land was theirs. They were the masters of it, both above and below. It'd take some time to reinstate the practice of digging, but Tallstar was sure his clan could manage it. After all, they had an ancient expert to assist them.

Speaking of Snakepaw, Tallstar glanced around to find his odd apprentice. Snakepaw was darting around in the grass, clearly excited to be back. The apprentice sprinted towards a boulder Windclan commonly referred to as Border Rock. It was considered the outer edge of Windclan territory. Their home was so close. Snakepaw suddenly made a hop as he got closer to the boulder, sticking his tongue out at some imaginary enemy he'd just affronted.

"Hah! I'm not falling for that hole again." Snakepaw cheered before running face first into the boulder. "I'm ok!" He meowed, only stunned by his accident.

Tallstar found himself trotting over, not totally sure Snakepaw's definition of ok meant the same as his. Snakepaw had a small dribble of blood leaking from a nostril, but his eyes were focused and there wasn't any visible damage.

"Got a headache?" Tallstar queried, checking for a concussion.

"Nah. I've got a pretty thick skull." Snakepaw dismissed.

"What's the story with the hole you jumped anyways?" Tallstar asked, knowing Snakepaw had some kind of old explanation for his strange antics.

"Oh. I broke my leg on that hole once." Snakepaw explained.

Fireheart, who had caught up with them as they started this chat, decided to chime in. "At least you didn't die in this story."

Snakepaw, as cheekily as possible, stated. "It got infected."

Tallstar rolled his eyes. "And there it is."

"Do you have any stories about you where you don't die?" Fireheart asked exasperatedly.

"Well, there was the time I lost a leg because it got necrotic. I lasted four whole moons after they removed it. Admittedly, I did die because I tripped and didn't have that leg to catch me, but it still counts." Snakepaw recalled, knowing fully well that he was just riling them up and messing with them like a kit would.

Tallstar turned back and guided is clan past the boulder. He stopped briefly to make an announcement. "Windclan, we've traveled far and faced many challenges. Today, I've finally got the pleasure to tell you we are officially back on our territory. We are home."

Many warriors, unable to contain their joy, sprinted off to enjoy the moors once more. They would return soon, but they'd held off their need to run long enough. Even an elder joined, trotting along in Windclan's long grasses. As Windlcan regrouped, Tallstar finally gave some orders. "Alright, alright. Everyone settle down. We've still got work to do. Tornear and Onewhisker, I want you two to start scent marking our borders. Pick two other warriors to join you. If any clan picks a fight, remind them whose territory this is. The rest focus on gathering materials to rebuild the camp. I will be escorting these two Thunderclan warriors out."

Tallstar watched his clan part, leaving only himself, the two Thunderclan warriors, and Snakepaw remaining. He had a small smile as he knew they'd succeed in their tasks. Of course, there was still much to do. He'd told his border patrol to pick fights, but he knew the medicine den was trashed in the last battle. They'd have to send herb gathering patrols soon. Several of the bushes that guarded Windclan's camp were severely damaged. They'd have to be patched. What concerned Tallstar most was the nursery. The current and future queens were unlikely to accept it now. Its defenses had been breached. They'd need to construct a whole new one, more sturdy than the last.

Tallstar nodded to the Thunderclan warriors, signaling them to follow him. The walk was pleasant and felt shorter than it really was, mostly in part to Snakepaw's antics, making commentary on the landscape and poking his head into seemingly random holes.

He'd say things like, "Wow! I can't believe this never collapsed." They'd occasionally get the amusement of Snakepaw reeling his head back quickly stating, "That was not one of ours." Only once did he pull back in actual fear. "Nope. That's a snake hole. Bad. Good thing snakes never seem to care for me."

Eventually, their destination was in sight. Fourtrees was just ahead. Snakepaw stopped his wandering as they got closer. This was it, where they parted ways. Admittedly, Tallstar had developed a bit of a soft spot for Fireheart throughout the journey. Not only did they share the experience of Snakepaw, but Fireheart was the spitting image of his old friend Jake. He'd grown to like the warrior, but interclan friendships always get strained. He'd watch Fireheart's growth going forward, but he knew he wouldn't hold back if they ever met in battle.

At Fourtrees, Fireheart turned to the two Windclan cats, his eyes set on his friend. "You know you can come back with us Snakepaw. I'm sure Bluestar and Runningwind would be thrilled to see you."

Snakepaw gave him a sad smile as he shook his head. "No. I can't go with you. This life is for Windclan. I've an obligation to help them. Bluestar will understand. Though, tell Runningwind that you saw me and to not give up on his flow running. Maybe we can tempt him into a race sometime. I'd like to see how he stacks up against a proper Windclan cat. Anyways, this is where we say goodbye."

Tears dotted Fireheart's eyes as he gave his farewell. "I'll miss you. You were one of my first friends."

Jokingly, Snakepaw looked insulted by Fireheart's words. "Are you saying we're not still friends?" A calm smile crossed his face as he continued. "Joking aside, I still consider us friends, even if we no longer reside in the same clans. Knowing your importance, I know you'll face many trials in your future. They will be hard. They will hurt. They will test you. My piece of advice is to listen to your heart. It is the thing that will guide you when all else seems lost. You may not always make the right decision, but you will make a decision you think is right, which is far more than some cats can even ask for. Trust in your namesake, and I'm sure you'll do just fine. You'll see me again, and who knows? Maybe I'll be your apprentice someday."

The parting was bittersweet. This was the ending of Snakepaw's and Fireheart's close friendship. They both had their duties to attend to. Their loyalties no longer aligned. Regardless, both cats parted with kind words with nothing but appreciation for the other cat in their hearts. Of Snakepaw's many lives, goodbyes were always clear in his memory. Tallstar could see a tear streaming down the apprentice's face, but he still worse a bright smile that told of hope. Tallstar just knew those two would someday meet again.