the storm [open]

This could only be described as one of the worst storms of the season.

There was no doubt in Mistfeather's mind that StarClan was infuriated with RiverClan. She huddled in the elder's den, fluffing out her fur against the stray winds than broke through the den's walls. Pockets of snowflakes occasionally fell onto her pelt, sending a strong shiver up her back and forcing her to shift her nest. This process repeated itself every few moments, until it became unbearable and she pushed herself onto her shaky legs. It was never easy anymore, but the tabby couldn't bare another second of the frosty air.

With lots of effort, the she-cat pulled herself out into the camp clearing. An instant shock of cold hit her, freezing her in spot. Her mind went blank from the sheer cold. In all of her many moons, she had never experienced something like this. Without hesitation the elder nearly dragged herself to the leader's den. Her small voice called out against the winds, calling her sister's name over and over until she pressed into the shelter.

With a large sigh of relief, the silver cat dropped to the floor. Fishstar's den was significantly warmer than her own. "I'm sorry Fishstar," Mistfeather breathed. "My den is just too co--" A howling tom calling out from outside broke her words. Among the few names yowled was her own. Her ears perked up at the sound.

In an instant she knew his voice. Alarmed, she rushed to get up and back outside into the snow. Was it really...? Her green eyes glued to his frail frame as soon as he came into view. Rainstorm.

---

He couldn't walk straight. The tom had become sickly and thin since his disappearance. The gusts buffeted against him, nearly knocking him down with every step. There was no safety from the frozen reeds that dotted RiverClan's territory. Was it a mistake coming back?

No. The brown-grey tom shook his head and continued his path through the thick snow. He had to go home. After moons of struggle and pain, he was finally ready to return to his clan. His family-- Ivyfall was waiting for him.

He didn't give much thought to how life must have changed after... well everything that happened. He just padded along down the path that lead him straight to RiverClan's heart. His legs grew sluggish as he trudged through the snow. The storm blew louder with each step. Growling to himself, he began pressing forward even faster despite the wave of sleep that was beginning to hit him.

His paws were covered in a light frost by the time the camp's borders came into view. Letting out a sigh, the dusty coloured warrior galloped to the entrance and dove in without a second thought. Although there wasn't much difference between the reeds and camp walls when it came to cover, he welcome every bit of it. A sigh of relief escaped his mouth before he stood tall and let his voice out for the camp to hear above the roaring winds. "Fishstar! Ivyfall! Mistfeather!" the tom howled. A coughing fit followed his yowl, wracking his body from head to tail. Yet he managed to hold himself up long enough to see cats pooling out of their dens, including the silver tabby he called mother.

Curled around her kits, Ivyfall was shivering even in the nursery that was lined with thick walls of reeds woven into the bush and feathers lining her nest. She didn't dare to move an inch, afraid to leave her kits exposed to the cold that was devastating the camp. Each of her breaths let out a puff of white mist, it was truly a cold snap before the warmth of Newleaf would come. But then a voice, one that she hadn't expected to ever hear against pierced through the wailing winds, her ears perked up, half convinced that she was hallucinating from the cold.

But then it called out to her.

A quick glance over to her fellow queens confirmed it, it wasn't just a trick of the mind, it was real. Before she could even say a word, one of the queen moved to make more space for her kits to join. Dipping her head gratefully, she moved her kits over to be with the other queen temporarily before racing out of the nursery.

Her fur caught on the entrance and the wind buffeted her, having her sharply veer with everyone second step but she didn't care a whit. The silver she-cat yowled loudly in a gibberish cry of delight, pushing past everyone to tackle her brother into the snow as they'd done when they were just Featherkit and Rainkit. "Rainstorm, it's you. It's really you!" The deputy yowled, pressing her cold nose against his cheek, inhaling the familiar scent of her brother in between furious licks to his face. She couldn't believe it, she'd lost so much, she couldn't believe that she'd gotten her brother back.