Take Me Home to the Place Where I Belong

Honeysong had had a dream the night before. However, it hadn't been any ordinary dream of chasing rabbits or playing with butterflies. It had been some sort of sign that only she could interpret. As close her connections to StarClan were, the former medicine cat determined that it was a sign for them to return to the Clans, for something terrible had happened to them. Sparkfire had been reluctant at first, wishing only to stay with her mate and son, but felt more at ease once Honeysong promised not to leave her. It was a hard decision, Sparkfire knew, for her to leave her birth Clan in favor of staying with her mate, but the winds of change were all around them. She knew she would have to give up her promising future as a medicine cat in order to stay with the cat she loved.

And with that, Sparkfire was fully convinced. They were to return to ShadowClan and live out the rest of their lives there. She just hoped the Clan would accept Honeysong and Softkit. She wished the Clan would accept her back as well, after having abandoned them to run off with a different cat many moons ago. She swore to herself, as she would swear to the Clan should she be accepted back, that she would never abandon them again.

Softkit expressed his worry tenfold at the prospect of leaving the safety and familiarity of the old Twoleg den and wandering into a territory unbeknownst to him, one that could potentially be hostile and unwelcoming. But she and Honeysong both assured him that if anything happened, the both of them would fight tooth and claw against any enemy to make sure he would remain safe ... so long as they both remained safe as well, another condition they had agreed to.

Now, as the moon began to slowly set over the horizon, Sparkfire stealthily crept through the rundown Twolegplace with her mate and son behind him, listening out intensely for any enemies hiding in the darkness. Moving about in the dark of night was the ShadowClan warrior's forte after all, and she felt the three of them would be safest under the cover of night, for this was a talent she had honed for many, many moons.

It didn't take long for the powerful, yet familiar scent to catch her attention. Sparkfire led Honeysong and Softkit towards the scent, growing stronger and stronger as the earth beneath their paws became softer and softer. Soon enough, they were no longer walking on dried grass and dusty rocks, but springy pine needles and moist soil that subtly caved beneath their paws. Oh, how wonderful it felt for Sparkfire to walk on marshy flooring once again.

Finally, the dark-furred molly stopped right before crossing the scent border. They were still on territory unclaimed by the Clans, yet a single mouse-length would carry them into ShadowClan territory. She sat down and turned to her mate and son. "Get comfortable, you two. I'll keep a lookout, make sure no one tries to sneak up on us, while we wait for a ShadowClan patrol to escort us to camp." She watched the silhouette of Honeysong nodding silently as she curled up in a bed of pine needles, gently coaxing Softkit to her so she could snuggle him and make him feel safe.

Softkit settled in beside his lighter-colored mother, curling his tail around himself delicately. It had been nearly five moons since he had first opened his eyes and seen the kind faces of his two mothers. It had been nearly three moons since Sparkfire had begun teaching him how to hunt (and though he still didn't like the idea of killing a helpless creature, he had come to terms with it). And now, Honeysong had said that they were needed "back home." But he thought they were already home? Something about a terrible thing happening to "the clans," whoever that was. Were they like Starclan, whom Honeysong had told him about that fateful day he caught his first mouse? He didn't know...

Though the earth beneath him was strange and unfamiliar, it was also a bit exciting to go exploring for once. His mothers had never let him stray far from them, and the springy ground beneath him felt both pleasant and disturbing. It was like it had rained for days straight... even though it hadn't. He was reluctant to get his fur dirty, so he scrambled halfway on top of Honeysong and sat there, purring gently.

"These Asylum cats better get out of our fur sooner or later, or we're going to have a problem," Tulipfang mewed to her father, Daisyflame that padded alongside her. Behind them was Flintstar doing whatever he usually did and behind him was an Asylum cat, following them and being as annoying as ever.


"I agree, their presence isn't appreciated nor is it needed..." Daisyflame mewed loud enough for the unwelcomed cat to hear from behind them. Continuing onwards towards on of their borders and conversing back and forth with his daughter, a somewhat unfamiliar scent his his nose. Lifting his tail and slowing to a stop, Daisyflame opened his maw and scented the air some more. Soon enough, he caught the sight of a small group of cats a few foxlengths away and raised his hackles, ready for a border dispute, but before he was able to do or say anything Tulipfang barged into the scene.


"Sparkfire?" Having caught sight of the fluffy grey she-cat just after her father did, Tulipfang disregarded any of the cautiousness that Daisyflame had prompted and pushed her way past him. "Where in StarClan's name have you been?" the fluffy white and ginger she-cat prompted as she made her way over to her former clanmate, confused as ever.

Flintstar silently trailed after the two white and orange warriors, ears perked as he did his best to keep an eye on their surrounding as somebody had to actually make sure that they were safe. It was bound to be another uneventful patrol - the only reason he was truly here was that he was finding it harder and harder to actually trust Asylum cats alone with his warriors. While neither of the two were a pushover, the leader certainly felt...Better, if he was out with them. And besides, he supposed the 'fresh air' was good for him. His eyes fell onto the shapes just as Daisyflame made them out, fur prickling until Tulipfang stepped forward and uttered a name that caused the leader to stall.

His...Sister? His ears twitched as he padded forward, eyes trained on the she-cat that Tulipfang was making her way towards. The familiar pelt caused something within him to ache, confusion sweeping over him as the question of where she had been was raised. He...He knew the answer - or assumed he had. She had disappeared not long after falling for that kittypet she had met collecting herbs for their father. A kittypet she had left them for when Asterspark had died, leaving him alone in his grief and to care for what remained of their half-siblings. His eyes narrowed as he straightened up, stepping forward to sweep his intense gaze over Tulipfang and the she-cat and...His eyes fell onto the kit that was with them, any cold anger that was forming promptly melting away. He spared once glance over his shoulder at the Asylum cat who watched...Before he took in a deep breath and turned to face his sister. "...Yes, what are you doing here?" he questioned sharply, claws tugging at the soil beneath him as he waited for an answer.

Sparkfire scented the arrival of a ShadowClan patrol before she saw them. She felt relief wash over her at the sight of three very familiar cats, though the fourth one was new to her. She was curious about the fourth cat, but her happiness to see Daisyflame, Tulipfang, and Flintstar overrode her curiosity. For a cat who wasn't all that keen on sentiments, Sparkfire wanted nothing more than to rush forward and press herself into her brother and friends. She had missed them all so much!

However, Flintstar's unexpected cold tone when addressing her gave her pause. She stared at the ShadowClan leader with eyes wide with surprise. Wasn't he happy to see her? Then again, she had broken the warrior code by abandoning the Clan in favor of a kittypet, one that she had left not too long after upon her sudden death. Sparkfire felt panic beginning to rise within her. Was Flintstar angry with her? Was he going to refuse his own sister back into the Clan for leaving them? What would she do if he turned her and her new family away? Where would they live?

Swallowing down her doubts, Sparkfire rose up onto her paws and dared to take a single step forward. "Flintstar," she began respectfully, treating her littermate as the Clan leader that he was, "I have come to ask of you to allow me and my family back into ShadowClan. What I have done to everyone by leaving was wrong, and nothing I could ever hope to do can atone for that. But I want to try. Will you let us return with you to ShadowClan?" She could hear Honeysong holding her breath behind her, and she held her gaze with Flintstar's hoping against hope that he would have enough compassion to let them come back home.

Softkit watched the interaction with wariness. Wow, those cats looked strong. Of course his mothers were strong as well, but the other cats had larger muscles, sharper teeth, and messier fur. He slid off Honeysong's back and crouched behind her, keeping his eyes on the newcomers timidly. He no longer cared about getting his fur dirty, so long as there was a boundary between him and them.