As the Morning Glories Fade (OPEN)

It was with a heavy heart that Basilbloom said goodbye to her patrolmates; they had parted with Beechfang and Muddythorn quickly, the concerned she-cat seemingly impatient to return to her camp.  Slowly the rest had broken off as well until only herself and Duskflight remained.  In the dying sunlight, the tortoiseshell she-cat looked up at the tom, a satisfied smile reflected in her exhausted eyes.  "It's been quite the journey, my friend, thank you for going with me.  I couldn't have done it without you."  Brushing her head gently against his shoulder, she took a deep breath before stepping down the path that led towards home.  "Now...let's go home."

Their walk from Fourtrees suddenly didn't feel as far as it used to, simply a hop, skip, and a jump away from her beloved marshlands.  Despite this, however, the journey had begun to take its toll on Basilbloom, and she kept a slow pace.  Her paws hurt despite the dock she had applied to them earlier and her heartbeat was oddly slow for such activity.  Her body yearned for sleep, for relief, but she knew she had to keep going.  One paw in front of the other, that was how she got through anything in her life.  They reached the tree she had marked when they left and took a moment to lean against it and close her eyes.  The scents and sounds, the texture of the moist soil beneath her paws...she was finally home.  This gave her a slight boost in energy, the faces of her family flashing before her eyes with such vivid detail she could cry.  Trotting ahead towards camp, she wondered what she would say first.  Her clanmates were likely just starting to wake up for the night.  She should obviously address the bundle of coneflower that hung around her neck, but who should she greet first?  Murkystar, Mistyfalcon, Loudnose?  Maybe she could get them all at once and tackle them into a group hug!  Her goal was in sight, the bramble walls a welcoming sight to homesick eyes.

She hadn't noticed the dried blood on the ground.

Pushing through the camp entrance, Basilbloom broke through into the clearing and grinned, amber eyes wide.  Just as she thought, several cats were already awake and starting their day.  Taking a deep breath, the medicine called out in a light yet relieved tone.  "We're back everyone!  Duskflight and I are home, and we found the flower!  Come see!"

Deerpaw was just finishing a shrew when a large commotion sounded from the entrance. She jumped to her paws, ever so skittish, and whipped around to face the camp entrance. She had her claws out in case it was another invasion, but relaxed when she saw the tortoiseshell coat of Basilbloom. She relaxed for a second.

“Duskflight! Basilbloom! Welcome back!” She purred with excitement and bounded up to meet them. She missed them so much, especially Duskflight. She had so much to tell him!

Icekit looked up from where she was napping in the nursery. She wandered to the entrance of the nursery and peered out. She didn't mind the queens who hurried out to meet the returning medicine cat. Icekit's ear twitched and she watched with curiosity. They must have left before she was even born, and she wondered what this flower was that they spoke of.

"Now...let's go home."

It felt as if it'd only been a fleeting moment away from camp, and yet, here they were. The journey was a success! Not just helping out, he'd also been able to slightly understand each cat from the other clans better, too. There were many cats he was still interested in, though he'd have to wait for another opportunity in another time. Feeling her head brush against him, he smiled, receiving a sense of encouragement from the she-cat. Soon, they'll arrive home, back to camp. Very, very soon.

The excitement of seeing his clanmates and friends made him noticeably more joyful. Ratrunner, Deerpaw, Murkystar, Ivycreek... So many cats he looked forward to meeting again! They've reached the familiar marshlands, and now, his paws itched to run back to camp. The familiar scents and sights made his heart race with euphoria! Skipping with Basilbloom into camp, Deerpaw was the first cat he saw— and he gave a warm purr seeing her. He had missed her so much, too!

“Duskflight! Basilbloom! Welcome back!”

"Deerpaw!" Duskflight trilled, joyfully brushing his head onto the she-cat's back. Over a distance, he spotted another unfamiliar kit, too. There's new kits..?  Although seeing them was splendid, he scanned the camp for his close friend: Ratrunner. Where was he, now? Soon, many cats were crowding over them, though. He'd have to wait for later...

Swifthearts ears twitched hearing a familiar voice... was that.... she smiled widely. Her sister Basilbloom was home!

She felt so relived, the whole time she was away she was so worried about her and constantly missed her.

She ran out of the warriors den so excited. Basilbloom!! Duskflight!! she squealed like a newborn kitten.

She gave her older sister a giant hug I missed you so much she whispered into her ear purring softly.

This reunion was so sweet for her, she was so happy that Basilbloom had found what she was looking for and even happier that she was back home safe and sound. She looked at the flower purring softly and tilted her head curiously inspecting at it closer.

Rookfire had been grooming himself before he heard a familiar voice. It was different, more mature, but it still was undoubtedly her. "Basil! Welcome back!" he said, dashing out of the apprentice's den to greet his former apprentice. Noticing the flower hanging around Basilbloom's neck, the black tuxedo realized that it must have been the coneflower that she was trying to find. Yes! She found it! "How was the trip? From the herb hanging from your neck, I guess it was pretty successful," Rookfire said, smiling at his former apprentice.

Deerpaw purred as Duskflight embraced her. It was good to have him back. And right in time for her warrior ceremony too! She felt a trill pass down her neck at the thought. The whole clan would be there for her ceremony! …

Except for Amberdawn and Burningwing.

Sootpaw had been washing his paws, his belly still rumbling despite the scant meal he'd had only a heartbeat before, when several cats raced past him, congregating near the camp entrance. Padding curiously over, he caught the familiar scents of Basilbloom and Duskflight, along with a strange herb he'd never smelled before. That must be the flower they were sent to find!

He couldn't help a purr of relief at the sight of his clanmates safe and sound. He sat at the edge of the group, watching as the travelers were welcomed home.

Tattered ears twitched at the sound of voices, and Mistyfalcon glanced up from where he'd been picking at a scrawny mouse. Basilbloom and Duskflight had returned, and there was a purple flower hanging around Basilbloom's neck. Their journey had been a success, then?

"I'm glad you made it back safely, Basilbloom." She'd find out about everything that had happened soon enough... Not that anyone could have predicted rogues, it wasn't her fault.

Cats were crowding around the returned medicine cat and warrior, and it was reflex for Mistyfalcon to pull back from the quickly forming crowd. They could talk and catch up later.

Shypaw startled at Basilbloom's call, and then her round silvery eyes lit up. She padded softly towards the group and hung back even as her friends Deerpaw and Duskflight embraced, and just waved her tail happily. She blinked shyly at Basilbloom, a little awed by the medicine-cat and her journey and the faintly sweet-smelling bundle that hung around her neck. Out of the corner of her eye, Shypaw noticed a little face peeking curiously out of the nursery, and gave Icekit a little gentle crooked smile. She hoped to hear about the journey and the flower too.

Ratrunner slipped out of the elder’s den quickly — hearing rising commotion. His heart half-jolted in fear, but the mews were joyful, not alarmed. Nothing’s wrong… He felt relief, and then curiosity. Has there been a ceremony I didn’t know about? But surely the elders heard announcements; the young warrior had been bringing them a marshrat.

And then he heard a voice. And immediately, his own heart rising, Ratrunner ran for the small crowd; he was too short to see properly, but thankfully Duskflight was still tall. “Duskflight! You’re back!”

The relief and the joy were powerful, like a little sun, and at the sight of Basilbloom too… They’re okay. Ratrunner wasn’t sure how he himself seemed, after everything — more scars, obvious ones; weariness in his eyes — but he was more interested in seeing Duskflight.

Basilbloom's smile could only get wider as her clanmates took notice of their return, and the tortoiseshell medicine cat purred and greeted the first apprentice to approach.  "Deerpaw, oh my stars you've gotten so big!"  She watched with a smile as Duskflight greeted the young she-cat, before letting out a surprised yelp as she was tackled into a hug by her little sister Swiftheart.  Laughing, Basilbloom wrapped her tail around the white-furred she-cat in return and nuzzled her shoulder, whispering back; "I missed you too, all of you!"  

As Swiftheart stepped back to inspect the flower, Basilbloom cast her gaze around camp, noticing an unfamiliar kitten by the nursery.  One of the queens must've given birth!  Flicking her ear and smiling at the little white-legged kit, she watched as more and more cats emerged into the clearing.  One face though stopped her dead in her tracks.  "R...R-Rookfire?!"  Mouth hanging open and astonishment overtaking her face, the little tortoiseshell she-cat ran to greet her missing mentor - now returned to his rightful home.  Tiny tears forming in the corners of her eyes, she pressed her head against the black-and-white tom's chest and purred.  "I thought I would never see you again...StarClan led you back to us!"  Pulling away, she nodded excitedly as she pulled the pack containing the flower from around her neck, laying it on the ground.  "Yes, we found it, and it works!  I'll have to show you later since I suppose you'll be using it too now that you're back!"  

Unaware, Basilbloom turned and waved and purred to her clanmates, meeting Shypaw's gaze with a bright smile and watching happily as Ratrunner reunited with Duskflight before she caught sight of Mistyfalcon.  Amber eyes glowing with relief, she followed him towards the edge of the crowd and pressed her head into his shoulder, closing her eyes and purring.  "Dad...I missed you so much, I'm glad you're...okay..."  When she opened her eyes, however, she noticed a very deep, new wound on his shoulder.  Stepping back, she saw more and more, deep gashes and cuts and claw marks.  Breathless, she looked from the injuries back to her father's face, a mix of dread and anger clouding her eyes.  "What happened?  Those are marks caused by another cat...did one of the clans attack, even after Goldenfang made them agree to peace?!"  She realized suddenly that many other cats bore marks as well, and to her horror, she hadn't seen Loudnose, Frostgaze, or Murkystar yet.  "Is...everyone okay?"

Snowpaw had watched the whole ordeal from the sidelines with interest. She’d been a kit and in shock from her mother’s death the last time she’d seen Basilbloom and didn’t remember much, but she knew how important this was for the whole clan. She didn’t know all the details, though, and approached the nearest adult with a question.

“What exactly is the flower for?”

Through the crowd, he managed to spot his other friends not too afar— and his eyes widened, grinning widely. "Ratrunner! Shypaw! You all grew so much!" He beamed, joining in the laugh with Basilbloom. His friends have gotten oh-so-much taller! Had he missed out so much? Then, another unfamiliar cat caught his eye. Basilbloom seemed to be fond of him, however, and others too. Though he didn't know who that was, he seemed older.. and mature.

Though, suddenly, the new scars on his friend's body alerted him. No, it wasn't of a fox's or a raccoon, anything of the sort. It was a cat's claw marks on him. Had a fight broke out? Scanning through the crowd, he figured multiple others— including Mistyfalcon, whom Basilbloom's horror has strongly alerted him of, too. If that was it, just what has happened while he was gone..? Switching from a face of joy to one of horror and fear, the tom searched for Murkystar and Frostgaze. Had they been attacked, too? Loudnose, Emberleap, and Ivycreek as well, where were they? And were they alright?

Thoughts raced through his head— which much of those aligned with Basilbloom's. Worriedly, he faced his friend, panicked. "Ratrunner, I really don't want to spoil the mood, but... Just what has happened? Are you and everyone okay? Where's Murkystar? And Frostgaze, too?" Duskflight bit his tongue, holding himself back from spilling more questions.

Icekit curiously pawed out of the nursery, though she still kept a bit of distance from the cluster of cats. As calls and names were tossed about, Icekit's eyes quickly flitted around to try and keep track. She gathered that Basilbloom and Duskflight were the cats that had just returned. She spotted a few familiar faces from the clan rush up to greet them, including Ratrunner.

Her curiosity still piqued, she sat and observed, hoping to hear word about this mysterious flower that they had returned with.