the hand that feeds [C]

Bloodstrike followed after Birdstar into the camp. The silence wasn't necessarily unwelcome, but he could feel the tension in the air too which made it awkward. They neared camp and Bloodstrike smirked ever so slightly at the sight of the sticks and leaves in place. So someone had agreed that this was a good idea. It made him feel good, a warm and fuzzy feeling with a small dollop of pride as well. He stepped his way around it carefully and his eyes landed on a warrior nearby. Birdstar told him to find Wolfblossom and Bloodstrike watched the warrior bound away. Carefully, he sat down and waited for his granddaughter to appear.

He looked around, taking in the familiar sights, sounds and smells. Many warriors and apprentices were on their way to their dens for the night. What pleased Bloodstrike most was the fact that a certain red-furred grandson of his was nowhere to be found. Things were awkward enough without having that traitor's son around, one that had caused him problems before.

Bloodstrike couldn't scent the filthy rogue-born either, so he visibly began to relax. Maybe his transition would be easier than he thought.

Wolfblossom had been in quiet conversation with one of Skyclan's warriors, glad to have a moment to relax now that most of the day's duties were done with. So naturally, of course, a warrior bounded over, bright-eyed and asking her to find Birdstar who had just returned to camp - with a visitor, apparently.

She ignored the pang of disappointment she felt at being pulled from her current conversation, offering the warrior a small smile before she turned away. With a polite nod to Birdstar's messenger, the deputy padded toward the camp entrance. Birdstar and Bloodstrike... Thinking back on their encounter at the Shadowclan border, perhaps it wasn't all that surprising to see her grandfather standing in camp. She wondered if there was news of Beechfang, or if something else had happened. Neither her sister nor grandfather seemed to be injured, so there hadn't been a fight. Against predators or rogues, and he wasn't trying to take back his former title as Skyclan's leader. Not that she thought he would, but Wolfblossom had, if nothing else, had learned to assess situations and the risks involved in them. Or perhaps the sense of weariness that Wolfblossom had noticed on their last encounter had won out at last.

"Birdstar, Bloodstrike." Wolfblossom acknowledged the pair. "What's happened?" Bloodstrike's presence wasn't going to go unnoticed for too long, she expected, even with most of the clan winding down for the evening. Her mind turned briefly to Moonlily and her issues since Bloodstrike and Beechfang had left Skyclan. She didn't seem to be in the clearing, and while that habit was something that needed to be dealt with (and was seemingly getting a little better as of late), perhaps it was for the best right now.

Bloodstrike watched Wolfblossom approach with an unreadable expression. He did at least offer her a slight nod. It was nice to see her... it was nice to be back home. His tattered ear flicked in the direction of Birdstar and a weak attempt at a glare followed upon her jest at his age. She was right though. He was no new-leaf chicken anymore. He listened to his restrictions, not surprised at all that he'd be kept away from the river. What? Did she think he was going to cross the border and make her regret her decisions? Not without good reason, at least.

"I accept these restrictions and I will follow orders. I may be old, but those who underestimate me do so to their own detriment." It was not a shot at Birdstar at all, but more a reassurance that he was still able to help out around here and would certainly fight as fiercely as a warrior half his age if needed. Aside from that, he said nothing. His plan to eventually try to smooth things over with Perchstar was still in his head, but he would be willing to lie low for now.

"So, deputy, I will tell you of my skills so that you can decide where best to place me. I am a skilled and fast climber. Even with my nub of a tail, I can still balance on branches just fine. I can hunt and fight well, despite my old age and..." His voice faltered just a bit, irritation striking his expression as it did. "...and my waning strength. My experience seems to be able to make up for my short-comings for now." For how much longer, he didn't know. He didn't want to think about it.

"I also understand that some members of Skyclan may not be so... welcoming given the circumstances of my departure. I understand that, I accept it. I'd like for those who don't trust me and don't want me here to be able to speak as freely as they wish. I will not engage in any inner-clan violence, no matter how they may goad me, I swear it. I think it would be good for them to at least feel heard, and whatever they say I doubt it is something I haven't heard before."

Was this how Beechfang felt? Is this why she accepted her exile so easily? If that was the case, then Bloodstrike felt like a fool. Now that he had stepped away from Skyclan for awhile and had been removed as leader, things seemed much clearer. He was right about himself... he hadn't been suitable for leadership beyond the invasion and defeat of the Dark Forest. At least that was something he had done right, to step down rather than stubbornly cling to it like his grandfather had for far too long.

Wolfblossom wasn't surprised as Birdstar spoke.

"You've made your mistakes," So had Beechfang, "but you're not the one I expect to cause trouble. The other clans can do nothing about what they don't know and which is kept to our own territory." Wolfblossom agreed with the restrictions that Birdstar mentioned. They made sense. "Personally I think Riverclan's opinions are worth as much as dirt. Maybe that's an insult to dirt." Her claws flexed into the dirt beneath. "I would've liked to have said goodbye rather than coming back to camp and finding my mother gone. But tensions were high enough. I get it." As deputy, her priority was Skyclan's safety, not her own anger at the ones who had helped tear her family apart. Wolfblossom sighed. "Maybe that can change in the future. Unlikely, but I've been surprised before. I don't know. For now, we work with what we can. It's not every day we can have a former leader return to us and be counted among our ranks. For as long as you are able, you will have a place in Skyclan as a warrior." He was already thinking about how he could contribute, which Wolfblossom hadn't expected. She would find a fit for him among Skyclan's patrols. His physical limitations, she expected, would not be the difficult part. At least not for now.

"You'll be in mixed company. I think Ravenclaw at least will be glad to see you returned, and many more are young enough to not remember you or our mother leaving but will have heard the stories. You are right, however." Wolfblossom sighed, didn't that make her feel old... She'd been an apprentice then, and Birdstar too. How quickly things had changed. "There are several who do remember your exile, who were here in camp when that happened. They will be given a chance to speak and air their grievances, and I will plan patrols around any issues, if the need arises. I don't expect their views to change over night, but I will not tolerate infighting or violence among my clanmates. Our warriors are adults and I expect them to act as such." She glanced at Birdstar, whiskers twitching briefly. She would remember how Wolfblossom had handled her and Stormwatcher. And Blackbear, if she returned to the clan after her search for Crookedpaw.

"Your daughter Moonlily..." Wolfblossom sighed, Bloodstrike deserved a warning rather than being caught off guard, though she suspected he was used to family being difficult at this point. "She will come to terms with it eventually... I hope. I expect she'll do her best to become a ghost rather than fight. It will be up to her if she wishes to know you. I expect I'll be going to talk to her once we're done here." Warn her, rather.

"Welcome home, grandfather."