Home is where the Heart is (open)

The scrawny, dusty tom's excitement grew with each step he took. He'd started into a clumsy run moments after crossing the border into his home territory. The land around him was ruined, evidence of the catastrophe that swept across his home, but he recognized enough to know where he was going. Truthfully, Harefoot was beyond exhausted - the most tired he'd ever felt in his life - but he couldn't bear to be away from his home and family for another moment. He'd been lost for moons. He had been separated from ThunderClan somewhere in the mountains, and there he spent his time, walking in circles for StarClan knows how long. He was fortunate to be fast enough to catch the few hares that lived there even if it was only once in a few days. Harefoot had always been thin but his current state was downright horrifying. Even so, he ran through the washed out forest with a new energy in his paws.

Upon spotting the familiar ridge into camp, he slowed to a trot and climbed the ravine carefully but hurriedly. He'd been dreaming of this moment, night after night, staring up at the stars and wondering who else was looking at them. He was ready to see his friends again, especially Beartooth and Flamerose. Harefoot felt horribly guilty about Honeypaw, his apprentice, who likely had a new mentor assigned. He'd be so proud of her if she got her warrior name, even if it was under a different warrior. He stepped into camp with the biggest smile he'd worn all season. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to happen when he got back, he only knew that it felt right.

The days following Ridgelight's trial were slow and disheartening. Ferretnose felt the heaviness in camp weigh down her own heart. When her clanmates felt pain, she tended to take it on. For better or for worse, she knew how they all felt about the ultimate betrayal of clan and kin. Moreso, she felt for Houndkit, who was now motherless. She drowned her sorrows in a large piece of fresh-kill. Seeing the forest recover had been marvelous, despite all who had been lost. She thought she was done mourning them when a sudden shift in the vibe of camp forced her to look up.

There, in the camp entrance, stood Harefoot, looking even more ragged and ghastly than she remembered. When the flood came, she had been a new apprentice, and though she was not close to him, she would know his face anywhere. She had assumed he was killed by one of the dogs. He had been mourned alongside the fallen, yet here he was. Wide eyed, she wondered if she was seeing a ghost, but the smile he bore was just too real. She slowly rose to her paws and began to cry.

"H-Harefoot! You're alive! Everyone, Harefoot is here!" she called out to the clearing. She ran closer and guided him deeper into camp. "Stars, you look rough! Somebody tell Leopardstar that Harefoot is home... and he needs to eat!"

A strange scent was on the wind. It held some familiarity as Marshstorm followed the scent from the top of the gorge. His amber eyes scanning each shaded patch, just in case it was an enemy cat, but a sudden yowl broke that train of thought.

Harefoot. His head lifted as he bolted for the camp entrance at the joyous news. Relieved to see that it was indeed true. He padded towards the dust coloured tom with welcome plain in his expression.
"Harefoot! You’ve made it home!” he meowed cheerfully. Perhaps if Harefoot was back, that meant more missing cats would return. He could hope. "Are there any others with you?" He asked, glancing towards the gathering cats and the mouth of the nursery at kits peeking out. His tail twitched invitingly to let them know it was okay.

Harefoot's grin grew even wider at the she-cat's exclamation and he hurried forward to meet her with a gentle tap of his nose. "Ferretpaw! Great StarClan, you've grown up! I was at your apprentice ceremony just yesterday, or so it seems... that reminds me, how's Honeypaw? Or does she have her warrior name now?" He followed her with a bounce in his step, grateful to see the first of many faces he recognized. He was purring louder than he had in his whole life.  Ferretnose's mention of eating made his large ears perk and reminded him just how hungry he was.

Marshstorm's voice caught his attention and he whipped around to see his deputy bounding from the camp entrance. Had he been followed the whole time? He couldn't blame his clanmates for not recognizing his scent after being in such unfamiliar territory for so long. Harefoot butted his head affectionately against Marshstorm's shoulder before pulling back, apparently embarrassed by his own forwardness to a cat of higher rank. His expression was overjoyed, but it softened with confusion and concern at the deputy's words. "Others? No, I'm alone. Who else is missing?" He meowed softly, remembering his own trials and struggles as a temporary loner. If there were still others suffering like that, then StarClan help them...

The ravine was sleepy and warm. The patrols had already been organized and sent on their way, and the rest of the warriors had nothing to do but mill around camp, relaxing in whatever patch of sunshine they could find and gossipping lazily.
Suddenly, Ferretshine's voice cut through the comfortable silence, and the clearing erupted into movement. "Harefoot?" Lynxtail looked up from his mouse, his tufted ears perking. Harefoot was being led through Thunderclan camp by Ferretnose, the former grinning widely. "Welcome home!" He called, watching from afar as cats quickly surrounded the brown tom.

As they got closer, Lynxtail's grin faded. By the time he managed to get a proper look at Harefoot, it was obvious that the short-furred tom was in poor condition. He looked happy, yes, but he was also exhausted, bone-thin, and definitely in need of some grooming. Without another word, the young tom grabbed the nearest piece of prey- a squirrel -and trotted towards him.
"Here," He dropped the fresh kill at Harefoot's paws, offering the worn tom a grin. "You must be hungry."

The brown tom’s approach was welcomed. Marshstorm accepted the headbutt with a purr, pressing his own head to Harefoot’s shoulder in equal relief and affection to see the lost member of the clan home. For a moment, all was cheerful and good. When he explained that he was alone, it took a great effort for Marshstorm to not look as disappointed as he felt.

"Dawnpaw and Duskpaw." He meowed in answer, his head turning towards the entrance. He wished that he would see the tortoiseshell coat of Dawnpaw. The tabby coat of Duskpaw. For a moment, he swore he did. Heart pounding painfully in his chest as he was forced to acknowledge the fact that they had never been found.

The only thing he could do was pray that they weren’t dead. That somehow, in some way, they would make it back home. That they didn’t share his blood, or Dustcloud’s didn’t matter. He could still see them as the tiny scraps of fur he had coaxed towards ThunderClan’s camp. Meeting them with Froststone… their innocence in the darkness of their parents misdeeds.

His head turned back to Harefoot. Amber eyes filled with joy as he choked back the knowledge that they could be out there. Wandering, alone… and suppressing the all encompassing urge to leave the territory in a vain attempt to find them. Or that StarClan, would guide them safely back to the fold. So he could hold them close just one more time.