asylum family reunion

It had taken a while, but the day Thalia had asked many of the cats she'd grown up with to meet her (and, unbeknownst to them, Roe) in Asylum camp had arrived. She was waiting rather impatiently, mostly because she wanted to share the truth she'd so recently learned with the others it affected - and, truthfully, because she was longing for someone else to share the secret with. Roe knew that she knew, and she'd spoken to her parents - that had certainly, um, happened; she didn't want to get too involved in whatever was going on there anymore - but there was no one else she could speak openly with, even in the shadowed whispers of Asylum.

(Plus, it was their truth too. They deserved to know who they were, didn't they?)

Shira was happily surprised when Thalia had asked her and the other cats she grew up with to meet in the Asylum camp.  She had grown up with them, wishing to get a space to call her own, but as soon as she was able to go off on her own, she must admit that she missed them.  Not that she would ever tell them that, of course.  She had not seen Thalia too much after they were assigned to different clans and when Spark and her decided to meet at the same time in the Asylum camp.  The cats meeting here were the cats she grew up with.  All of them felt like family to her.

Shira walked up to Thalia.  Noticing that no other cats were there yet, she decided to try to make conversation.  "Hello, Thalia," she said kindly.  "How are you?"  She had been trying to be nicer ever sense she hurt the frightened Skyclan cat.  She did not want to fight cats anymore... at least until her kits were born.

When Stag had heard about an Asylum meetup, he had been ecstatic. It had felt like ages since he had last seen Spark and Thalia, he had often wondered how they were doing. Now he would finally be able to find out! after walking quite a long way, he had arrived at the Asylum camp, the only home he ever knew. He was so glad to be back. Pushing his way into the camp, he found that Thalia and Shira were already there. Thalia! Running up to the she-cat, he immediately questioned how she had been. "Thalia! It's been so long! How are you, what's been going on?" He hoped that Thalia had been having a good time in the clans, despite how unwelcoming they had been to him.

Ceres would never willingly pass on the opportunity to escape from SkyClan's camp and return to her true home, even if it was just for a few moments. Therefore, when Thalia had called her and the others to meet together, the she-cat had been itching with excitement for that day to come. Her heart had pounded against her chest as she made her way out of the camp without saying a word to anyone and practically sprinted through the forest, making her way around bushes and under low hanging branches. The Standard had no intention of wasting any time. She hadn't bothered to groom herself that morning, so her fur was ruffled and matted as the Asylum's camp came into view. This was exactly where she belonged.

Ceres couldn't help but grin once her gaze landed upon Thalia, Shira, and Stag. If the others were feeling as distressed about their respective Clans as much as she was, then a meeting was exactly what they needed.
"Hey, guys!" The calico purred as she approached them with a flick of her tail, "It's so good to see your faces again, y'all have no idea how much I've missed being here."

Raisha padded into the Asylum camp a little awkwardly. She was quite sure the others were not very fond of her, and yet they had wanted her here anyway. There was one cat in particular she was not so fond of the idea of seeing, and another she hoped with everything she had was here. Pyrik and her still did not get along very well, and although it was a long time ago, their last meeting was still fresh in her mind. They were having a pleasant conversation before Raisha stubbornly pushed him away again.

Then there was Brick. She was probably the only cat who actually liked her, because she was too stupid to see beyond the fact that Raisha was her sister. and she wouldn't have it any other way. It was nice, having a cat she could actually enjoy being around. If it wasn't the cats here hating her because they knew her, it was the RiverClan cats hating her because they didn't. And Brick was the one cat who didn't fit in to that.

So now Raisha made her way into the group, giving each of the gathered cats a quick nod before finding her seat.

WindClan had been just shy of unbearable with Thalia around. In her absence, the moor and its occupants had gotten even colder. Pyrik had hit roadblock after roadblock in trying to keep things civil between Asylum and the moor-cats, but this one was insurmountable. Maybe that was why, as he trotted toward home, his fox’s head dangling off his scarred shoulder, the jabs of guilt he usually felt when shirking his duties were gone. He’d be more helpful here than in WindClan. Knowing what awaited him at camp took out the rest of the sting. For the first time in ages, it’d just be him and the cats he’d grown up with. Even Raisha’s inevitable presence didn’t phase him (much); he had bigger problems than her, now.

As he stepped into the camp, the pressure around his ribs eased. Sure enough, his old denmates were clustered together. Pyrik blinked at them, gaze flitting over Raisha faster than the others. Shira, Stag, Ceres, and… “Thalia,” he said, still relieved, somehow, to see her in one piece, “everyone, it’s so good to see you—" Sure, he only had a pawful of friends among them (only one here so far), but... Safety felt better than he remembered. Leaning to the side, the mottled tom let his pelt slide off the rest of the way, though he kept a paw on it once it fell just in case.

Griffon had been glad to get away. The news had been spread that him and most of the cats his age were gathering to have a get together. He had missed their presence, even if he didn’t know many of them that well. He had ran off quickly, tearing through the forest, relaxing as he got back to his home. He shrugged off his pelt at the entrance, quickly discarding it. He quickly found his family grouped together, and he grinned, bouncing over. Thalia, Shira, Stag, Ceres, Spark, Raisha, Pyrik, and now him! Even though the air was cold, he felt so warm, full of happiness. He had missed the way things had been before the takeover.

He sat down quickly, glancing around. "Thanks, Thalia. For putting this all together. I needed a good excuse to get out of camp, and I’ve missed all of you!" The Standard exclaimed, his voice feeling lighter and happier than it had in ages. Thunderclan and it’s inhabitants had left his mind. Hd didn’t need to worry about them, not right now, anyways. He was home, and he wanted to enjoy it. Who knew how long he would have to wait for another break like this?

Spark padded into Asylum Camp at Thalia’s request, his fox pelt on his back. The pelt helped show that he was truly an Asylum cat, not someone who felt out of place with the Asylum like Ichtaca. He for one listened to Rookpaw’s words about her, and that Asylum probably made a mistake by assigning her to be a pelt ward instead of one of the three major factions. He could understand that, really. The ginger tom wouldn’t have wanted to be a pelt ward, either, though he would keep his feelings to himself.

Though he didn’t really feel close to most of the cats he grew up with, he felt comfortable enough to leave his post in ShadowClan among the request of specific cats. One of those cats was Thalia, which was why he was here today. He enjoyed being around Thalia and Stag, the only two cats that he could really trust besides his mate Shira. Really, it was strange of thinking of the dark gray she-cat as his mate, but it was the best way to describe his relationship with her.

But either way, the ginger tom was here, in Asylum Camp, at Thalia’s request.

It felt like the whole world was spinning away from her and she hated it. All she wanted was control of her life but even that was taken away from her. She knew she had changed. She didn't know how much but hopefully it wasn't as noticeable as she feared. The one and only thing she wanted right now was to see her. Even if it was for a few moments, it's all she desired. Thalia. The last time she saw her... well... it had felt like an eternity since then. Katana's duties had shifted her away from her best friend, her other half. It hurt. Back at the clans nothing was really going right. However, strangely enough, she didn't remember much of the drama. It just flew right by her. Her mind just muddled most of those days. They all just merged into a big, indecipherable mess. Now that she was back at the Asylum camp per Thal's request, her lungs and head felt alleviated. She still wasn't really acting like her fiery self but it was certainly an improvement from the way she'd been acting during her stays in ThunderClan.

The light-furred she-cat softly padded over to the gathering group, eyes bouncing from one figure to the next. All the cats she's grown up with were there. A strong feeling of nostalgia and longing washed over her. It's been such a long time since they were all united here. Her gaze soon landed on Thalia and she felt her breath hitch. Oh how she missed her. She scanned her form to try and spot anything different about her since they last talked. Just from the few moments of observation she could tell Thalia had also changed. Just how much had happened? Katana felt guilt rising as she realized she hadn't been there for her like she'd promised. The she-cat bit the inside of her cheek as she shuffled over to the group and settled a little ways away. She ducked her head and allowed her badger pelt cover her shameful gaze. She should've greeted Thalia but she just... she just couldn't. Not after leaving her to face goodness knows what by her lonesome. Maybe later she could apologize but for now, she was there just to hear what Thal wanted to talk about.

Roe peered out from the Nightstriker den, feeling his heart drop as for the first time in moons, he saw all of the kits again...Or, at least, most of them. His breath caught in his throat as fear bubbled in his chest of their reaction - how would they take it? To know that they had been cruely taken away from their homes? Lied to their entire lives? Told that they were something they weren't? But the worst thing was that he felt sick at the thought of keeping up the lie. They deserved to know what was done to them. Thalia had taken it well enough but... He pulled back, taking in a deep breath as he tried to steady himself.

He could do this. This was for the best that they know the truth. He pushed himself to his paws as he slipped from the den finally, eyes scanning the cats. It was most of the kits, that was for certain. Even if it wasn't all...It was better to get it over now. Perhaps others would arrive while he was talking...The others could also inform those who didn't manage to  make it. But it didn't matter...Now, it was time. "Hello!" he called out, ears perking as he forced a smile. "Its wonderful to see you all again. I'm sure you are wondering why Thaila called you all here and...I'm here to help explain that," he meowed as he glanced over at Thalia. ...This was really it. There was no turning back. He took in a deep breath. "...What I am about to tell you has to remain a secret. Do not discuss it to any other Asylum cat if you can help it - I don't know how much trouble I could get into if..." he drifted off, before he shook his head and sat down, motioning for them all to draw in closer as his voice fell to a whisper - still loud enough for them all to hear but just barely.

"I'm here to tell you a truth - something that Thallia discovered and asked me about...Something I couldn't lie to her about - lie to you all about - anymore. Most of you know that you were not born in Asylum, with stories being given to you of how you came to us, or allowed you do make your own ideas..." His ears slicked back as he hung his head. "...They were all lies. All of you - every single one - came from the same source...The very Clans we are holding. Eris was the one who snatched you from the nursery of the Clans, while the Captains helped give you all your new names...But they were not your first names. And I sat, and I watched, and I did nothing to stop it. I can't tell you what your original names were, what Clans each of you were plucked from...But this is the honest truth. Those who see each other as siblings, we never hide that from you. We believe that you truly are still siblings... But I wish I could give you more. I wish I hadn't been so complacent and allowed this lie to fester for all of these moons until Thalia confronted me about it. And for that...I'm sorry."

"You're lying." Her voice came out in a whisper, an attempt to convince herself more than anything. She looked around, at Thalia, at Roe, at the others that had gathered to hear this. She needed a sign, anything, she needed it to be a lie. But the guilt she saw in Roe, the determination in Thalia, and she knew. She knew then it was true. She wished it wasn't, though.

"I am an Asylum cat! This, this is my family! I don't know what you are playing at, if you are trying to turn me against the Asylum, but it won't work! I belong here! And nothing you say will change that!" She had not even realized she was screaming, or crying, but there she was, fury in her eyes, her cheeks wet with tears, as she mumbled those words to herself, over and over. "I am an Asylum cat. I belong her." Her world was falling apart, right from under her paws, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She had never felt so helpless in her life.

As his one-time denmates gathered, Pyrik greeted each of them: Griffon with a grin and a wave of his tail, Spark and Katana with one nod each. Then Roe emerged from the Nightstrikers’ den, wearing a smile that made Pyrik’s stomach clench, as if they were on a hunt and had noticed how quiet the air was, the way it always seemed to be before some sort of beast burst out from the underbrush. Like before they’d brought Captain Iniko into camp. Roe beckoned them closer; with an apprehensive look toward Thalia, Pyrik stiffly obeyed.

From kithood, he’d kept the story close to his heart: Asylum had rescued him. They’d found him, and they’d wanted him, and they’d molded him into someone almost worth being. Everything since then—especially this, his first real mission—was one long, fumbling attempt to prove their efforts hadn’t gone to waste. It wasn’t a particularly special past, but it was his. Had been, until now. Thalia wouldn’t have gathered them all here for a lie.

He saw how WindClan treated the kits in their nursery; even outsiders were kept safe and warm and cared for just as much as their full-blooded denmates. Asylum hadn’t saved him from anything. They’d stolen him. Taken him from the cats who’d wanted him first, more than anything. Who’d never want him again.

“Why?!” Pyrik’s voice split the air, taut with desperation. “Why would they— How could they do that to us?! Why wouldn’t they say something?” He stared up at Roe, narrowed eyes bright with tears as he searched the older Nightstriker’s expression for anything resembling an answer. Captain Iniko had known. All of the captains had, and Eris, too. Yet the only cat who thought the kits deserved the truth was the one sitting in front of them now. Hurt, at last, fought its way out of the turmoil and wrapped around his neck, pulled him back to the ground. He scrubbed at his face with a paw. “W-what are we supposed to do now…?”

Shira suddenly remembered why she wanted her own space away from the other kits.  She hated crowded spaces.  Slowly, she made her way to the back of the group as more and more cats came.  A small part of her thought about why Thalia gathered them together, but she came to the conclusion that it was just to talk and hang out like they used to do... Although, of course, she was completely wrong.

Roe came to greet them and she gave him a pleasant nod.  The more the older tom spoke, the more anger, rage and hurt she felt.  Until she just felt numb.  Nothing she could do could change what had happened.  What was the appropriate response to figuring out that your entire life had been a lie?  But it was not just her life.  She looked at Spark with almost no emotion on her face, then she thought of her sisters.  They all had been lied to.  They all deserved the truth much sooner than they got it.

Shira calmly walked through the crowd.  Some were speaking up, some had been quiet so far.  She walked right up to Roe.  Her gaze toward the tom was threatening at best.  She stopped herself right in front of Roe, digging her front paws into the ground.  "Tell me your lying," she told him.  But when she thought about it more it made too much sense to be false.  A bunch of stray kits were all found at around the same time being told a similar story of their past, not too normal.  Also, as she had spent more time in the clans she heard a couple of cats talking about the "missing kits" as they called them that just happened to go missing at around the same time that she and the rest were found.

She was so shaken, in shock and hurt that for one of the few times in her life she let a tear fall down her face.  Still face to face with Roe she also looked at him, trying with the last hope that she had to find any sign that he may be giving off that would lead to her knowing that he was lying.  Of course there were none.  She turned her head around to the other cats, but kept her body facing Roe.  "He- He's not lying," she told all of the other cats, hoping that they would listen to her and not put her through the torture of hearing others false hope.

She turned her head back to Roe.  "But, why?" she asked, still not raising her voice.  "Why did you take our lives away from us?" If she did not have family or friends she probably would not care too much.  But her family, or the closest thing she had to it, were all around her right now.  Her fur lifted and her gaze sharpened on Roe.  This was the time to fight again, the time to let them know what they did was wrong.  Then she got to thinking about it more.  It was not this cats fault, he was just following orders.  She shook her head.  "You're not the one I need to kill." She took a few steps back, waiting to see if the real Asylum cat would answer.

Spark noticed Roe walk from the Nightstriker den in Asylum camp. It was surprising for sure, but the ginger tom was fine with it. He liked Roe, even if he never walked up to say hello to the Nightstriker. Really, the Scout trusted Roe almost as much as he did Thalia. So when Roe told him and the rest of the kits that they were stolen from the clans from their youth, that everything that they thought they knew was a lie, deep down he knew that it was true.

He didn't want to believe it. It seemed unreasonable for the Asylum that Spark grew to respect to do such a thing. But he also knew that Roe wasn't one to lie to them, and it really felt like he had been hiding that secret for a long time. But... why? Spark unsheathed his claws, piercing the snow underneath his forepaws. Asylum... they wouldn't do that. They're good.

Right?

The scout flashed back to a moment, only a few sunrises ago. The day when a Clan cat where he was stationed had been whisked away from her home, sent to a place where only the highest of Asylum cats knew. And all for giving a cat an opportunity that Asylum didn't offer. Even though he was in the background, he still heard what was going on. He heard both sides of the argument. And ShadowClan's was better overall. The Asylum still didn't offer to retrain Ichtaca even after it was obvious that the pelt ward could be even more than the rank given to her.

The incident shook the ginger tom's morals to the core, which led him to try to turn a deaf ear to it. Still, it was there, and he couldn't just forget it. A couple sunrises later, he followed ShadowClan's medicine cat, Rookfire, on a herb hunt. In that experience, he was offered a deal: help ShadowClan by catching prey, and the tom he was following would pledge to not run away from him. Knowing very well the thoughts that ShadowClan had about the Asylum, he accepted. He chose to take the risk that Rookfire would break his word and run away, since he could always report it to Asylum if it happened.

But it didn't happen. Rookfire stayed to his word, and Spark ended up catching a raccoon for ShadowClan's prey pile. It gave him hope, hope that the Asylum and ShadowClan could work together. And all they needed to do was trust in each other. Except with this new information, there was no way that he could have his faith in the Asylum to do what was right. Even the thoughts that he had piled up about his childhood, he didn't know if he actually thought about them or if the Asylum just made them. They turned him - and the rest of the cats around him - into their puppets. And Spark hated it.

With Shira implying trying to murder Eris, Spark spoke to interrupt her. "And then what?" he asked. "You know your condition. You can't fight anyone right now." The ginger tom was referring to her pregnancy, though he would let her decide if she wanted to share it to the others. "And murder is not the answer to every problem." He wanted these problems to be resolved peacefully at first, though that was unlikely. Of course, many ShadowClan cats seemed to be angry at the Asylum, which probably meant that the other four clans were also ready to fight back. Perhaps if she wanted Asylum to fall, she could just let the clans revolt and take down the Asylum that way.

After all, it seemed like Asylum was very desperate to pacify the clans before they collapsed under the pressure.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know why, I won't even pretend to know why," Thalia spoke, addressing Pyrik first. "But they did, and I'm sorry, and as soon as I found out - I couldn't keep this to myself. You all deserved the truth just as much as I did, if not more so. I wasn't going to lie to you, to any of you... I couldn't bring myself to do that."

(She was many things, but she would fight to ensure that one of those things was honest. She might be lacking control, or cruel, or any number of things she was called and thought to be, but she would keep her integrity despite it. She would not lie, if she could help it, especially not to her family.)

"So here we are, and now... Well, I guess we're left to figure it all out for ourselves. How to feel, what to do now... I can't tell you the answers. I would if I could, but I don't have any. Still... Please understand, I'll always consider Asylum - most of all, all of you - to be my family. ...You too, Roe," she added, a small expression of gratitude for all the support he'd offered throughout her life. Her gaze turned to Raisha, then. "This is where we belong, it always has been, but... This is still the truth."

Shira and Spark, then, last to speak, and to that she had nothing to say - they seemed to be wrapped up in themselves, sorting things out as best they could. There was one cat, aside from Pyrik, whose response she was waiting desperately to see and understand, to address in any way she could. Of course, she wanted to do that for everyone, to help and support the oldest bonds she'd known, but... What would Katana have to say, faced with all of this?

(Though they'd started to drift, she struggled to disentangle herself from her best friend in her thoughts. They were still a pair, despite the distance between them, and she couldn't shake the though that, given half a chance, it would be her partner's lead she followed. A natural impulse, when she always seemed to be looking for someone and something to follow and latch on to.)

She searched each cat's face, looking for answers, and finding nothing she didn't already know reflected, she sighed. "...I wish I knew what to do. Everything we believed, everything we trusted as truth... I'm sorry," she said again - though she wasn't sure what, exactly, she was apologizing for anymore.