We Will Come Home Again [c]

As promised, Tawnyflare sat by the edge of the gorge, waiting for Yarrowpaw to arrive. Truth was, she wasn't quite sure where she would go from here. If her son did not show up, then she would do as she said and leave, this time for good. But if he did come? What would the rest of the Clan say? What would Fawnstep say? What was she thinking, who cared what any cat thought? She was going to be there for her son, no questions asked. It was odd, finding herself wanting to be a better mother, if only for him. But she had not been lying when she spoke to him on the gorge. The two of them were a lot alike. But she was going to make him better than her. She was going to make him a warrior any cat would be proud of.

Of course, that was only if he showed up. He could just as easily reject her in the same way she had rejected him. And she could not blame him if he chose to do so, either. Although, her tail flicking behind her, she found herself anxious to see what he had decided. She wanted Yarrowpaw to come, desperately hoped he would. She wanted to be that mother for him. She wanted to fix the mistakes she had made. Get rid of the claw of guilt that was eating her away. Be the cat she could have, no, should have been from the very start.

And, as he had sworn to Cloverpaw, Yarrowpaw had begun his trek towards the Gorge. He had said his goodbyes, made promises, cried tears, and boiled over with rage. It had taken a moon of decision, of pondering, but Yarrowpaw had decided fairly quickly; he would go with his mother to WindClan. Give her a second chance, just as RiverClan had given him.

Oh, RiverClan. His home. He had fought and hunted for, bled and cried for that clan. It was his savior, the clan that swooped in to save him in his time of need. It was where he found a purpose.

No. He was an outsider, always was. He never fit in, always felt out of place. The only true belonging he found was with Cloverpaw. And he still had her, even after their fight. What did he have to lose, but RiverClan? Ivystar’s love and trust. Stormbringer’s heartbreak. Honeytongue’s sorrow. Cloverpaw’s overflowing anger and hurt. Alderbloom. Swanpaw. Robinpatch. Dewlight. But he could not go back when he had so much reason to look forward. In WindClan, he may find friends, enemies, purpose and belonging, all alongside his mother.

His mother.

He could see Tawnyflare’s distinguishable pelt just beyond the gorge, waiting for him. He nearly tumbled over his own paws attempting to get nearer to her, attempting to call out her name. Chirps and yowls that shook the trees were what she was granted, but for the first time, Yarrowpaw’s loudness didn’t bother him.

It was a shock hearing the noises that were approaching her, and at first, Tawnyflare flinched, thinking she might be getting attacked. It wouldn't shock her if a RiverClan cat had a bit of a grudge against her. But upon a second glance, her heart gave a flutter as she saw Yarrowpaw rushing towards her, and she offered him a smile. She did not believe in StarClan, never did, never would, but if she did, she would definitely see this as a gift from them.

Standing up to greet her son, she gave him a brisk nod. She was tempted to wrap her tail around him, something she had never really done before, but they were not yet close. She did not want to push her luck against the tom. "I-I'm glad you came, Yarrowpaw. I do not expect that this was an easy decision for you to make, but you did the right thing. Are you ready to go home, now? Your real home?"

Yarrowpaw stood tall, scar stretching uncomfortably from his stance; he was usually hunched in on himself, quiet and unimposing, but that stopped today. Everything else, however, was just beginning.

Tawnyflare had fulfilled her promise- she was here, really here! Yarrowpaw could tell with delight, yet he kept himself composed, silent and strong for his mother. Last second nerves were getting to him, reminding him of his worries. Nothing could actually prove to him that Tawnyflare was actually his mother; she could be lying to him, trying to catch him in a vulnerable state. If Tawnyflare was his mother, how would WindClan treat him? He was due to be a warrior any day now; would he have his ceremony under Lilacstar? Stars, would she even take him in? He was a RiverClan cat that broke the code, did the most taboo thing an apprentice could do- he left his clan behind, the one that fed and cared for him. Would Lilacstar look down on him? Send him crawling back to RiverClan? Yarrowpaw knew from the beginning there was no going back. Ivystar would never want him back after this.

At least he never swore an oath to RiverClan. That would’ve kept Yarrowpaw up at night.

Ivystar…what would she think of his disappearance? Would she assume the worst? He didn’t want his adopted mother feeling like she lost yet another kit to StarClan.

All of the thoughts ran rampant in Yarrowpaw’s head, an unstoppable force that almost had the apprentice turn around and go back- But he couldn’t. Not now.

“Yes, I’m ready. Take me to WindClan, Mom.”