Olive's Return [Open]

They had left the window open, what a mistake. The molly had no idea what a window was, but she squeezed her head under it easily. What the cat did know was that those terrible Twolegs would very upset of the ragdoll's disappearance, but she couldn't care less. All that mattered was that she had escaped. Navigating through the strange tangle of thunderpaths Oliverain eventually made it to the edge of the forest. The border between Twolegplace and Skyclan. She huffed, having ran all the way. Just a few more steps...

New energy filled her as she made it to the cover of birch, finally away from the stinky Twolegplace. Almost, home. Soon, Dawnfeather. And Lynxpetal and Orchidmask and everyone! Oh Starclan thank you! She bolted deeper into the territory, leaping over such familiar stones and trees. She could still remember the path back home.

Oliverain burst through the camp entrance and stopped with a halt. She looked around, just trying to catch her breath. Skyclan camp, Skyclan cats. She had made it, but had anything changed? Had anyone missed her?

slightkit had been staring mournfully at the camp entrance when a she-cat suddenly barged into the camp. "What the-" the white tom gasped, shocked by the new cat he had never seen in his life. "Who are you?!"

Smokefeather sat near the edge of camp with a thin, ragged bird at her paws. A sudden commotion near the camp entrance made the elder leap to her paws, staggering as she accidentally put weight onto her injured hindleg as her fur lifted.

...But the cat that entered camp was no stranger. She was a friendly and welcome face, one that had been missing for too long. "Oliverain!" Smokefeather purred. The fluffy elder limped forward once she'd managed to regain her balance, gray-green eyes trained on the warrior. She didn't seem like she was injured and seemed to be better fed than most... "What happened? Where have you been?"

A kit's startled voice caught her attention, and Smokefeather glanced down. "It's alright, Oliverain is a clanmate. She's been... gone for a bit." She added, gaze flicking back up to the pointed molly questioningly.

slightkit stared at the pointed she-cat. "she doesn't smell like skyclan! she smells like those sweet leaves Muddythorn has in his storage!" he complained.

OOC: the "leaves" are catmint

Bespeckled with the lackluster jewelry of old moss and feathers, stale with the fragrance of continual disuse, Elkpaw was quick to wrench herself free from the grasping claws of the Nursery; weighted down the unpleasant burden of changing out the bedding for the afternoon. Though the unanticipated arrival of the stranger would certainly absolve her from completing such a task, correct? Certainly there wasn't one who would notice if she happened to abandon the piles of old moss and other downy trinkets- especially with the sudden appearance of this so-called Oliverain.

Scuttling towards Smokefeather and Slightkit, who appeared to be accosting the new arrival with friendly gestures, the ruffled molly could do little more peer over at the returning figure, pale gaze awash with equal parts curiosity and distrust. "Your name is Oliverain? I've never heard of you- were you gone for a long time?"

White paws were quietly working within the cold confines of the elders' den. By Yewpaw's side was what remained of his recent meal, a small crow, its glossy feathers mostly plucked and haphazardly scattered in front of him. Today he'd been tasked with changing out the elders' nests, while Elkpaw dealt with those in the nursery. The thought had come to him before he began that it would be most efficient to eat a bird and use its soft feathers to help line the nests. He took the opportunity when Smokefeather had temporarily vacated to enjoy what little warmth the Leafbare sun had to offer, quickly forming the fresh - if frost-bitten - moss into the right shape and sticking the feathers as best he could just underneath a thin layer of the plant(?) so they wouldn't so easily stick to the older cat's pelt. He was so concentrated in this activity, however, that the sound of a very, very familiar voice almost didn't register.

He paused, turning his head slightly so as to better hear. The familiar voice didn't speak again, but his Clanmates gave them their name: Oliverain. Bewildered (though like most things, this emotion didn't appear on his face), Yewpaw stepped out into the light. A quick look around confirmed it: she was here. The tuxedo tom swiftly trotted to her; a look of relief subtly written on his muzzle. "Oliverain!" Thankfully she appeared unharmed. "You've been missing for so long. Wh- No. I should get mom. She'll be ecstatic." It would be easiest for his mentor if she didn't have to repeat the story as to why she had disappeared too many times.

A moon? Less? More? How long had she been captured in the Twoleg's den? The returning warrior looked around at her clanmates, having never felt so disconnected from them. Warm old faces of cats she dreamed to return to, but the small ones didn't know her, and she wasn't familiar with them. I should! I should know their names. Do I need to be spending more time at camp? She took a breath, peering at the kittens and apprentices who she didn't know the names of. "I couldn't have been gone for too long," she answered shortly before drawing her eyes to Smokefeather, confused with the elder's question.

(OOC: It's apparent there's been some confusion, and I apologize for not directing everyone to this topic in my first post, which gives some of the needed context.)