finish what you shouldn't have started [OPEN after kj]

A haggard shadow followed the leader's footsteps, her own carefully placed and quiet. The air was heavy with humidity, an uncomfortable weight against the remains of her fluffy silvered pelt. Her fur had a tendency to go poofy in the humidity, and it seemed to do so much easier after being struck by lightning. Beechfang resisted the urge to grumble and try to smooth it, it would be pointless.

The rocky forest was familiar, but it had changed, the great shake having downed once strong trees, remnants of churned and shifted earth still present as the one-eyed tabby chose where her paws fell carefully. The leafbare snows and newleaf rains had gotten to plenty of branches, but the forest still stood. Much like Skyclan still stood despite - in spite of? - everything the universe seemed to throw at it.

Her daughter's glance brought a tight smile to Beechfang's face. She had dreamed of returning, longed for it despite many claims to the contrary over this last year. Always, something had stopped her from seeking it out on her own. It was a clan leader's decision, not hers to press. She had made choices that led to her exile, but at least she was only just over the twoleg fence if her family ever needed her. But Birdstar had not made promises to anyone when she was exiled. That had been under different leadership, when she was only an apprentice. And she had asked for Beechfang to come home.

Home. What a strange concept that was. Where Bloodstrike and Ravenclaw were, where her kits and Dawnfeather were. They were all aging, she knew, and the last time she had been in Skyclan's camp she hadn't recognized many of the faces that resided within. Beechfang was sure that she would recognize even fewer, now. Skyclan had never been so welcoming of outsiders among their ranks, and Beechfang was well aware that bar the little family she had left, she was very much an outsider now. Much as she wanted to rail at the idea of it.

Camp came into view finally, and Beechfang wasn't sure if she should relax at the achingly familiar sight, or be more on guard. The protections that Bloodstrike had set in place upon becoming leader (how long ago, that seemed now) still stood, with recent additions of new branches and twigs ready to snap should anyone try to sneak in. Some stranger sneaking in however, was not what set Beechfang's teeth on edge. Was the snake within those walls now, she wondered, or was Falconmoon simply a kit with troubled dreams that none of them understood? And Wolfblossom- Beechfang knew crushingly little of her daughter and her grandkits. She could only hope that her fears were unfounded... And Beechfang had the optimism beaten out of her long, long ago. She could not rush to make a judgment on a cat she hardly knew, she told herself. Hadn't she learned that lesson, too? The recent conversation with Thalia - the shade of Asylum's bloody regime, came to mind.

The tabby gave herself a shake, outwardly it might have even just been the uncomfortable humidity's claws in her pelt.

"Camp's still standing... I'm glad my sister was right." Beechfang murmured to Birdstar, her whiskers twitching in dark amusement. Let's see how long it stands now. She followed Birdstar through the camp's entrance, taking deliberate, slow breaths. Cats milled about camp, many of whom she couldn't recognize, many whom would not recognize her.

"I suppose so, leader." Beechfang had called clan meetings before, had watched as her father and grandfather did so countless times. To watch her daughter call the clan together was... strange. Still, Beechfang took her place, almost demurely. By her standards, anyways. She had never thought to stand within this camp again, the last pawful of times she had always amid chaos. The great shake, the aftermath of the twolegs... Yet today seemed so peaceful, if she ignored her own thoughts. A bitter, jaded part of her wondered how long that would last. Beechfang pushed the intrusive thought aside, and sat, single eye sweeping over the camp for the few faces left that she had known and loved.

She noted how Wolfblossom started forward at her appearance, then seemed to restrain herself, calmly padding toward the gathering crowd. Beechfang resisted the urge to rush forward to greet her, to find her other kits and family and glue herself to their sides. She had been away from them for far too long.

---

Wolfblossom set the stick into place against two of its' fellows against the wall of the warrior den, and satisfied that the drafty spot was fixed, stepped back, shaking out her pelt. Not that it got rid of the heat and humidity that hung in the air, seeming to cling to everything with fur, with even the shade of the den offering little relief.

Birdstar had gone to talk with Beechfang... And the deputy had busied herself with work around camp. Menial work, fixing tiny problems that were hardly even noticeable. But getting ahead of them early was important, the deputy told herself.

Or maybe she was just trying to ignore the anxiety that bloomed in her chest. Mom, coming home. A cat she had known far longer as an exile than as the Skyclan warrior she had once been. Who had, bar apprentice ceremonies, unhappily missed every milestone of her kits' lives. Not her fault, Wolfblossom reasoned... Except it kind of was. Wolfblossom had wanted her mother back, but had refrained from ever asking. Much as she wanted to put her mother above the clan, she could never justify it. Couldn't justify the potential risk were Riverclan to find out. As deputy, she had to look out for the whole clan, not just her own desires. She knew this, followed that to the bone.

But her grandfather and aunt were right. Birdstar was right. They had never made promises to Riverclan, her exile was under different leadership of a different time. Perchstar's demands could rot in the dark forest, for all she cared, and Riverclan could keep their nose out of Skyclan's business. And Beechfang, for all her long stretches of absence, was family. Wolfblossom could no longer pretend that the exile wasn't. Former exile, she hoped desperately.

Even as she hoped to see the one-eyed she-cat step through the entrance of camp, her hope poorly hidden as she glanced toward it every so often, Wolfblossom could also feel the knot of anxiety and emotion constricting in her chest. So the deputy remained quiet, flitting from task to task. A few branches carefully placed around the camp perimeter here, a small drafty spot of a den wall plugged there. The fresh-kill pile moved out of the sun, the nest she shared with her mate cleaned and with fresh moss. The red and white tom watched her move about camp with golden eyes, but did not interfere or call her on her unusual busywork. He was a smart tom who busied himself elsewhere, keeping his own anxiety under tight wraps.

Wolfblossom was keenly aware of where her kits were in the camp, and each time there was movement near the camp entrance her head lifted, both hoping and dreading that it would be Birdstar and Beechfang returning. Dreading that Birdstar might return alone, and yet part of her also wanted the simplicity that might bring. To let their exiled mother stay exiled in peace, to not worry about potential fallout of her return. To not worry about what would happen were Riverclan to somehow find out... And that was the least of her worries, in truth. Falconmoon's nightmares had long held sway in her thoughts, even if he didn't seem to be having them recently. The tom was still more of a ghost in camp than she would have liked, and Bloodstrike's words still rang in her ears.

Movement, and Birdstar was the first to pad through the camp entrance. A poofy silver shadow close behind her. Birdstar was already calling the clan to gather even as Wolfblossom abandoned her current task of stripping the twigs from another branch that had been brought in by an earlier patrol. It would make a solid addition to the camp's wall, but thoughts of that quickly fled.

Mother was in camp. Her appearances since her exile had been few and far between, always in the middle of chaos, always trying her best to help Skyclan in what ways she could. It was not chaos that brought her home now, and Wolfblossom hoped that chaos would not follow in her wake as it always seemed to. Beechfang seemed uniquely suited to it, whether she wanted to be or not, and Wolfblossom could only silently hope that no chaos would come from this. For at least a moon. The stars could give them that much, right?

Despite her anxiety, Beechfang's appearance sparked something warm in Wolfblossom's chest. She had to fight not to bound up to her mother like a kit, initially starting to and then carefully controlling her pawsteps as she padded toward the tallbranch. Her appearance here meant that she accepted Birdstar's offer to return, surely, and that meant there would be time to truly catch up with her once this meeting was over. Wolfblossom could reflect that she hardly even knew her mother, who had been away for so long, only making sporadic appearances. Still, the old she-cat's desire to be involved with her family had always shone through. Wolfblossom wanted her to be involved, more than anything. She had never gotten to say a proper goodbye when she was exiled, having been out on a hunting patrol at the time. As such the exile had never truly sat right with her, even knowing the why of it and understanding that actions had consequences.

Consequences, like she was dreading would happen were this return to camp ever found out. Consequences she did not want to think about, but lingered in the back of her thoughts anyways. They had to, of course, she was deputy after all. They would simply have to prevent anyone from finding out. Easy, right.

As for the consequences within this camp... Wolfblossom found herself sitting next to Falconmoon, lightly touching his shoulder in greeting. Unconsciously she had placed herself between her mother and son without even a thought. The conflicting emotions that had spurred her paws earlier did not reflect on her face.

---

Graywind glanced up at her aunt's call for the clan to gather. The cat that sat quietly off to the side looked vaguely familiar, though at the moment Graywind was having trouble placing why and where she might've seen her. Curiosity burned in her gut at the stranger's appearance, and the warrior was quick to join her family within the crowd, giving her mother a questioning look. The last time Birdstar had shown up with a cat, Silverwing had joined their ranks. Her mother had clearly been expecting something this time though, as there was no hint of confusion or surprise on her face. She'd been awfully busy around camp today, flitting from task to task. Antsy, almost, but the deputy seemed focused and collected now.

Ravenclaw had been waiting for this moment: she just hadn't known when it was going to happen. Normally change was a foreign enemy to the seasoned warrior, but this was a reversion back to a better time. Back before everything had gone sideways and upended her desires. There she was her, her sister. Beechfang was standing next to Birdstar, a sight for sore eyes. Ravenclaw wanted to run up there and greet her sister, but Birdstar called a clan meeting. It didn't take a genius to know what it was about. So, for once, Ravenclaw muscled herself up to the front, eyes on Beechfang. It was hard to believe, but it was really happening: her sister had returned to SkyClan.

Dawnfeather stood motionless like a rock in a river current as cats eddied around her, their words lost to the rushing in her ears.

She had hoped; oh, stars above, she had hoped for so long and for so little that seeing her daydreams fulfilled; actually laying eyes on a sight that had existed only the deepest wells of a hope that sprang eternal-

A single solitary tear fell to the ground, and Dawnfeather ran.

Sprinting across camp like a cat possessed, the golden molly slammed into Beechfang with maybe more force than had been intended, but right now- face buried in her aunt’s fur, quiet little sobs escaping her chest, Dawnfeather could hardly care.

She’d come back. She’d actually come back. It didn’t feel real. It didn’t feel real at all, but the familiar-yet-different scent of late-night (or was it early morning?) talks wafted about her, and it was.

Meeting forgotten (if she’d even noticed in the first place) Dawnfeather let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “I missed you, Beechaunt. I- I really did. You’re back-”

In a delighted sudden burst of ecstatic energy, she danced backwards, eyes alight with pure joy, beaming like the sun. “You’re back! Praise the stars- oh, I can’t believe it- you’re back. Oh- you need to meet Foxtrot and Smokepetal and Violetpaw and Alderpaw, Beechaunt, and- and we can go hunting together again, and- remember Prima and Muddy- oh, it’s good to have you back. You remember them, and SkyClan isn’t the same but you’re back!”

She darted forwards again, leaning into the fluffy fur. “I’m really glad you’re here again.”

Dawnfeather didn’t look quite the same- her ear was clipped, grey flecked her muzzle, and to those who knew her there was a bit of- not tension, but rather the release of it, as though the stress of change and time had finally been lifted off her shoulders. It had, in a way- her kithood returned, one of the very few cats who remembered her own birth.

Her heart just might burst, but not even StarClan themselves could tear her away now.

Firepool rose from his spot in the sun as Birdstar suddenly padded into camp, calling the clan together. There was an unfamiliar face trailing behind her, but any misgivings about the stranger were quickly displaced as Dawnfeather darted to her, speaking with excitement. Amber eyes glancing around for Smokepetal, the tom approached the growing circle of cats as Birdstar stood near the center with the stranger. He couldn't help but admit, they looked similar, perhaps Dawnfeather's reaction was to that of a cat's homecoming?

Birdstar's call roused Lightningbreeze from her nap, ears flicking to show that she was awake a moment before she leapt up to see what all the commotion was about. The cat that accompanied SkyClan's leader this time wasn't familiar to her. The older cats around her, though, seemed to know her.

"Hey! I don't know you," she greeted from what she thought was a vaguely respectable distance, waving her tail. "I'm Lightningbreeze!"

---

Mistflower was cautious around cats she didn't know too well, and so she kept to the back of the gathered SkyClan cats whenever someone new appeared- but her former mentor's obvious excitement wasn't lost on her, and she trusted Dawnfeather's judgment. Slowly, she took a few steps forward, not quite wanting to interrupt their reunion and wanting to get a better idea of who this cat whose presence was so exciting even was.

Curious, but not necessarily afraid- which was strange for her, dealing with strangers.

When the first signs of unfamiliar swirled through camp, Violetpaw's ears were quick to prick. The young apprentice had barely known anything outside of her own camp, let alone anything this unusual. Her paws immediately responded when Birdstar called the clan meeting. Hesitantly, she padded closer to Dawnfeather, hoping to find some explanation from the cream warrior, but froze at her mother's reaction to the massive silver tabby who entered camp. Within seconds of spotting the cat who was unknown to Violetpaw, Dawnfeather barrelled towards her, tackling the much larger cat to the ground. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she tried to make sense of the situation, but all became clear at the call of 'Beechaunt'.

A brief memory of recognition hit Violetpaw, not of a cat she knew but of one she had heard of. Dawnfeather's kin. Her kin.

Violetpaw food herself smiling at the rush of kit hood that had taken over her mother, strange to see but also comforting to see the kind-hearted warrior so happy. Her attention was caught again at the sound of her own name, and, searching for some form of familiarity, joined Foxtrot where he stood watching the action. As much as she wanted to replicate her brother's care-free greeting, Violetpaw stayed paralysed where she sat waiting for the introduction, only leaning in to ask the young warrior a question. "You haven't met her before, right?" She asked. Although she knew Foxtrot was young in the grand scheme of things, the apprentice still had a loose grasp on time, and had no idea how long the grey she-cat had been away. "It's great to see mum so happy though. Do you know much about her? Beechaunt, that is."

Bloodstrike heard the tail end of Birdstar's speech. He'd been carrying two rabbits by their ears in his mouth. Trailing behind him was Falconmoon and Lionstripe. Each of the warriors had their own prey, two quails each swinging casually from their jaws.

Bloodstrike heard Beechfang's name, perked up immediately from his powerful, head-down determined stride, and flew with the speed of a Windclan cat toward camp. He dropped the rabbits from his mouth and made a beeline straight toward his daughter. A smile lit up his face and his eyes danced with a depth of joy and such warmness that he hadn't felt, nor had this been seen on his face, since the day he laid eyes on his first litter of kits.

"Beechfang!" He called out, hurdling passed other cats in the crowd and leaping over some smaller ones. He wasted no time pulling his daughter closer to him with his chin, and a purr rumbled so loudly in his chest he had no doubt that even above the talking in camp it could be heard loud and clear. A weight had been lifted off of his shoulders that he didn't even know he'd been carrying. She was safe. She was home. His self exile had not been in vain.

"I can't... I'm so happy you're back!" His voice choked and he struggled to blink happiness tears out of his eyes before they fell. For this one time, he didn't care who saw. His daughter was back in Skyclan where she belonged.


Falconmoon tossed the quails onto the freshkill pile and slowly made his way to the rabbits that Bloodstrike had dropped. He carried them back as well, uncertain of the confusing emotions whirling inside of him. He'd never hated Beechfang, not really. They'd had their differences and... okay maybe he thought about killing her once... but that had been so long ago.

Falconmoon turned away from the fresh-kill pile and approached the crowd, but lingered in the back. He offered Beechfang a small smile and a nod, but his eyes were wary underneath the positive emotions he was trying to portray. So what would happen now? What would become of this? Slowly, he moved to sit by Wolfblossom, but kept her between Beechfang and him.

"Welcome back, Beechfang." He said calmly, but didn't know exactly what else to say to her. He was far more curious as to what her reaction would be.


Lionstripe dutifully tossed his kills where they were supposed to go and joined the crowd. He wasn't sure what to make of this scarred up old she-cat, but to see Bloodstrike of all cats... happy??? She must be good. If that was the case, then he was happy to have her here too. He sat down quietly and more or less gave her a brief wave with a forepaw. "I'm Lionstripe. Good to meet you Beechfang, and welcome back home!" He was still fairly young and it showed in his enthusiastic greeting. Whatever she had done didn't matter to him. Birdstar had let her in and that was good enough for him.

Ravenclaw had muscled her way to the front of the crowd, looking more happy than Beechfang remembered seeing her sister in a long, long time. Before she could step forward to greet her, meeting or not, another shape barreled into her side.

"Dawnfeather," A deep purr rumbled in her chest as Beechfang nuzzled the top of her head. The last time she had seen her was when she had brought her back to camp during the great quake. To finally make her own return to the clan she was born to felt surreal.

Dawnfeather was quickly rattling off names of cats she should meet. Family and friends, if Beechfang had to guess, her niece was too enthusiastic for these cats not to be anything else. The mention of Prim and Muddy sent pain stabbing through her chest that she outwardly ignored. She had looked for the pair in twolegplace, and never found either. She could only hope that they were well, wherever her sister and nephew had found themselves. Quickly though, Dawnfeather's words distracted her, and the growing crowd of cats that had stepped forward. Some with curiosity, a few clearly looking to Dawnfeather and Birdstar to judge their reactions. A few were talking among themselves quietly - confusion or curiosity, if Beechfang had to guess. Maybe misgivings about the stranger amidst them now. A pale she-cat chirped her unfamiliarity with her, introducing herself as Lightningbreeze. Beechfang offered her a small, polite smile in return.

There would be time to get to know this new generation of Skyclanners. Time she hadn't thought would ever exist until Birdstar had come for her.

Birdstar's voice silenced the chatter momentarily, and Beechfang sat, listening to her daughter - her leader - speak. Self defense? Beechfang glanced at her sidelong for a moment, but kept her mouth shut. Birdstar could tell herself that if it made her feel better. Though she was right, the reasoning no longer mattered.

A good cat? Respected? This time Beechfang let out a soft huff, resisting the urge to shake her head ruefully, though a small smile flickered across her scarred face. Beechfang was under no illusions about the past that would always stain her paws, but maybe... Maybe this was a second chance. To do right by her family and clan.

"I've made my mistakes, plenty of them." Her voice followed Birdstar's, "I don't plan on wasting this return with more. Birdstar came to me in good faith and I intend to uphold that." She wondered which cats would feel the need to approach Birdstar and Wolfblossom about it, and wondered if any of them would be brave enough to approach her now that the crime that had earned her exile was in the open. So many of the faces staring up at her were too young to have witnessed her in her days of mistake after outburst after mistake... Maybe that was a good thing.

Pawsteps and movement at the camp entrance made her head turn, and Bloodstrike was there. Not seeing him in the clearing had worried her, but now the old tom was grinning in a way that she couldn't remember ever seeing as he pulled her close with a loud purr. "Missed you, dad." Beechfang leaned against him. She had worried after he rejoined Skyclan, worried he'd get himself into trouble when she wasn't there to talk him down from it. But Skyclan was where he belonged, not a self-imposed exile on her behalf. And it had been because of him that Birdstar asked her to return. Him and Ravenclaw, who both should have known better.

The thought brought a smile to her face, even so. "I know you asked Birdstar, thank you." She murmured quietly. Foolish decisions aside, being in this camp once more was not something Beechfang would give up so easily again.

Another, quieter voice broke into her thoughts, and Beechfang's gaze settled onto the golden tom who Wolfblossom so pointedly sat with, sat between. Her ears twitched as she fought to not have them lay against her skull at the sight of him. He offered a smile and nod, and his words were friendly enough... But she recognized the wariness in his blue gaze. The feeling was very much mutual. "Grandson." She nodded once at him. Wolfblossom, at least, seemed relieved by the lack of immediate bloodshed. Beechfang would... try.

Dawnfeather let out a small sigh, the tension in her shoulders dissipating. Right- there was a meeting. With a slightly sheepish look on her face, the golden molly turned to watch Birdstar’s speech, tail flicking gently against her aunt’s side. If she were being honest, most of it flew over her head; Beechaunt was back, and that was the only thought that occupied her mind. Now everything could be set to right.

(Ooc: short)