The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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It was early in the morning when Hemlockfox slipped out of WindClan's camp to visit his old home and his kin in SkyClan. He'd spoken to both Tigerstar and Wolfstar on the matter several moons ago, but now that he wasn't so busy with injured cats or kitting queens, he finally had time to make that trip a reality. So, he went to Tigerstar the previous afternoon and got the leader's permission - an easy task given the calm state of things. Now, though, the medicine cat's journey was drawing to a close - SkyClan's forests within sight. A thrum of joy ran through Hemlockfox's chest at the familiar view, and he picked up the pace, ignoring the ache in his legs.
The most walking he'd done since moving to WindClan was when he travelled to Highstones which was, honestly, barely a longer walk than when he went with WindClan to the gathering. SkyClan's territory - though he hadn't noticed it much before - was horribly separated from everything. The scent of forest and his old home quickly chased all misgivings away, though, and Hemlockfox nearly ran the rest of the way to SkyClan's border along the river. ThunderClan's forest was nice and all, but much too packed with undergrowth.
He'd take it over WindClan's empty moor, but nothing compared to the scent, sight, and feel of his home. It took everything in him not to bound onto SkyClan land, but the realization that they may not take kindly to his scent was enough to slow his steps. Right. He didn't smell like them anymore. Regardless, this was an exciting moment! Hemlockfox hardly cared that what was to come would be difficult and maybe even painful - just that he would finally be able to see everyone again. At least...as long as whoever found him remembered him.
Subject: Re: Homecoming [C] Wed 12 Jun 2024 - 20:38
Wolfstar led the patrol through the trees, leaping from branch to branch with ease. Since all the chaos with the dogs, she still felt safer traversing the trees. The sky patrols had seen little of concern since the dogs' defeat, but it never hurt to be wary and guarded.
Especially around their borders.
Blue eyes spotted the familiar pointed tom before he stepped foot into Skyclan territory, and the leader waited on the branch she had leapt to, a soft, relieved smile crossing her face as her grandson approached. The tom didn't seem to spot her... No worries.
"Hemlockfox!" Wolfstar called out with a smile, "It's good to see you on Skyclan territory again."
Hemlockfox started as a voice called out from overhead and he lifted his head, blue eyes bright at the oh-so-familiar face that greeted him from the trees above. "Wolfstar!" He purred, pleased. He'd seen the leader recently, but that was at Fourtrees and Tigerstar had been there - they'd hardly gotten to catch up as kin. Well, they weren't kin. Not by blood, anyway, but what tied them together was something far thicker than blood. Looking at her now, he was certain that telling Wolfstar the truth wouldn't change a thing, but still, Hemlockfox was hesitant. Did it truly matter who his father really was? Especially when what would come would already be hard enough?
No, it could wait for another time and so could everything else. For now, he was content to simply enjoy this moment of reunion. "It's truly been too long. I've missed these trees and the cats among them." He was most excited to see his sisters and the rest of his kin, though a bolt of grief shot through him when he remembered what Graywind told him not long ago - that much of the clan had fallen to dogs. Looking up, though, he could see that his aunt wasn't with Wolfstar.
None of his kin or even his old friends were with her, actually. The patrol surrounding his grandmother held faces he didn't particularly recognize, but the medicine cat greeted them warmly all the same. "Sorry to interrupt your patrol, but could you come to the camp with me?" He meowed to Wolfstar in particular, tail lashing with excitement.
Subject: Re: Homecoming [C] Thu 13 Jun 2024 - 9:17
The tom seemed to startle at her voice, and Wolfstar laughed softly, "Don't tell me you've forgotten we hunt in the trees, grandson." Not that Windclan had any trees to speak of. She'd always felt uncomfortable when passing along the border of their territory to reach highstones, the open moors were more exposed than she could imagine. Living there must have been difficult, and it was hard to imagine one of her own now among the moor-runners. Silverwing had adjusted to Skyclan life, and so Hemlockfox would adjust to living with the other clan too, but it was... Strange. Strange to think of her grandkit being among them, strange to think of a life without shelter.
"The trees have missed you, too. And your sisters." It was good to hear that he missed them as well. The request to go to camp wasn't entirely unexpected. He'd been in Windclan for moons, had left the clan with hardly a goodbye... Of course he'd want to see his family. And, Wolfstar hoped, that was what this visit was for. No more prophecies, no more bad news. Just a medicine cat wanting to catch up with the clan he'd been forced to leave behind.
"Of course, Hemlockfox. They can handle the rest of this patrol without causing trouble. Let's go." She mewed, waving her tail for the tom to follow.
Hemlockfox barked a laugh, though there was a thread of unease to it. He hadn't forgotten, but it had been moons since he'd been under the cover of the forest. He just wasn't used to it anymore. It sent a jolt of discomfort through the medicine cat - the discovery that the moor felt more familiar to him now than the forest did. Now that he was here, though, he began to slip into the comfort of the forest like it was a well-loved nest. The birdsong overhead and the sound of wind rustling the branches...there was no doubt about it. He belonged in SkyClan.
Which would make the journey back to the moor all that much crueler. To have to live the rest of his life only being able to snatch fleeting moments among his home would be torture. He would endure it, as StarClan commanded, but only because he had to. With a tired grin, he shook his head. "Not at all! I just wasn't expecting such a swift welcome." It was good to be among cats he trusted - cats he felt comfortable to be himself around.
The mention of his littermates, however, made the tom's heart clench. His sisters...Ploverwing, Sorrelmist, and Bubblebeam. Hemlockfox sighed. He missed more with every day that passed. "I'm glad." He meowed sadly. "It's been...quiet without them." Lonely. No more of that, though. After so long, he'd finally be reunited with them. Eagerly, and feeling as though there were stones weighing him down, Hemlockfox padded after Wolfstar. He was happy to finally see everyone again, but part of him was scared of how his sisters would react when they saw him. All he could do was hope that they wouldn't be too mad. So, with a determined set to his shoulders, he followed Wolfstar back to the clan and the cats he'd left behind.
