Welcome Back... or Not

Soaringheart stood in front of the barn. Silverfang had never come back. It had been moons, and for all those moons Soaringheart had waited.

"I can't wait anymore. I have to go back to LakeClan. I have to see Dreamstar again."

 Soaringheart started to walk towards where LakeClan's territory lay, but then he started to run, the wind rushing by him.

He skidded to a halt right at the border. He looked around then padded into the territory. He felt his heart flutter at the thought of seeing Dreamstar again. Will she remember me? Will she let me join again after what I did? I left so long ago... after the Lynx battle at the Gathering in Leaf-Bare. It's now the end of Leaf-Fall.

Soaringheart stopped and sniffed the air, smelling a patrol. He was about to hide when a cat leaped out at him. Soaringheart yowled as he was pushed to the ground. He bit into the cat's shoulder, but the cat was in better shape and quickly pinned him down. The cat's claws digging into his shoulders. The cat snarled.

"Give me a good excuse of why you are on my territory!"

Soaringheart snarled.

"I used to live here!"

The cat narrowed his eyes.

"I don't remember you."

The cat flicked his tail, and two other cat's padded out of the bushes. He also didn't recognize the other cats. But they looked like the cat that had him pinned down. The cat on top of him snarled.

"I'm going to give you ten seconds to get off of my territory, or I'll chase you off!"

Soaringheart struggled under the cat's grip and gasped.

"I'm here to see Dreamstar! I was her mate!"

The cat stiffened, and got off of him.

"You're... Soaringheart aren't you? You won't be able to see Dreamstar."

Soaringheart bared his teeth.

"Why? Does she not want to see me!?"

The cat looked at the other two cats.

"Come back to camp with my brother's and I. I'll explain there."

Soaringheart looked warily at him, but followed.

::---::

The cat who had attacked him stopepd at the entrance to the camp.

"Stay here. I'll be right back."

Soaringheart nodded and looked at the camp. It looked completely different. Obviously it had been made larger and was stronger than before. Soaringheart closed his eyes and waited.

::---::

Markstar padded to the Warriors Den.

"Rippleblaze! Come out here. I need to speak with you."

Rippleblaze came out and looked at Markstar.

"Is something wrong?"

Markstar nodded.

"Rainingblaze, Fleckrain and I found an intruder on the territory. But turns out this intruder is... Soaringheart. He wants to see Dreamstar. I know how much he loved her before..."

He looked away nervously, and Rippleblaze nodded in understanding. Markstar continued.

"So I know it will hurt him when he finds out. I don't know how to tell him."

Rippleblaze shook his head.

"I can't tell him. I'm the reason he left..."

Markstar sighed.

"Fine. I'll get Grayshadow..."

Rippleblaze nodded and padded over to the fresh-kill pile. Markstar looked around and saw Grayshadow talking to Strongspirit. He walked over and dipped his head.

"Grayshadow. I need to speak with you."

Markstar didn't wait for a reply before continuing.

"Soaringheart. He's back and he wants to see Dreamstar. But I can't tell him. It may be better if you do."

Grayshadow's eyes widened at the mention of her father.

"S-soaringheart is back!?"

Markstar nodded.

"Come with me. He's at the entrance."

Grayshadow nodded and walked to the entrance to meet Markstar there. Markstar smiled at Strongspirit before following. 

Markstar nodded, and walked out of the camp entrance, nodding to Soaringheart. Grayshadow followed.

"Soaringheart!"

Soaringheart's eyes widened and he got up and met Grayshadow.

"It's so good to see you Grayshadow. But I need to see Dreamstar."

Grayshadow's eyes darkened, and Markstar nodded, before speaking. He flicked his tail at Fleckrain and Rainingblaze.

"Go into the camp. I'll handle it from here."

They nodded and padded away, letting Grayshadow speak.

"Soaringheart... You can't see Dreamstar."

Soaringheart looked confused.

"Is she sick...?"

Grayshadow shook her head, tears coming to her eyes at the memory.

"No... You'll never be able to see her...."

Soaringheart's eyes filled with pain.

"I'm too late. Aren't I? I missed my chance to apologize. She's... she's... now dead..."

Grayshadow looked away.

"I'm sorry."

Soaringheart didn't respond.

"Can't I see her in StarClan?"

Markstar shook his head.

"She didn't go to StarClan. We don't know where she is..."

He looked at Grayshadow, warning her to stay quiet about Dreamsea. Though he knew she wouldn't say a word. Soaringheart choked on his tears.

"No... Noo...! She can't be dead... I needed to say sorry. Now I never will!"

Markstar looked away.

"S-so who's leader now? Are you Grayshadow?"

Grayshadow shook her head, waiting for Markstar to speak. Markstar took a breath.

"A cat called Markstar is leader. His warrior name was Markspirit, and he was Dreamstar's and Rippleblaze's kit."

Soaringheart tilted his head.

"May I meet this Markstar...?"

Markstar closed his eyes.

"You're looking at him."

Soaringheart's mouth opened to disbelief.

"You're... Markstar? I had a dream about you many moons ago. But it was happening in real time. You were still a kit. So Dreamstar is really gone?"

Markstar nodded.

"Miststar gave me my ninth life... not Dreamstar. Come into the camp if you want. There are many new faces, and lots more cats. "

Markstar turned around and padded into the camp, leaping onto the Lake Rock. He called the clan together, and Grayshadow and Soaringheart padded to the front. Many of the older warriors gasped as they recognized Soaringheart. Rippleblaze sat in the front of the crowd, his eyes expressionless as he stared at Soaringheart. Markstar cleared his throat and spoke.

"As many of you older warriors have noticed, Soaringheart is back. He came to see Dreamstar... but has recently found out she has died. He may stay if he likes. That is all."

Soaringheart sighed and padded over to Rippleblaze.

"I-i'm sorry and I'm just upset as you are about Dreamstar's death."

Rippleblaze bared his teeth and laughed.

"No. You feel no where near the same pain I felt, or you wouldn't be so composed right now. I was beside her when she died. Her last words were about me. I was going to die myself to be with her. My pain is far greater then yours, and always shall be. And don't you dare say that you loved her more than I did. I risked my life millions of times to save her. The last time I checked, you found by yourself. Fighting your own battle. While I fought hers. And usually I saved her. You shouldn't have come back. It only resulted in a smidge of pain for yourself!"

Soaringheart flinched at the harsh words. Rippleblaze growled and stalked away, his tail lashing the ground, not in anger but in sadness. Soaringheart closed his eyes. I don't belong here. I'll leave in a few sunrises.  Soaringheart stayed where he was until Sun Down, noticing that Jayflight had been in the crowd, but hadn't welcomed him.

:~~Markstar, Soaringheart, Rippleblaze, Grayshadow