Figfeather’s attention is first brought to Blazestar. She spots the young kit at his paws who he briefly stops to talk to, she’s startled to find she does not recognize any of the three kits piled around the vicinity. ’So much time has past… so much must have changed…’ Her panic with time dwindles though when a sudden realization hits her, Howlfire’s kits!
Blazestar approaches and she cannot hide her smile, ”There’s so much to tell you, all of you!” She agrees, tail swaying back and forth excitedly. Of course, Blazestar does realize most of the patrol has not returned… to her relief Slate is swift to explain, but he doesn’t mention Little Wolf. They share a knowing look, Figfeather knows he must remember their conversation before they got home… He’d tell Blazestar soon, they couldn’t keep him in the dark.
Figfeather tries to sweep the guilt away, but a tabby and cream pelt approaches. She smells familiarly of pine and sap, but the milk scent can’t be dismissed. ”Howlfire!” She greets with a rumbling purr, ”Filled with danger and adventure, I’ll tell you more about it over a piece of prey sometime- but forget that! You’ve kitted haven’t you?” Her eyes cannot help but flicker back towards her children again, they only stood several fox-lengths away. She needed to be introduced to them all... and besides, they were a really good excuse to not tell Howlfire about Little Wolf. Slate would tell Blazestar, then Blazestar could tell her.
Speaking of introductions a lilac kit stands at her paws, they look up at Figfeather and Slate with a greeting and introduction ’I’m Wolfkit’ her heart lurches, of course Howlfire would… It only made the marmalade tabby’s heart ache more. ”Hi Wolfkit. It’s nice to meet you.” She purrs, forcing herself to keep herself together.
Crouching down so that she was at eye level with the child she says, ”Oh like LionClan we did! Bears, badgers, dogs, foxes, cats as big as ten of us put together! You name it, we’ve fought it.” She exaggerates with a soft smile, what was the harm in a little wonder for a kitten so young? Besides… it wasn’t an entire lie, they had driven off their fair share of beasts during their time away.
A kit of vibrant orange approaches next to declare Figfeather and Slate smell weird, did they really? Figfeather hopes it’s not a bad smell… she had kept up on her grooming. With an awkward glance around she ignores the kits statement as the kit bickers with Wolfkit on who the birds spoke to. Instead of acknowledging the kit game she simply asks ”And who might you be?”
Silversmoke, prickly as ever… Though he and Slate could be a bit too much together sometimes she’s missed the tom’s witty remarks and intelligent mind. ”It’s less about carrying her and more about protection. You wouldn’t believe the dangers we had encountered.” Again, she bets if they knew about Little Wolf they would not question the choice in staying behind to help Stormpaw… In time they will know and understand the precaution. ”It’s good to see you, Silversmoke.”
A familiar voice mixed with the sight of a brown tabby can be heard through the growing crowd of cats. Her pelt prickles with excitement and she stands on her tiptoes to get a better look, ”Sparrowflight!” She laughs, over joyed as they press their head into her chest. Figfeather would give them licks on their forehead and Sparrowflight would be victim to her thunderous purring, she could not contain her joy. ”I’ve missed you too, we have so much catching up to do!” Her heart felt so full, she had not truly realized how much she had missed her clan until now, she could cry tears of joy!
Speaking of joy, Figfeather is rewarded yet again by the presence of another she’s missed dearly. At first she cannot believe her ears, was this real? Was this not a dream? Did she really stand here, finally reunited with them all? With Fantastream? How much she’s missed her sweet scent, the vibrant fabric she wore around her neck, the golden rays of her eyes that burned brighter than the sun. How foolish and mouse-brained Figfeather had been for pushing her away, during the journey she had felt terrible guilt… At last she could make things right.
”Fanta!” Figfeather yowls the name she had first known the kittypet she-cat by. She cannot help but pace forward and meet her halfway, she welcomes Fantastream’s nose to her shoulder and in turn Figfeather would lick her ears. ”I- I’m glad you’re safe too. Fantastream, I’m so sorry for how I left you.” She meows, there’s almost a plead in her voice… for forgiveness?
”The journey taught me lots of things- but one of the biggest lessons it gave me was to appreciate those you care for. I was so… I was so stupid Fantastream. I couldn’t sleep thinking about the possibility I might never see you again, that I ruined everything we should’ve been…” Figfeather gulps, tears burning in her eyes, ”Now that I’ve returned I vow to never loose appreciation again for those I love.”
Pulling away she looks into Fantastream’s eyes. She’s all too aware of the crowd and publicity around her, but in this moment it doesn’t matter. All that matters to Figfeather is her.
Inhale.
”Fanta… will you be my mate?”
Hold.
