Qeya River ground zero

Shadowpaw followed @Ksura north, through the Grove, and around the Bypass. Even in summer, the girl could detect that the temperature dropped a few degrees as they left the valley and entered the Taiga.

At some point, Shadowpaw needed to stop and rest. She didn’t have physical stamina like the athletic man… but he had guided her far enough. Qeya River wasn’t far now.

Her self-confidence began to waiver the closer Shadowpaw became. Still, she clutched the flowering periwinkle shadow-plant in her jaws and approached the borders. The scents of Ash Star, Silvertongue, and Wren were unmissable.

Optimistic she could convince Riverclan to return to their homeland, Shadowpaw tossed her head back and howled.

IT was not Ash, or Silver or Wren who met the girl, but her little half brother. WIld eyed and loud he raced towards the borders edge. Ash Paw bless her heart, following behind as he had run past her at a full clip. But he got there first.

He stared. Who you?!

He sniffed at her and looked at her. You here for mothers? HE knew Wren and Silvertongue were the big bosses here and everyone came to see them. Right? So that's what this girl was here for right?

It was not a leader who found Shadowpaw first, but a child.

The apprentice was stone-faced and unamused as the boisterous pup investigated her.

Who you?! it questioned. You here for mothers?

Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle Ksura had alluded to were put together in the girl’s mind. If there were new children in the clan, Shadowpaw could see why they had hastily moved: to ensure their protection. It was a bitter feeling… to know that in Shadowpaw’s absence time continued to move on. The next generation had arrived with or without her.

“Shadowpaw,” she answered the pudgy boy in a low, drawling voice.

“Yes,” she affirmed in the same tone and waited for an adult to arrive.

since his recent endeavor in thwarting a psycho from the borders, sparrow had grown emboldened by frequenting the edge of the claim. this was his domain, and he'd be damned if he let anyone try to pick on his family. that was his right, and his alone.

so when the call went up requesting an audience, sparrow was whirling that way like a natural disaster. dirt kicked up behind him as he flew past ash paw, the voice of rowyn ahead spurring him onwards. he flew from the background and crashed straight into the scene just as the stranger spoke.

"ya gots a problem buddy?" he yapped as he puffed up and moved to push himself between his brother and the older girl. "do ya? DO YA!?" he snapped as he bounced around like a feverish little thing, invading the girl's personal space with each hop closer.

quick edit- I didn’t see that Sparrow arrived with Rowyn; he would have totally acknowledged both pups so I’ve made a wee change to include that.

He kept some details to himself; unsure how Shadowpaw might react to learn that she had new siblings, and that he was the father. Omission wasn’t lying, he figured- and he felt certain that it would be worth it, so long as Ash Star got the chance to see that her daughter was alive and well. They could sort out the rest of the family drama together.

The first to greet them was Silvertongue and Wren’s silvery son, Rowyn, as well as Sparrow whose comment made Ksura snort softly, and give the boy a wink. He grinned at the boy’s enthusiasm, glad to see they might one day have a couple eager guardians. Shadowpaw introduced herself, though she shared little of the young boy’s excitement. 

”Yep. She’s one of Ash Star’s yearlings,” He explained dutifully. ”And these are our newest guardians,” He said, giving the boys a proud smile.

I am going to powerplay Rowyn in this one here.

 

Ash Star was not far behind Rowyn and much to her amusement Sparrow. She tilted her head. And spoke once a little sharply. 

Sparrow. That is my daughter. Kindly stop harrassing her. She does not in fact have a problem. TThough she did bend to give both Sparrow and Rowyn a kindly boop of her nose. 

Ash shook her head and moved closer. A gentle kind smile on her face. Hello Shadowpaw.

She wondered if Shadow Paw would let her hug her. Or if the girl was still angry with Ash. It had not ended well before. As it were. And she could not blame the girl either.

arriving in time to hear ksura introduce shadowpaw as one of ash star's children, silvertongue fought to keep her warm look from faltering. "mariposa. welcome to the qeya river. it is very good to see you." often she did not think of riverclan, but she did now, as the shadowgirl who looked so much like crowfeather stood here in the taiga.

“I see,” Shadowpaw drawled as every iota of self restraint was used to refrain from football punting the little jumping flea-of-a-pup to timbuk-two.

Thank goodness Ash Star arrived to lay down the law.

“Mom,” Shadowpaw said. Her icey visage melted. No matter how hard her heart became, there would always be a soft spot for her family.

Then, her mentor arrived.

The girl took a proud step forward. “I did it,” she proclaimed and placed the dried, periwinkle flower at her feet. “I traveled to the shadow mountains. I found the dark-sight wolves, there.”

Her wirey and gaunt frame stood tall. “Ksura found me at Riverclan. It is safe there, now. We can all return home.”

pride shone in her eyes, followed by a deep, icing hurt. "shadowpaw." her voice was soft. "you have done as i asked. as we asked." a breath swelled her chest, hurting, hurting; "but this place is our home now. riverclan is — i am sorry, shadowpaw. we won't be going back. the valley is too crowded now. there is no competition like that here for what we need." her heart hurt. "i am sorry, mariposa."

Shadowpaw’s jaw went visibly slack.

“What?” she hissed in disbelief. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing!

The raven girl had attachment issues. To names. To places. She felt these precious things made up a person. Their identity. And why shouldn’t she be sentimental? As a young wolf, faces constantly came and went out of her life. She had little else to hold.

She shook her head, “I don’t understand. You said Riverclan was our home. What about Starclan? What about our Moonpool?” She she thought of the place she had first dreamed with their ancestors.

"You left it all behind?"

The dark part of Shadowpaw's heart couldn't help draw parallels.

Ksura out :)

 

Ksura’s pleasant features paled when Shadowpaw mentioned going back to their previous home- and now that both Ash Star and Silvertongue were present, he felt his presence unnecessary, his opinion unwarranted. 

To Ash Star he gave a slight nod as he backed up, and as quietly as possible he left the important conversation to those who had a right to be a part of it.

"i know what was said." her throat hurt. her eyes felt as if they might weep. "i never wanted to leave either, shadowpaw. but we have. what is done is done." a breath, painful. "i am sorry." on a whim, she stepped forward. "always your home can be here, with us. i can see starclan here. but our forest and our moonpool, they too are home. your birthright."' and that was all silvertongue could say or would allow herself to express.

Ash Star did not say anything as of yet. She merely listened and studied Shadow Paw. She wished she could help in someway, but she could not. There was nothing that could be done and surely not by her any longer anyway.

Blue eyes alight upon the girl she had helped to raise. How she had grown. She looked beautiful and healthy and well. And Ash was so happy for it. So very happy for it indeed.