[Fel]

Originally Posted by Beau

Seapaw had been down-wind of her father, unable to smell him. But the scent of Riverclan had led her forward. As she limped across the border, the she-cat heard a familiar voice call out a greeting. She turned her eyes in the direction of the voice, and her mouth dropped open. Shock, relief, and love filled her gaze as it landed on none other than her father, who promptly called out her name. He recognizes me! Even after all this time and even as filthy as I am, he recognizes me! "Russetswirl!" Seapaw yelled with jubilation, picking up speed as she ran at the older tom, her injured leg barely holding her back.

Seapaw reached Russetstar quickly, only slightly held back by her leg, and didn't stop until she was close enough for their fur to brush. The molly nuzzled her father happily, tears springing to her eyes despite her no-crying rule. "I found you!" She cried in an unsteady voice, "I'm h-home!" All the moons of pain and fear melted away for a single moment and she let the realization that she was home and safe fill her. Seapaw breathed in deeply, feeling memories wash over her with Russetstar's scent. She continued to breath heavily, as if she was memorizing his scent in case she disappeared once again.

The molly pulled away and sniffed back her tears, asking with a smile and a shaky voice, "How's mom? A-and Applepaw?" As she awaited the tom's response, Seapaw let her blue eyes travel all over him. He looked older and more tired, but the same cat that she'd known her whole life. She'd been so worried that she'd never see him again. When times were especially tough, and Seapaw had felt like she couldn't continue, her mind had pulled up an image of Shellfeather, Russetswirl, Applepaw, and Seapaw all together and taken her back to when they were happy. It can be like that again! She naively thought for a moment, before the haunting shadow of her experiences clouded her eyes and thoughts and she realized, No it can't be.

Even that thought, though it ruined some of her joy, couldn't fully depress her. Even if things were different, at least she was home. At least she could see the cats she loved. And apologize to them. Seapaw thought of her actions as a younger cat and felt guilty for ever taking her life and the cats in it for granted. The marbled tabby looked up at the sky and silently declared to Starclan, From this moment forwrad, I promise never to take clan life or the cats in my life for granted. Thank you for showing me the path home.

"...Oh my StarClan, you're alive! I can't believe it- I missed you so much, Seapaw- and so did everyone else, I'm sure of it!" The tom crowed, his blue eyes widening in happiness as he immediately began to run towards his daughter. He'd never thought he'd see her again, especially with Cricketpaw's recent demise- this was just like when he'd found the former medicine apprentice, when she'd rejoined the clan before her... passing. He could never let that happen to Seapaw- he'd be protective now, because he would never let that light in his fizzle out again like it had with the death of his other daughter. He swore on it. The patterned leader nuzzled his daughter affectionately as he smiled.

"So many things have changed, Seapaw- but everything's going to be okay." Your sister's having kits- and your other siblings, they're apprentices- Cricketpaw did so much good while she's alive, and... me? I'm a lot more different, too. "...It's Russetstar now- I'm RiverClan's leader. Bucknight's gone- he wasn't a good cat. He was cruel, and horrible, but things are so much better now." He mewed- on the verge of crying, practically. He missed her so much.