"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Xerxes, dropping his voice to a whisper. "I don't want you to get in more trouble with Silverstar. She seems like she can be a real piece of work."

"Like you wouldn't believe." Aspenpaw glanced around the camp. "This way." She whispered, heading towards the nursery. "We'll head out through the dirtplace tunnel."

"Dirtplace?" Xerxes whispered, following her. "Why is it called that?"

She blinked at him. "Why do you think?"

"... and now I curse my wild imagination. Let's do this."

She led them around the back of the nursery to the small gap in the bracken barrier. "After you." She said gesturing towards it.

Xerxes grimaced. "Do I have to?"

"There's less chance of us being spotted."

He nodded before squeezing himself close to the ground and wriggling through the gap. As his tail tip disappeared she heard him mutter "That stuff feels weird."

"You get used to it." She mewed before looking at Dry. "Go on."

She immediately made herself as small as possible and shot through the bracken. As she bent down to shuffle through herself, she heard paw steps behind her. She looked up and saw Creekshadow staring at her.

"Oh..." she backed out and sat up, trying to look nonchalant. "Creekshadow... hi..."

The grey she-cat looked through the tunnel. "What are you three up to?"

"Nothing..." Aspenpaw replied. "Was just showing them around... then figured, maybe we'd go hunting..."

"Hunting, huh?" Creekshadow's eyes flicked back to the apprentice. Aspenpaw found she couldn't look her friend in the eye. "I don't much care what you're up to... just don't lie to me Aspenpaw."

She hung her head. "I'm sorry."

She expected the she-cat to usher the three of them off to the apprentice den. Instead, after a few moments, she nodded towards the tunnel. "Whatever you're doing, have fun and be safe. Come back in one piece, look after each other, you know the drill."

She stared up at the older cat. "Wait, you're not..."

"I was an apprentice too, remember." Said Creekshadow with a wink. "Now get going before someone sees you."

Aspenpaw purred at her friend before shimmying through the tunnel and finding Dry and Xerxes on the other side. "Sorry." She whispered. "We nearly got caught."

"Nearly?" Xerxes raised an eyebrow.

"We're lucky Creekshadow is pretty cool." Aspenpaw purred. "Anyway, follow me."

She bounded into the ferns that were surrounding the dirtplace, hearing the others running behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at one point. Xerxes looked as though he were struggling a little to keep up. He struck her as a better fighter, though especially from what she'd seen. He was mainly muscle and had a lot of strength, just not so much speed. Dry meanwhile looked strangely at ease at this pace. Aspenpaw guessed her muscles were longer and leaner, more like the Windclan cats, built for speed.

She led them all through the forest, calling out any obstacles they would need to avoid like any particularly big sticks or rocks. Finally, after what seemed an age, they emerged from the forest, over the stream and onto the moorlands of Windclan territory. She froze at the border, Xerxes and Dry drawing to a halt on either side of her.

"Why have we stopped?" demanded Xerxes.

"Remember what I said about the clans not liking intruders on their territory?" she said glancing at him. "We need to wait to be invited onto their land."

"So, what now?" He asked, tearing at the grass beneath him.

"We wait..." Aspenpaw shrugged, settling down. Dry laid beside her, seeming to take comfort in the she-cat's presence though her ears were still pricked nervously, while Xerxes began to pace.

"I don't like this..." muttered Dry.

"It'll be fine... just keep your ears open." whispered Aspenpaw. "Foxes and badgers are more active at night."

"Oh thanks..." she hissed back.

"I'll not wait long." Growled Xerxes, still pacing. "I'm so close now I can almost smell him."

"We'll wait as long as it takes." Aspenpaw shot back. "We're not even meant to be here. The last thing we want is an entire patrol attacking us... or worse declaring war on Thunderclan."

Dry trembled a little beside her. "How likely are they to attack us."

"If they start to attack, just turn and run." Instructed Aspenpaw. It was what Tigerfang had told her to do if she found herself outnumbered. "Run downhill if you can't find your way back and you'll get to the lake."

Dry nodded. "Ok." Suddenly her ears perked up. "What was that?"

"You're imagining things because Aspenpaw said about foxes." Muttered Xerxes.

"Shush..." hissed Aspenpaw, her own ears pricking. "I heard it that time."

She turned towards the brush as she heard the rustling growing louder. Her fur began to bush up, making her look almost double her size. Beside her, Xerxes imitated her, bushing up his pelt and baring his teeth. He struck a more imposing figure than she did. Dry hung back a little, looking petrified, but Aspenpaw noticed that her claws had slid out and her pelt had fluffed up a little.

"Aspenpaw?" said a familiar voice and a fluffy black and white face popped out of the bushes. "What are you doing?"

"Icepaw!" she hissed. "What the hell are you doing sneaking up on us like that?"

"Sneaking?" muttered Xerxes. "I could have heard you from my housefolk's nest."

"I thought I was being loud." He said trotting out of the brush and shaking out his pelt. As his mother had predicted, his plush fur was like a magnet for debris. "I didn't want to make you jump when I just appeared."

"Why are you here?" Aspenpaw whispered as he approached them.

"Why are you whispering?" he retorted. "From what I can see, you want someone to find you."

"Is he from Windclan?" asked Xerxes still looking a little suspicious.

"No, he's from thunderclan, he's a friend..." she narrowed her eyes at him. "Admittedly a friend who shouldn't be here..."

He turned to her. "I'm sorry, you sneak out of the camp and off to the borders and somehow, I'm the bad guy?"

"I didn't ask you to follow us!" she hissed back.

"Well, what else was I going to do?" he asked. "You didn't come to the den, you weren't anywhere in camp, and I could scent you leading away from the dirtplace tunnel. I... I was worried about you, ok?" His voice suddenly rose slightly. "I was panicking that I'd find you dead!"

She blinked at him before moving forward and gently rubbing her muzzle along his jawline. "I'm sorry." She murmured. "The last thing I wanted was to make you worry."

Xerxes and Dry glanced at one another. "So... who is he..."

"This is Icepaw. He's like my brother." Explained Aspenpaw. "We look out for each other."

Xerxes and Dry glanced at one another but before anyone could say anything else, there was a yowl behind them. They all looked up as three shapes began to tear down the side of the moor.

"Oh Starclan!" whimpered Icepaw. "Come on let's get out of here."

"No..." said Aspenpaw stepping forward to stand between Dry and Xerxes. "This is what we want."

The shapes were drawing nearer. Dry began to tremble slightly, and she even heard Xerxes let out of huff of nerves.

"Remember..." she whispered. "Be respectful, no matter what they say. We don't want them to have anything they can use against us."

The two of them nodded, while Icepaw stepped forward to stand beside Aspenpaw. "You haven't been to a gathering yet..." he murmured. "That's Swiftwing!"

"The deputy?" she muttered back. "We can make this work..."

The three Windclan cats were approaching fast before stopping very abruptly at the border. The largest of them, a black and white tom stepped forward. He was lean and his long tail probably made him appear bigger than he was. "It's Icepaw isn't it? One of the Thunderclan apprentices?"

He dipped his head. "Greetings Swiftwing. I trust you're well. I'm just accompanying Aspenpaw here."

The Windclan deputy turned his gaze onto Aspenpaw. "I know that name..." he murmured. "Yes... you're Silverstar's kit aren't you?"

She felt Dry and Xerxes both turn and stare at her as she dipped her head in acknowledgement. "I am. Greetings."

Swiftwing frowned. "What is it? A message from Silverstar?"

"No, no message..." stammered Aspenpaw. "We have come with a question for your clan."

"For the whole clan?" he drawled and the two cats beside him sniggered. "Well then you can ask me." His eyes flicked first to Dry and then to Xerxes. "And who are these?" he asked. "I've never seen them at gatherings."

"They're new around here..." muttered Aspenpaw.

Swiftwing wrinkled his nose towards Xerxes. "He smells like a kittypet. Are Thunderclan struggling for warriors again?" Once more the cats with him sniggered, smirking at one another.

"I'm here to see my father, Blackfang!" Xerxes said loudly, stepping forward.

Swiftwing's attention snapped to Xerxes. "Blackfang?" he asked curiously.

"The myth, the legendary badger slayer!" Xerxes crowed. "I'm his son."

The Windclan cats hooted with laughter. "The myth!" cackled one of them.

"The legendary badger slayer!" chortled the other.

"That's enough." Snapped Swiftwing and the two of them almost immediately silenced. He looked back at Xerxes. "He never said anything about any kits..."

"Perhaps he didn't want anyone to know our whereabouts." Xerxes said, flicking his tail impatiently. "Please, I wish to speak to him."

Swiftwing hesitated. "About a half moon ago, he was injured while out hunting. Nothing Morningmist does seems to help... he told us earlier that he isn't sure that he'll last the night..."

Xerxes's eyes widened. "Please!" he cried. "I've travelled a long way to find him. Isn't it possible that I was sent here to make peace with him?"

Swiftwing looked uncertain. Dry stepped forward. "He has pressed all day to be here for tonight." She mewed. "Something has been making him aim to get here."

Aspenpaw looked up at the Windclan deputy. "Is it possible Starclan is guiding his paws?"

Swiftwing gritted his teeth. "Alright." He said after a moment. "Only because I believe Starclan has led you here. I'll take you to see him, but don't do anything that could upset him, and if he's sleeping, don't wake him. Let him slip away quietly rather than suffer."

Xerxes looked crestfallen but he nodded. "I understand."

"Follow us." Swiftwing turned towards the top of the moor. "And no funny business. One paw wrong and you'll be dead before you feel the claws in your throat." He took off running, the Windclan cats following close beside him.

Aspenpaw looked at the strange little group of them, before nodding them forward. They took off running after the Windclan cats. She could hear the others pounding along behind her. In some ways, she could see what the Windclan cats liked about the moors. The wind felt good in her fur, the coarse but springy grass felt great to run on.

They watched the cats ahead of them, when they suddenly disappeared. Aspenpaw was tempted to stop for a moment and work out where they had gone but she pressed on, the others following her. Suddenly the grass gave way to dusty earth and she slowed her pace coming to the edge of a huge dip in the ground with cats everywhere. In the centre of the camp was a huge rock and at the far edge of the camp was a hollow looking boulder. Beside her Xerxes was looking everywhere. "I don't see him."

Ahead of them, Swiftwing was speaking urgently to a majestic looking brown and white tom. "That's Harestar!" whispered Icepaw, his eyes widening. "Nobody move until he welcomes us."

After a few moments which seemed to stretch into eternity, Harestar nodded and looked at the top of the ledge. "You may enter." He called. Xerxes wasted no time, springing forward. Once in the camp, he seemed to realise his error and waited until Aspenpaw and Icepaw had stepped forward at a respectful pace, Dry shadowing them closely. As the four of them passed through the camp, Aspenpaw swore she could feel the gaze of every cat upon them. Finally, they drew to a halt before Harestar. His eyes were gentle and kind, his expression friendly. "Welcome, young ones." He mewed. Up close, Aspenpaw could see his greying muzzle. She wondered vaguely just how old he was. "Swiftwing tells me he believes one of you has been sent by Starclan."

Aspenpaw nodded to Xerxes who stepped forward. "I... my father is Blackfang."

Harestar's eyes clouded with sorrow. "If it is so, I fear this may be Blackfang's last night in the clan." He turned to Swiftwing and gave a nod before looking back. "For tonight, you may stay in the clan as my honoured guests. You may share our prey and our shelter, however by dawn, I will have to ask that you again return to Thunderclan."

"We can't..." said Dry before quickly closing her mouth. Harestar looked at her curiously. Aspenpaw thought as she looked at his face that it was the sort of face that could be trusted. "Silverstar said... she said we couldn't stay there."

He nodded again, his eyes sad. "I understand. However, I cannot offer you any longer in Windclan. We already have many cats and two of our queens recently gave birth. If we took in outsiders, we could starve in leaf-bare." Aspenpaw was surprised to hear him speak aloud of any weakness. She was under the impression that the clans tried to hide anything that the other clans could use against them. It must have shown in her face as he glanced at her. "I don't believe in pretending anymore. These games the clans play are tiresome. Leaf-bare is hard and no clan has enough food. We all know it."

She couldn't help but find herself fond of this wise old leader. "We thank you for your kind offer." She mewed dipping her head. Dry and Icepaw quickly imitated her on her sides. "But we ate before we left Thunderclan. We would gladly accept the offer of shelter for the night though."

Harestar gave a nod before turning his gaze on Xerxes. "He's in the medicine den. Just over there." He gestured with his tail towards the boulder on the far side of the camp.

Xerxes took off running towards the boulder. The other three dipped her heads to the leader and deputy before following. At the entrance to the medicine den, an exhausted looking brown tom was sitting. He looked up at the approach of strangers. "Can I help you?"

"I need to see Blackfang!" Xerxes mewed urgently. "Please, it's important."

The tom frowned. "Blackfang is very weak. If you are to see him, you must be careful with him and don't overexcite him. He's devoted his life to our clan, he deserves to go to Starclan peacefully."

"That's why I'm here!" Xerxes begged. "I'm... I'm his son."

The tom's eyes widened and after a moment, he gave a nod and gestured for Xerxes to enter. He looked up at the others. "All of you come in. I have enough nests for you to rest for tonight."

Aspenpaw nodded gratefully and the four young cats filed into the medicine den. In a nest against the side of the den was a black and grey tabby, almost identical to Xerxes. There was a wound on his side which was oozing and Aspenpaw could smell the infection from across the den. He was lying with his eyes closed, his breathing laboured.

She turned and looked at Xerxes as he stepped forward, finally finding himself face to face with the cat he had been waiting to meet for so long.

"Blackfang?"

The older tom grunted and blinked open his eyes blearily. "Who's there..." he mumbled, not looking up. "Mudpaw is that you?"

"No... my name's Xerxes... I'm Persia's son..."

"Persia..." the tom turned his head in the direction of the young tom. "There's a name I've not heard in many moons. Well any friend of Persia is a friend of mine. What can I do for you?"

For a moment, Xerxes looked as though he wanted to run, but then he swallowed. "I'm not just a friend... I'm your son... I tried to go to Shadowclan to find you, but it wasn't there."

Blackfang raised his head, trying to focus on the younger cat. He shook his head slightly. "I must be mishearing you..." he whispered. "You can't be... the kits... the badger..."

"She had kits after that... your kits..."

His eyes widened. "I'm... having a little difficulty seeing..." he murmured. "Describe yourself to me."

"I'm black with grey stripes... almost exactly like you... and blue eyes."

"Her eyes." There almost seemed to be a little strength in the ill cat as he looked beseechingly at Xerxes. "She had the most beautiful eyes. Tell me of her. How is she?"

"She is doing fine, even as she grows older." Xerxes moved a little closer. "I left my sisters to care for her."

"Sisters?" gasped Blackfang. "How many?"

"Four." Xeres said softly. "I'm the only tom."

"Five kits..." he murmured in wonder, his gaze somewhere else for a moment. "Did she name any of them for the forest?"

"No." he shook his head. "I think she wanted the clans to name us if we chose to come here."

"Have any of them chosen the forest?"

"My sisters are content with the fate of a housecat. But I..." he glanced over his shoulder at his companions before looking back at his father. "I want to stay."

"I am glad." Blackfang lowered his head and closed his eyes. "Xerxes, I don't know if you truly are my son or not, but even if you're not, you have made a dying cat very happy tonight. You brought me a family I never knew existed." He took a slightly shuddering breath. "I'm very, very tired. Morningmist says I'll be going to Starclan son, and now I can go happy... for tonight, will you stay with me and tell me about them all? About Persia, and your sisters... and about you?"

Xerxes moved closer and laid down beside his father. "Of course. I came this far to find you. I'm not leaving now."

He began to speak very quietly so only he and his father could hear. Aspenpaw looked at the others. "We should get some rest." She whispered nodding towards the nests that were around the den. They each climbed into a nest and curled down. Icepaw seemed to fall asleep instantly while Dry seemed to spend a little longer settling, patting at the bottom of the nest before finally laying down and resting her head on the side of the nest. As Aspenpaw settled into a comfortable position, she thought about what the next day would hold... and what the future would hold for these two homeless cats.

A/N

Xerxes owned by Nicholas Mullen

Dry owned by Meadow Leon Flower

Creekshadow owned by Hannah Rowe