once a home, always a home

[owly ✿]

A long furred she-cat padded with head and tail down. Her plumy banner dragged behind in the dust. Her paw pads were cracked and bleeding. Creek's amber eyes held no emotion. She seemed like a ghost. She felt like she was nothing. She looked like she had laid down for a moon and ate nothing and done nothing. The she-cat's once beautiful grey pelt was matted and covered in dirt and mud. Creek let out a raspy sigh and padded on. she wouldn't stop. She would never stop. Creek didn't know where her kits were. Aero had run away after she and mythecho had gotten into a fight and the rest of the kits were off exploring the loner territories as usual. Only one kit followed her. Noel. Oh Noel. Her little angel. Creek smiled as she glanced back to see little Noel following her, panting out breaths. The little she-cat was so beautiful. How could she had been created from such a cat as Creek? The maine coon's golden eyes flashed an she stopped, waiting for her kit to come. Slowly the little creamy white she-kit padded forward. Her light brown eyes were tired and held sadness. Creek swished her tail over Noel's back and licked her gently between the ears. Come now Noel. It is only a little farther and then we'll find your uncle. Creek looked up, orbs twinkling at the thought of Charlie. Her brother was so sweet, so kind. She would've been running to Windclan to see him hadn't Noel been so tired.

Creek now let out a sigh as she remembered Cheetahpaw. Cheetahpaw would hate her. She had left because Mythecho had made her fall in love again. She had abandoned her best friend because of a handsome loner. The grey she-cat closed her eyes and let a single tear fall. She would never be close as she was to Cheetahpaw before. Was she even Cheetahpaw anymore? No, she would be a warrioir by now. Creek could see Cheetahpaw now. A long legged warrior, sun hued pelt groomed beautifuly, all the young warriors tripping over themselves looking at her. In truth Creek was only a few moons older than Cheetahpaw. She had grown up too fast though and learned the hard reality of life with hard pain. Her kits never wanted to be around her, Mythecho and her were not close at all anymore, the loner lands never felt like home. Creek looked up though as she stepped over the border of windclan. The long grass and the scents of hare wreathed around her. This was home.

We're here Noel, my love. Now hurry, we must find the sunhigh patrol.

[Spook]

The sunset slithered through the tall grasses of her old home. She breathed in the rabbit sents of WindClan. She missed two things about this open territory. One, the openess, and two, Cheetahpaw. She didn't care about the rest. She had never made amy friends all those moons ago, and now she was a loner through and through. Silent, deadly, swift, and heartless when need be. But she was still the same lonely soul beneath the bottemless silver that covered her blue eyes. And you're in love with a clannie idiotic kit, her mind argued.

Spook shook off her thoughts and foucused on being unseen. It wasn't hard, being 6 inches at the shoulder and only 5 pounds, completly full grown. She suddenly heard a tired voice. Sometype of recognition took over her mind but she pushed it away, slinking low into the ground. Then she saw the cat.

"Creek!"

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Tall grass whipped against the she-cat's long legs. Sunlight shined down onto her dark tawny pelt, illuminating the black dapples that spread across it like a pattern. Again the pelt had returned to its usual glossy sheen. The pretty she-cat finally was looking more like her old self. Maturity, however, now graced her features. No longer was life just a game to her. She knew now that she had to grab at every opportunity that came her way. She needed to go on with her life, she needed to be strong. Her amber eyes no longer appeared lifeless and dull, their normal bright, shining light returning with a stronger amount of force. Lean muscle was visible on her features, her legs especially holding the trait and showing what a powerful runner the she-cat had become. True to her name, the cat was Cheetahpaw. Yes, still Cheetahpaw, though she no longer minded it. Why not enjoy apprenticeship while you can? You're only an apprentice once, but a warrior the rest of your lifetime.

At the moment, there were quite a few cats on her mind. Charlie was one of them. Cheetahpaw's face clouded at the thought of the tom, her best friend, her future mate. He'd been the light of her day, he'd been the one who had kept her going. Losing him had literally killed her inside. Cheetahpaw still felt as if it were her fault. Why had she been so worried about becoming a warrior? She should've spent as much time with Charlie, the one cat who stood by her, as she could. Her mind suddenly moved to Sparrow- Spook. Chuckling to herself, Cheetahpaw realized that she'd never be able to get used to the name Spook for her old friend. She had met Spook when she had just become an apprentice, and they had hit it off as great friends right away. But then Spook- then Sparrowpaw- had become a loner, leaving Cheetahpaw alone.

Thinking of Singedpaw made Cheetahpaw feel a bit regretful. She wished she hadn't been so cruel to the tom. She knew how far out of line she had gone, and regretted every word she said. Cheetahpaw hoped that possibly she'd be able to apologize to him later. Finally, her mind moved to one of the best friends she had ever had. Creek. Creek had saved Cheetahpaw from the badgers when they first met, and since then they had been practically inseparable. Cheetahpaw had thought that they'd always be the best of friends. Maybe that's why she had been so angry when her friend left with that loner. Cheetahpaw still remembered the fact that Creek hadn't even said goodbye to her. Then again, none of her friends really did say goodbye. They all just vanished from her life, one by one, until she was left with nothing.

Three loner scents wafted into Cheetahpaw's nostrils. Her long, jet-black claws unsheathed and her pelt bristled, until the scents became more clear. Two she recognized easily- they were both scents that would never leave her memory. One was none other then Spook, and the other was...

"Creek?"Cheetahpaw felt her spirits lift into the air, though she knew that she couldn't get her hopes up. She completely ignored the other loner scent, and instead raced toward the scent of her two old friends. Sure enough, she saw them both. Cheetahpaw nearly let out a yowl of joy, but she kept it contained. She didn't want to alert other WindClan cats, and possibly get her friends chased out. She noticed the small creamy she-cat that stood beside Creek, but took no notice of her for the moment. She was just glad to see her friends again.

"Creek! Sparrow- I mean Spook."[/size][/b]Cheetahpaw winced at her mistake again. A smile still remained on her face as she gazed at her two old friends.[/color]"What are you two doing here? Is something wrong?

[owly ✿]

Creek's amber eyes seemed to get an air in them showing she was ripped back into reality. Her ears perked forwards as she heard the voice of a cat and then another. They called her name. The long furred she-cat opened her eyes wide as the lithe form of Cheetahpaw came into view. Her legs were long and her fur was smooth. The she-cat had grown into a lovely looking cat. Creek smiled as she saw her friend come running over to her. What about the other voice though. The fae flicked her ear in question until she saw a small she-cat coming towards her. Spook! Creeks old friends all seemed to find her at the same time. She let out a mew of happiness and darted forward. She stopped quickly though as she noticed Noel didn't follow. She turned back to her small kit. The she-kit's eyes glowed with terror and she sat crouched down in the tall grass. Creek gingerly licked Noel's ear and spoke to her in a soft voice. Come Noel. These cats won't hurt you. They are friends.

Timidly, Noel stood up and padded next to her mother. Her ears were back though and her mouth was clamped tightly shut. The kit's hazel hued eyes glittered with fear. What were these cats going to do to her? What about her mother? Creek had always been hostile to other cats that weren't part of the family. Why should these cats be an exception? That orange and black spotted one was strange looking. She might be trouble. Noel cast a glare in that she-cat's direction. Then she noticed the small she-cat creeping up towards them. She let out a yip and then nudged into Creek. Mommy! Look out for that small cat prowling up on us! She is gonna get us! Noel let out a hiss as the small she-cat approaching them. Her almond shaped eyes narrowed as Creek did nothing to acknowledge her warning besides softly hitting her with her paw. What did she do wrong? Noel glared at her mother for a moment and then stared back at the cheetah cat.

As the spotted femme trotted up Creek's face lit up with joy. So many emotions flowed through her veins and her head was spinning it seemed. Noel's warning hit her ears but didn't process. She let out a yowl of joy. Who cared if Windclan heard? Who cared if all the clans heard? Creek rushed up to her friend quickly and nuzzled her affectionately. How could she ever have left Cheetahpaw. Creek's amber eyes held tears of joy as she embraced her friend. Her words came out fast and jumbled. Cheetahpaw! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just leave like that. Please forgive me. I can't believe how much you have changed... Her statements came all pouring out and seemed to never end. Then she stopped abruptly. Something, or rather someone was missing. Her brother. Cheetahpaw, where is Charlie?

[Spook]

Sunlight hit Spook's deep orange pelt as she watched Creek. Her old friend was rugged, broken, dead inside. Now the once beautiful cat looked more like a ghost than the silent loner. As she waited for a response from the obviously alone she-cat, Spook felt another sent hit her.

WindClan.

Her pelt bristled and her maw turned into a snarl as she felt the Lust riding in her. She dint want to see who it was. She just didn't want to be chased out. But when she saw the spotted golden she cat appear over the ridge, her bravado faltered, leaving an almost empty feeling. Cheetahpaw. Her best friend. She almost laughed outloud when the fully grown she-cat said Sparrow instead of Spook. But instead she kept her vision guarded with the silver.

"Cheetahpaw? What are you-- Never mind that, this is your Clan's land. I was just wandering when I saw Creek and..." Her voice faltered as she looked at the kit. Apparently it was Creek's daughter. Worn out from the long trek from the loner lands. "But Cheetahpaw... your not going to chase us out are you? I promise I'll leave soon." The tiny cats voice was almost deperate, she hadn't seen Cheethapaw in moons. But hopefully there was some friendship there still.

Creek waled up to Cheetahpaw and gave an apology for leaving. Spook had always wondered why Creek had left. But the kit beside her seemed to answer that. And Charlie. One of her other sparse friends. She wanted to know what had happened to him, so she caustiosly crept forward.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Cheetahpaw let out a purr of amusement, watching the beautiful young kit as she motioned toward Spook. Suddenly Cheetahpaw remembered the last time she'd caught Creek's scent at Fourtrees- it had been mixed with milk and young kittens. This little kit must've been Creek's daughter. But then where were her other kits? Surely there was more then one. She pushed the thought away for now, however, nudging her friend as well in greeting. Cheetahpaw did notice Creek's worn-down appearance, and it nearly made her heart break. Something was wrong, but whatever it was had seemed to vanish from her friend's gaze. Again she nuzzled Creek, glad to see her good friend again.

"It's ok Creek, I'm just glad to see you again." A smile lit her features as her gaze moved to the small kit, glaring up at her and Spook. The kit was simply adorable. Cheetahpaw looked back at Creek, her expression curious. "Is this your daughter? She is very beautiful." Cheetahpaw smiled at the timid kit, hoping to ease her fears. Now Cheetahpaw turned back to Spook as she heard her friend mew a few words. Again she smiled, shaking her head. "I wouldn't ever think of chasing any of you out of here; you both must be exhausted. She let out a soft sigh. "It's just so great to see you both again."

Then she heard Creek mew four simple words. They were simple, but they absolutely crushed her. Tears sprang to her eyes, ands he looked away as if to hide them. But she couldn't help it, a few tears splashed against the ground. Taking in a deep breath, Cheetahpaw finally said something more. Her voice was whispery and raspy all over again as a wave of sorrow crashed over her. "Creek... Charlie... he... he died awhile ago, Creek." Cheetahpaw pressed close to her friend in comfort, though she doubted it did much. "I am so sorry."[/color]