The morning air was warm, a gentle breeze blowing Silverscreech's gray and white fur as she walked along the dirt path towards the shadowclan camp. Alongside her walked her friend Briarfrost. “I'm happy you're coming with me. It's gonna be uncomfortable enough for me just being in my old clan since I last left many moons ago. If only these two…” her piercing yellow gaze looked down at Zinnia and Torrent as they walked on the other side of their mother, their ears low as she gave them a scolding look. “-I wouldn't have run into my daughter Widowsting.” Silverscreech sighed, her eyes downcast for a moment as she remembered the night a few days ago. The hatred in her daughter's eyes seemed to mirror her own, piercing her more deeply than she had ever anticipated. “But then again…I did ask Starclan last night what I should do. Go back to my clan, or remain a loner…” She glanced up at Briar and smiled awkwardly. “So I guess in a sense, I got my answer. I need to go back and face my demons.” Glancing up at the sky, Silverscreech silently wondered if it was secretly FearedJackal in Starclan possibly guiding her back to their home. She wouldn't have been surprised. He was the only reason she first stayed in her birth clan to begin with after years growing up as a loner, unknown she once was born in Shadowclan and then her parents along with her were outcasts because of her fathers betrayal to the clan.
Silverscreech frowned, wondering why her old mate had not visited her once in her dreams. Was he still mad at her for not telling him right away about her family's history shortly after joining? Did he even still love her despite ditching their kits when he passed on? The normally hot tempered and guarded she-cat paced on with a rather heavy heart. Seemingly depressed and torn away from the thoughts of having another mate. There was so much to make up for, and so much to resolve. She couldn't bare the thought of dragging another innocent warrior into her family drama.
Zinnia jumped around excitedly, weaving between the two she-cats before tackling her brother Torrent and running ahead towards the clearing entrance as it came into view. Torrent squeaked in protest and quickly recovered himself before running after her.
Her gray ears perked, her mind snapping away from her thoughts as the two rambunctious kits ran into the clearing without their mother. “Zinnia!!! Torrent!!! Stay near…” They had vanished before she could finish her sentence. “-me.” Sighing once more, she quickened her pace. Without a second thought, her yellow gaze scanned the clearing as she dashed through the entrance of the camp, ignoring the odd and startled looks from the other warriors. Her gray and white striped fur was puffed out angrily. Silverscreech was getting annoyed with her kits misbehavior.
“It's so big!” Zinnia said excitedly, her ginger fur puffed up with excitement.
Torrent sat silently in awe next to his sister, his blue eyes glancing at all the cats mingling within the camp's clearing. Noticing the stare’s from the other cats, he gave his gray and brown striped fur an awkward lick before seeing their mom making a beeline for them. And she wasn't happy.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stay by me! I swear by Starclan you two never listen to a word I have to say! It's dangerous to go anywhere without me near you. Do you want to get killed by another cat or animal!? What if you fell into a ditch and got injured! Or got hit by a monster!? I'm so livid with both of you for not obeying my rules!” She hissed lowly.
Silverscreech felt like these kits could be the death of her one day. “Starclan give me strength…” she muttered as she sat, a paw on her face as she shook her head within the middle of the camp. She hadn't noticed anyone else staring, much less another cat quickly approaching at full speed ready to bowl her over...
Silverscreech yellow gaze gleamed happily at her son's response. Obviously he had realized in her absence why she had left the clan and his siblings in the first place. She had been broken to the core that felt unrepairable to the point she couldn't handle being in the clan. It was a relief on her mind and heart. "Well...im glad you at least understand why I left. Not that it was right but...we all make mistakes. Im just happy you are willing to forgive me at least." Silverscreech knew it would be a long time if at all any of her other kits forgave her. For now, she was at least settled with just Ferretfuzz in her life.
As her son started teasing Briarfrost, Silverscreech repressed a laugh. It was obvious from the dusty-brown she-cat that she was putting her guard up with sarcasm to his teasing. A rather familiar wall Silverscreech had put up herself on a regular basis with cats she didn't know. She glanced at Ferretfuzz, wanting to tease him a little on his family's roots of how he had some windclan blood in his own veins, but held back. The silver and white striped warrior did not care to let her fathers reputation be known at this time...or if ever. The last thing she needed was her kits worrying about it. Although, keeping the knowledge from FearedJackal didn't exactly help her relationship with her deceased mate. Instead it had caused a rift between the two, right down to the day of his demise.
Her ears twitched as the thought came to mind, a concerned look on her gentle features. Hiding the knowledge wasn't exactly gonna make anything better. Her tail pounded against the ground, ears lowered slightly. "Should I tell him? Will it make things worse if I do? What would happen if i don't?" She thought to herself. The expression remained as she was lost in thought, her sons voice breaking through as he scooped up his brother and sister.
"Mama! He is crushing me!!" Zinnia squeaked dramatically, her forearms flailing.
"No he isn't. Quit being a drama queen." Torrent replied as he hung limp in Ferretfuzz's forarms. Torrent winced as his older brothers tears fell atop his head. His ears lowered as his bright blue eyes glanced up at the black and white warrior. "I wasn't expecting rain today..." he teased lightly. "Still, I'm happy I have a big brother now to help me keep Zinnia in check." He added happily. Zinnia gave her brother Torrent a dirty look and stuck out her tounge back at his comment.
Silverscreech shook her head as she left her thoughts and quickly smiled at Ferretfuzz promise to protect them. "Careful. They are a pawful. I struggle alone just keeping them in check."