Silence met Dipperflight as he set paw into the reed-encircled camp, the patrol at his side. His legs were wet from wading through the stream that surrounded the RiverClan base, the cold, late leaf-bare winds turning his wet fur to ice. In the center of camp where reeds and sedge didn't grow, along the edges of dens, RiverClan clanmates were sharing tongues, though they had stopped mid-groom and sentence, their eyes focused on him. Slowly, hackles rose.

      Dipperflight ducked his head, his eyes round and pupils dilated with raw terror. What was I thinking? I'm literally in another Clan's camp right now. They could kill me without breaking a sweat. His eyes swept over the camp, easing over the smaller cats and setting up his fears of death at the sight of the few tall ones. Rushfrost stepped forward, pale, sun-colored tabby and white fur fluffed to combat the chill.

"This is Dipperflight. We picked him up at the border; he's perfectly safe. He just needs a place to rest for a little," Rushfrost meowed, his eyes piercing as they met every single clanmate. Slowly, murmuring picked up again, and the bicolor deputy led Dipperflight through the camp toward a willow tree that was rooted near the back of the small, well-drained island. The gazes of the sleek warriors followed him carefully, icy cold. He recognized a few cats from gatherings, though he couldn't find that tom who had saved him the river nearly a half moon previously.

Rushfrost led the patrol to the the knotted willow roots, Stormcall and Hazelstream breaking off to sit with a golden and white tabby and a gray and white tom, the latter giving a dark, intimidating glare. The pale golden frosted deputy paused, raising his tail.

"Wait here for a moment," he murmured, disappearing into a den situated under the safety of the roots, tall grass poking up in tufts between the ancient willow base. Dipperflight gave a stiff nod, casting a glance back to the gray and white tom, who was still staring.

"Don't mind Breamclaw, he always gets all 'I'm scary' to strangers, but his heart's really just made of reed-fluff," Foxpaw informed brightly. Dipperlflight gave a deft nod. I'm sure a lot of cats can come across as reed-fluffy, but really..., he blinked, turning his gaze away from the dark stare of Breamclaw, not all cats are actually nice when you give them all your trust.

      "Foxpaw!" A cat called from across the camp. "Did Rushfrost decide if you're fuzz-brained yet?" Foxpaw's fur stood on end slightly with embarrassment as he looked across to the clearing to muscled gray tabby tom streaked with white.

        "Ah-- He hasn't said yet..!" He called back without nearly as much enthusiasm. The ginger apprentice looked up to Dipperflight, yellow-green eyes shifting to the earth with with embarrassment. "That's my mentor, Owlheart... I've gotta go talk to him," Foxpaw mumbled before turning tail, dashing across the camp, leaving a breeze in his wake. He narrowed his eyes with confusion, but before a proper thought of 'what..?' could come to mind, he heard his name be called.

       "Dipperflight..?" Pawsteps sounded from the willow's roots, and Rushfrost poked out of the den, yellow eyes bright. He pushed himself out, and was briskly followed by a large, white cat.

Their fur was long, and had the same healthy sleekness as the other RiverClan cats, though silvery fur edged their aged, green eyes and square muzzle. Scars tattered their ears and blended with their snow-colored pelt, and their paws were large and toes webbed. It was Daisystar, the oldest of all the leaders. They're huge. They're huge. They're so big. Bigger than Fennelstorm-- ...Fennelstorm. Dipperflight's eyes darkened as the memories of the tom flooded back in, and he cowered lower to the ground. He knew they had never really left, just gotten pushed away since he had set paw into the water-loving clan camp. Fennelstorm could probably still shred the last few lives out of this cat, either using his claws, spitting words, or his eyes. His piercing, scary eyes. He could show up here any second, he could've easily followed my scent trail--

       "So, you're the Dipperflight my deputy has been telling me about the past few moments." The leader blinked slowly, looking the ThunderClan warrior up and down. "Got a scratch on your cheek?" They noted, expression unreadable. "Do you need to see Wrenleaf?" Dipperflight shook his head quickly, and he bowed his striped head to try and not feel the burning questions that hummed in Daisystar's gaze.

       There was silence for a few moments, though the gentle flow of water lightly gurgled at the edge of the camp's dense reed wall a few foxlengths from where he stood. Daisystar gave a short sigh.

      "I remember you. Vaguely, but I do," he paused, his green eyes softening, "I remember when Oatstar had announced you were a new warrior. I was more worried about another possible ThunderClan enemy than needing to know for a future acquaintance; I usually try to remember all new warrior announcements for that same reason.

      "But you were proud back then. Sleek. Muscled," he noted the dullness of the ThunderClan warrior's coat, and the slimmer frame than what it used to be. "You've come across something terrible, something that's made you run. I don't know if it was you who did something and ThunderClan has exiled you, I don't know if you're just running from a battle with another clan. You may stay in our camp, only on the condition that you allow our apprentices to feed and take care of you. Perhaps Foxpaw? He seemed a lot less hyper when he was speaking with you." Dipperflight raised his head to meet the leader's eyes as he realized what was happening. Refuge. I can be away from... him. Rushfrost stood off to the side slightly, looking smug and proud of his leader's actions. Dipperflight blinked slowly. Now he could recognize that look in the old cat's face....

      It was compassion.

      His breath caught in his through, and he dipped his head as deep as he could.

      "Thank you, Daisystar!" He cried out. Many of the cats watching from a distance lit up with interest. The white leader waved their plumy tail.

       "Let all of RiverClan listen and know," Daisystar called out, their voice loud and clear. "This warrior, Dipperflight will be taking shelter in our camp. He will be protected, cared for, and respected, as he has been through just as much if not more than you, and more than deserves our help." The cats all blinked slowly, slightly confused, but obliging the leader's commands. Daisystar waved their tail again, and chatter started up in the mid-day air.

      "You can stay in the overhang off of the warrior's den," Rushfrost meowed, "if you want something private, that is." He nosed in the general direction of a thickly woven reed den, sedge grass densely surrounding it, pooling up on the right side of the warrior's shelter in a small den-like overhang. "It should work for the time being. Foxpaw and the other apprentices can make it more comfortable for you." The pale golden and white tom settled down in a sit, his short, feathery fur gently billowing in the cold breeze.

       "Thank you," Dipperflight murmured. "You don't think though...," unease entered his voice, his eyes unsure as he glanced to the ground. "...You don't think a cat could ever possibly break into the camp though..?" Rushfrost let out a small chuckle, shaking his head slowly.

      "No way. The entire camp is surrounded by the stream, and the only crossable part for a cat who can't swim would be that thin stretch of sandbar that you waded through to get into camp. The odds of some other cat finding it without even knowing beforehand are slimmer than a WindClan cat during Leaf-Bare." He glanced up to the densely clouded sky before standing. But Fennelstorm is smart. He could figure it out, he could break into camp.

Rushfrost continued on, waving his tail, "I've gotta go report to Owlheart. Foxpaw came on patrol with me today because he's terrible at comprehending directions and listening in general," he meowed flatly, "He thinks with his claws, even though he's not strong enough to swim through a current. I'll see you later, probably," he shook his head lightly as he explained, padding toward where Owlheart was playfully pouncing at the bright ginger apprentice, who yipped with happiness.

Dipperflight blinked and slowly padded to the den that was said to be his. He glanced over in the direction of Stormcall, Hazelstream, Breamclaw, and the other golden and white she-cat, Stormcall waving his tail as he walked by.

I think, even though I ran away, I'm only kind of safe. The chances of Fennelstorm coming for me are slim, but he's probably already looking for me. Teeth bared. Claws sharp. He'll probably grab me and drag me back to ThunderClan to be like we were before, maybe even worse than before. I don't think I could ever hurt him either-- even though he hurt me and he's not a very good guy...

...he still is the only living cat who's ever loved me.

//
AN
IM SO SORRY I ACCIDENTALLY POSTED THIS UNFINISHED YESTERDAY. I'm really sorry @ all of you who got down to that part where Daisystar pops up and it just cuts off I'm so sorry it was an accident. Rip.