Spiderpaw felt deprived of his sleep from the night before. After Ashpaw was safely buried, he felt he could finally rest inside the medicine cat's den with Oceanfur, for what he suspected to be the final time.
The grey tom had woken him up with a fresh blackbird not long ago. Spiderpaw had been hungry, but he still felt a little sick with the absence of the apprentice. He couldn't believe he would be travelling back to ThornClan today.
Now, he was sharing tongues with Oceanfur in the den, conversing with him about his time in CedarClan. He knew that Oceanfur had taught him countless things, and he would miss him in ThornClan.
He had let the parts of the blackbird he felt able to eat digest in his stomach for a while as Oceanfur told more stories about his apprenticeship. Spiderpaw didn't want to think of not waking up to his presence.
However not long after, Spiderpaw heard the swishing of lichen as Muskstar entered peacefully.
"Greetings," she meowed. "I hope you both had a nice sleep."
Spiderpaw stifled a yawn. "Good enough."
Muskstar dipped her head, sitting momentarily besides the cats.
"Feels crazy to think you're going to be going back," she breathed. She casted a concerned gaze at Oceanfur for a moment. "I wonder how Echostar is going to react to seeing me."
"I think she'll be most relieved to have Spiderpaw back," Oceanfur added.
"I agree," meowed Spiderpaw. "I doubt she's going to make too much of a fuss."
Muskstar dipped her head. "The sun is up, but days pass fast. I'll get Jaggedclaw and we'll meet you by the thorn tunnel after you've said your farewells."
Spiderpaw dipped his head as Muskstar slid through the lichen, and he tried to cover the sadness in his eyes. "I've been here for so long, you've started to feel like a Clanmate."
Oceanfur brushed his head against his with a beam. "You're not leaving yet," he assured. "I'll be with Jaggedclaw and Muskstar. Take your time, and don't make your final minutes in this Clan sad ones!"
"I won't," Spiderpaw meowed as Oceanfur picked himself up and headed out of the exit. But Spiderpaw wasn't sure if he could keep his promise.
He followed Oceanfur, and knowing he didn't have any time to waste, made his way towards the apprentice den. He had already spoken to Rocktail, and he knew Mothspring would be inside the warrior's den. He hadn't had many meaningful conversations with Longfoot or Pinepelt, he thought saying a proper farewell to the cats who assisted Rocktail in his crimes would be useless. He had no trust for either of them, despite him living with them and sharing minimal conversions.
He approached the apprentice's den quickly, swishing the lichen over his shoulder. He stopped suddenly when he saw Rocktail sitting besides Blackpaw, letting the small she-cat lean into him. She barely turned to him until she properly realised who he was.
"I apologise for not announcing my presence," he began. "I just wanted to say farewell to you both."
Blackpaw wriggled of her affection with Rocktail and made her way over to Spiderpaw, sitting down in front of him quickly. "Thank you for everything," she mewed, her voice croaking with pain. "I hope you get back safely."
"Thank you," Spiderpaw replied. Although he knew how hard mentioning Ashpaw to his sister would be, he knew that had to be done. "I'm so sorry I wasn't enough to save your brother."
"That's okay." Blackpaw replied weakly. Spiderpaw felt a rush of relief when Blackpaw looked back up at him, a little glint sparkling in her eyes. "When you were collecting herbs, I got to have a little bit of time with him," she began. Although he was weak, he didn't mind me telling him stories. He loved when I taught him the leap and hold move, too."
"I'm sure he did enjoy that," he meowed. "And I'm sure he was grateful to have a sister who was so supportive of his ambition."
Blackpaw beamed before making her way back to Rocktail. "Safe travels," the deputy meowed darkly.
Spiderpaw knew he didn't need to intrude for any longer. He simply dipped his head and made his way outside.
When he set foot in the warrior's den, he was very pleased to find the white and ginger warrior alone, washing her pelt.
"Mothspring," he meowed, announcing his presence.
The pretty she-cat looked up. "Spiderpaw, I was just about to come and find you."
Spiderpaw dipped his head with a beam. "I just came to say farewell."
Mothspring rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a cotton-tail. Don't think I'm not seeing you off!"
Spiderpaw stifled a beam as the she-cat threw herself up and raced Spiderpaw out of the den before she bounced across the clearing towards the thorn tunnel, where Muskstar was seated with Oceanfur on one side, and Jaggedclaw on the other. Spiderpaw made his way after her,
bouncing across the field before he finally approached the group of cats.
Soon however his bright feeling faded - and he welcomed the feeling of loss. Not much time passed until Muskstar spoke again.
"We must leave now. Travelling to ThornClan isn't a walk in the field."
Spiderpaw dipped his head. He couldn't think of the right words to say, and the other she-cats seemed to share the emotion.
"I'll take lead," Muskstar announced, turning around and sliding herself beneath the thorn tunnel.
Spiderpaw followed behind Jaggedclaw, her brown tail swishing in his nose and causing him to flinch. The pack waited for Jaggedclaw calmly, and when the white and ginger she-cat emerged from the thorns, she pressed her nose against Spiderpaw's and licked his ear respectfully.
"Gonna be strange not having you around," she meowed. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too," Spiderpaw admitted, suddenly anxious about how Muskstar would react to his friendliness. However, she didn't seem to mind much, flicking her ear and giving Mothspring a patient look.
"Safe travels," Mothspring meowed finally, before brushing her head against Spiderpaw's face once more before plummeting herself back into the thorn tunnel.
Considering how on edge she had acted when Spiderpaw had first arrived, he was not sure he was completely convinced.
Mothspring's ginger and white tail vanished quickly beneath the thorns, and Spiderpaw turned around to face Muskstar, who was already treading away from the camp. Taking one long look back at the place he had been welcomed, he twisted himself around and headed after Muskstar, Jaggedclaw and Oceanfur.
'I'll be home soon,' he thought to himself. 'I hope they've been thinking of me.'