Mistpaw sighed inwardly. Well, She mused, from now on this is home sweet home, I guess. She found a spot next to Leopardpaw and curled up tight. She knew her old life had been nothing like this, in fact much worse, but she couldn't help but feel homesick for the cats that had actually shown her kindness. Mistpaw watched Leopardpaw's form for a while before closing her eyes and murmuring "Good night."
A thud made Mistpaw jolt awake, her heart thumping. She waited a few moments. When nothing else happened, her eyes started to drift shut.
THUD.
Mistpaw's head jerked up. This time the thud had sounded louder and closer. Mistpaw felt chills run down her spine. This had only happened before once, and that was what made her . . .
"Mist?" A tom's voice called softly.
Mistpaw's ears twitched. She knew that voice. Slowly, she stood up and, just as slowly, padded toward the entrance of the den. "Silver?" She mewed quietly, half afraid that she was hallucinating. "Silver?" No answer. Mistpaw felt a rising panic. She'd only had a few scant moments to say goodbye to her brother, and she wasn't going to waste a chance to apologize. Now she was completely out of the apprentices' den, scanning her surroundings half hopefully, half despairingly. She sat down, close to tears. "Silver," she whispered.
"Mist. Always the crybaby." A she-cat's voice mewed with amusement.
Mistpaw's head jerked up. Sitting in front of her in a semi-circle were all her friends from her old tribe. All of them were grinning at her, smiling just like she remembered them. Now she really did start crying.


















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