||Everyone deserves a second chance...||

[{ tessa }]

Buckthorn pads slowly into the WindClan camp. Before he goes far, he stops to sniff the air. He wonders how many cats are in camp right now. He doesn't want to spook Juliet by crowding her the second she gets here. But at the same time, maybe it is the best thing to get everyone acquainted with her.

The WindClan camp is not as sheltered as the camps of other Clans. It's out in the open, but at the same time it is perfectly positioned to see any threats from fox-lengths in away. Buckthorn wouldn't want to live anywhere else. He loves sleeping under the stars every night. It makes him feel closer to StarClan. He doesn't see how the other Clans can feel comfortable curled up in some tight space. Trapped, like they're in cages.

He hopes Juliet will feel the same way. *How does a BloodClan cat sleep? Probably not very comfortably.* Buckthorn thinks as he looks over his shoulder to see if the she-cat is still with him. He really hopes that his Clan-mates won't judge her too harshly. He knows Hawkstar is a fair leader, but he also knows that almost all forest cats hold a grudge against BloodClan cats. But how can they blame Juliet for things she can't even remember? *Besides. She could have killed me when she had the chance. She's not a murderer.*

Buckthorn tells himself this over and over, trying to relax. He braces himself for any accusatory stares that might come his way for bringing an intruder into camp. "Juliet?" Buckthorn calls behind him. " Hold on a minute. Someone should find us soon."

The warrior takes another step forward and looks around for any signs of his clanmates, particularly the leader. Buckthorn's instincts tell him to help this cat. He really believes that he is doing the right thing. He just hopes he's not making a big mistake.

[Roxie !]

She was always expecting the worst; her thoughts never stopped churning. As she was led into WindClan's camp, Juliet was careful to commit every detail of her surroundings to memory--a kind of mental map, if you will. She took careful note of the quickest path through the moorland that led to the camp...after all, she had to be prepared for a sudden revelation of her treachary in which she would be forced to make her escape. She had to be careful.

Yet, a part of her was mildly curious about what was about to take place. The deputy had never been to a real Clan's camp before. It would have been simple enough to track a stupid, unsuspecting apprentice back to their camp if she had really felt the pressing need to do so, but she hadn't. Juliet wondered idly how the place would compare to BloodClan's camp. It certainly couldn't be any worse. And Buckthorn seemed eager enough to get back...maybe her stay here didn't have to be completely torturous.

That was, if WindClan even accepted her to begin with. Because the truth was, Juliet was extremely nervous as well as curious. There was no telling what the Clan would do when they saw her; surely their leader, at least, would recognize her as the BloodClan deputy? Or at least, recognize her scent? She wasn't foolish enough to expect a warm welcome. She was used to being looked upon with scorn, of course. While most of BloodClan respected her face-to-face, she wasn't blind to their suspicious glares. But that, that was something she could predict. But now, facing this, Juliet truly had no idea what to expect. And it was this that frightened her above all.

She stole a glance at Buckthorn, who was heading firmly forward. The way he looked at her was so warm and reassuring, but her cynical nature meant that these gestures meant little to her. For how long would he be willing to speak out against his Clan for her, a BloodClan cat? It wouldn't surprise her in the least if he decided to betray her.

The tabby stayed close to the warrior tom, keeping her expression blank and confused. As they reached the camp, she looked around with an expression of supposed awe. But in reality, the way her blue eyes flicked around the clearing wasn't because of excitement; it was because of suspicion. It was so...unsheltered. Were these cats mad?! They could be attacked at any time! Juliet fought to keep her striped fur from prickling. However insane it seemed, this was WindClan's lifestyle. If she was going to spend time here, she would have to get used to it.

And then Buckthorn had turned to speak to her for the first time since they had set out for the camp. She could tell quite plainly that he was trying to keep her calm, as if he expected her to bolt like a scared rabbit at any second. Juliet longed to meet his golden gaze steadily, and to send him one of her trademark death glares that stated quite plainly that she could take care of herself. But instead, she flicked an ear nervously and allowed herself to look uncertain. "Alright..." She agreed at last, very softly.

The camp didn't seem very full, at the moment. Juliet had been expecting crowds; noise; insanity. Everything that made her blood boil. But instead, the WindClan camp was oddly...quiet. She wondered exactly how many members the Clan had, and what they were like. Where they all as kind-hearted as Buckthorn? As loyal? As thoughtful?

As naive?