NOT A FOLLOWER||o

Finally, Val would return from HawkClan for the second time. This time around, he'd stayed in the other Clan a bit longer. Though this left him a little less weary, it had made him really homesick. Luckily for him, some of that had been taken care of when he'd gotten a new friend.

He'd been happy to hear everyone in HawkClan had the chance to get a bird. It made sense as everyone he knew from there had one. Plus, it made this whole thing even better. Not only could he spend time with Littlestar and his new friends there, like Ravelights, Poe, Gearpaw, and Technokit, but he'd have a bird friend, too!

The choosing ceremony had been a bit scary, especially when he was almost attacked by a hawk from the second time in his life. Fortunately, another bird had been there to save him. Val had called her River, just like RiverClan. She wasn't a large bird, but instead the perfect size to perch on the cub's shoulders. She was also black with some white feathers sprinkled in near her beak and on her wings. But, most of all, Valemon had found she was very protective.

As he strode into camp, the bird's head whipped around in an attempt to get a good glimpse at everyone at once. Her feathers ruffled a little, and Val hoped that didn't mean she was too scared. He knew how she felt, being uncomfortable in crowds of new people. But, it wasn't long before the grip on her talons loosened and she relaxed, if only slightly. Apparently, the fact that Valemon seemed to know these individuals comforted her. At least for now.

Not only was the young Skywalker accompanied by a new friend, but an old one as well. In his mouth, he carried his stuffed hawk. He left his toy in RiverClan, fearful of loosing it in HawkClan's still unfamiliar territory. But, he figured he should introduce River to it. After all, they were both friends of his.

As he stopped and dropped the stuffed animal, River also flew from his shoulder, causing him to startle a little. She landed right beside his toy but paid it no attention, instead very absorbed in her surroundings. The way her head continued to turn this way and that was actually really funny. The cub giggled and it was River's turn to jump. It also seemed to have gotten her attention and Val took the opportunity to introduce his toy. "Silly Birdie," he said, putting a paw on the stuffed bird in question. River stared at it for a few moments, her black head turned to the side. Then, she resumed her lookout. Valemon didn't know what he'd expected, but that seemed to satisfy. He picked up his toy and absentmindedly fiddled with it in his paws as he watched River watch everyone else.

It seemed as if Val had forgotten the incidents surrounding Littlestar. Sure, he was still concerned with Lessa, especially now that he knew she had friends in HawkClan she couldn't see as much anymore. That had to be sad. From talking to some of her friends, like Rave, he could tell they were sad, too. But, nothing could occupy Valemon's wandering mind for too long. As far as he was concerned, Littlestar hadn't meant what she'd done. And, she was probably sorry for it now. She seemed happy, even. And, most of all, Val was positive she'd never hurt him.

When he spotted his friend, Luciferus, he smiled then nodded. "Birdie's name 's River!" he introduced. In response, the hawk made a short, sharp, squawk that almost made Val want to cover his ears. Apparently, a big dragon was definitely someone she was concerned about getting too close to Valemon. She still kept her eyes on Luciferus as a feline approached - obviously less of a threat. The cub, who had no grasp on the meaning of sentience, didn't like his use of the word 'pet'. "Frien'," Val returned gently, not allowing his disapproval seep into his voice. Maybe Des just wasn't familiar with having bird friends.

When his daddy sat down beside him, River's head whipped around once more. It seemed she couldn't decide who she should be more worried about - a dragon or a big armored... whatever this was. While there had been the occasional large reptile around HawkClan, the bird had never seen anything like this before. She let out an exhausted chirp, as close to a sigh as a hawk could get, and resumed looking back and forth between the two. "River 's frien' from HawkClan," Valemon explained to his father. Then, he remembered what else Luciferus had asked of him. He wanted to know about HawkClan. Val assumed that by this interaction, Anakin now knew that he spent part of his time there. The cub had only ever told his sister this directly. Though, it wasn't exactly secret, either, so others obviously knew. Even more now that he had brought a friend back. "Gave Littlestar present an' she happy now, too!" Well, as far as Val could tell. She did use a lot of bad words, but that was so often he assumed that's just the way she spoke. "Made other frien's, some frien's of Lessa." Like Ravelights and Poe. Valemon's tone was a bit more solemn as he added the next part. "But Littlestar's birdie 's sick." Bubby, her griffin, wasn't doing too well, though Rave was working to make him better.  

Val's smile grew at Anakin's loving gesture but faded slightly when he was posed with a question. "A... a..." Oh, what was the thing called, again? Valemon thought hard, oblivious to the fact his travels to HawkClan were just now being realized by his father. "Like Sekai's." Yes, it was similar to the present he'd given his sister, a string of seashells to hang around her neck. Around her neck... The cub, without thinking, brought his paws to his own neck, as if this would help him remember. Maybe it had, maybe it hadn't, but it suddenly dawned on him. "Necklace! Wit' shells. Pretty," he explained.