Iceclaw: Hey! This is my first Warriors story, I am really proud of it. I accept CC, I've been thinking of this story for a while so I think it is as good as I can get it. I know the first chapter might not make much sense, but it'll clear up. In this story, Firestar knows about Place of no Stars, okay? This chapter takes place between the last chapter of Firestar's Quest and the epilogue of that same book. Later it will be during Midnight, if you haven't read FQ this will make no sense to you, just make sure you have a good memory of what happened. You're going to have to remember a lot of things… Disclaimer: Erin Hunter owns Warriors, I am only writing crap about it. Kay? Also, in this story I have cats cry. Cats can cry, but they only cry if they have a dry eye, dust in their eyes, etc.. They don't cry when they are sad like we do, though. But here I will make them cry when they are sad, I just want to. And this is called FanFiction, as in not real and made by fans. So if you don't like it, go away! But it's you who is making a big mistake by not reading my awesome story.
Firestar was standing in a field of green. He had been here before, many times with many cats. This time a blue-gray she-cat was walking toward him, her piercing blue eyes sparkling. "Hello, Bluestar," the ginger tom greeted as he bowed his head, "what do you have to tell me this time?"
"You have successfully restored the lost Clan, SkyClan. And for that StarClan thanks you." Said Bluestar, "this time I have nothing to tell you, but I do have something to show you."
Firestar opened his mouth to speak, but his words never came. Bluestar began to fade, and darkness swirled around the ThunderClan leader. Shapes moved in the darkness, cats, lightning lashed above their heads, illuminating a brown-and-cream tabby she-cat. Her amber eyes glimmering with anger.
"Fight to the death!" she called, "we will not fall to these wretched beasts!" The cats around her flicked their tails, eyes as cold as stars. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. The she-cat yowled and sprang forward, running into the darkness. More lightning lit the sky; a dark ginger tom quickly followed the tabby, with the rest of the cats racing behind. After moments of eerie silence, Firestar heard yowling, of pain and battle. He raced forward, trying to see what was happening. He heard more screeching, cats ran back the way they came, bleeding and limping. Soon, only a few cats were left, lightning tore into the darkness of the night.
"Leafstar! We have to turn back!" Yowled the ginger tom, he batted at the air to some unseen enemy.
"No, Sharpclaw," She replied sternly, swiping at the ground, "they are weak tonight, we will not fail!" She pounced on the ground. More cats scurried back the way they came, and one hit the ground with a loud thump.
"Leafstar! They aren't any weaker, they will easily pass us and attack the Clan!" He yowled.
"Over my dead body!" Lightning tore at the sky, the tabby was on the ground. Surrounded by rats, they covered her body, biting her all over. As Leafstar squirmed under the rats, a large one scrambled onto a rock above her.
"Yo tout youse weh doun wit ous, eh?" He said, swinging his head, "youse kiled me leder, sue no me wil kil yo!" He lifted a dirty paw and the rats on Leafstar scrambled off her.
Firestar stepped forward a bit to try and get a better view of the she-cat, she was covered in rat bites and bleeding all over, if he didn't know any better he would have rushed forward to help her and called for Cinderpelt, but this was a dream. Even though the rats had moved off of her, she was still pinned to the ground from her own exhaustion, her chest was pounding. Old and new scars covered her body, telling Firestar this was not the first fight she had in a while. The leader of ThunderClan could do nothing to help the brown-and-cream she-cat.
The ginger tom had bolted toward her, but was stopped by the rats that had crawled off her. He swatted at them and stepped on some, hoping to break their neck or at least some of their bones. For every rat he killed two more came, and soon he too was overcome by their strength.
Her flanks were heaving and her amber eyes stared at the large rat. Firestar continued to stare at the she-cat, Leafstar… he thought, remembering what the dark ginger tom had called her. His thoughts whorled in his head, then that must mean that this is SkyClan! The tom I saw before was Sharpclaw! While Firestar was pulling his thoughts together, the large rat had leaped on Leafstar's chest, and was viciously biting her. She squirmed underneath his small paws, but was powerless. The rat made an odd chuckling noise, its laugh, the bit her one fatal time.
She screeched, and then began to lie still; she is losing a life! Firestar thought, I have to bring her to Echosong! When he took a step forward, the picture in front of him began to fade. The sounds dimmed and Firestar was shrouded in darkness. He heard a long, agonizing screech of pain. The he saw pale green eyes dance in front of him. Firestar then realized who he saw.
"Sandstorm!"
At the sound of his mate's name he was shrouded in blackness once again. He found himself in the ThunderClan nursery. Sandstorm was lying on her bed of moss; a light brown tabby kit and a dark ginger kit were snuggled close to her belly. Whitekit and Brightheart looked over them, marveling. Cinderpelt was sniffing at the kits, making sure neither of them was sick. Sandstorm's eyes stared warmly at her kits. Firestar blinked, and the vision changed.
Blood covered the nursery, turning Whitekit's snow-colored pelt red. She and her mother were fishing out to kits from the river of blood; both of their green eyes were shrouded with fear. Cinderpelt was leaning over Sandstorm, the source of the river.
She was screaming loudly, in deep pain unknown to Firestar. He bolted towards his mate, leaping over the crimson stream. Brightheart and Whitekit worked to pull out the kits, and Cloudtail came in and helped, licking the kits and trying to comfort them.
"Sandstorm!" He yowled, "Cinderpelt! What is going on?"
But no one heard him.
The den became covered in darkness. The cats began to swirl away. But Firestar could still hear Sandstorm's screams.
"FIRESTAR! Firestar, wake up!" wailed a familiar voice. The ginger tom felt a paw jab harshly into his side. "Wake up." Firestar slowly opened his green eyes to see a gray tom staring at him. His paw placed near his rib cage.
"Where is Sandstorm?" He asked loudly as he got up from his nest.
"Where she always is," Graystripe responded, "in the nursery. Where else would she be? What happened? You don't look very good."
Firestar quickly bolted out of the den; Graystripe recovered quickly and sprinted towards Firestar. Eyes turned towards the frantic leader, but he ignored them. All that mattered now was to find Sandstorm, and know she is safe.
"Firestar? What is it? Why are you here so early? The dawn patrol just left." Said just the voice Firestar wanted to hear.
"Sandstorm…" He said walking slowly towards the light ginger she-cat and began to groom her. She purred affectionately at him, which made his mood lift more. His eyes skimmed the nursery, Brightheart was still asleep, Whitekit was buried in her chest fur. No sign of blood anywhere, only peace.
Graystripe stepped in slowly, his yellow eyes filled with worry. When he saw Firestar's enlightened mood, the emotion changed to uneasiness. Firestar knew what he was thinking, his mate, Silverstream of RiverClan, had died giving birth to his kits. Her life pouring out with each drop of blood as she gave birth on ThunderClan's sunning rocks. Entering the nursery still made him uneasy, especially when the queens were close to kitting. Seeing kits, happy and healthy with their mother and father put him on the edge of tears, his kits had survived, Feathertail and Stormfur, but they were in RiverClan. He only saw them during Gatherings and sometimes on patrols. His heart broke when he saw kits with their parents, growing up with them and not having a care in the world.
Firestar saw Graystripe's eyes fill with worry. He nodded to his leader before walking out of the nursery. Firestar turned to Sandstorm, "I have to go," he said, "I'll come back with some prey," he gave her a final lick on the head before padding out.
His eyes examined the clearing. Thornclaw was sitting near the entrance, his apprentice, Shrewpaw, beside him. Dustpelt and Ferncloud padded up to them and nodded. Thornclaw nodded back then the three warriors exited the camp, the brambles twitching behind them.
Firestar closed his eyes and opened his mouth, tasting the air. The scents of familiar cats swarmed in his mouth, clinging to the roof of it. He slowly breathed in, waiting for certain scent to reach him. But a different one came to him.
"Firestar," said the voice, Firestar reopened his eyes to Longtail's amber eyes staring at him, and the ThunderClan leader felt a lump rise in his throat. Longtail's eyes were shrouded with a milky covering, reminding Firestar of what happened just a few moons ago. Longtail had been hunting a rabbit when it turned on him and scratched his eyes. The rabbit had dirt clutched in his claws, infecting Longtail's eyes. Cinderpelt tried as hard as she could to cure him, but it was of no use. Longtail became blind shortly after Firestar and Sandstorm left. When they had returned he was being taken care of by the Elders, getting used to not being able to see.
When Firestar had returned, Longtail asked if he could join the Elder's den, saying he was of no use to the Clan any longer. Firestar told him he was still a great member of the Clan, but had allowed him to become an elder. Firestar knew that Longtail still had dreams where he could see, where he could have finished training his apprentice, Rainwhisker, where he could fight and hunt, see cats at Gatherings and kits.
"Yes Longtail?" Firestar choked, he swallowed, trying to remove the lump grazing at his throat.
"Can you tell one of the apprentices to clean the bedding in the Elders' den?" He asked, "Speckletail, Frostfur, and Dappletail don't have the strength in them after One-eye's death."
One-eye had been the oldest cat in ThunderClan, she died only one moon ago, only a few sunrises after Firestar's return. The elders hardly seemed to grunt when they found a thorn in their bedding after one of the apprentices just cleaned it.
Firestar nodded, "Sure, I'll get Spiderpaw." Longtail nodded in return before stepping slowly towards the elders' den. Firestar heart ached for the pale tabby tom. He should be a warrior, training apprentices, and going on hunting and border patrols. Not being vulnerable and afraid, being able to ask an apprentice himself to clean out bedding. Longtail should have been one of his senior warriors, helping him through all decisions. But instead he was asking Firestar to get one of the apprentices to clean out bedding, it was just horrible.
Firestar began walking again; he stopped when he came near the apprentices' den and poked his head through the opening. The den was very empty, only one of the five apprentices were there. The sleeping form of Spiderpaw was spread out across two beds, the joy have having a full den to themselves.
Firestar whispered, "Spiderpaw, wake up."
The black apprentice groaned, "But Mousefur, you said I had the day off today. 'Cause I got that really big rabbit…" Firestar rolled his eyes, stepped forward, and jabbed the apprentice between the ribs with is paw.
"Oww!" He yowled, sitting up. "What was that for?"
"For not getting up," Firestar responded simply, "I need you to go clean out the elders' den." Spiderpaw ignored his leader, and began licking his paw. "Now. Or else you'll be cleaning the Elder's den for three moons, and Shrewpaw will become a warrior before you will."
Spiderpaw sprang up and charged out of the den. Firestar chuckled quietly, apprentices… all they ever want is to become a warrior. Firestar exited the den, then the camp. He walked steadily to the RiverClan border, never stopping.
Soon Firestar could hear the roar of the river, and could smell the familiar scent of the ThunderClan deputy.
The gray tom was seated on top of sunning rocks. The rising sun made his yellow eyes glitter, and Firestar noticed they were watering. He leaped up next to Graystripe and rapped his tail comfortingly around him. They sat in silence for a while, steady tears hitting the rock beneath them.
Graystripe broke the silence. "I-I'm sorry, Firestar," He managed to sputter, "you shouldn't be worried about me. You should be worrying about Sandstorm. I mean she is so close to kitting you must think something might go wrong and…" Graystripe's eyes widened and he turned to face his leader. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you that, now you're going to think something is going to happen and Sandstorm might-"
"Quiet, you mouse brain," Firestar laughed, "I was already worried before you said that. StarClan, I don't think I'm any more worried than I was a moment ago. Remember when Willowpelt was close to having her kits? Whitestorm was completely freaking out, he went to the nursery several times a day, once he actually left a patrol to check on her. Just like Whitestorm, and every other tom with a mate and kits, I am worried about my mate."
"I didn't worry about Silverstream," Graystripe admitted, " I thought everything was going to be perfect. She would live, our kits would grow up brave and strong, visiting me by the border, and we would watch as our kits became great, serving their Clan with all the strength they have, and then we would join StarClan, and be with each other forever, watching our kin."
"You still are with Silverstream," Firestar replied, "you love her and she loves you. I can think of no stronger love than that."
"Thank you," Graystripe said, blinking away his remaining tears.
"I had a dream;" Firestar said, "Bluestar came to me, and told me that StarClan thanks me for helping SkyClan. Then I saw the leader of SkyClan being pinned down, and one of her lives ripped away by a rat. I was powerless to help her, and the scene began to fade, and I heard Sandstorm screaming." He said, recalling the nightmare. "Then I saw her at the nursery, she was happy and had two kits, a dark ginger one like me, and a light brown tabby one. Cinderpelt was over her, looking happy, and Brightheart and Whitekit were there too. I blinked, and it changed again. I heard more screaming, and I saw a river of blood in the nursery, and my two perfect kits were in the blood, Brightheart and Whitekit fished them out, licking their fur. Cinderpelt was again over Sandstorm, and the blood poured out of Sandstorm. Then Cloudtail came, and licked the kits, he comforted them and silenced their cries. Sorrelpaw limped in, she went straight to the tabby kit and began whispering to it. Brambleclaw did the same for the other kit, whispering and licking it."
A gasp emerged from Graystripe. "What do you think the dream means?"
Firestar shook his head. "I don't know, but I hope it was just a dream. Sandstorm is perfectly healthy and I could just be worrying. I don't want to talk about this now." Firestar said, facing his deputy, "Let's head back to camp, then, at sunset, you and I will go out hunting. Just you and me, like old times."
Graystripe's tears had dried, and he nodded happily as he and Firestar leaped down from the huge rock and padded back to camp. Talking jubilantly.
Firestar swallowed the last piece of his sparrow. The sun was setting, and Graystripe was patiently waiting for his old friend to go hunting. Firestar sat up and padded towards the ThunderClan deputy, nodded then stepped through the barrier into the woods.
Most of the time the two were silent, sometimes exchanging gossip about mischievous apprentices and romances. Graystripe laughed manically when Firestar got stuck underneath a root, trying to catch a squirrel.
"Now I know you've gotten wider over the moons," Graystripe joked, "but I was never aware of this."
"Ha ha, very funny," Firestar said, trying to pull himself out, but failing miserably. "Now help me you useless lump of fur."
He continued laughing as he walked around the root to face Firestar in the eyes. He leaned over his ginger head and pulled at his scruff. "Oww!" Firestar yowled, digging his claws into the earth, "what in the name of StarClan are you doing?"
"Hel-ping youf," Graystripe said, not letting go of Firestar. He closed his eyes and yanked hard, and he and Firestar tumbled onto the ground, laughing.
"Nice one you great lump of fur!" Firestar said, flicking his tail on Graystripe's ears.
"Hey! I was helping!" Graystripe defended, "I'm not the one who got stuck on a root."
A sudden movement in the woods made them spring up. Firestar pricked his ears, listening for more. The movements got closer and closer, and Firestar unsheathed his claws. Then he could make out white fur. Cloudtail raced out of the bushes.
"Cloudtail!" Firestar exclaimed, "for once you're lucky you have white fur! I almost attacked you."
Cloudtail ignored the comment, his blue eyes were frantic. "Firestar!" He panted, "Cinderpelt… she needs you."
"Why?" Graystripe asked, he didn't want anything interrupting their hunting.
Cloudtail didn't even look at the gray tom; he turned directly to Firestar, "Sandstorm is having her kits." He said, tensing his muscles to run. "And she is dying, Firestar."
Firestar ran like the wind towards the camp. His mind was a blur, was the vision true? He thought. Will there be blood in the nursery? Will our kits look like that? Will Sandstorm die?
Soon, Firestar was in camp. And all eyes turned on him, cats whispered to each other, yet never taking their eyes off him. Sorrelpaw was outside the medicine cat den, and she began to limp to the nursery. Brambleclaw was outside the nursery, his amber eyes watering. Firestar pelted into the nursery.
Whitekit was crying in the corner of the nursery, Brightheart was trying to comfort her, but tears dotted the ginger-and-white she-cat's face. Cloudtail ran in, and wrapped his fluffy tail around his mate and kit, letting his own tears run free. Graystripe also stormed in, and stood next to Firestar, panting.
Firestar turned to his mate's nest; she was there, lying on her side. Two kits were snuggled by her belly. Whimpering softly. Sandstorm was unmoving. Cinderpelt was seated above her, her blue eyes watering.
"What's wrong?" Firestar asked, his voice sounded wet, and he felt tears escape his eyes.
Cinderpelt looked up to face him. "The birth was fine, but after the second kit was born she went unconscious. I haven't been able to make her wake up, and your kits need milk."
As if reacting to what Cinderpelt said, Sandstorm opened her eyes, and gasped. "Fire-Firestar? I n-need Fires-star." She said weakly.
Firestar stepped closer, so Sandstorm could see him. "I'm here, Sandstorm," he said, feeling more tears slide off his nose.
"Our kits, how do they look? She-cats or toms?" She asked, gasping for more air. Firestar turned to his kits.
"There is a light brown tabby she-cat," he said, "She has a white underbelly and four white paws. The other is a dark ginger she-cat, like me. One of her front paws is white and she has a bushy tail." Firestar turned to his mate. "I don't understand, why am I telling you how they look, when you can look at them yourself when you feel better?"
"Because we need to pick out names for them," she replied sweetly, "the tabby will be Leafkit, after Leafstar and Spottedleaf, two great cats. The other will be Squirrelkit, because of her tail." Sandstorm turned her gaze in front of her. "I need to go now, Firestar, Spottedleaf told me so. I am needed in StarClan."
"What?" Firestar asked, "You're needed here, with me, with Squirrelkit and Leafkit. I need you!"
"No, Firestar, they will find me. And so will you," she said, turning her gaze on him. "it is supposed to be this way."
"No, no!" Firestar yowled, "You're supposed to be with me! Forever! Don't leave me!"
Sandstorm closed her pale green eyes, "You'll understand, Firestar, tell the kits I love them. I love you too, Firestar. Spottedleaf needs me now, good bye Firestar, but I will see you soon, don't forget that, love."
Sandstorm took one last, deep breath, and then stopped breathing entirely. Firestar stared in horror, Sandstorm was gone. He pushed at her stomach, but she didn't react. He pushed harder. "Sandstorm! Sandstorm! Come back!"
A gray paw was placed on his, and he heard Graystripe talking to him. "Firestar, stop, she's gone now. Let her go in peace, knowing that you love her."
Firestar put his paw done, "She's gone… Sandstorm is gone." He looked down at his kits, "what about the kits?"
"I'll take care of them," Brightheart said, Cinderpelt nodded and picked up both the kits; Squirrelkit first, Leafkit next. She walked over to Brightheart, you settled onto her nest, and placed the kits by her stomach. The kits moved forward and whined, refusing to take Brightheart's milk.
Firestar walked slowly towards Brightheart. "Why aren't they eating?" He asked.
"They know their mother's scent, and they know that Brightheart is not their mother. They will eat eventually; Brightheart's warmth will draw them towards her." She said, turning towards Brightheart, "I'm going to get some borage," she padded out of the nursery, her steps heavy.
Two more cats padded in, Sorrelpaw and Brambleclaw. Sorrelpaw was leaning on Brambleclaw for support; both of their amber eyes were full of tears. Brambleclaw moved Sorrelpaw towards Brightheart and the others; they both saw Sandstorm's cold body.
Sorrelpaw settled down next to Graystripe, she stared down at the kits. "What are their names?" She asked.
"The tabby is Leafkit and the ginger one is Squirrelkit," Cloudtail replied, choking in tears.
"They are beautiful, Firestar." Brambleclaw said. He had been Firestar's latest apprentice, and a strong bond was formed between the two. "You must be proud."
Firestar nodded numbly, "Sorrelpaw, when your leg has healed, you will train under Graystripe." He said, the tortoiseshell apprentice nodded, but she didn't take her eyes of Leafkit. Brambleclaw did the same for Squirrelkit.
Cloudtail sat up, "I'm going to get Ashfur," he said, "we'll take out Sandstorm's body for her vigil." Firestar nodded again, and the white tom bowed his head and exited the den. He returned shortly afterward, with Ashfur at his heels. The gray tom looked over towards the group of cats and whispered something into Cloudtail's ear. He whispered something back, and the two toms lifted Sandstorm and dragged her lifeless body out of the den.
"I'm going to sit vigil," Firestar said, he gave one glance to his kits, then exited the nursery.
Graystripe followed, "Firestar…" he began.
"Graystripe," Firestar replied, "I need to be alone for a bit. Thanks for being there; I would still be pounding on her now if you hadn't stopped me."
"You did the same thing for me with Silverstream," he said, "now let's go sit vigil for Sandstorm."
Her body was laid on in the center of camp. Half the Clan was already assembled by her. Cats were crying for their lost Clan mate, whispering and moaning. When Firestar stepped out, everything became quiet. He walked towards his mate, and lay down and pressed his nose on her.
Many thoughts swirled inside his brain. Spottedleaf came to you? She told you you were going to die? Why? How will you still be with me? You're dead. How will Leafkit and Squirrelkit find you? Why did you have to leave me?
Don't you love me?
IC: Oh my God people, I actually started crying. Seriously! I'm not the crying type and I knew this was going to happen but I still did! Just go away and let me cry in peace. But review before you leave! This story is about Leafpaw, Squirrelpaw, Firestar and Sandstorm. Just to tell you, I hope to update in a month or so… so be patient. Iceclaw signing off!