Hi again! This is, like, the shortest chapter I've ever written for anything. Sorry about that. Since we're on vacation I don't have much time to write much. Anyways, this one has a look into the future! Sort of. Now that we have that cleared up, onto the review answers!!
Underwater Seahorse - I did give out plushies! But for some reason it didn't show up. Well, everyone who reviewed for the last chappie was supposed to get Duskwing and Bloodfeather plushies with their tails entwined, so here ya' go! (hands plushies out to everyone who reviewed)
Allan Pike - No way! If I calmed things down, we'd be bored to death. Besides, the talking fox was in the last story, too. It's perfectly all right.
Amberleaf - Yeah, I sure did. It was good, but there were a few things I should point out. I seriously doubt that Flamestar would yell at Snowyfeather like that. He loves her too much. And Snowyfeather, looking hurt? Ha! She'd never look hurt about that. She'd just look angry. You'll understand why in later chapters.
oxoxEnchantedxoxo - Of course I made a sequel. And after this there'll be a sequel, and after that there'll be a sequel... Unfortunately, no, that isn't what Flamestar's thinking. He just... likes her better and is more attracted to her than he used to be.
Ok, that's done! Read on, enjoy, and more importantly, review please!
As the patrol entered the camp, heads turned to stare at them anxiously. Glaciercloud had probably told them about the fox.
Flamestar leapt onto the HighBoulder and looked down upon the cats, who had already gathered beneath the boulder. "As you all know, a fox was sighted in our territory," Flamestar meowed. "We chased it out, but it might come back, so be careful."
"So was it really a talking fox?" Forestpaw piped up, but lowered his head as his mentor gave him a warning glare.
Flamestar just nodded. Forestpaw still looked doubtful, but he shrugged.
As Flamestar called the meeting to an end, Sandycloud slipped into the medicine den. Her shoulder was beginning to hurt a lot. Near the back of the den, Webclaw was sorting out some herbs. When he saw Sandycloud, he ran over. "Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, giving her a quick inspection.
"Only my shoulder," Sandycloud meowed, wincing with pain as another pang shot through her.
Webclaw pressed some cobwebs against her shoulder, telling her, "The only other thing that will cure the wound is some rest."
Sandycloud nodded, then padded out, heading for the warriors den. She was stopped by Duskwing and Bloodfeather.
"Excellent going there, Sandycloud," Bloodfeather mewed. "You showed that fox. At least, I think you did."
Duskwing gave him a look, then turned back to Sandycloud. "Have you noticed something odd, Sandycloud?"
"Erm... not really. Why?"
"Snowyfeather usually takes every opportunity she can to tease you or whatever pops into her mind," Duskwing meowed matter-of-factly. "She hasn't even come near you at all."
"You're right," Sandycloud meowed thoughtfully. "In fact, I haven't seen her all day."
They pondered over this for a few moments, then Sandycloud meowed, "Well, this is boring. See you later."
"Bye," Bloodfeather and Duskwing meowed in unision.
Sandycloud went straight into the warriors den and curled up in her nest. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. A loud buzzing entered her ears, and she lifted her head drowsily. She then realied that the buzzing was really just Bearfoot snoring. She bonked him on the head with a paw.
Bearfoot opened his eyes and glared at her. "What'd you do that for?"
"I'm trying to sleep," Sandycloud mewed.
"Well, then, aren't we even!"
"Could you at least try not to snore?"
"What's wrong with my snoring!?"
"Webclaw told me to rest, and I can't do that while you're making all that racket!"
Bearfoot snorted. "Yeah, ok, whatever."
Sandycloud placed her head on her paws and let her eyelids droop. Then she narrowed her eyes and hissed in frustration as, next to her, Silverclaw rolled over in his sleep and right on top of her.
"Get off!" she growled between gritted teeth.
"Mommy!" Silverclaw murmured, still sleeping, then pressed himself against Sandycloud.
Sandycloud glared at him. "I'm not your mommy!" She pushed him away from her. Silverclaw was knocked against the cave wall, but still he slept like a kit. Sandycloud snorted and curled up. "Please, StarClan, help me to get some sleep!" she mewed quietly, then closed her eyes. Nothing happened. Sighing in relief, she wrapped her tail around herself and went to sleep.
...Sand...Fire...
Rain splattered on Sandycloud's nose. Sandycloud twitched irritably and shook it off. Opening her eyes, she stood up. "In the name of StarClan - !" Then she stopped and stared. She wasn't in the warriors den anymore. She was now in a dark forest full of shadows. Rain pattered down against her, soaking her pelt. She raced for the cover of some thick ferns and sheltered underneath. "How did I get here?" she wondered. An odd thought popped into her head. "I hope I wasn't sleepwalking again," she muttered. The last time she had been sleepwalking was when she had just become an apprentice. She had sleepwalked all the way to the Thunderpath and almost got trampled by a monster. Luckily, Applepool, Applepaw then, had saved her. That was the day when they had first met. Shaking the precious thought from her head, she gazed around, still trying to figure out what she was doing here.
A dark form slipped past her. Sandycloud was instantly on the alert, her ears pricked. She padded forward, watching as the form turned. She walked after it, trying to ignore the rain. She was focused so intently on the figure that she didn't even notice the noise that she was making. Finally, the shape stopped. Sandycloud almost bumped into it, but caught herself before that could happen. The figure turned abruptly. Sandycloud's eyes widened, and she jumped into the cover of the bushes. A streak of jagged lightning shot across the sky, lighting up the other animal's face. Sandycloud almost gasped, but then managed to stop herself. It was Pinestar!
Pinestar gazed around, his eyes flickering. "Who's there?" His voice sounded deathly calm. "You might as well give in."
Sandycloud stayed where she was, frozen.
Suddenly, with a swift movement, Pinestar jumped into the bushes where she was hiding and grabbed her. "Gotcha!" he hissed, not noticing her struggles against him. "You're coming with me!" He grasped her scruff and pulled her out of the bushes, continuing on his way. By now, Sandycloud had figured that it was all just a dream, but if it was, then why did it seem so real?
After a few moments, Pinestar dropped her roughly onto the ground. A muffled voice called out. Sandycloud was unable to distinguish it.
"Pinestar? Is that you?" A form sidled over to Pinestar. Although Sandycloud could see Pinestar clearly, the other cat seemed to blend in with the shadows and was slightly blurred. The cat looked over at Sandycloud and meowed, irritation in her voice, "Who in the name of StarClan is this?"
"Sandycloud of FireClan," Pinestar meowed, his voice oddly gentle. "Her mother was of CloudClan, and her father was of FireClan."
The cat bent closer to Sandycloud until they were eye to eye. Still the cat was blurred over, but Sandycloud could just make out icy blue eyes. "I see," the cat meowed. "A Half-Clan." The ice blue eyes glinted. "Let me do the honors, Pinestar."
"With pleasure," Pinestar purred.
The cat raised her paw. Long claws slithered out, and she brought her paw down. Sandycloud yowled, lashed out with unsheathed claws, and sprang onto the cat.
"Sandycloud! Seriously, you're killing me here!!"
Sandycloud's eyes popped open, and she found herself on top of Silverclaw, who was bleeding on his shoulder.
"Sorry, I - I was dreaming," Sandycloud apologized, jumping off of him.
"Some dream you must have had," Silverclaw grunted. "I feel like the world is leaving me, and my shoulder hurts sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo bad!! You seriously scratched me!"
"Sorry," Sandycloud mewed sheepishly.
"I hope you are," Silverclaw sniffed. "You've ruined my good looks!" He bounded out of the den without another word.
Sandycloud sat down, thinking about her dream. Her scruff ached, as if Pinestar really had carried her somewhere. It was a dream, but then why did it feel real? Sandycloud tried to forget and went back to sleep. This time, she was not disturbed by dreams of any sort.
Yeah, like I said, very short chapter. A very odd one too. Look up at the dream part. I gave you a hint about the mysterious cat. It's a SHE. You thinking what I'm thinking? I hope not, because you might be wrong.
Anyone have any idea where Snowyfeather is? Anyone? Huh? Huh? (holds a microphone out to the crowd) You'll NEVER guess! Well, you might, but that's a one in a million possibility.
So review and tell me what you think!