Chapter 3: A walk through the forest
Sandstorm was awoken by a prod to her back and a voice that whispered "Scourge would like to go on a hunt with you."
Sandstorm got up and Deadeye appeared in front of her, her dead eye white and ghostly. "It is impolite to stare Sandstorm" she replied. Sandstorm looked down. "I'm so sorry, it's so horrible how did it happen?"
she asked. Deadeye smiled softly then replied. "I was born this way, my parents had abandoned me as a kit because of it and then, Bone found me and saved my life, however Scourge instantly labeled me as useless and a disgrace to all cats, but he eventually saw me as much more and made me his personal assistant." she replied. Sandstorm nodded.
"Then you're his mate as well I'd assume" replied Sandstorm. Deadeye's face turned red and she shook her head. Sandstorm laughed at this. "Scourge is by the entrance waiting, go meet him there" Deadeye replied before disappearing outside Sandstorm's den. Sandstorm ran towards the entrance.
She spotted Snow looking ashamed and horrible. Scourge was waiting for her his blue eyes gazing at her. "Good Morning Sandstorm." He replied calmly. Sandstorm looked at him. He seemed to be in a good mood for now. "Morning Scourge" she replied. "I wanted to go on a walk with you he replied his voice gentle.
"Uhm okay Scourge." she replied. "A walk through the forest always soothes my mind." he replied. Sandstorm just nodded but in her head she was confused. The Scourge last night was gone, now it was just this nice cat you wouldn't believe anyone if they told you he was the leader of Bloodclan. Scourge headed out of the alley as i followed.
"Are we going to the forest"? She asked. Scourge nodded jumping over one of the two-leg homes walls. Sandstorm followed. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday i shouldn't have acted so horrible to you or Snow." Sandstorm nodded. "I agree, poor Snow is scared to even look at her reflection in the water now." Sandstorm muttered... Scourge nodded.
"I'll talk to her later." he replied. "The main reason I did it was because she doesn't trust you." Scourge whispered. "She's right not too, Scourge I was from Thunderclan after all." replied Sandstorm. "I trust you, Sandstorm, I have a feeling you won't betray us." Scourge's tone was serious. Sandstorm met his gaze, "Thunderclan is in the past, I am a Bloodclan Warrior now. " She replied.
"Good, because in a couple days, I'm relying on you to train some of the recruits that Bone is returning with." his tone suggested he was serious, but Sandstorm was unsure if she could do such a thing. She just nodded as they made their way into the forest. "Beautiful day isn't it Sandstorm?" he meowed. Sandstorm nodded. "Scourge, why did you bring me out here, what's the main reason?"
she asked. Scourge turned around to look at her, his eyes fixed on hers. "Just a friendly walk and an apology." He paused before continuing, his words hitting Sandstorm's heart in a way she couldn't comprehend.
"Really Sandstorm, don't act so tense." He meowed. Sandstorm nodded. "Bone should be back in a couple moons." he replied. Sandstorm just nodded. "Scourge, can we go hunting I'm kind of tired of sitting here, just talking." she hesitated. Scourge looked at her again with those blue manipulating eyes. "Sure Sandstorm, let's see how much prey you can bring back in an hour. Sandstorm nodded dashing off into the tree's leaving Scourge alone. Scourge watched as a lone mouse scurried across the forest floor in front of him, he killed it instantly with his claws.
"And there's someone's dinner." he whispered to himself. Scourge quickly buried his prey, then climbed up a tree watching Sandstorm hunt from above. Scourge's eyes went to the ground where a cat sat looking at him. "Long way from home aren't you Scourge?" the cat growled. Scourge jumped down to face the cat. "Well if it isn't Death himself!" Scourge growled back. "Surprising you're alive Scourge i would have thought for sure the clan cats would have killed you." he replied his voice low and raspy. Scourge laughed. "That's funny you think I'd let a couple clan cats kill me!" he hissed. The cat just laughed. "Well Scourge I'll be on my way it's been fun, see you another time." he replied, before disappearing into a bush. Scourge sighed. I hope Sandstorm is doing alright he thought to himself. Sandstorm appeared out of the forest her mouth full of as much prey as she could carry. Scourge tried to hold back a laugh but, it slipped from his jaws. Sandstorm dropped her prey glaring at him. "How rude, you should be happy i got so much prey for Bloodclan." she hissed.
"I'm sorry Sandstorm you just looked so funny carrying all that in your jaws, would you like me to help you carry that back?" he asked. Sandstorm nodded. Scourge dug up his mouse snatching it up and taking some of Sandstorm's prey. "Let's get going it's been a long morning." he replied mouth full of prey.
Sandstorm just nodded they made it to the alley, Scourge dropping his mouth full of prey in the clearing, Sandstorm doing the same. "I'll see you later, Sandstorm he meowed softly before disappearing into his den. Sandstorm watched her leader in fascination as he disappeared into his den. Sandstorm's heart skipped a beat and she began to realize what it was and she didn't know what to do, or say. She headed to her den and was surprised to see Snow waiting for her. "Everything ok Snow?" Sandstorm asked. Snow nodded looking sandstorm in the eyes.
"I see the way you two look at each other, with that sweet little charming look" She continued. "He used to give me it too till I told him I didn't want to be with him." Sandstorm nodded before replying. "He's been in my thoughts lately and he's always watching me." She looked down before uttering the three words snow dreaded hearing. "I love him." she whispered.
Snow sighed leaving the den but stopping at the entrance turning around. "He's not who you think he is." Snow whispered then left leaving Sandstorm to ponder what she could have meant. Sandstorm lay in her nest and drifted off to sleep. The nightmare began here, she was in a forest Snow lye near her bleeding out and a strange cat stood over her. It was Scourge.
"I told you he's not what you think he is!" screamed the dying Snow. Sandstorm ran away as the voice echoed throughout the forest. She awoke realizing it was only a dream. "It was just a dream..." She told herself. "Just a dream…" She yawned stretching her legs and heading out of the den. Scourge was speaking to Deadeye, and seemed to be quite upset about something.
Sandstorm walked over. "What a day…" Scourge meowed. "What's wrong, Sir?" She asked hesitantly. "Nothing that concerns you Sandstorm, let's just say our little walk in the forest did not make a lot of cats here happy." He replied. She nodded. "I see, well some cats should learn to just stay out of your business." she whispered to him. He nodded softly. "I'm gonna go eat and probably go back to bed, woke me quite early this morning." She replied.
With that she walked away, stopping by the fresh kill and grabbing a mouse and heading back to her den. She quickly finished her meal and curled up and drifted on back to sleep. She ended up Back in the forest where Snow now lay dead. "Why won't you listen Sandstorm, why?!" A voice shrilly screamed. Sandstorm jumped her heart pounding.
"Sandstorm, I love you I did this for you, I killed everyone who was keeping us apart…" cried the crazy voice of Scourge. Her dream ended and the horrible nightmare ceased to exist as she awoke. This same dream again, only it got worse… She thought to herself. "I guess I need to talk to Snow, she seems like the only cat here who seems to think there is something wrong with Scourge. But that will have to wait for tomorrow" she whispered and lay back in her nest and fell back asleep.