Chapter 7, Sandstar, warrior of thunder clan.
Fireheart curled up in his next in the trees. He had found a suitable nest out of a old owls hole when he was new to being a rogue. It was near the two legged place, a bit to close to the fence line to be suspicious. He wasn't aware of it when he was a warrior, and he was sure no other cats knew about it. Only when he had taken to the trees did he find it. It had been rank with old, but the stench had quickly faded when Fireheart flicked them out. He curled up tightly in his mossy nest. His mind wandered back to Thunder clan. He missed the soothing purrs of fellow warriors as they shared toungs, or the quiet snores from cats as they slept. The only comfort Fireheart could take was his view of Starpelt. He hoped Star clan approved of him in Thunderclan territory
He had done everything in his power to make sure he pleased the warrior ancestors. He would always send a prayer of thanks for prey when he caught one. He had never missed a gathering since he left, though there had only been one, and it was relatively boring. Fireheart had gone earlier and left latter, since the only place to hide was in one of the four trees.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. The breeze always seemed to shift, stirring him regardless of the shelter. He felt like he was on hard dirt rather that soft moss. His body didn't seem to want to stop moving. He opened his eyes, giving up on sleep. Maybe he could go hunting again. With coming leaf fall and the difficulty his hunting, he should stock up as much as he could. It was hazy at first, but after a few blinks, but he quickly recognized a paw. A dark paw, connected to a dark leg, but with lighter patches scattered about it, with a few white spots. He closed his eyes again, and remained motionless. He had drifted off so much that he couldn't hear a cat climb and enter his den! Now what? Should he attack? Speak? Flee?
Then a gentle, soothing voice filled he ears, as painful as it was soft, and Fireheart's tight, compact shape slackened
"Its alright, Fireheart. I won't hurt you." Said the she-cat, teasing his insecurity. Her tone was friendly, was filled with soft laughter.
Fireheart opened his eyes, and stiffly stood to see his guest. Her tortoiseshell coat seemed to be black silver in the moonlight Her sparkling green eyes and fresh sweet scent brought back bittersweet memories. Spottedleaf gave him an acknowledging nod. He yearned to talk to her, a desire that had only grown when he was forced out of the clan. Between the isolation and guilt, he wanted her reassurance more than anyone's. He knew better. Spottedleaf would sometimes visit him in his dreams. They were never pleasure trips, though. She always warned him of danger to come.
"Fireheart, there is something you need to know." she spoke. The laughter was gone.
"Why? Do I need to leave Thunderclan? Is Starclan angry with me?" Fireheart spoke his greatest fears.
"No… but…" She was troubled.
"Spottedleaf?"
"Things are going to be tough, Fireheart. Just… believe in your heart to know what to do." She finished. That was helpful advice. If there was an underlying message, it was running circles around Fireheart. "But that's not why I'm here." Spottedleaf said.
"There is an important ceremony I want you to see… and feel. But, before you see it, I must tell you… it will hurt, and it wont even be official to you. Its someone eltses. But, I believe you of all cats deserve to experience this… do you want to see it?
Fireheart mulled the thought around. What cat would want to suffer for no reason? Was there a reason to actually see it? But, he didn't want to turn Spottedleaf down, and, more importantly, he was curious. He nodded slowly. She closed her eyes and bowed her head for a moment. Then, she turned away from him, and started walking. "Then follow me." She said. Fireheart followed. She lead him down the side of the tree onto the ground. He was weary of traveling on the ground. He would leave his scent everywhere, giving the clans just enough evidence to track him down to his den. But he followed. He trusted Spottedleaf.
She lead him in a straight path, unwavering from Fourtrees. He didn't want to get left, and kept a steady pace with her. On a previous visit, Spottedleaf had ran away from him, not turning back to look at him when he called to her. Though he was sure he had Spottedleaf's intent and path, this time was too reminiscent of then. Eventully, though, they did reach the Fourtrees. But, instead of entering the age old clearing directly Spottedleaf crawled he way under a bush next to one of the great oaks, slipping under its branches like a rabbit.
Fireheart crawled in behind her, weaving around the frail branches until he could sit next to her. They had a thick canopy of cover, and a thinned opening allowing the two cats to look into the clearing. "Why are we hiding? Don't tell me you just really like the view from here." Fireheart asked. He felt more like a mouse looking for nuts rather than a cat attending a ceremony.
"We don't want to disturb the ceremony. No one will know that we'll be watching." Spottedleaf kept her gaze fixed on the clearing, but she flicked his ear with her tail, and she chuckled a bit. "Look. Its starting."
Fireheart looked back at the clearing. There was no one there. He could only see the Greatrock, two of the Great oaks, and the flattened ground. But, slowly, it became evident there was something in the ground. It was hard to see at first, but it solidified shortly. It was a cat figure. With… pale ginger fur. It was Sandstorm. And she was… asleep? Who would sleep for a ceremony?
He then remembered how Bluestar had fallen asleep at the moon stone before she communicated with Starclan. And Sandstorm was the deputy. This must be the leadership ceremony! Fireheart couldn't believe he was to witness a ceremony such as this
"Now Fireheart." Whispered Spottedleaf. She turned her green gaze on him. "We must remain completely hidden through the whole ceremony. You must stay silent. I will allow you to feel what Sandstorm feels as she receives her nine lives. I promise you, it will hurt. But I know you can endure it." Her confident gaze unnerved Fireheart. He didn't know if he was ready. But, if Bluestar had kept him as her deputy, ho would have gone through this anyway. He also was curios about the ceremony. He was afraid if he refused to accept the pain, Spottedleaf might not let him see it. He decided it was worth it.
Sandstorm was starting to stir, shifting uncomfortably as a cat struggling with sleep might. It was torturous, not knowing why you can't sleep. But to meet Starclan? It was worth it, well and all. He looked up towards the sky, at the warrior ancestors he had grown so use to seeing. He thought the sky might look different if he was with Starclan now. To his astonishment, the stars looked closer than they ever had before, as if each were its own sun. The dazzling light was blinding, just as the moon stone had been when he had gone to mother mouth with Bluestar. Movement caught his attention just outside of his vision, and he looked back at Sandstorm.
She was in a sitting position, with her eyes gazing up towards the heavens. The light seemed to reflect on her, as her normally pale fur was now coated over with vibrant silver, and her ears pulled back. It was bright, but Sandstorm transfixed on the display. Fireheart looked at the stars again from his hiding place. They seemed to have grown closer to them than before. In fact, they were spiraling downward towards the earth, and it quickly became evident that cats could be seen in the thick of the bright light. One by one, the stars each touched the earth, and the intense light from them faded to a warm glimmer, all of them bearing a member of Starclan.
To Firehearts surprise, Spottedleaf pressed further into the bush, allowing some of the branches to swing in front of her. Fireheart took her lead and tucked in a little closer. He saw, from the corner of his eye, her fur begin to straighten upward, like she was a new apprentice looking at her mentor for the first time as her mentor. She was nervos. Fireheart faltered a bit in his mind. He never knew than any cat in Starclan could feel nervous, especially even-headed Spottedleaf. And…
A voice sounded out over the clearing, seeming to have come from all the cats at once, yet was also one voice. Fireheart straightened out, now focused on the ceremony. Fireheart was thankful for the elivation he got, or the sheer count of cats in the clearing around Sandstorm would prevent even a Hawk from seeing through.
"Sandstorm." The voice said clearly. "You have been selected and approved by Starclan to be Thunderclan's next leader. Are you willing to take upon the responsibility that come's with this?" The voice said. Fireheart watched Sandstorm, Waiting for her to accept. But she held back, and silance took over. Fireheart couldn't see her face, but her stance spoke of doubt.
"Yes, I am ready." She said, breaking the trance. She stood up, ready for what was in store for her. Fireheart quivered with anticipation. This might not be his own ceremony, but he felt his nerves creeping around his belly.
Spottedleaf pressed agents Fireheart's side, and Fireheart tried to find comfort in it. Instead, Fireheart felt as though the life were being drained from him. He felt weaker, as though he had been cut open. "Spottedleaf, I…" She slapped her tail over his mouth. It's part of the ceremony" she confirmed., She pressed against him, and Fireheart gladly took her shoulder to rest on. Fireheart watched as Sandstorm staggered a little. It must have been to make way for the new lives she was about to receive. Fireheart felt hollow, and was grateful for the support Spottedleaf gave him
"We will now grant you with your nine lives, Sandstorm." The conjoined voice said. The group separated, and One-eye, the elder that had been lost in the fire Thunderclan had suffered, emerged from the group. She didn't look like the old elder that Fireheart had last seen her as. She looked much younger, and much stronger than she had ever been in life. Sandstorm stared on. "Sandstorm, with this life, I give you honor. Use it to glorify Thunder clan in all its dealings."
Spottedleaf shifted under Firehearts weight and turned to Fireheart, and as One eye touched his nose to Sandstorms, Spottedleaf touched her to Fireheart's. Out of the corner of his eye, Fireheart watched Sandstorm tense up, every fur on her normally sleek pelt straight up in agony. He could see her jaws clench up as though she had broken everything in her body. Then a sharp, jolting pain shot through him from his nose, searing him through his limbs, and it paralyzed his spine with the pain. He could only stop himself from crying out in pain, and ground his teeth shut. This was the pain of receiving a new life!
The pain ebbed away, and Spottedleaf pulled away her nose. Fireheart shook, and fell into his crouching position, and looked back to the ceremony, panting through Spottedleaf's tail. One eye had pulled away form Sandstorm, and returned to his place in the crowd, once again being swallowed up by its ranks. Fireheart only had begun to recover himself. Would he have to endure this on every life given to Sandstorm?
Five other cats, none of which Fireheart recognized, each came to give Sandstorm a life. Fireheart suffered the same pain of each life that Sandstorm, all meaningful in their own way. Through the pain, though, Fireheart felt alive, more powerful than any cat before him, able to fight to the deepest troubles for his clan.
Eventually, Yellowfang came forward to present Sandstorm a life. Fireheart heart leaped for joy, and had to keep everything back not to rush out to meet her, make harder with the restrain he already had to show. Yellowfang, as Fireheart had last seen her, was a broken and old cat, dieing from the effects of the fire. She had sorrow for killing her only surviving kit, Brokentail, with death berries, and had worried if star clan would accept her. But with the glory of Starclan shining in her, she had finally gotten her peace.
"Yellowfang?" Sandstorm said, surprise consuming her voice. Yellowfang nodded, and touched her nose to Sandstorm's. "With this life, I give you mentoring. Use it to train your young ones in the way of the clan." The life surged into Sandstorm, and Fireheart felt the intensity of it. The knowledge eternally being passed from mentor to apprentice, a never breaking cycle that ensured the long-life of the clan. Yellowfang would know this best. Being trained as a warrior, then as a medicine cat. Mentoring Shadowclan cats, as well as Cinderpelt in Thunderclan. There was no better cat to give this life.
Yellowfang returned to the crowd, and a new cat, one that Fireheart didn't recognize, took her place. The new comer was mostly white colored, but with a ginger tipped tail. Fireheart realized that this must be Redtail, the Thunder clan deputy before Lionheart. Though it was little to go off, Fireheart had seen that red-tipped tail before, on the day that Redtail died. He had been murdered by Tigerstar, Shadowclan's leader. Fireheart didn't know why Redtail was here, though. Then again, Sandstorm had a life before she and Fireheart met.
"Sandstorm, my daughter. You will make a proud leader of Thunder clan." His pride was obvious, as if he had shouted it into the clearing. "With this life, I give you love. Use it to guide and protect your clan, and most importantly, for who you shall call you mate." He smiled at his daughter. Fireheart could see she was flustered, and Fireheart felt flustered himself. Redtail must have kept watch over his daughter, and would know what to give her.
Fireheart turned back to Spottedleaf. Something seemed to have bothered her. But she shook whatever it was off, and turned back to Fireheart like before. Something glinted in the back of her eyes, and the heat under Firehearts face grew. He forced himself not to look away, though, as he awaited the next life. The glint cooled to a warm ember, and Spottedleaf eyes half closed in the light. She slowly touched her nose back to Fireheart's, and Fireheart braced himself for the next fit of agony.
The life that poured into Sandstorm and Fireheart held no pain. It was a flow of pure love. It felt like a warm day on sunning rocks after a cold winter, and as if nothing could ever go wrong. Fireheart felt bonded, close, and happy. He was… relaxed. He felt himself fall into it… the ... The feelings ebbed, and Fireheart wondered why a proud father would bestow a life of love. But, every component of life… was important, and Redtail must have seen value in love. Redtail let his gaze rest on Sandstorm for a moment, then returned to his spot in the ranks of star clan.
Bluestar was the last to approach Thunder clans new leader, her sucsessor. She approached her, and paused for a moment, staring at the pale she cat who would replace her. An odd silance corsed over the ranks of Starclan. But, it faded quickly as she spoke to Sandstorm. "Sandstorm, my young apprentice, my warrior, and my deputy. I know the burden that a leader has to bear. But I know that you will do it, regartless of seasons, prey, or your enemies. I have no doubt that you will make a fine leader."
She, too, bent her head to touch noses with Sandstorm, and gave her the final life. "With this life, I give you strength, knowledge, and leadership. Use it to guide your clan faithfuly." Fireheart had been lulled into a warm state from the last life, and had forgotten the sharp agony of receiving a life, and slapped his tail into a sharp part of the bush, the breath driving itself out of his body through his nose. He felt as though he was being filled, like a dip in the ground filling with rain water, and might spill over if it received any more.
But, like before, the agony faded quickly, though the full feeling persisted. Bluestar returned to her spot among her ancestors. All the warriors rose, and Bluestar among them flicked her tail tip toward Sandstar to tell her to do the same. Ss she rose the conjoined voice spoke again. "You old life is no longer! Sandstorm! You will lead Thunderclan for many moons to come!
The clearing filled with the chants of warriors, calling out Sandstar by her new name, as though an apprentice had received their warrior name. Sandstar bowed her head, accepting the name. Then her figure faded away. Surprisingly quickly. She faded away, slowly from the clearing, leaving her space empty.
Suddenly, a sharp hiss from among the star clan warriors shot up, and they all turned toward some unseen object. Fireheart looked too, and he chocked out in horror at what he saw. It was a huge pile of bones, stacked high with the bones of prey and the bones of cats. Fireheart could see every bone in the pile, as though they were etched with fire. The Starclan cats weren't anywhere to be seen, not that Fireheart dared to look away.
Fireheart felt Spottedleaf's presents as she pressed up agents his side, and he felt her trembling with fear. He held strong besides himself, though his terror was quickly getting the best of him "Fireheart" She said, her voice a desperate plea "Something terrible is coming. Four will become two, Lion and Tiger will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest."
She, too, faded from his side, and Fireheart was completely alone with the hill of bones. Blood started oozing out from between the cracks, and it built into a steady river that flowed towards Fireheart. He tried to run, but his feet wouldn't respond to him. The tide rose up around him, lapping at his being, engulfing him in its sticky stench. Everything around him faded, and blood covered him completely.
Suddenly, everything faded to black. A final whiff of Spottedleaf's sweet scent hit his scent glands from among the stench of blood, and her voice called out to him one last time. "Please, Fireheart, please stay safe…"
