A/N~ This is ain't going to be a long chapter, but the next one MIGHT be. Sorry, but I wanted to get this one out of the way.
Chapter 18
Grayfire stood shell-shocked at what he was staring at. The cat who everyone had thought was long dead, was clearly alive and right in front of him. His mother was curled in a curved position, and was staring at him with green eyes fogged with age. "Graypaw," She rasped, her jaws bones, which could clearly be seen through her sand-colored fur, was moving in an awkward position, as if she hadn't talked for moons. "I'm so glad that you found me instead of Bramblestar or Spiderleg," She rasped. Her age could not only be seen by the gray of her muzzle, but her paws where trembling, not only form the cold, but from age.
"Actually, Sandstorm, it's Grayfire, and-and Bramblestar and Spiderleg are dead..." Grayfire whispered, not completely recovering from the shock of his mother's sudden arrival.
"And their successors?" She rasped louder, leaning forward to hear. Well, she must be turning deaf from her age, Grayfire thought.
"Brackenfur is leader now and Cloudtail is deputy," Grayfire answered, puzzled why she most want to know everything so suddenly. Sandstorm relaxed, going back to her better position.
"Good... Your father's clan is safe once more," Sandstorm mewed, her foggy gaze going distant. "Grayfire?" She asked suddenly, returning her vision back to Grayfire.
"Yes?" He asked, lying down in the twigs and snow in front of her.
"I must ask you a favor, and it's very important." She rasped, leaning towards him.
"Anything," He told her, wondering what it was the this important favor. Sandstorm bent forward to lick his nose, and Grayfire could have sworn he heard her bones creaking. He had just noticed that her tail was curled in a tight ball, and when she unraveled it, Grayfire's eyes almost leaped from his head. Underneath her unfurling tail was a mewing kit.
"Where did you find him?" Grayfire asked, though in bitter pain, he bent forward to sniff at the kit.
"I didn't find him, he's mine," Sandstorm growled. Grayfire snapped his head back. She had another kit? But... But Grayfire thought she loved his father and only him! How could this be? The kit only looked three moons old. Sandstorm was surely to weak to take care of yet another son.
"I thought you only loved Firestar! How could you have another son?" Grayfire snarled, his orange eyes burning like fire. Sandstorm didn't flinch as she spoke.
"I didn't want him. I was walking when a rouge attacked me. Two and a half moons later, I'm giving birth to this!" Sandstorm growled, staring at the kit with hatred. "I'm too old to raise another kit. I can already hear your father whispering my name, Grayfire. I didn't want to leave this kit unattended ether," She told him. Her green eyes where full of love as she stared at Grayfire. "Please, if you say you'll take him into ThunderClan, and raise him like your brother, than my trip to StarClan will be a whole much easier." She rasped.
Grayfire stared at the tiny kit with a new interest. He was a pale ginger, just like Sandstorm, but had brown streaks throughout his fur, like lightning striking through a stormy night. Grayfire looked back at his mother and deeply nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'll take him," He meowed, pressing his muzzle to Sandstorm. Snow speckled on her muzzle.
"That's all I ever wanted to hear..." She whispered, setting her head down and closing her eyes. After a few minutes, Sandstorm became limp, and a wide smile grew on her face as she gave into StarClan.
"Sandstorm is safe with me in StarClan..." Firestar whispered in Grayfire's ear, and Grayfire felt his father brush pelts with him before leaving to retrieve Grayfire's mother and Firestar's mate.
I know Sandstorm isn't THAT old, because that would make Dustpelt an elder, but hey. It's my story. And, Sandstorm's kit is going to be extra cute. :D
~ I Like Trains