Reunion

The sudden absence of pain shocked Sandstorm into wakefulness. The ache in her shoulder that had been her constant companion these past few days was gone. Even her raw paws and painful joints had calmed. She felt lighter and stronger than she had in countless moons. She opened her eyes

The night was bright with stars. She felt the slow rise and fall of Alderpaw's flank pressed against hers but the sensation was muted. It was like she was touching him through a film of thick air. It was a strange sensation.

Sandstorm turned to look at the young tom. He reminded her so much of Leafpool when she was an apprentice. A soft purr rose in her throat and she moved to lick the top of his head. She felt her body move, but the part of herself she could see stayed stone-still. Confused, Sandstorm lifted a paw to her eyes.

The paw that she could see didn't move, but a new shape came into her vision. A paw, her paw, but clean of grime and sparkling with stars.

Sandstorm's breath caught in her throat. She was dead.

She sat there, not knowing what to do. She had always imagined that when she died that Firestar would be there to greet her. Where was he?

Annoyance drove her to stand up. She looked down at her body. It looked worse for wear. Her pelt was grimy and rumpled and her ribs stuck out through her dull fur. Her shoulder was swollen and oozing bloody pus. She narrowed her eyes at herself.

Really? You couldn't have groomed yourself before dying?

Sandstorm ducked out from under the elder bush and looked around. All was quiet. Her companions were still fast asleep. She reminded herself that she was dead. Any sound she made wouldn't matter. Still she couldn't help but walk on soft paws.

She walked a ways from the makeshift camp and sat down. She couldn't feel the cold ground under her haunches. It was so strange.

She looked up at the sky. The stars here were slightly different than the ones she knew. Did that mean she was too far from Firestar for him to come to her? Could she get to him? An annoying tightness filled her chest.

Don't be dramatic. She scolded herself.

She sat and watched the stars for a little while. It was odd being dead, but it also felt so nice. No more aches and pains of old age. No more hunger at her belly. No more tiredness dragging her down. She felt like she could run forever.

But she had something to do.

She turned and made her way back to Alderpaw's side. She sat at his head and paused. How was this supposed to work? Did she just will herself into his dreams? She spent a good while trying different methods of contact. She poked and prodded him. She spoke aloud. She even closed her eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened.

Annoyed with herself, Sandstorm huffed and snapped her eyes open. She looked down at Alderpaw's sleeping face. She couldn't help but purr. She leaned down and touched her nose to his. It was warm.

She looked up and out at the grassy field. She didn't know quite why but she stood up and began walking away. She had made it about a tree-length before she heard a small gasp from behind her.

She turned and saw Alderpaw standing with her in a grove of whispering trees and thick grass. He was looking behind him as if searching for something that was not there. He turned to face her and his eyes grew wide with despair.

"Oh, no, no…," he whispered.

Sandstorm's heart twisted for the little cat. "It is my time to leave you," she meowed. Her voice was strong again. "But don't worry, Alderpaw. Starclan is where I belong now."

Alderpaw looked terrified. His amber eyes stretched wide with desperation. "No!" he was quite forceful in his dissent. "You can't leave us now. We need you!"

Sandstorm felt a rush of sympathy for the young apprentice. She tried her best to reassure him and give him the guidance he needed. He seemed to understand her for the most part. His fear faded into nervous resolve.

"I failed you." Alderpaw muttered after she had passed along the instructions for the next step in the journey.

Sandstorm shook her head. "No. No cat could have done more to help me."

Alderpaw didn't look convinced. "You could have lived for many more seasons."

Sandstorm bit back a purr. She tried to imagine hauling herself back home after this journey. It was never going to happen. "I will get to see Firestar again." She reminded him gently. "You have nothing to feel ashamed of, or guilty about."

Alderpaw tried to convince himself that this was just a dream, that he would wake and she would be by his side again. Sandstorm listened. Pity for the young tom filled her chest.

"It was my time to die, Alderpaw. No cat lives forever. This is one of the most important lessons you – or any medicine cat – will ever learn."

Without quite meaning to, Sandstorm made the grove begin to fade around her. Alderpaw looked at her with fear, confusion, and guilt in his eyes. They narrowed as if he was looking into a bright light. Eventually Sandstorm blinked and he was gone.

She was still in the strange forest. Alderpaw and the others were nowhere to be seen. Sandstorm decided to explore. She walked around for a while, taking in the sights and smells. This forest didn't seem to be any different than any other forest and yet it felt different.

As she walked she began to worry. She hadn't encountered any cat yet. Where was Starclan? Was she really so far away that her lost loved ones couldn't find her? A deep fear settled in her heart and drove her paws forward.

. . .

For what felt like days Sandstorm ran through the endless forest. The scents of prey and fresh water enticed her from every direction but her body didn't seem to need it. She didn't even need to stop and rest. Her muscles were filled with a bottomless energy.

She would have enjoyed it if not for the constant worry worming its way into her mind. Without knowing it outright she knew that this was the direction of home. She could feel something calling her this way. It spoke to her very spirit.

On the fourth day she caught a whiff of a scent, one that sent her paws flying in earnest once again. She was close. She could feel it.

The first cat she came across she didn't recognize. In fact she almost didn't see it at all. It was a tiny brown and white tabby kit. The little thing was lying on a stone in a patch of sunlight. The sun shone right through her. The only part of her that wasn't almost completely translucent was her bright amber eyes. They turned to Sandstorm curiously.

Sandstorm slowed her gait and came to a stop at the foot of the kit's perch.

"Am I in Starclan territory?" Sandstorm said. She had expected her mew to come out as a gasp but it was steady as ever.

The little she-kit let out a purr. "You passed the border not too long ago." Her voice resonated within Sandstorm. It echoed with age and experience.

"Can you tell me where to find Thunderclan?" Sandstorm asked, relived.

The kit stood up and stretched. Sandstorm could see the forest through her fading pelt.

"Keep running that way," the kit flicked her tail. "You'll be there soon."

Sandstorm dipped her head to the she-kit. She felt humbled as if she was in the presence of a great and respected clean leader. "Thank you." She turned to go.

"Welcome to Starclan, Sandstorm." The kit called.

Sandstorm turned in surprise but the she-kit was already disappearing into the trees behind her. Sandstorm shook her head and began to run.

She saw more and more cats as she ran. Many of them looked like her. A few were fading slightly. Almost none were as transparent as the she-kit had been.

Cats she didn't know called out to her as she ran. They welcomed her, thanked her, and urged her along. She told herself she would come back and see these cats face to face later. Only one thing was on her mind now.

The scents around her began to change. She caught wisps of familiar scents. Was that Dustpelt and Ferncloud? Could she smell Frostfur and Whitestorm? Old aches of her heart came back to her as she breathed in the scents of her past. Thunderclan was all around her, but she only wanted one cat.

She first caught sight of him through a break in the trees. A band of sunlight in a clearing struck his pelt and made him shine like fire. Her heart jumped in her chest. She turned on her heel and slowed her mad dash. Sudden nervousness stayed her paws.

Her belly fluttered with butterflies as she watched him through the trees. He sat side by side with a fluffy gray she-cat. Their voices were carefree as they spoke.

Sandstorm lowered herself to the ground. Complex emotions flooded through her. She remembered the last thing he had said to her. It was right after Spottedleaf had sacrificed herself to save Sandstorm. Firestar had locked gazes with her as the battle raged around them.

"It has always been you."

Sandstorm's breath caught in her throat. She straightened up and fixed her eyes on Firestar's back. Cinderpelt stiffened and turned to face the trees where Sandstorm was standing. Blue eyes met pale green for a moment. Cinderpelt nodded and stood up. She murmured one last thing to Firestar before padding away, all four legs striding smoothly along.

Firestar turned. Sandstorm stepped out from beneath the trees.

He looked just like he did all those moons ago when he had first told her he loved her. His fur was vibrant and smooth. His eyes were kind and just. His shoulders were held high and proud.

His jaws parted slightly as their eyes met. Sandstorm took another tentative step forward, then another. Then she broke into a run and dashed to him.

They met in a flurry of tails and ginger fur. Firestar tried to get as close to her as he could and Sandstorm fell into his embrace. A painfully loud purr rose in both of their chests as they brushed cheeks and entwined their tails.

"My love." Firestar gasped into her ear. "You're here."

"No thanks to you." Sandstorm said. She closed her eyes as she drank in his scent.

"You left our sight." Firestar glanced down at her with guilty eyes. "I didn't know you had…" his voice cut off and he shook his head.

"It's alright, love." Sandstorm purred. "I'm here now."

Firestar blinked gratefully at her. Sandstorm cuffed him around one ear.

"I told you not to waste your last life." She scolded him.

Firestar closed one eye and rubbed his ear with a paw. "My bad." He purred. His eyes shone with more love than Sandstorm had ever seen.

Sandstorm pressed herself closer to his chest. "I missed you." She said quietly.

Firestar licked the top of her head. "Me too, my dear."

Sandstorm nudged him with her shoulder and buried her face deep into his fur. "Don't ever die on me again, you hear?"

Firestar's purr enveloped her senses as he responded. "I promise."

They stayed like that for a long time. They didn't speak for there were no more words that needed to be said. They would have so much time, now, to talk and hunt and lie lazily in the sun. Every hardship they had faced seemed meaningless now. They were together at last in this beautiful place.

All was well once more.