Sandstorm couldn't sleep that night. Something hard and cold had settled into her belly, as though she'd swallowed one of the smooth stones from the riverbank. Around her, the Clan slumbered, but Fireheart and Graystripe's nests lay cold, the moss still smelling of them slightly.
Dustpelt slept fitfully, but he did not wake as she stood and exited the den, no longer willing to pretend she was sleeping.
Tigerclaw had already named Darkstripe the deputy, as every cat knew he would. On top of that, Swiftpaw, Thornpaw and Brightpaw would almost certainly be made warriors as soon as Tigerclaw was able to make them, as every cat knew they were probably ready. StarClan only knew why Bluestar had put the ceremony off.
Already, things were changing. For the better, maybe. The apprentices deserved to have their ceremony.
Sandstorm looked to the stars, her fur fluffing against the cold night air. They twinkled back at her wordlessly. If StarClan wished to give her guidance, they would; instead, they said nothing. Perhaps that meant she should just go back to sleep.
She didn't know why she felt so uneasy. Two traitors had been purged from the Clan, and ThunderClan was being led by a strong, wise cat. But under Sandstorm's pelt, something prickled. Her throat was tight. Her stomach turned over.
She slipped out into the forest, nodding to Mousefur, who was on guard, and her paws took her down the path to the Sunningrocks without her thinking about it. When she arrived there, the stones felt cool and reassuring under her feet, and she settled herself against the smooth surface, watching the river ripple by her. There, Sandstorm finally fell asleep.
Her dream took her back to camp, but she was a kit once more, playing moss-ball with Dustkit, Ravenkit and Graykit.
"Over here!" Ravenkit squeaked. Sandkit realized she had the ball, and lobbed it over to him, giggling as it flew over his head.
"Sandkit! A word with you, please?" came a familiar meow from across the camp. Sandkit raised her head to see her father, Redtail, waiting there expectantly for her.
"Coming!" she called back, and raced across the camp as fast as she could towards him.
But she went a bit too fast; she couldn't slow down in time, and barreled straight into Redtail's soft belly-fur, where he caught and steadied her with his paw. Her father laughed, and Sandkit couldn't help but laugh along. She looked up at him, only to realize her father's eyes were dark. She could see the forest through him. He didn't look the way she remembered. A chill ran up Sandkit's spine.
"Papa, you look funny," Sandkit mewed, suddenly frightened.
"All is not what it seems," Redtail said gravely. "We're all counting on you, Sandstorm."
In a flash, Sandstorm remembered that this was a dream. Her father must be contacting her from StarClan.
"Papa…" she said, overcome.
"A path has been taken that should have stayed untouched," Redtail said. There was a note of urgency in his voice. "A fire has been snuffed out which should have stayed alight. You are ThunderClan's last hope."
"What am I supposed to do?" Sandstorm said. She would do anything for her Clan, but she didn't know what Redtail was talking about.
But he just shook his head. "I don't have that sort of foresight, my dear. I am but a spectre."
"Aren't you a warrior of StarClan?" Sandstorm said. Her fur stood on end as Redtail hesitated, then shook his head.
"I cannot move on until things are set right. What it is that is not right, I cannot tell you directly, but all is not what it seems. Something happened today that never should have. The past cannot be rewritten, but if fate continues down this unknown path, horrible things could happen. ThunderClan itself could be lost. You are the last cat which can save it."
So something was wrong, as Sandstorm had suspected as she had snuck out of camp. Many, many things were wrong. But she didn't know what they were, or what to do.
"Can't you tell me anything, Papa?" she said.
"Spirits can't interfere much; not even StarClan can break that rule," he said regretfully. "Haven't you wondered why medicine cats' omens are so vague?"
Sandstorm sighed and leaned into his soft fur, relishing her father's comforting scent. It had been so long since she had seen him. Her father softened against her. In Sandstorm's ear, he said, "I can tell you one thing, though."
She leaned back to look at his face. Redtail stared back. "You must locate Ravenpaw."
Ravenpaw?
But he's buried in ShadowClan territory!
Sandstorm wanted to protest, but instead her eyes blinked open to the early morning light washing over her fur. That's right, I fell asleep at Sunningrocks…
Ravenpaw, hmm? Maybe Redtail had meant that if she could go to Ravenpaw's grave, she could speak to his spirit. But Sandstorm was uneasy about the idea about trespassing on ShadowClan territory.
And yet. Her father had told her all of ThunderClan was counting on her. Sandstorm was not the sort of cat to ignore orders from the dead (even if she had never received them before.)
She would have to meet with some ShadowClan cat at a Gathering and convince them to allow her to trespass, to see her Clanmate's body. That was all there was to it.
AN: I was gonna post this earlier in the afternoon, oops.
Thanks for all your kind words in the reviews. The sick Clan mentioned in the summary is not SkyClan, but that's all I'll say for now.
