Wellz, here's chapter 1. Hope you guys like it.
After Sandstorm had sent Cinderpelt to Bluestar, she headed for the warriors den. She didn't feel tired, but she felt as if she could hardly hold herself together much longer.
She wanted to believe that Fireheart had been lying, that he was coming back. But as she thought of the dead look in his eyes, she knew she would probably never see the ginger tom again, and the thought of that burned deep into her heart.
It was so unfair! What Fireheart had done didn't deserve such a consequence. She felt as if she should go talk to Bluestar herself, and demand Fireheart's return; but she knew Bluestar wasn't in the best condition right now, in fact, most of the Clan knew their leader wasn't well.
She paused mid step. What if Bluestar never let him return? What would ThunderClan do then? What would she do? She couldn't live her life without seeing him again, she knew she cared for him too much to let him go now. She should have gone after him.
Shaking her head, she decided to push away her pointless queries and resumed to her den.
Near The warriors den, she spotted Longtail pacing across the clearing looking deep in thought. She couldn't think what would be bothering the pale tabby, but right now she knew she simply just didn't care. Padding past him, she crawled into the den and over to her nest. As she curled herself into her mossy bedding, she closed her eyes and hoped vainly that she could wake up from this dream.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Bluestar's yowl startled her. The kind, caring call she had once used was now a bitter torrent of fury. Bluestar was obviously upset about something.
Tentatively, Sandstorm made her way back out of the den to join the Clan. She noticed Cinderpelt sat as close as she could beside the Highrock, her face plastered with frustration.
Bluestar didn't wait for everyone to finish gathering in the clearing before she began speaking. "All of you know how Fireheart," she spat his name causing Sandstorm to flinch. "went to WindClan and betrayed us?" She hissed and the crowd below began to mutter uneasily. "I have decided on a punishment for him. From now on, Fireheart will no longer be part of ThunderClan. I want you all to make sure this traitor stays out of our territory."
"What?" Cinderpelt hissed in shock.
"Where is Fireheart?" Whitestorm asked.
Bluestar flicked her tail, as if dismissing the comment. "He is already gone."
The clearing was silent. Everywhere Sandstorm looked she saw shocked and unhappy faces, but she did notice that a few of them looked pleased. Darkstripe and Dustpelt both wore smug looks on their faces, and to her surprise, Longtail looked horrified.
"I will now choose a new deputy." She stated, breaking the uneasy silence in the camp. "I say these words before StarClan, so they may hear and approve my choice." The words dragged out. To Sandstorm, it looked as if she were making a huge sacrifice. But why? "Whitestorm will be the new deputy of ThunderClan." She finished, her voice more steady. Bluestar looked amoung her Clan with a hollow look in her eyes, as if it all hardly mattered anymore.
Most of the Clan gave congratulations, but she knew they were still in shock. Why wouldn't they, when they now knew that any one of them can be cast out like that?
"What about Fireheart?" A new voice piped up.
Bluestar bristled. "He chose his own path." She snarled.
"But you're being unfair." The voice persisted. Glancing around, Sandstorm spotted a small white cat sitting on the far side of the clearing. Great StarClan! Was Cloudpaw stupid?
The fur on Bluestar's shoulders began to bristle, and her eyes flashed with a cold hostility. "How dare you question my leadership?"
Cloudpaw's eyes lit with anger as the young tom scrambled to his paws and took a few steps forward. "How dare you exile a loyal cat?"
The Clan gasped as Cloudpaw spoke. Sandstorm's eyes widened in shock. No one had ever dared speak to Bluestarlike that! She silently prayed that Cloudpaw would have some sense and shut his muzzle.
"Cloudpaw!" Brindleface, his foster mother snapped.
The young tom ignored her "You're just a coward. You-" He was cut off by Brightpaw as the young ginger and white she-cat bowled into him.
When Sandstorm looked back at Bluestar, the blue-gray she-cat had turned her head away. She no longer looked angry, but defeated and broken. Sandstorm's heart twisted with sympathy.
Without saying another word, Bluestar leapt down from the Highrock and retreated to her den with out saying a single word.
--
No one disturbed Bluestar that night, and anyone who tried was sent away. Many had asked Cinderpelt to talk to Bluestar, but the young gray she-cat hadn't left the medicine den since the meeting finished. Sandstorm knew the Cinderpelt had been a fairly close friend of Fireheart's, she had been his first apprentice, after all, and the news of his exile must have been a severe shock to her. Still, they needed Bluestar's clarity more than ever now.
Mustering up her courage, Sandstorm padded into the medicine den to confront Cinderpelt.
At first she was confused. She couldn't see Cinderpelt in the den, but the medicine cats scent was strong. A rummaging in the back alerted her. Slowly, she made her way there. What was Cinderpelt doing?
At the end of the rock cleft it was a pitch black and Sandstorm had to rely on on her ears and nose, rather than her eyes.
She was close enough now to hear that Cinderpelt was muttering to herself, but the words were still indistinguishable. She would have to go closer. Carefully she continued forward until she was almost standing almost directly beside the medicine cat.
"I'll need some of this, too. Only a few days." she muttered.
"Cinderpelt?" Sandstorm murmured softly.
Almost instantly she felt a shape hurtle into her. "What are you doing in here?" Cinderpelt snapped.
Sandstorm was shocked. She had never seen her Clan mate react in such a way before. Had Cinderpelt's mind snapped? She knew she could easily fight her and win, since Cinderpelt's crippled leg would keep her from carrying out some of the most basic manouvers.
"Cinderpelt, get off me." Sandstorm hissed. "Bluestar needs you, now."
She felt the weight lift off her as the young she-cat began pacing around her den. "I can't."
"Why not?" She asked sharply.
Cinderpelt began to walk away from her, towards the entrance of the den where it was lighter. "I'm going to find him."
Sandstorm bristled. "Don't be so mouse-brained! He could be anywhere."
"I don't care." She wailed. "Fireheart's alone, what if he gets hurt?"
Sandstorm snorted, but part of her felt uneasy at her Clan mates words. "Fireheart can take care of himself."
Cinderpelt's eyes narrowed but she didn't reply.
"Go see Bluestar." Sandstorm encouraged.
The medicine cat hesitated briefly before nodding stiffly. She watched as Cinderpelt slowly made her way to the clearing.
She was surprised. She hadn't expected Cinderpelt to actually listen to her, but she was relieved. Maybe now Bluestar could get the help she needed.
At last she had a moment to herself. She contemplated going back to her nest, but she didn't feel like sleeping after all the events that had occurred today. Perhaps she could go hunting? Yes. That's what she would do. The sights and sounds of the forest would comfort her.
Sandstorm made her way slowly out of the den and headed for the camp entrance. Her heart clenched as she caught a faint whiff of Fireheart's scent.
He had to come back. She knew Fireheart was a Clan cat at heart, but what if he decided his time with ThunderClan was over? Did he think there was even a point in trying to regain his place in the Clan?
"Sandstorm!" Cinderpelt's angry hiss stopped Sandstorm mid stride.
What could she possibly want now?
"What do you want Cinderpelt?" She meowed, trying to keep the anger she felt boiling under her fur out of her voice.
"Where in the name of StarClan is Bluestar?"
Bluestar? "She was in her den a few moments ago." She said uncertainly.
Cinderpelt huffed. "Well, she's not there now."
"What do you expect me to do about it?" she snapped.
"Help me find her." Cinderpelt pleaded. "We can't let the Clan know she's gone."
Sandstorm sighed. Great. This day just kept getting worse.
I'm trying to keep to the book plot during Sandstorm's P.O.V., so some of you may know what happened to Bluestar. I may double update today, or just post the next chapter tomorrow.
Remember...
Reviews= Motivation.