Return
Nightfrost groaned when a paw plodded at him. He looked up to see Fireheart. "Nightfrost? It's sunup." Nightfrost nodded and yawned.
Nightfrost look out the doors to see it was past dawn. The gray rain clouds had begun to drift away. Tinged by the rosy glow of the rising sun, they looked like blossoms floating across a pond. Some of the Windclan cats stirred and helped themselves to what was left of of last night's catch. Every cat grabbed a mouse and shared tongues for a bit. The three Thunderclan warriors finish their meal and cleaned themselves.
Tallstar surveyed his clan at the entrance, then meowed loudly, "Today is the day we will finally return to our home. Windclan will return as it is Starclan's will to have all four clans in the forest." Tallstar turned to the sky. "I can smell more rain in the air. It's time we set off."
Tallstar led the way out into the chilly morning air. As Nightfrost padded out of the barn, the scent of rain touched his nose. The Windclan leader was right: the wind carried the promise of more rain, and soon.
"Shall we scout ahead?" Fireheart offered.
"Yes, please," replied Tallstar. "Let me know if you see dogs, Twolegs, or rats. My Clan is stronger this morning, but we had trouble with dogs on the way out. We must stay alert."
As the group traveled together, the three warriors took turns to scout, running back and forth, sometimes staying with the group. There were times they had to tell Tallstar that the way ahead was clear, or warning him to stay back while a Twoleg passed by with a dog. The Windclan cats wordlessly obeyed their leader, plodding on heavy paws in spite of their night's rest.
By sunhigh, dark clouds had gathered once more, and the first drops of rain were beginning to fall. The ground began to slope upward, and when Nightfrost pushed his way through a hedge, he recognized the red dirt track that led away from Twoleg territory and into Windclan's hunting grounds. His spirits soared, and he met Fireheart's gaze with a look of triumph.
The muffled tramp of pawsteps sounded behind the hedge. Nightfrost spun around and darted back into the field. The WindClan cats had caught up with them. Deadfoot was at the head of the group. He looked startled by Nightfrost's sudden appearance.
"This way," Nightfrost meowed, showing him the gap through the dripping leaves. He was eager to see WindClan's reaction when they glimpsed the uplands on the other side. With Deadfoot leading, the cats began to file slowly through.
The Windclan cats were following close behind him, but Deadfoot and two warriors had already leaped the ditch and crossed the track, and were pushing into the hedgerow on the other side. Their pace had quickened—they clearly knew where they were. Nightfrost had to sprint to catch up. He followed them through the hedge and kept up with them as they bounded toward the long slope that led to the uplands, and their home.
At the foot of the slope, Deadfoot and his warriors paused to wait for the rest of the clan. They closed their eyes against the rain but held their heads high. Their chests rising and falling as they breathed in the familiar scents sweeping from the uplands.
Even the elders were moving swiftly now, keeping their bodies low and their eyes narrowed against the rain. As the clan joined Deadfoot at the foot of the slope, the deputy got to his paws and Tallstar took the lead. Without pausing, Tallstar began to follow a narrow sheep trail through the rough grass and heather.
As the clan neared the top, some of the warriors raced ahead again. At the brow of the hill, they made proud silhouettes against the stormy sky, while the wind sent ripples through their fur. Ahead stretched their old hunting grounds. Suddenly, two apprentices charged past them and bounded away into the familiar heather.
Tallstar stiffened. "Wait!" he yowled. "There might be hunting parties from the other clans here!"
As soon as they heard him, the apprentices skidded to a halt and pelted back to join the Clan, their eyes still bright with exhilaration.
From a rock-strewn ridge Fireheart saw the dip in the ground that concealed Windclan's camp. With a purr of delight Morningflower took her kit from the mouth of the tabby warrior and hurried toward the hollow. Tallstar flicked his tail and three warriors raced forward to escort her as she disappeared over the edge and down into the camp.
The WindClan leader paused while the rest of his clan rushed into the sheltering bushes below. He turned to the Thunderclan warriors, his eyes shining. "My clan is grateful for your help," he meowed. "You have both proved you are warriors worthy of Starclan. Windclan has come home, and it is time for you to return to yours. There may be hostile hunting parties around. Onewhisker and Deadfoot will escort you to Fourtrees."
Nightfrost dipped his head. "Thank you Tallstar."
Tallstar called to his warriors and gave them their orders. Then he turned his tired eyes once more to them. "You have served Windclan well. Tell Bluestar that Windclan will not forget it was Thunderclan who brought them home."
Deadfoot padded away in the direction of Fourtrees. Nightfrost, Fireheart and Graystripe walked after him with Onewhisker at their side. They stayed close together as they followed a narrow path through a solid mass of gorse that provided good shelter against the rain.
"May Starclan light your path!" Tallstar yowled. Nightfrost dipped his head again and ran after the group padding away.
Suddenly Onewhisker stopped and sniffed the air. "Rabbit!" he called out joyfully before charging away into the gorse. Deadfoot stopped and waited. Nightfrost could see a glint in the deputy's tired eyes. There was a rush of pawsteps in the distance and the rustle of gorse, then silence. A moment later Onewhisker returned with a large rabbit dangling from his jaws.
Graystripe leaned toward Fireheart. "A little better than the Riverclan warriors, eh?"
Fireheart purred in agreement.
Onewhisker dropped the fresh-kill on the ground. "Anyone hungry?"
Deadfoot stare at the rabbit in a hungry and delightful way and spoke. "We haven't eaten since we left at sunup." Nightfrost nodded in agreement, his stomach feeling empty. The group share the food and Fireheart lifted his head thoughtfully.
He looked around at his companions and meowed tentatively, "You know, it'd be quicker if we followed the river."
Graystripe looked up from washing his paw. "But that would mean crossing into Riverclan territory."
"We could follow the gorge," Fireheart explained. "Riverclan doesn't hunt there; it's too steep for them to get down to the river."
Graystripe gently rested a damp paw on the ground. "Even my claws ache," he murmured. "I wouldn't mind taking a shorter route." He turned his yellow eyes hopefully to the WindClan deputy while Nightfrost felt horrified.
Deadfoot looked thoughtful. "Tallstar ordered us to travel with you to Fourtrees," he meowed.
"If you don't want to come with us, we'll understand," Fireheart answered quickly. "We'll only be in Riverclan territory for a blink. I can't see us meeting any trouble."
Graystripe nodded, but Deadfoot shook his head. "We couldn't let you go into Riverclan territory alone," he meowed. "You're exhausted. If you did meet trouble, you're in no state to deal with it."
"We won't meet anyone!" Fireheart mewed determinely.
Deadfoot gazed at them with knowing, challenging eyes, not to them but to Riverclan. "If we did go that way," he mused, "it would let Riverclan know that Windclan is back."
Fireheart was about to continue when Nightfrost jumped. "No! We will not follow the river! Riverclan patrols will definitely look out for that piece of territory. There would be a border fight and it's at the gorge. A cat will certainly fall to their death in that battle. No." Nightfrost shook his head. "We do not want any unnecessary deaths. And territory is still territory, no matter the conditions. We should not be trespassing as we are still weary from the journey."
Fireheart look down, ashamed. Deadfoot stood up. "Well, it looks like we will continue to the Fourtrees."
The group continued on their journey, quiet from Nightfrost's outburst. Four huge trees came into view. The Windclan warriors stopped. Fireheart said goodbye to Onewhisker as Greystripe and his brother waited. The Thunderclan warriors padded away from Fourtrees as Onewhisker and Deadfoot turn back after sending Thunderclan their blessings. The three ran to camp as soon as they saw the gorse tunnel.
So the gorge border fight didn't happen and as such, Sandstorm is not interest in Fireheart yet. Who do you think should be paired with him, her or Cinderpelt? Vote at the poll in my account! You can vote for Spottedleaf, I just need to rewrite for some parts. I'll be waiting until after "Fire and Ice".
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The poll is over.