Chapter 49: Trailing Sand

Darkstripe had been doing his trader rounds. His current conundrum was the food shortage. The clan may be diligent in their hunting, but the burned forest wouldn't yield much prey. What little was found was starved or extremely young. They needed food from an external source and what better cat to secure it than the legendary Thunder. Sure, he had to have Cloudpaw deal with Shadow Clan since he couldn't work up the nerve, but he wasn't a founding dealer for nothing. Darkstripe established a trade deal with Wind Clan involving mediating deals between the Twoleg Place and them since they had no easily reachable dealers in the area. Darkstripe also got a deal out of River Clan by trading a few basic hunting techniques for fish. Overall, his deals would make sure the clan wouldn't starve. He'd just be running himself harder than usual.

Fireheart was concerned for the clan's food supply, but Darkstripe assured him that he'd source some extra food until the forest recovered. This concerned Fireheart since Darkstripe still hadn't totally recovered from his battle wounds and smoke inhalation. Unfortunately, he was too busy directing the rebuilding efforts to stop him. The first day Darkstripe came back, there wasn't anything visibly wrong with him. The second, he returned exhausted and some of the cobwebs pasted on him were visibly redder. The third, he crashed into his nest without a word, and he was too warm. He was likely feverish. Sure he was bringing in life saving amounts of food, but it was easy to tell he was running himself into the ground. Fireheart needed to stop him before he killed himself. He couldn't do it himself but…

Sandstorm found herself tasked with stalking her mate's other mate. She never really took the time to know the tom, but even she could tell he was working himself too hard. What could he be doing that needed him to push himself so hard? She ended up following him to the Wind Clan border after he dug up some kind of cache of items. It was unclear without exposing herself what it was that he'd collected. Instead, she followed him from a distance. She then saw him stop on the border. He seemed to be waiting for something. Then Onewhisker emerged from the tall grass hauling a few rabbits. Darkstripe pushed his items across the border. and Onewhisker inspected them. He nodded approvingly and shoved the rabbits over the border, which Darkstripe immediately grabbed. He then turned to return towards camp. Sandstorm silently followed knowing that the interaction she'd just seen was practiced but not normal for a clan cat.

Sandstorm then had to follow the tom who was starting to drag his feet to the River Clan border. Thankfully more of the undergrowth survived here, so she could afford to sneak a little closer. She witnessed him waiting again, but she noticed he did not have anything to trade this time. How was he going to get something out of River Clan this time? She was not prepared to see Crookedstar emerge on the other side of the river. She was close enough to hear this time.

"You ready to continue the lessons?"

"Of course, but you don't look so well. Are you sure you can handle teaching right now?"

"I have to. I can't let my clanmates starve. Now demonstrate your hunting pose."

It was like watching a mentor teach an apprentice to hunt. No. That was exactly what it was. As she watched, it was clear Darkstripe was teaching Crookedstar basic ground hunting techniques. He was even giving advise on how different color pelts have to move differently to hunt the same prey to take advantage of their camouflage. She wanted to continue watching since it seemed Darkstripe was a skilled teacher, but something about Darkstripe was worrying. A certain patch of cobwebs on his shoulder was getting visibly darker rapidly after he demonstrated a pounce against a tree. He had just reopened something and was either ignoring it or didn't notice. Crookedstar clearly noticed too, but Darkstripe wouldn't let him stop since he was dutybound to complete his deal. Sandstorm had to make a move.

"So you're teaching River Clan cats now even at the risk of your life?"

Darkstripe startled. He hadn't noticed Sandstorm's presence until now. His own fatigue and need to support his clan left him with incredible tunnel vision. He wouldn't be surprised if she had been following him all day.

"Sandstorm! What are you doing here?"

"Watching you kill yourself apparently. Get back to the camp and get that checked out." She said, motioning to the dark red patch that was starting to spread.

Darkstripe looked at the patch and knew it was bad. He'd been dressing his own wounds recently to keep himself from being assigned bedrest, but this was beyond his capability to heal. He had no choice if he wanted to live, but he was also Thunder. He never backs out of deals even if it kills him. He was conflicted. He didn't want to die, but his persona Thunder was too important to him. Breaking its morals would be against all he set out to be. A cat of his word he was. Instead of returning, he turned back to Crookedstar.

"Let's keep going."

"Didn't you hear her. If you do, you'll probably die."

"Thunder does not back out of deals. Thunder Clan will teach you hunting techniques for food every day until the forest is revived. That was the deal. I'd be breaking it if I back out now."

It was impressive to Sandstorm that Darkstripe was willing to die for his beliefs. She also thought he was extremely stupid, but he was also impressive. He was a lot like Fireheart in that regard. Fortunately for Darkstripe, Sandstorm was also very clever. She'd had a knack for getting around rules by reinterpreting words to suit her needs. This would have to be one of those cases.

"Get back to camp. I'll teach your friend here how to hunt."

"But I am the dealer her."

"Did you not say Thunder Clan would teach him how to hunt? Am I not part of Thunder Clan?"

Darkstripe paused, mulling over his own words, realizing he'd just been played. He had to admit, she had got him. He let out a rough laugh that turned into a coughing fit. He suddenly didn't feel too good. He needed a medicine cat.

"You got me. He owes us some fish after you are done. I'm going to head back. Tell Cloudpaw and Fireheart I might be out for a few days. They'll be able to cover for me."

Sandstorm watched the tom pad off. His walk was slow and full of effort. His breathing was uneven and sounded slightly wet. Despite his poor condition, she felt sure he'd make it back to camp safe. Afterall, another cat had started following them after collecting those rabbits. Fireheart was such a loyal cat. She'd noticed him just before they'd started to River Clan. She'd usually confront him, but she could feel this was a test. He was testing her to see if she'd really support his other mate, and she passed. Not that she found Darkstripe attractive, but she was starting to see what Fireheart liked about him. The cat was diligent and passionate for his beliefs. He was a cat that would forge ahead in the worst of times. She had to respect that. Maybe someday he'd win her over, but she wouldn't be easy. He'd have to commit like he did today and prove without a shadow of a doubt his devotion. She smirked to herself now that she knew he'd be at her beck and call soon. She also had a clan leader to mentor, much to her amusement. She was going to be a strict teacher and she'd love every second of running that cat ragged. What more fun could she have than bringing such a high cat low by treating him as a lowly apprentice.