Chapter 2
Sandstorm, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Whitepaw, Cody, and Mistyfoot reached Princess's house. Sandstorm looked around, wondering where Princess was and if she was here. Finally, Princess jumped on top of her fence.
"Sandstorm, it's good to see you." she greeted.
"It's good to see you too, Princess." Sandstorm meowed.
"Hi mom, it's good to see you." Cloudtail meowed.
"Cloudtail." Princess purred.
She jumped down and touched noses with him.
"It's so good to see you and Brightheart…" Princess purred.
She rubbed against her face and side.
"How are you, dear, it's good to see you." Princess meowed.
"I'm good, Princess. It's good to see you too." Brightheart meowed.
"And Whitepaw." Princess meowed.
She licked her head as a greeting.
"How are you dear?" Princess asked.
"I'm good, grandma." Whitepaw purred.
"That's good, I'm so proud of how far all of you have come. Cody, it's good to see you." Princess meowed.
"It's good to see you too, Princess." she meowed.
Princess nodded and looked at Mistyfoot. She realized that she didn't recognize the sixth visitor because the former didn't smell like Thunderclan.
"I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you." Princess meowed.
"My name is Mistyfoot, deputy of Riverclan." she introduced.
"Firestar did tell me there were other clans in the forest, or at least what's left of it. Speaking of which, where is Firestar?" Princess meowed, confused.
Cloudtail and Brightheart looked at each other, wondering on what to tell her. Sandstorm sighed.
"Princess, there's no easy way to tell you this, but Firestar was taken by twolegs along with Greystripe." she reported, sadly.
"What? But, how is that possible?" Princess asked, horrified.
"Uncle Firestar and Greystripe were helping us escape. We got captured by twolegs a few days ago, they were helping us get out of the cages we were trapped in." Cloudtail replied.
"The reason we're here is because Firestar and Greystripe might come back this way, only to see the forest and everything gone, including us." Sandstorm explained.
"Wait what?" Princess asked, confused.
"We're leaving the forest, mom. That's also what we're here for." Cloudtail explained.
"I see and you want me to show Firestar and Greystripe where you guys are going, right?" Princess guessed.
"That's right. When Firestar and Greystripe come back, tell them we left the forest and that we headed towards Barley's farm. They'll figure out the rest from there." Sandstorm meowed.
"I understand." Princess meowed.
"Thank you, Princess. It was good seeing you, I wish it didn't have to come to this." Sandstorm meowed.
"I feel the same way, it was good seeing you too, Sandstorm." she meowed.
"Let's go, Mistyfoot." Sandstorm meowed.
Sandstorm and Mistyfoot started to leave, but Sandstorm first leaned towards Cloudtail's ear.
"Say your goodbyes, Cloudtail, then head towards the Windclan camp." she meowed.
Cloudtail nodded, then Sandstorm and Mistyfoot left to head towards Riverclan. They reached sunningrocks, by now, Thunderclan had left towards Windclan, and Sandstorm and Mistyfoot crossed the stones and entered Riverclan territory. Sandstorm looked at Mistyfoot, wondering if someone had the chance to tell her about Feathertail.
"Tell me, Sandstorm, if Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw came back, did Stormfur and Feathertail come back along with Crowpaw and Tawnypelt?" Mistyfoot asked.
"Mistyfoot…" Sandstorm meowed, solemnly.
Both she-cats stopped and Mistyfoot looked at Sandstorm, a pit in her stomach dropped at the news she dreaded to hear.
"Stormfur did come back, but Feathertail is dead. Stormfur said she died protecting him and the others from a giant mountain lion." Sandstorm explained, solemnly.
Sadness overwhelmed Mistyfoot, Feathertail was her first apprentice, she was Silverstream's daughter, and the last reflection of her too. Sandstorm's ears flattened.
"Does Greystripe know?" Mistyfoot asked.
"Yes, Stormfur told him." Sandstorm answered.
"How did he take it?" Mistyfoot asked.
"How do you think?" Sandstorm asked, rhetorically.
Mistyfoot went silent after that, it was clear that she was taking this hard. Sandstorm understood and felt her pain, especially after everything Mistyfoot, Stormfur, and Feathertail went through. The two she-cats continued walking into Riverclan territory until they reached the camp. Swallowtail and Heavystep were guarding the entrance and they saw Sandstorm and Mistyfoot approaching them.
"MISTYFOOT!" Swallowtail yowled.
Both cats ran up to Mistyfoot and she greeted them both by touching noses.
"It's good to see you, Mistyfoot." Heavystep spoke.
"We missed you, we were really worried." Swallowtail added.
"I've missed you guys too." Mistyfoot purred.
Swallowtail and Heavystep noticed Sandstorm and were alarmed.
"Oh hello, is this cat with you?" Swallowtail asked.
"Yes, Sandstorm is with me. We need to talk to Leopardstar, do you know where she is?" Mistyfoot asked.
"She's in her den with Hawkfrost." Swallowtail meowed.
"I see, thank you, Swallowtail." Mistyfoot meowed.
She and Sandstorm walked past Heavystep and Swallowtail and entered the camp. Riverclan cats saw them and gathered around them, excitedly.
"Mistyfoot, you're back!" Blackclaw yowled.
"Where have you been?!" one cat asked.
"We were so worried!" another cat added.
"Are you ok?" one cat asked.
"Are you hurt?!" another cat asked.
As Mistyfoot was bombarded by so many questions, Leopardstar and Hawkfrost left the den and saw that Mistyfoot had returned. Leopardstar was overjoyed, but Hawkfrost wasn't happy.
"Mistyfoot!" Leopardstar yowled.
She ran over to Mistyfoot and greeted her missing deputy. Mistyfoot and Leopardstar touched noses, Hawfrost flicked his ear in annoyance. Leopardstar noticed Sandstorm.
"Sandstorm, what brings you here?" she asked.
"We need to talk, Leopardstar, it's important." Sandstorm explained.
Leopardstar looked at Mistyfoot, who gave a meaningful look that told Sandstorm was very serious about the important news and that she could trust Thunderclan's acting leader. Leopardstar nodded.
"Very well. Come, we'll talk in my den." she meowed.
Leopardstar, Hawkfrost, Mistyfoot, and Sandstorm headed towards Leopardstar's den and entered it.