Chapter 1
Sandstorm returned to the sunningrocks camp along with the two rescue patrols and the escaped cats. Sandstorm got on the highest rock there was while Whitepaw and the rest of the clan ran to greet their missing clanmates. Sandstorm allowed a few minutes for her clanmates to have their questions answered, but there were also growls and hisses at the escaped cats.
"WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?!" Longtail asked.
"Where's Firestar and Greystripe?" Frostfur asked.
"Everyone, gather here please, I promise to explain everything." Sandstorm meowed.
Everyone gathered around, cats were either confused or waiting for Sandstorm to explain.
"Cats of Thunderclan, I have grave news to announce. During our rescue mission to free our clanmates, Greystripe and Firestar were taken by twolegs. Unfortunately, their monster drove away before we could reach them." she announced.
The clan gasped, the remainder of the clan were horrified. Frostfur and Speckletail looked at each other in disbelief, Spiderpaw was whispering something to Shrewpaw, Cinderpelt had tears in her eyes, and the rest of the clan talked amongst themselves.
"Who's going to be in charge then?" Speckletail asked.
"I will, and Brackenfur will serve as deputy until Firestar and Greystripe come back." Sandstorm explained.
"You mean, if they come back." Cinderpelt meowed, doubtful.
"No Cinderpelt, they will come back, I'm sure of it, we have to have hope that they will." Sandstorm meowed, hopeful.
"What are we going to do now, Sandstorm?" Ferncloud asked.
"We must leave the forest, I'm convinced now more than ever that Thunderclan won't survive if we stay here." she meowed.
"Are we going to tell the other clans?" Shrewpaw asked.
"Yes, we will leave with the other clans as soon as possible." Sandstorm meowed.
"Mom, Windclan and Shadowclan won't have a problem, its Riverclan we have to convince, they haven't been affected by the twolegs like we have." Squirrelpaw pointed out.
"Plus, Blackstar doesn't believe us about Midnight's message." Brambleclaw added.
"I see…among our patrols, who else came back to camp?" Sandstorm asked.
"We did." Cody meowed.
She, Sasha, Mistyfoot, and Gorsetail stepped forward. Sandstorm nodded.
"Thank you all for staying, I know this has been a long day and I know you would like to go home, but I have a question for Cody and Sasha, would you like to join Thunderclan? You both showed bravery and courage during your ordeal and the rescue, it would be an honor to have you two as members." Sandstorm asked.
Cody and Sasha were shocked and looked at each other, surprised. Everyone else was shocked and surprised. After a lot of thinking, Cody and Sasha looked at Sandstorm.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Sasha meowed.
"I understand. I'll have a patrol take you home when we're safe. Cody?" Sandstorm meowed.
"I'll have to think about it more, Sandstorm." she meowed.
"That's fine. You have till tomorrow at dawn to give me your answer. Gorsetail, I know I'm not your leader, but when you return to Windclan, tell Tallstar we'll leave tomorrow morning." Sandstorm meowed.
"Of course, Sandstorm." Gorsetail meowed, grateful.
"Good. Can you stay here for a bit, we're moving to the Windclan camp. I need some of you to grab whatever fresh kill we have, Cinderpelt, Leafpaw, grab the herbs you use to make travel herbs, Rainwhisker, Sootfur go with them. Once we have everything, Brackenfur and Gorsetail will lead you there." Sandstorm announced.
"Where will you be?" Dustpelt asked.
"Mistyfoot, can you come with me to Riverclan, I think you and I would have a better chance of convincing Leopardstar to have Riverclan leave the forest with us." Sandstorm asked.
"Of course." she meowed.
"Good, everyone, get ready, meeting dismissed!" Sandstorm finished.
Sandstorm leaped down and approached Brackenfur. Everyone else got to work, Cinderpelt and Leafpaw, Rainwhisker, and Sootfur left to grab the herbs, Dustpelt went to help Ferncloud, Hollykit, and Birchkit, and everyone else went to go grab prey or help Frostfur, Speckletail, and Longtail.
"Don't worry about me, Brackenfur, I'll catch up with all of you." Sandstorm meowed.
"And if something happens to you?" Brackenfur asked.
"Then make Dustpelt your deputy and go on without me." Sandstorm meowed.
Brackenfur nodded, he knew as hard as that sounded, he knew it was best for the clan.
"One more thing, if I'm not here when you get to Windclan and you're all settled and ready to go, head to Shadowclan and convince Blackstar to come with us, take Brambleclaw with you." Sandstorm meowed.
"Of course." Brackenfur meowed.
He left to go find Brambleclaw and relay what Sandstorm told him. Sandstorm was about to join Mistyfoot when Cloudtail, Cody, Whitepaw, and Brightheart approached her.
"Sandstorm, wait!" Cloudtail meowed.
"Yes?" she meowed.
"Me, Cody, Whitepaw, and Brightheart are heading to my mother's home." Cloudtail meowed.
"WHAT?! After everything you guys went through, you want to risk getting captured again?!" Sandstorm growled.
"Sandstorm, this will be the last time I'll see my mother, I should at least say goodbye to her." Cloudtail meowed, calmly.
"Plus, Princess could give directions to Firestar and Greystripe if they were to come back here." Cody pointed out.
Sandstorm realized that Cody was right. It's true, Princess was Firestar's sister and if Firestar and Greystripe did come back here, they could go to Princess for directions. Plus, Sandstorm would like to see Princess again, just one last time.
"Alright, but I'm coming with you." she meowed.
"What? Are you sure?" Brightheart asked.
"I'm sure. Mistyfoot, do you mind if we make a little detour?" Sandstorm asked.
"Not at all, I don't mind." she meowed.
"Alright, let's go." Sandstorm meowed.
The cats were about to leave sunningrocks when a yowl was heard.
"Wait!" Squirrelpaw yowled.
The group looked and Squirrelpaw approached Sandstorm. She rubbed her head on Sandstorm's chest. Sandstorm licked Squirrelpaw's ear.
"Be careful, mom." Squirrelpaw meowed.
"Don't worry, Squirrelpaw, I'll be fine. Just keep your clanmates safe please." Sandstorm meowed.
"Alright mom." She meowed.
Squirrelpaw went back to helping Shrewpaw carry some of the prey they had. Sandstorm and the rest of the group left sunningrocks and headed towards Princess's house.