Sandstorm's Kin

Chapter 1

Sandstorm exited the elder's den, followed by Graystripe. "So why do you want to go hunting?" The gray elder asked, and she turned to face him. It was hard to see Graystripe and not think of their lost friends. "I want to feel like a warrior again. Dustpelt made the right decision to go out like a warrior." Sandstorm confessed, "Dustpelt wasn't thinking clearly, he was upset about Ferncloud." Graystripe pointed out, "Doesn't it annoy you that you were once Firestar's deputy and now others are hunting for you?" Sandstorm questioned, "of course it does but I don't have a choice. Bramblestar is the leader and your daughter is his deputy." Graystripe pointed out, "you have a choice, you always have a choice Graystripe. I want to go hunting, I don't want to be an elder." Sandstorm argued before she turned and marched out of the camp, past Brackenfur. The golden warrior called after her, but she ignored him. She may be an elder but she was a great warrior, not just Redtail's daughter, Firestar's mate or Squirrelflight and Leafpool's mother. She missed her father, her mother, her brother and sister, her mate, her friends, but most of all, she missed the freedom being a warrior meant. That was always one thing about Sandstorm, she hated being confined to the camp. She got her into a lot of trouble.

Sandstorm could hear the paws of her clanmate, pounding behind her. She rolled her eyes, she would never catch anything now. Soon she was surrounded by Squirrelflight, Brackenfur, Cherryfall, Ambermoon and Snowbush. "What are you doing? Running away?" She asked, "Do you really think that I would run away?" Sandstorm demanded, "I don't know, you haven't n the same since Firestar died." Squirrelflight answered. Sandstorm scowled. Is that really what everyone thought of her? That her mate died and suddenly she is disloyal. "Well, of course, I am different. That's what happens when you lose your mate, but I am more than Firestar's mate." Sandstorm snapped, "I was a good warrior, one of the best hunters in the clan and you know what? I still am." She growled, "Then what are you doing?" Squirrelflight asked, "I am going hunting." Sandstorm answered. "No, you are not. Get back to camp now." Squirrelflight demanded, Sandstorm held her ground. She often forgets how much Squirrelflight was so much like her. Probably why Squrrielflight came after her instead of Leafpool. "I am tired of just laying around. I want to hunt, I need to hunt. I want to be a warrior again and provide for my clan." Sandstorm pleads. She could see that it hit the spot and decided to not push anymore. "Fine, but we are coming with you." Squirrelflight gave in. She turned and led them to the lake.

It reminded Sandstorm of a different time in her life. When she first went to the river in the forest. She had snuck out of camp that time too.

Sandkit glanced over her shoulder at the thorn tunnel. Excitement ran through her body. It was the first time she was out of the camp and if she got caught, Brindleface would be angry. Redtail probably would too. As Sandkit made her way up the ravine to the river, she glanced at all the trees and bushes that surround her. Sandkit spotted Redtail and his patrol just a tree length away. "Sandkit, come here!" He ordered, flicking his tail. Her father had already seen her, there was no way to get out of this. She hung her head low and made her way over to Redtail. His fluffy red tail waved behind him as Whitestorm, Runningwind, and Frostfur stood beside him. "I've got this. Tell Brindleface, we've found her." Redtail ordered the warriors. Sandkit was proud that her father was the deputy, not Dustkkit and Ravenkit's father. Even if Fluffypelt is Brindleface's father too. "What do you think you are doing?" Redtail demanded as Frostfur led the other warriors back to camp. "I wanted to the river," Sandkit answered like she didn't just escape from the camp.

"Do you know how worried I was when I couldn't find you? There are foxes, badgers, other clans out here." Redtail lectured, "What would I've told your mother that you died? What would I do if you had died?" He asked, she didn't think of that. "I'm sorry," Sandkit muttered. Redtail sighed, flicking his tail under her chin. Sandkit looked into her father's amber eyes, "I will take you to the river, but you will do everything I tell you to do." Redtail told her, "thank you." Sandkit purred as Redtail licked her ear. He led her to the river, "It's beautiful." Sandkit mewed, "yeah it is." Redtail answered, "now let's go back to camp." He said.

Redtail picked her up the scruff and carried her back to the camp. Brindleface spotted Redtail and Sandkit almost right away. She ran over to them, "where did you find her?" Brindleface asked as Redtail set Sandkit down on the ground. "On her way to the river," Redtail answered. Brindleface glanced between her mate and her daughter. "Sandkit, go to the den right now," Brindleface ordered.

"Sandstorm, look out!" Brackenfur yelled. Her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. A huge fox bites into Squirrelflight's throat. "Cherryfall, go get help!" Brackenfur ordered. Sandstorm ran at the fox and launched herself at the fox. She landed on its wide shoulders and ran her claws down its cheek. It howled in pain, letting Squirrelflight drop to the ground. Sandstorm leaped down in front of her. She stood protectively in front of her daughter and bared her teeth. Her hunches were raised and her fur was puffed out. Making her look twice as big. Sandstorm refuses to let Squirrelflight die. It darted forward and grabbed Sandstorm by the shoulder. She let out a yelp, Sandstorm lift her paw up and gouged out its eye. It dropped Sandstorm to the ground, dark red blood oozed out of her shoulder. She knew that wasn't good, especially for someone her age. Sandstorm bite to its neck. The fox scratched her stomach, but Sandstorm didn't let go. She could taste the blood drip into her mouth, similar to the blood dripping off her shoulder. If she was going to die, she was going to die as a warrior. Not an elder.

She left the fox to go limp. Sandstorm let it go, it fell to the ground. Sandstorm glanced at Squirrelflight, her bright green eye looked worried. Sandstorm could feel her legs go limp, and she fell to the ground. "Brackenfur, get Sandstorm to the medicine cats now!" Squirrelflight ordered, Ambermoon came to support her. Brackenfur ran over to Sandstorm and tried to nudge her onto her paws. "No, I don't want help. I just want my daughters and their kits." Sandstorm croaked. "Let's go you to camp, so you can say goodbye," Brackenfur whispered, she could hear the emotions in the golden warrior. She nodded and let Brackenfur support her weight. Soon they made it back to ThunderClan. Bramblestar was getting a patrol to help them when Ambermoon and Squirrelflight pushed their way through the bushes. Brackenfur followed with Sandstorm, Leafpool and Jayfeather tended to Squirrelflight.

Leafpool lifted her head, her eyes widened when they landed on her mother. She finished with Squirrelflight and made her way over to Sandstorm. Squirrelflight and Jayfeather followed her, "there must be something you can do." Squirrelflight begged Jayfeather. "I don't know, we can try." He muttered as they got closer. "No, I don't want help!" Sandstorm spoke as loud as she could. Her breathing was getting heavier. Leafpool stopped in her tracks at her mother's words, "Get Lionblaze, Alderkit and Sparkkit." She ordered but it was no use. Everyone was already in the clearing.

Brackenfur laid Sandstorm down, he went to stand by Graystripe and Millie. "I told you not to go hunting." Graystripe whispered, "I had to. I wanted to tell you, that you have made these last few moons bearable. You have always been a great friend to Firestar. When I see Ravenpaw and Firestar, I will tell them how much you miss them." She breathed. Graystripe touched his nose to her muzzle before backing up. Sandstorm's graze landed on Alderkit and Sparkkit. They both licked her muzzle, "look after your mother for me."

Next, where Lionblaze and Jayfeather. When the truth came out, she couldn't believe her daughters kept such a big secret from her. She was proud of them, "You two have done your clan well. Promise me you will continue." She mewed, "We promise." Lionblaze choked on his words. Lastly, her graze fell on her two daughters. "I love you two so much and I am proud of both of you. You'll be ok and I know you will make this clan proud as your father did." Sandstorm started, she could see the quilt in Squirrelflight's eyes. "This is not your fault. It's my time to go." She breathed. Sandstorm caught a glimpse of a ginger fur. Spots appeared in her vision and her breathing slowed before Her eyes closed.

When Sandstorm opened them, a ginger tom stood in front of her. "Firestar." She breathed. He looked like the young warrior she fell in love with. Sandstorm got to her paws, she glanced backwards. Her body was laying on the ground, surrounded by her loved ones. Sandstorm looked at her mate. He flicked his tail to follow him.