River (Book 1) A Warriors Fanfiction

Chapter 21

•Riverstorm•

Riverstorm stepped across the WindClan and RiverClan border. He inhaled deeply. Home. He said goodbye and thanked the ThunderClan patrol, and attempted to run to his camp. He was still quite injured, so his run was more of a speed-walk with a slight drag of the hind-leg. When he finally reached the camp, he snuck through the dirtplace tunnel instead of just going through the camp entrance. He was afraid that Cranestar would 'make an example of him' in front of the Clan. He padded behind all of the dens, until he got to the warrior's den. He hissed twice and stomped his foot (rather softly), before settling down to wait. This was the signal that he and Sorrelstream had made up when they wanted to sneak out of camp together.
Several minutes later, a very astonished Sorrelstream peered around the corner. Riverstorm quickly put his tail up to his mouth, trying to tell her not to make a sound. She mouthed what looked like, Where? How? Who? He grinned. I'll answer later, he mouthed back, For now we need to get out of here.
Before your father can try to murder me again, he added in his mind. He led the way back around the dens, and out through the dirtplace. He padded a little way further, into a small thicket. He turned around to make sure Sorrelstream was following him, but she had suddenly disappeared. His heart beat quicker. Did Cranestar just take her to get back at Riverstorm? Suddenly, he heard a little whoosh, and he felt weight on his back. He crumpled to ground, trying to roll his attacker off. A purr sounded in his ear.
"I had you worried, didn't I?" Sorrelstream purred harder, and he swiped at her playfully.
"Off. Ger'off you great lump!" He twisted around so that he could look at her. She nuzzled him and purred again.
"Who's calling me a great lump? You're twice the size of me, you big badger!" She laughed, and her eyes sparkled. He bit her ear softly, and she pretended to keel over, dead. This time it was him who laughed. Then she stopped and looked down at him. "Where were you? How did you get injured? Who did this to you?" She looked at him, apparently very worried.
"I was beyond Clan borders, in a clearing where these she-cats called the Descendants live. There, Cranestar and a dark tom called Darkmist found us—me, Brackenstar, and a couple of apprentices—and they attacked me and Brackenstar. The SkyClan leader, er, died in that battle, and I...almost died. One of the SkyClan apprentices, Mossypaw, helped save my life." Riverstorm stopped for a moment, trying to catch his breath.
"Then I will forever be grateful to her, to Brackenstar, to all of them, for keeping you safe. And...I'm sorry my father almost took your life. You must know that I wish that he wasn't my father." Sorrelstream nuzzled him again. Riverstorm touched his nose to hers.
"I know that. After I almost died, we went to the ThunderClan camp, where Brackenstar came back from the dead and said goodbye to us before basically just dying again. Then a ThunderClan patrol took me to the WindClan-RiverClan border, and I walked—er, limped—here to find you." He purred and licked her ear.
"To find me? You came here just to find me?" Her eyes were round with surprise.
"Of course. You're really my only friend, and..." He looked away, pelt hot. She leaned closer.
"What? And what?" She asked quietly. He turned back to her and took a deep breath.
"And...well, Sorrelstream, I love you. Not just as my best friend, but so, so much more." He looked her in the eye, waiting for her response. Her eyes were even rounder now.
Her voice went a little hoarse, as she asked, "Are you serious? Riverstorm, are you...do you...you seriously love me?" He looked her straight in the eye, and answered her confidently.
     "Yes. Sorrelstream, I love you, and I hope that you love me, too. If you do, I hope that we can be mates." He looked away afterwards, a little embarrassed. Sorrelstream, on the other paw, looked ecstatic.
     "Oh, River, yes, I love you! Yes, yes, yes, a million times! Yes, we can be mates! I can't even tell you how long I have been waiting for this. Riverstorm, I've turned down Tornclaw and both of your foster brothers, in hopes for this moment. Yes!!" She nuzzled him and purred very loudly and hard.
"Sorrelstream, there's only one problem. I can't go back to the camp. Cranestar will kill me! He's already tried!" Riverstorm looked at her, serious. She, however, simply purred.
"My father isn't in the camp, silly. He's been missing as long as you have! Remember, he chased you out of camp? He tracked you down, but he still hasn't returned home. You can be there, for now. Come on, let's go home!" She started to get up, but Riverstorm pulled her back down.
     "Not yet. I like this, just you and me. Just a little bit longer." He licked her affectionately. She didn't argue, but laid down next to him, tucked in her paws, and purred.

***

Riverstorm blinked open his eyes. He purred when he remembered he was home. He looked around. Sorrelstream wasn't lying next to him anymore. He got up quickly, collapsed because everything hurt, and then looked around wildly. A purr sounded in his ear.
"Did you think that I left you?" Sorrelstream's amber eyes sparkled. Riverstorm's own blue ones shone back.
"Maybe..." He replied, happier than he'd been in moons. She laughed and pushed him away playfully. He scooted back over to her. She paid him no attention, but shook her head.
"You fish-brain, you. I would never leave, you. I promise I will always be here for you." She jumped to her paws. "Come on, you lazy sack of bones. Let's get back to camp! Don't worry, I'll go first to make sure everything is okay." She added, nudging him to his paws. He scrambled up, a little painfully, and followed her. He stopped for a moment and inhaled a deep breath of her sweet, honey-like scent. She, too, stopped and turned to stare at him.
"What are you waiting for? Are you itching to hunt or something?" She sniffed and kept going, not waiting for a response. Riverstorm let her sweet scent guide him and lead his paws. Soon, they were at the RiverClan camp entrance. Sorrelstream pressed against him as he took a deep, shuddering breath.
"You ready?" She asked. He nodded, though his stomach told him otherwise. He struggled not to show it. She nodded back and touched her nose to his, pulling away with a loving glance. Then she stepped through the entrance. A moment later, she reappeared. "Come on, River! It's clear!" He padded through, and the entire Clan seemed to turn as one.
A collective, "Riverstorm!" was heard as many cats raced to greet him. Pantherfur was in front, her belly starting to swell with her unborn kits. She purred and touched noses with him.
"Welcome home, River, I mean Riverstorm." She looked around at the Clan for a moment, but Riverstorm just purred. He rubbed against her.
"It's good to be home, Panther." She looked slightly taken aback, but then she laughed, and shook her head.
"I missed you, little brother." She said. He swiped at her playfully. The rest of the Clan started to break up and move away, except Sorrelstream. She simply sat, watching.
"I am barely younger than you! Literally by a few minutes!" He protested. She dodged his soft blows and purred.
"You were the youngest in our litter of four, though. Me being the oldest, of course." She tussled with him for a moment, before she pulled away sides heaving. "These kits make me tired easily." She complained. Sorrelstream laughed a little.
"Makes me not want to have kits." She said, with a sly glance at Riverstorm. He looked at her sharply.
"You don't want kits?" He asked, terrified of her answer. She nudged him.
"I'm just kidding. Of course I do, Riverstorm." She pressed against him. He began to purr. Pantherfur gave him a questioning look. She shook her head.
"You two are closer than I thought you were." She smirked at him. "When did this happen? My little brother's all grown up, now." He pulled away and play-fought with her again. She laughed at him. "So, my brother found himself a girl at last, aye?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I found someone, and now we're mates." He gave Sorrelstream the most loving glance, and she buried her face in his chest fur. He could feel her purring, and he cuddled her close. He looked around. This was his home, and he was going to save it from Cranestar and Darkmist. He was home, in the RiverClan camp at last. He had his sister, and his best friend was also his mate. He was going to rid the Clans of Cranestar for once and for all. This was his home, and he was home.