Warriors AU: A Dangerous Path

Chapter 3

Sandstorm opened his eyes and blinked in the uncomfortably bright sunlight. He still couldn't get used to the way the sun shone straight into the warriors' den now that the thick covering of leaves had gone. Yawning, he uncurled himself and shook the clinging scraps of moss from his coat.

Close beside him, Fireheart was still asleep; Ferncloud and Darkstripe were curled up a little farther away. Sandstorm padded out into the clearing. It was three days since the Gathering and the discovery of Goldenstar's new leadership, and there was still no sign of the attack Oakstar had feared. Thunderclan had used the time to rebuild the camp, and although there was still a long way to go, Sandstorm couldn't help feeling pleased when he saw shady walls of fern beginning to grow back around the edge of the camp, and the bramble thicket firmly interlaced with twigs to shelter the nursing queens, king, and their kits.

As Sandstorm made his way toward the pile of fresh-kill, he saw the dawn patrol returning with Brindleface in the lead. Sandstorm paused and waited for the flecked pale gray tabby warrior to join him.

"Any sign of Shadowclan?"

Brindleface shook his head. "Nothing," he meowed. "Just the usual scent markings along their border. There was one thing, though..."

Sandstorm's ears pricked. "What?"

"Not far from Snakerocks we found a whole stretch of undergrowth trampled down, and pigeon feathers scattered all over it."

"Pigeon feathers?" Sandstorm echoed. "I haven't seen a pigeon for days. Is some other Clan hunting in our territory?"

"I don't think so. The whole place reeked of dog." Brindleface wrinkled his nose with distaste. "There was dog dirt there too."

"Oh, a dog." Sandstorm flicked his tail dismissively. "Well, we all know that Twolegs are always bringing their dogs into the forest. They run around, chase a few squirrels, and then the Twolegs take them home again." He let out a purr of amusement. "The only unusual thing is that it looks as if this one caught something."

To his surprise, Brindleface continued to look serious. "All the same, I think you should tell the patrols to keep their eyes open," he meowed.

"Okay." Sandstorm respected the older warrior too much to ignore his advice, but privately he thought the dog would be a long way away by now, shut up somewhere in Twolegplace. Dogs were noisy nuisances, but he had more important things to worry about.

He was reminded of his anxiety about food supplies as he followed Brindleface to the pile of fresh-kill. Cloudpaw, Brindleface's apprentice, and Brightpaw, who had made up the rest of the patrol, were already there.

"Look at this!" Brightpaw complained as Sandstorm came up. He turned a vole over with one paw. "There's hardly a decent mouthful on it!"

"Prey is scarce," Sandstorm reminded him, noticing there were only a few pieces of fresh-kill on the pile. "Any creatures that survived the fire can't find much to eat."

"We need to hunt again," Brightpaw meowed. He bit into the vole and swallowed. "I'll go as soon as I've finished this."

"You can come with me," mewed Sandstorm, selecting a magpie for himself. "I'm going to lead out a patrol later on."

"No, I can't wait," Brightpaw mumbled through another mouthful. "I'm so hungry I could eat you. Cloudpaw, do you want to come with me?"

Cloudpaw, who was neatly tucking into a mouse, glanced at her mentor for permission. When Brindleface nodded she sprang up. "Ready when you are," she meowed.

"All right then," mewed Sandstorm. He was slightly annoyed that Brightpaw hadn't asked for his mentor's permission like Cloudpaw, but the Clan did need fresh-kill, and both the apprentices were good hunters. "Don't go too far from camp," he warned.