Warriors AU: The Darkest Hour

Chapter 21

Sandstar woke to see the den floor washed by the pale light of sunrise. Beside him, Fireheart still slept, the moss stirred by her breathing. Careful not to wake her, Sandstar rose, stretched, and padded out into the chilly morning.

The clearing was deserted, but almost at once Brindleface appeared from the warriors' den.

"I've sent out the dawn patrol," he reported. "Sorreltail, Mousefur, and Silverstream. I told them to do a quick sweep up the Shadowclan border and report back to us."

"Good," mewed Sandstar. "It would be just like Goldenstar to arrange a meeting at Fourtrees and then mount a raise somewhere else. That's why I'm leaving you in charge of the camp, with as many warriors as I can spare."

"Take all the strength you need," Brindleface meowed. "We'll be fine. Young Cloudtail is shaping up to be a really useful fighter ever since she started training with Brightheart. And the elders can still raise a few claws, if they're pushed."

"They'll be pushed, before all this is over," Sandstar predicted. "Thanks, Brindleface. I know I can rely on you."

The pale gray tabby warrior nodded and disappeared into the den again. Sandstar watched him go, then padded across the clearing to the fern tunnel that led to Cinderpelt's den.

When he reached the medicine cat's den, he could hear his voice coming from the cleft in the rock.

"Juniper berries, marigold leaves, poppy seeds..."

Looking inside, Sandstar saw the small gray tom checking the heaps of healing herbs and berries ranged alongside the wall of the den.

"Hi, Cinderpelt," he mewed. "Everything in order?"

The medicine cat turned to him with a grave look in his blue eyes. "As much as it'll ever be."

"You think there will definitely be a battle?" Sandstar asked him. "Has Starclan spoken to you?"

Cinderpelt came to join him at the mouth of the den. "No, not a word," he replied. "But common sense says there'll be a battle, Sandstar. I don't need an omen from Starclan to tell me that."

He was right, Sandstar knew, and yet his words chilled him. With such a momentous meeting ahead, why had there been no sign from Starclan? Had their warrior ancestors abandoned them in their time of greatest need? Too late, Sandstar wondered if he should have traveled to Highstones to share tongues with Starclan.

"Do you know why Starclan is silent?" he asked Cinderpelt out loud.

The medicine cat shook his head. "But I do know something," he meowed, as if he had read his thoughts. "Starclan hasn't forgotten us. They decreed long ago that there should be four Clans in the forest, and they won't stand by and let Goldenstar change that forever."

As Sandstar thanked him and turned away to muster his warriors, he wished he shared his faith.

A stiff breeze was blowing as Sandstar led his warriors up the slope to Fourtrees, rippling the grass and carrying the scent of many cats. Each gust brought a sting of rain from the gray clouds that pushed each other across the sky.

At the top of the slope, Sandstar paused, crouching in the shelter of the bushes to look down into the clearing. Almost at once Brightheart appeared at his side.

"Why are we standing about?" he demanded. "Let's get on with it."

"Not until I know what's going on," Sandstar told him. "For all we know, we could be walking into an ambush." Facing his warriors, he raised his voice so that they could all hear him. "You all know why we're here," he began. "Goldenstar wants us to join his Clan, and he won't take no for an answer. I'd like to believe we can get out of this without a fight, but I can't be sure."