Warriors AU: The Darkest Hour

Chapter 26

Sandstar wondered if the rest of his Clan had noticed his absence, and if they were worrying about him. He knew that he should go back to the camp, but for a short time, he stayed where he was on top of the rock, watching the dawn light spread above the forest.

The territory on the far side of the river was still and silent. Sandstar tried to imagine how Leopardstar was coping. He guessed that the Shadowclan warriors who had fled into his territory would be unwelcome guests, with no prey to spare through the harsh moons of leaf-bare.

Then he sat bolt upright, fur bristling and ears pricked. Something had just occurred to him, and he couldn't think why he hadn't thought of it before. Maybe Thunderclan wasn't as outnumbered as he feared. Across the river were the warriors of two Clans, and with Goldenstar dead none of them had any reason to support Bloodclan.

"Mouse-brain!" he murmured aloud. There was a chance that all four forest Clans could join together to drive out the lethal cats that threatened every pawstep of their lives. Four would not become two—four would become one, but not in the way that Goldenstar had intended.

As the first glittering rays of the sun appeared above the horizon, Sandstar leaped down from the rock and raced down stream toward the stepping stones.

"Sandstar! Sandstar!" The yowl brought him up short just as he came in sight of the stones. He turned to see a Thunderclan patrol emerge from the trees behind him. Silverstream was in the lead, followed by Fireheart, Brightheart, and Squirrelpaw.

"Where have you been?" Fireheart mewed crossly as she picked her way toward him. "We've been worried sick."

"Sorry." Sandstar gave her ear an apologetic lick. "I needed to think a few things out, that's all."

"Brindleface said you would be okay," Silverstream meowed. "And Cinderpelt didn't seem worried. I got the feeling he knew more than he was telling."

"Well, I'm here now," Sandstar mewed briskly. "And I'm glad I've met you. I'm going over into Riverclan territory, and it'll look better if I take some warriors with me."

"Riverclan?" Brightheart looked amazed. "What do you want with them?"

"I'm going to ask them to fight with us against Scourge tomorrow."

The young warrior stared. "Are you out of your mind? Leopardstar will rip your fur off!"

"I don't think he will. Now that Goldenstar's dead, he won't want Bloodclan in the forest any more than we do."

Brightheart shrugged, and Silverstream was looking uncertain too, but Fireheart's green eyes glowed with delight.

"I knew you would think of a way to defeat Bloodclan," she purred. "Let's go."

Sandstar turned to lead the way to the stepping stones, but paused as Squirrelpaw padded up to him.

"Sandstar, can we talk to Rowanpaw if she's there?" his apprentice asked hopefully. His voice quavered. "There might not be another chance."

Sandstar hesitated. "Yes, if you see her," he meowed. "Get her side of the story. Then we'll decide what to do."

"Thanks, Sandstar!" Squirrelpaw's eyes shone with relief.

Sandstar slipped down the bank to the stepping stones with his warriors behind him. As he led the way across he kept alert for movement on the opposite side of the river, but he saw nothing. There had not even been a Riverclan patrol, though by now the sun was well above the horizon.

Reaching the far bank, Sandstar turned upriver toward the Riverclan camp. Before he reached it he came to the stream that led to the clearing of the Bonehill. A shudder ran through him as he remembered the last time he had been here. The reek of crow-food was fainter now, but the scent of many cats came to him on the breeze. Sandstar recognized the mingled scent of Tigerclan, once so ominous but now almost familiar compared with the stench of Bloodclan.