Warriors AU: Sandstar's Quest

Epilogue

Frost glittered on leafless branches as Sandstar bounded down the ravine. He felt full of energy, completely recovered from the long journey back from Skyclan three moons before. Squirrelflight and Mousefur followed him: the dawn patrol was returning to the Thunderclan camp, cold and hungry, but with fur unruffled. The borders were peaceful, and leaf-bare would soon give way to the fresh growth of newleaf.

Sandstar pushed his way through the gorse tunnel and turned to wait for his Clanmates. "Better get something to eat, and then rest," he meowed. "I want you both to come with me to the Gathering tonight."

"Great!" Squirrelflight's fur bristled with excitement, while Mousefur simply flicked his ears and headed for the fresh-kill pile.

Sandstar headed across the clearing toward the nursery, spotting Brackenpaw, Sootpaw, and Rainpaw wrestling together beside the apprentice's den among the ferns. While he watched, Blossomfall emerged from the warriors' den and called to Sootpaw; mentor and apprentice disappeared through the gorse tunnel.

As he approached the nursery Cinderpelt emerged; Sandstar bounded up to him. "Is everything all right?" he demanded.

Cinderpelt's blue eyes glimmered with understanding. "Everything's fine, Sandstar. I just took her some borage to help her milk come."

Sandstar let out a long breath of relief. "I still can't believe how beautiful they are," he confessed.

Cinderpelt gave his ear a gentle flick with his tail. "In you go, then, and have another look."

Sandstar pushed his way through the brambles and into the nursery, the warm, milky scents flowing over him. Fireheart lay in a deep nest of moss and bracken; huddled close to her belly were two tiny she-kits, their eyes still closed. One was a dark gray, almost black, the other a dark brown tabby.

Birchkit, Cloudtail and Brightheart's daughter, was looking down at the two kits with as much pride as if they were her own. She was early old enough to be apprenticed, and Sandstar knew how protective she felt about the new arrivals.

Cloudtail roused from her nest and stretched out a paw. "Be careful," she warned her kit. "Don't get too close. They won't be ready to play for a while yet."

As Sandstar entered, Fireheart drowsily raised her head. "I thought of some names," she murmured. "How do you like Bramblekit and Crowkit?"

"I think they're wonderful names," Sandstar replied. The dark brown tabby Bramblekit for her bramble sharp claws, of course, and the dark gray Crowkit for her crow black fur.

Pride surged through him as he looked at the tiny scraps of fur. He had so many hopes for them: good hunting, happiness, perhaps even leadership of their Clan. Though he had been a kittypet, his daughters were Clanborn through and through. His blood would run through Thunderclan for many seasons to come, even when he no longer walked the forest.

The thought of blood and kinship made Skywatcher's prophecy echo in his ears once more: There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws.

Would these powerful cats be descended from Sandstar's two precious daughters? Was the prophecy a warning of great good—or great evil? A chill ran through him, and he shivered as he wondered where the path of his blood would lead.

That is the end of this book! This took a very long time! The next book will be A Shadow In Riverclan! I'll prepare the script and do a character list tomorrow! Thanks for reading!