Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Fourteen

Sandystar padded out of the warrior's den. She yawned. Her sleep had been broken, as she was used to sleeping alone in the warrior's den. Her clan mates' snoring had kept her up late and woken her early. Ashleaf followed Sandystar from the den.

"Morning, Sandystar,"

Ashleaf meowed respectfully.

"Do you want me to send out a patrol to check for that dog again before I set the hunting patrols out?"

She offered. Sandystar nodded.

"That's probably a good idea,"

Sandystar told her. Ashleaf dipped her head before disappearing back into the den. Sandystar peered out at the morning sun, which was only just creeping over the horizon. StarClan let us reach the other Clans, she begged silently. Ashleaf soon returned with Stoneclaw, Greybird and Leafspots.

"I'll go too,"

Ashleaf informed the leader. Sandystar purred, feeling a sudden rush of appreciation for her deputy. I'd be lost without her. She's the only deputy I've ever had, but I definitely made the right choice.

"You know, you don't have to go on every patrol,"

Sandystar teased. Ashleaf purred.

"I know. I'll be back before I have to organise the hunting patrols,"

The grey she-cat promised. She lead her patrol out of the camp. A bush rustled behind Sandystar. Swallowkit and Beekit hurtled themselves out of the nursery. Berrycloud appeared after them. Swallowkit lead her brother up to Sandystar.

"Hi!"

The little she-cat squealed excitedly. She was the spitting image of her mother. This must be their first time meeting the clan, Sandystar told herself.

"I'm Swallowkit. Who are you?"

Swallowkit continued. Beekit piped up.

"And I'm Beekit!"

He meowed triumphantly. Sandystar swallowed back a purr.

"Nice to meet you, Swallowkit and Beekit. I'm Sandystar,"

The two kit's eyes widened. Sandystar noticed Berrycloud's whiskers twitching in amusement from the other side of the clearing as she watched her son and daughter.

"You're the leader?"

Beekit asked in shock. Swallowkit bowed her head, unsure what she was meant to do.

"It's okay. I'm not too scary,"

Sandystar joked, and Swallowkit lifted her head, but still looked nervous. Beekit seemed to relax entirely, though.

"So you get to choose our mentors! Who will my mentor be? What will my warrior name be?"

Swallowkit shoved her brother affectionately. He tumbled to the ground.

"We're still kits, bee-brain!"

She teased. Beekit got into a crouch, mischievously wriggled his hind quarters, and pounced at his sister. She squealed with delight.

"C'mon, Swallowkit! I wanna see inside the warriors den!"

Beekit scrambled to his feet and raced toward the bush. Swallowkit got up and followed him. Sandystar watched them in amusement as they skipped way. Berrycloud appeared at Sandystar' side.

"They grow up so fast, don't they?"

She purred, watching her kits hang tentatively around the entrance to the warriors' den. Beekit stuck his head in, and Swallowkit gave him a shove, following her brother into the den.

"Are you sure they should be in there?"

Sandystar asked Berrycloud. Some of the warriors would not be amused by being woken by the kits.

"They'll learn more quickly being told off by Stoneclaw or Hailforce than they will being told off by me,"

Berrycloud said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"They're trouble, but it's worth it,"

She turned to Sandystar, curiosity in her eyes.

"Do you ever regret not taking on a mate and having kits?"

Berrycloud questioned. Sandystar looked at the ground. A vision of Raphael flashed in her mind.

"Sometimes,"

Sandystar admitted, scraping a single claw through the dirt.

"But my duty is to SkyClan. I don't want anything to interrupt that,"

Berrycloud nodded in understanding at Sandystar's statement. She opened her mouth to speak again, but was cut off by a loud hiss from the warriors' den. There was a distraught wail as Swallowkit and Beekit raced out of the den toward Berrycloud.

"Mama!"

Beekit wailed, running up to Berrycloud and hiding between her legs. Swallowkit tried to bury herself under her mother's tail.

"That scary silver cat attacked us!"

Swallowkit said. Sandystar frowned. Silver cat? Greybird looked slightly silver, but as her name suggests, she was clearly grey. And besides, she was on patrol. Then a silver tabby emerged from the den. Sandystar sighed. Brook. Swallowkit and Beekit squealed, pressing closer to Berrycloud. Snowtail appeared after Brook, shooting an apologetic look at Berrycloud. Brook trotted crossly up to Sandystar. As she approached, Swallowkit and Beekit sprinted back to the nursery. Brook swished her tail angrily. She looks mad, Sandystar thought. But then again, when have I seen her happy?

"If I'm to help you, keep your stupid kits away from me!"

Sandystar opened her mouth to argue, but then thought better of it. Instead, she dipped her head respectfully. Brook sniffed disdainfully and padded away.

"I'll keep an eye on her,"

Snowtail whispered before following the silver tabby. The ferns rustled as Ashleaf and her patrol returned to camp. More cats were up now, and Ashleaf swiftly gathered the warriors and sorted out the hunting patrols. Sleekfur led Limepaw, Owlpelt and Springfoot, while Spiderweb headed out with Batpaw, Flaxclaw and Hailforce. Brook was washing herself beside the warrior's den, Snowtail sitting a few tail-lengths away.