SandClan's Destiny Book 1: A Flame is Lit

Chapter 1: Our Home?

"Where's your kits?" Although Sunspot was giving a 'no no no' face behind Bigstar, Cougarfang ignored it and still asked his leader about her miraculously missing kits. "Or were you just... fat?" The deputy joked, but quickly shut his mouth.

"I don't think they were meant to survive." Bigstar murmured, sitting on the Slanted Rock above her Clan.

"I'm sorry..." Cougarfang dipped his head, his eyes sincerely apologetic. He had his own kits with Goldenray: Midnightkit and Whitekit. It was his second litter. In his first he had Stormpaw, Orangepaw, and Goldpaw. They were very strong apprentices, and the only ones the Clan had. He understood the affection felt towards kits, and sympathized greatly with his leader. "I shouldn't have asked."

Bigstar was almost jealous, though she was mostly mournful. It was the morning after she had given birth, and she cursed StarClan for letting her lose her kits. The large leader's green eyes looked to her deputy's, and she flicked her tail dismissively.

Cougarfang padded through the snow, but looked back once, "You want anything to eat?" he asked in worry.
"No, thank you."
"Are you sure? Have you eaten at all yet?"

Bigstar leapt into the snow, letting her deputy step back respectfully. The leader padded into her den. She did not know who to blame for losing her kits. She didn't know if she was at fault for having them, if StarClan was to blame for letting them die in the snow, if Sunspots was to blame for being in such a hurry, or if the blizzard was to blame! 

Perhaps, it was the father that was to blame. He was born in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Bigstar and his love upset StarClan.

*~*~*

Half a season later, and the snows melted. It was very warm, and OakClan territory flourished with shades of green and brown. The leaves of the trees were verdant, and the grass grew in the camp's clearing. Brambles were as thick as ever, and ferns were overgrown again. Skyfeather was a great mother to Rockkit and Redkit, who appreciated her greatly. 

Still, Rockkit knew something was wrong. Although he mourned her after she died from green-cough, he knew he had little connection with her. When she went to StarClan, he regretted not loving her more. In turn, he was very miserable at times.

Redkit, on the other hand, loved Skyfeather. She was ready to move on, though. She too had little connection with the queen, who in her later moons, lost interest in them anyway. She attended more and more patrols the older they got, and until the day she passed away, she seemed to only give them half the love a mother would usually feel.

Now, Rockkit and Redkit were apprentices! Their ceremony was not witnessed by Skyfeather, who was ridden to the medicine den. However, Blacktangle, the medicine cat, told them how much their mother was proud.
Rockpaw didn't feel proud. He felt weak.

He was training with Maplepaw again, because she barely gave him a choice! He lunged towards her, pinning her by her shoulders. Her muscular hind-legs easily kicked him off and into the grass. He wondered how her legs were so muscular! His were lean, but not built like hers. 

"Slow!" she taunted, lashing her ginger and white tail.
"Says the one who got pinned." Rockpaw growled.
"Says the one who got kicked off!"
"Says the one who got pinned."

Firepaw was nearby, watching them 'play.' All they did was argue, she noticed. She argued with Maplepaw, too, who was arrogant and whose mentor probably told her mean things about her denmates, Rockpaw and Firepaw, who some cats in the Clan mistrusted. 

Firepaw really wanted to train with her mentor. He was kind to her, and he taught her so much already. He had a big, round face with large, dark eyes. He was very charismatic, and she even loved to collect moss with him. Firepaw purred thinking about training with him again. If she was going to, she needed to eat first.