Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 13

Heartkit slunk into the nursery. Stormpelt had gone out once again and it was almost night. The nursery was empty. Heartkit just wanted to curl up under Sandiwng and sleep. He didn't understand why Stormpelt was angry and he didn't want to talk to him either. The nursery was dark and eerie with nobody inside. Heartkit felt a loneliness around him and stifled a yawn. He wondered when Sandwing was returning. He curled up into a ball, feeling no warmth. He closed his small eyes and tried to sleep. Sleep wouldn't come. Finally, he crept out of the nursery to find Sandwing. He spotted her near the warrior's den, eating a mouse. He raced up to her, suddenly feeling lighter. 

            "Sandwing!" he cried. "When are you going to sleep? The nursery is really cold." Sandwing watched him with cold eyes tinged with...guilt. 

            "I'm going to sleep when I finish my meal," answered Sandwing. Heartkit shuffled next to her and and waited for her to finish. Finally, she finished the mouse and she got up. Heartkit bounced up happily. Time to sleep. 

            "Goodnight Heartkit," said Sandwing. Heartkit followed her as she turned around and padded away. She entered the warriors den and disappeared. Heartkit trotted up to the warrior's den, confused. He cocked his head, waiting for Sandwing to come back out. He sat down and waited. The warrior's den was quiet and only the soft sound of breathing could be heard. After a while, Heartkit had a feeling Sandwing was not coming out again till the morning. The camp entrance's brambles ruffled and Stormpelt appeared, slinking back into camp. He spotted Heartkit, not sleeping yet. He felt a pang of guilt. He shouldn't have gotten angry. Heartkit should have long been sleeping beside Sandwing in the nursery. He padded towards his kit. Heartkit looked up and his face turned into an uncertain smile. Stormpelt brushed his tail to Heartkit's flank and bent down to nuzzle him. 

            "I'm sorry I got angry," he apologised softly. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Stormpelt felt giult engulf him. Heartkit shrugged sadly. 

            "Sandwing is sleeping in the warrior's den," he admitted. 

           "What do you mean?" cried Stormpelt, anger rising. 

           "She went to sleep in the warrior's den," Heartkit repeated. Stormpelt softened and looked at his kit lovingly. 

           "I'm going to talk to her," Stormpelt said. He entered the warrior's den and spotted Sandwing, curled up in her corner in her nest. He prodded her on the stomach and she rolled away and hissed. Her eyes slowly opened then when she saw Stormpelt, she sprung to her feet. 

             "What is it?" she asked. Stormpelt bristled. 

            "You're sleeping here?" he accused. "You're going to leave Heartkit alone, to sleep in the nursery?" Sandwing looked away, ashamed. 

           "He's not my kit. I've had enough, doing nothing for six moons," she said. 

           "That doesn't mean you can leave him alone. Has these last four moons, taking care for Heartkit not brung love for you?" Stormpelt bristled. A few warriors awoke and mumbled but then realised it was Stormpelt and watched sleepily. 

           "Well, he's not my kit," Sandwing turned away. 

           "He's my kit!" Stormpelt shouted angrily. 

           "I'm not going back to the nursery," Sandwing said finally. Stormpelt felt fury bubbling in him and stormed out. He marched to Pinestar's den. Pinestar, hearing the commotion, joined him outside, eyebrows raised. 

            "Sandwing does not want to sleep in the nursery. She's leaving Heartkit alone," Stormpelt almost growled. Pinestar soothed Stormpelt. 

            "You are the deputy, you should be the one talking to her," Pinestar said. Stormpelt almost said "but you're the leader". 

             "Stormpelt, Heartkit isn't Sandwing's kit so it is her choice. I can't force her, only you can talk to her," Pinestar said gently. Stormpelt sighed, seeing sense. 

             "I don't want to talk to her," he said and walked away towards Heartkit. He picked Heartkit up by the scruff and brought him into the nursery. He lay down and Hearkit looked at him with curious eyes. 

             "Where's Sandwing?" he asked. 

            "I'm sleeping with you," Stormpelt told Heartkit. Heartkit bounded up to his father's side, glowing with happiness. "Goodnight Heartkit. I love you." Stormpelt had never had a better sleep then sleeping with his kit. His heart