Post by ^(Dark)^ on Jan 14, 2007 3:14:11 GMT -5
This is a story of Sandstorm from the time she started as and apprentice to the end of the Darkest Hour. I may do past that to The New Prophecy, but I'm not sure yet.
Sandpaw blinked sleepiness out of her eyes. A voice was saying something a little ways off. It was a few days since she was made an apprentice and she couldn't wait for a other day's start. But she was sleepy! The voice continued and blinked a few more times until her vision cleared. The voice was Dustpaw. He was made an apprentice a little less then a half moon before her and so far they shared training together.
"Come on Sandpaw." Dustpaw was saying. "Whitestorm went out on dawn patrol and so Redtail said you can come out hunting with us."
Sandpaw pushed herself to her feet and her whiskers twitched. Hunting! Just the thought of catching a juicy mouse woke her up. "Then let's go!" she said and bounded out of the apprentices den.
Redtail was waiting at the camp entrance. The Clan deputy waved his tail in greeting before turning and heading out of the camp. Sandpaw followed, thinking of what prey she would catch. She licked her lips, pale green eyes shining.
As the three cats made there way through the forest Dustpaw commented. "Where not heading to the Sandy Hollow?"
"No, where going toward the Owl Tree." Redtail replied looking at his apprentice. "I'm glad you know the territory enough to know that where not heading that way."
Dustpaw puffed his chest out at his mentor's praise, eyes shining. It wasn't much being commented on knowing the territory; but it was still something.
"There won't be much prey near there, prey won't be near a owl's nest." Sandpaw said staring into the deputies eyes.
"Yes, but with less prey I'll see how you too fare at the harder hunting territories." Redtail countered.
Sandpaw just nodded and followed the two toms deeper in the woods.
When they got to the Owl Tree, Sandpaw's fur bristled. She knew owls only came to hunt at night and right now it was getting closer to sun high, she till knew that owls can carry off kits, she wasn't much bigger then a kit herself.
Redtail sat at the base of the tree and looked at the two apprentices. "Now, tell me what you scent?" he directed the question to Dustpaw but she still opened her mouth to take in the scent around her. She scented a mouse a little way beyond Redtail. She couldn't tell exactly where. She held her breath wondering if Dustpaw scent it as well.
"I can scent a vole." he replied pointing his tail toward the opposite direction Sandpaw scented the mouse.
"I scent a mouse over there." she pointed with her nose, the mouse's scent still filling her nostrils.
"Very good, both of you." Redtail purred. "Now lets see if you can catch it."
Dustpaw and Sandpaw stared at each other. They haven't learned that much hunting yet and where both surprised when they where asked to catch prey down-out.
"Well hurry up before the prey leaves." the tortoiseshell tom said staring at them.
Sandpaw took a deep breath and without looking at Dustpaw stepped carefully toward where she scented, or thought she scented the mouse. She took a deep breath her green eyes narrowed in concentration. Following Whitestorm's directions from yesterday she kept her weight on her haunches careful not to make impact on the forest floor. Stalking closer and closer she paused seeing the mouses brown body picking up a seed from the ground. She pounced. For a split second she felt the wind on her face as all for paws left the ground. Then the feeling ended and she pinned the tiny creature on the ground and bite into its neck triumphantly. Hearing a satisfied call from across the clearing she could tell Dustpaw caught his vole.
"Well done." Redtail meowed.
Sandpaw felt herself swell with pride. She caught a mouse, the deputy of her Clan congratulated her, all she had to do now was tell Whitestorm of her catch and her day will be perfect.
Later, Sandpaw walked over to Whitestorm, mouse still clung in her jaws.
"Did Dustpaw catch that?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
Sandpaw scoffed putting down her mouse. "No I did." she said staring at her mentor.
Whitestorm purred and touched her nose gently. "Only with one lesson on hunting, and you already caught some thing by yourself. You'll make a find hunter Sandpaw."
Sandpaw beamed her eyes twinkling in the growing light. "Thanks Whitestorm. she purred basking in her mentor's praise."
"Now go take it to the elders."
Sandpaw nodded and headed to the e;elders den.
Sandpaw was lazily licking her pelt her eyes half closed with tiredness. It was a few moons since she became an apprentice and now she and Dustpaw where joined by two others. Ravenpaw and Graypaw. She wasn't big friend's with them but they seemed OK- at the moment.
At that moment Graypaw entered the den his eyes showing a mix on confusion and semi-excitement.
"What happened?" Sandpaw accused her eyes narrowed.
Graypaw stared at her, it seemed he was deep in thought.
"I just ran into a kittypet in our territory." he purred.
"A kittypet! They will never fit in the forest." she growled and stared at Graypaw. "Did you chase it out?"
Graypaw opened his mouth, as if he was about to say some thing then closed it. He looked at her then went deeper inside the den to sleep.
Sandpaw sighed, 'New apprentices! What's with them.' she stopped grooming and closed her eyes. Kittypet, she couldn't imagine one fitting in the Clan. Graypaw said nothing like that but something made her whiskers twitch as she drifted off to sleep.
The next day Sandpaw noticed, Redtail, Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw about to leave camp. Dustpaw looked up and walked over to his mentor. "Can I come?" he asked his tail held high excepting, hoping, the answer was yes.
"No," Redtail replied simply. "Stay here, when we come back I'll take you to hunting"
Dustpaw lowered tail and murmured. "Yes Redtail." a look of disappointment crossed his face and he turned around and headed to to see if the elders needed anything.
Sandpaw stayed behind for a moment and caught Tigerclaw stare at Redtail an intense look on his eyes.
"Come on." he growled and motioned with his tail for Ravenpaw to follow him. Redtail stared at Sandpaw and with a nod of his head turned around and bounded after the other to cats.
Sandpaw was just helping the elders get more moss when she saw Whitestorm about to leave camp with Lionheart. She dropped the moss and walked over.
"Can I come?" she asked her mentor, saying the same words Dustpaw asked Redtail, hoping the answer will be different from her companion.
"No." Whitestorm said, "What where doing doesn't need much help."
"What is it you're doing." she asked. She wasn't going to give in easily.
Whitestorm said nothing but flicked his tail. After a moment he said calmly. "You'll see soon enough." he purred and, with Lionheart, left the camp.
Sandpaw sighed and turned around, seeing Graypaw staring at her.
"Do you know what their doing?" she asked, Lionheart was Graypaw's mentor and maybe he knew what the two warriors where doing.
Graypaw just gave her the same look he did last night. "I think their patrolling the border by Twolegplace." he replied finally.
'That shouldn't be that hard. What will a few kittypets do in our territory. No wonder Whitestorm said it'll be an easy task, he'll be back soon enough and then she'll see if they could go hunting with Redtail and Dustpaw. She stared at Graypaw before turning back to get the moss to the elders.
Sandpaw was sharing tongues with Dustpaw, letting the sun warm up her light ginger fur. Sandpaw sensed Whitestorm enter the camp with Lionheart, but there was a different scent with them as well. She looked up and by a movement next to her she could tell Dustpaw did the same.
There was Whitestorm and Lionheart, but a other unknown cat was with the, 'Did we catch a cat from a other Clan in our territory. she thought excitedly, then noticed a collar attached the the cats neck. "A kittypet!" she hissed and looked at Graypaw. "You knew this was going to happen?" she demanded glaring at the gray cat.
Graypaw's whiskers twitched and replied. "I told you I met a kittypet last night." he replied.
Sandpaw growled and looked at the newcomer. Bluestar was walking toward the returning group and spoke to her two senior warriors. A minute later she jumped on the Highrock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Sandpaw sighed, and hissed under her breath. "That kittypet better not stay." she then joined the other cats that where gathering by the Highrock.Her fur was bristling but she didn't dare say anything.
"ThunderClan needs more warriors, never before have we had so few apprentices in training."
Sandpaw thought angrily. 'We have plenty apprentices! We-' Her thoughts where interrupted when Bluestar continued.
"It has been decided that ThunderClan will take in an outsider to train as a warrior."
Sandpaw fur fluffed out her eyes went wide. 'Don't tell me she's saying a kittypet will stay here!' Cats around her started to mutter some had angry faces, others curious. Sandpaw- well it wasn't a happy feeling she felt.
Bluestar's yowl cut through the air and she continued. "I have found a cat who is willing to become an apprentice of ThunderClan."
Sandpaw hissed, 'I'm going to share a den with that kittypet. No way!' A little to her right some one voiced her thoughts.
"Lucky to become an apprentice."
Sandpaw looked over and saw Longtail standing up an angry look flashed in his eyes.
"Lionheart and Whitestorm have met this young cat and they agree with me that we should that we should train him with the other apprentices."
'Whitestorm!' Sandpaw thought angrily glaring at her mentor, but he didn't seem to notice.
She sighed and for the first time looked at Dustpaw. The young cat's eyes where narrowed and he glared at the newcomer with angry eyes. Sandpaw followed his gaze to the bright ginger tom, she could tell he was afraid. His fair-scent was obvious.
For a moment everything was silent. Then as if a some one turned on the volume, noise and complaints started to to raise from the cats. Sandpaw was to busy thinking her own thoughts to listen. 'Stupid kittypet, this is all Graypaw's fault. What made him go out last night anyway?' was one of the first. 'Why did Whitestorm have to go?' and 'I have to share a den with a kittypet'
She could hear Longtail again taunting the kittypet. Sandpaw, a long with many other cats, yowled with agreement.
She saw Lionheart say something to the kittypet. He stared at the cats until his eyes found Longtail, then he pounced. Sandpaw looked up in surprise. Longtail had no clue of the attack as much as she did. A moment later the two where in a mass of fur and claws. Sandpaw jumped away as the two cats came in her direction. Dustpaw's fur bristled beside her and he let out a faint hiss.
Suddenly Longtail had the kittypet's collar and was pulling it tight. Sandpaw edged closer watching with anticipation. A small snap filled the air and the ginger tom was free of his collar.
Sandpaw gasped and at that moment Bluestar leaped lightly down from the Highrock and silenced her Clan. She stepped forward and toke the collar from Longtail. Sandpaw could tell both cats where injured, she had to admit the kittypet put up a good fight. They way the two where looking at each other, she knew they were quiet done yet.
"The newcomer has lost his Twoleg collar in a battle for his honor. StarClan has spoken its approval." Bluestar said clearly. "This cat has been released from the hold of his Twolegs owners, and is free to join ThunderClan as an apprentice."
The kittypet nodded and stepped forward, letting the warmth hit his shoulders. His ginger pelt seemed to light up in the sunlight. Sandpaw said nothing, and neither did the other cats surrounding her.
Bluestar walked over to him and dropped his old collar at his paws. Touching his ear gently Bluestar murmured something then turned to her Clan.
"From this day forward until he earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Firepaw, in honor of his flame-colored coat." Sandpaw had to agree with her leader, Firepaw's coat did seem like a flame in the sun light. Bluestar stepped back and Firepaw kicked dust and grass over his collar.
The cats started to split in groups and Sandpaw turned to Dustpaw. "Can you believe this!?" she asked outraged. "We'll have to share a den with a kittypet." Dustpaw nodded his agreement as the two apprentices headed away from the other cats. "Yeah, I wonder what Redtail will think." Sandpaw looked at the camp entrance and wondered when the deputy will get back. If they wanted to go hunting he needed to get back soon.
Suddenly Smallear let out a yowl. Sandpaw looked at the old tom and then at the entrance, where Ravenpaw was just bursting through. He seemed mattered, it was obvious he been in a battle.
Dustpaw ran forward looking behind his fellow apprentice for his mentor. Sandpaw followed and spotted Graypaw and Firepaw talking.
Bluestar stepped forward. "Ravenpaw?" she asked her voice calm, her eyes filled with worry. "Speak, Ravenpaw!"
Ravenpaw struggled to get up on Highrock and Sandpaw was watching him anxiously. Why weren't Redtail and Tigerclaw with them? She looked at Dustpaw who kept staring at the entrance but his head jerked to stare in horror at the apprentice as he said his next words.
"Redtail is dead!"
Sandpaw's fur immediately bristled up. She glanced over at Dustpaw, her friend seemed frozen to the spot eyes wide with grief and horror. She pressed against her friend comfortably and licked between his ears. She was to shocked to say anything and hardly noticed what Ravenpaw was saying. When she did she stared at the black cat but his wound was too much and fell off the Highrock.
Goldenflower ran over and cried for the medicine cat. "Spottedleaf!"
Sandpaw noticed the tortoiseshell she-cat leave her den and ran over to Ravenpaw. Sandpaw took her eyes off the black apprentice and looked at her paws. First a kittypet joining the Clan and now, Redtail was dead. She gulped her eyes felt watery from frustration and sorrow.
She looked up as she heard Tigerclaw by the entrance. He was carrying-
"Redtail!" Looking next to her the brown tabby stood up his tail completely fluffed up. "No, no no." He stood up and started to gather around the other cats to share tongues with his mentor one last time. Sandpaw stood frozen for a moment before she stood up and joined them.
Sandpaw stared at Redtail and bent down, licking behind the ears like a queen will do. "You where a great deputy, I will never forget the help you where to Dustpaw and me." she purred then backed away.
The rest of the night seemed to go by in the blur. Sandpaw stayed with Dustpaw as he sat a silent vidil for hid mentor. Bluestar named Lionheart as the new deputy and Sandpaw finally walked toward the apprentices den.
---not done-----
Chapter One
[/b][/u]Sandpaw blinked sleepiness out of her eyes. A voice was saying something a little ways off. It was a few days since she was made an apprentice and she couldn't wait for a other day's start. But she was sleepy! The voice continued and blinked a few more times until her vision cleared. The voice was Dustpaw. He was made an apprentice a little less then a half moon before her and so far they shared training together.
"Come on Sandpaw." Dustpaw was saying. "Whitestorm went out on dawn patrol and so Redtail said you can come out hunting with us."
Sandpaw pushed herself to her feet and her whiskers twitched. Hunting! Just the thought of catching a juicy mouse woke her up. "Then let's go!" she said and bounded out of the apprentices den.
Redtail was waiting at the camp entrance. The Clan deputy waved his tail in greeting before turning and heading out of the camp. Sandpaw followed, thinking of what prey she would catch. She licked her lips, pale green eyes shining.
As the three cats made there way through the forest Dustpaw commented. "Where not heading to the Sandy Hollow?"
"No, where going toward the Owl Tree." Redtail replied looking at his apprentice. "I'm glad you know the territory enough to know that where not heading that way."
Dustpaw puffed his chest out at his mentor's praise, eyes shining. It wasn't much being commented on knowing the territory; but it was still something.
"There won't be much prey near there, prey won't be near a owl's nest." Sandpaw said staring into the deputies eyes.
"Yes, but with less prey I'll see how you too fare at the harder hunting territories." Redtail countered.
Sandpaw just nodded and followed the two toms deeper in the woods.
***
When they got to the Owl Tree, Sandpaw's fur bristled. She knew owls only came to hunt at night and right now it was getting closer to sun high, she till knew that owls can carry off kits, she wasn't much bigger then a kit herself.
Redtail sat at the base of the tree and looked at the two apprentices. "Now, tell me what you scent?" he directed the question to Dustpaw but she still opened her mouth to take in the scent around her. She scented a mouse a little way beyond Redtail. She couldn't tell exactly where. She held her breath wondering if Dustpaw scent it as well.
"I can scent a vole." he replied pointing his tail toward the opposite direction Sandpaw scented the mouse.
"I scent a mouse over there." she pointed with her nose, the mouse's scent still filling her nostrils.
"Very good, both of you." Redtail purred. "Now lets see if you can catch it."
Dustpaw and Sandpaw stared at each other. They haven't learned that much hunting yet and where both surprised when they where asked to catch prey down-out.
"Well hurry up before the prey leaves." the tortoiseshell tom said staring at them.
Sandpaw took a deep breath and without looking at Dustpaw stepped carefully toward where she scented, or thought she scented the mouse. She took a deep breath her green eyes narrowed in concentration. Following Whitestorm's directions from yesterday she kept her weight on her haunches careful not to make impact on the forest floor. Stalking closer and closer she paused seeing the mouses brown body picking up a seed from the ground. She pounced. For a split second she felt the wind on her face as all for paws left the ground. Then the feeling ended and she pinned the tiny creature on the ground and bite into its neck triumphantly. Hearing a satisfied call from across the clearing she could tell Dustpaw caught his vole.
"Well done." Redtail meowed.
Sandpaw felt herself swell with pride. She caught a mouse, the deputy of her Clan congratulated her, all she had to do now was tell Whitestorm of her catch and her day will be perfect.
Chapter Two
[/u][/center]Later, Sandpaw walked over to Whitestorm, mouse still clung in her jaws.
"Did Dustpaw catch that?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
Sandpaw scoffed putting down her mouse. "No I did." she said staring at her mentor.
Whitestorm purred and touched her nose gently. "Only with one lesson on hunting, and you already caught some thing by yourself. You'll make a find hunter Sandpaw."
Sandpaw beamed her eyes twinkling in the growing light. "Thanks Whitestorm. she purred basking in her mentor's praise."
"Now go take it to the elders."
Sandpaw nodded and headed to the e;elders den.
***
Sandpaw was lazily licking her pelt her eyes half closed with tiredness. It was a few moons since she became an apprentice and now she and Dustpaw where joined by two others. Ravenpaw and Graypaw. She wasn't big friend's with them but they seemed OK- at the moment.
At that moment Graypaw entered the den his eyes showing a mix on confusion and semi-excitement.
"What happened?" Sandpaw accused her eyes narrowed.
Graypaw stared at her, it seemed he was deep in thought.
"I just ran into a kittypet in our territory." he purred.
"A kittypet! They will never fit in the forest." she growled and stared at Graypaw. "Did you chase it out?"
Graypaw opened his mouth, as if he was about to say some thing then closed it. He looked at her then went deeper inside the den to sleep.
Sandpaw sighed, 'New apprentices! What's with them.' she stopped grooming and closed her eyes. Kittypet, she couldn't imagine one fitting in the Clan. Graypaw said nothing like that but something made her whiskers twitch as she drifted off to sleep.
The next day Sandpaw noticed, Redtail, Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw about to leave camp. Dustpaw looked up and walked over to his mentor. "Can I come?" he asked his tail held high excepting, hoping, the answer was yes.
"No," Redtail replied simply. "Stay here, when we come back I'll take you to hunting"
Dustpaw lowered tail and murmured. "Yes Redtail." a look of disappointment crossed his face and he turned around and headed to to see if the elders needed anything.
Sandpaw stayed behind for a moment and caught Tigerclaw stare at Redtail an intense look on his eyes.
"Come on." he growled and motioned with his tail for Ravenpaw to follow him. Redtail stared at Sandpaw and with a nod of his head turned around and bounded after the other to cats.
Sandpaw was just helping the elders get more moss when she saw Whitestorm about to leave camp with Lionheart. She dropped the moss and walked over.
"Can I come?" she asked her mentor, saying the same words Dustpaw asked Redtail, hoping the answer will be different from her companion.
"No." Whitestorm said, "What where doing doesn't need much help."
"What is it you're doing." she asked. She wasn't going to give in easily.
Whitestorm said nothing but flicked his tail. After a moment he said calmly. "You'll see soon enough." he purred and, with Lionheart, left the camp.
Sandpaw sighed and turned around, seeing Graypaw staring at her.
"Do you know what their doing?" she asked, Lionheart was Graypaw's mentor and maybe he knew what the two warriors where doing.
Graypaw just gave her the same look he did last night. "I think their patrolling the border by Twolegplace." he replied finally.
'That shouldn't be that hard. What will a few kittypets do in our territory. No wonder Whitestorm said it'll be an easy task, he'll be back soon enough and then she'll see if they could go hunting with Redtail and Dustpaw. She stared at Graypaw before turning back to get the moss to the elders.
Sandpaw was sharing tongues with Dustpaw, letting the sun warm up her light ginger fur. Sandpaw sensed Whitestorm enter the camp with Lionheart, but there was a different scent with them as well. She looked up and by a movement next to her she could tell Dustpaw did the same.
There was Whitestorm and Lionheart, but a other unknown cat was with the, 'Did we catch a cat from a other Clan in our territory. she thought excitedly, then noticed a collar attached the the cats neck. "A kittypet!" she hissed and looked at Graypaw. "You knew this was going to happen?" she demanded glaring at the gray cat.
Graypaw's whiskers twitched and replied. "I told you I met a kittypet last night." he replied.
Sandpaw growled and looked at the newcomer. Bluestar was walking toward the returning group and spoke to her two senior warriors. A minute later she jumped on the Highrock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Sandpaw sighed, and hissed under her breath. "That kittypet better not stay." she then joined the other cats that where gathering by the Highrock.Her fur was bristling but she didn't dare say anything.
"ThunderClan needs more warriors, never before have we had so few apprentices in training."
Sandpaw thought angrily. 'We have plenty apprentices! We-' Her thoughts where interrupted when Bluestar continued.
"It has been decided that ThunderClan will take in an outsider to train as a warrior."
Sandpaw fur fluffed out her eyes went wide. 'Don't tell me she's saying a kittypet will stay here!' Cats around her started to mutter some had angry faces, others curious. Sandpaw- well it wasn't a happy feeling she felt.
Bluestar's yowl cut through the air and she continued. "I have found a cat who is willing to become an apprentice of ThunderClan."
Sandpaw hissed, 'I'm going to share a den with that kittypet. No way!' A little to her right some one voiced her thoughts.
"Lucky to become an apprentice."
Sandpaw looked over and saw Longtail standing up an angry look flashed in his eyes.
"Lionheart and Whitestorm have met this young cat and they agree with me that we should that we should train him with the other apprentices."
'Whitestorm!' Sandpaw thought angrily glaring at her mentor, but he didn't seem to notice.
She sighed and for the first time looked at Dustpaw. The young cat's eyes where narrowed and he glared at the newcomer with angry eyes. Sandpaw followed his gaze to the bright ginger tom, she could tell he was afraid. His fair-scent was obvious.
For a moment everything was silent. Then as if a some one turned on the volume, noise and complaints started to to raise from the cats. Sandpaw was to busy thinking her own thoughts to listen. 'Stupid kittypet, this is all Graypaw's fault. What made him go out last night anyway?' was one of the first. 'Why did Whitestorm have to go?' and 'I have to share a den with a kittypet'
She could hear Longtail again taunting the kittypet. Sandpaw, a long with many other cats, yowled with agreement.
She saw Lionheart say something to the kittypet. He stared at the cats until his eyes found Longtail, then he pounced. Sandpaw looked up in surprise. Longtail had no clue of the attack as much as she did. A moment later the two where in a mass of fur and claws. Sandpaw jumped away as the two cats came in her direction. Dustpaw's fur bristled beside her and he let out a faint hiss.
Suddenly Longtail had the kittypet's collar and was pulling it tight. Sandpaw edged closer watching with anticipation. A small snap filled the air and the ginger tom was free of his collar.
Sandpaw gasped and at that moment Bluestar leaped lightly down from the Highrock and silenced her Clan. She stepped forward and toke the collar from Longtail. Sandpaw could tell both cats where injured, she had to admit the kittypet put up a good fight. They way the two where looking at each other, she knew they were quiet done yet.
"The newcomer has lost his Twoleg collar in a battle for his honor. StarClan has spoken its approval." Bluestar said clearly. "This cat has been released from the hold of his Twolegs owners, and is free to join ThunderClan as an apprentice."
The kittypet nodded and stepped forward, letting the warmth hit his shoulders. His ginger pelt seemed to light up in the sunlight. Sandpaw said nothing, and neither did the other cats surrounding her.
Bluestar walked over to him and dropped his old collar at his paws. Touching his ear gently Bluestar murmured something then turned to her Clan.
"From this day forward until he earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Firepaw, in honor of his flame-colored coat." Sandpaw had to agree with her leader, Firepaw's coat did seem like a flame in the sun light. Bluestar stepped back and Firepaw kicked dust and grass over his collar.
The cats started to split in groups and Sandpaw turned to Dustpaw. "Can you believe this!?" she asked outraged. "We'll have to share a den with a kittypet." Dustpaw nodded his agreement as the two apprentices headed away from the other cats. "Yeah, I wonder what Redtail will think." Sandpaw looked at the camp entrance and wondered when the deputy will get back. If they wanted to go hunting he needed to get back soon.
Suddenly Smallear let out a yowl. Sandpaw looked at the old tom and then at the entrance, where Ravenpaw was just bursting through. He seemed mattered, it was obvious he been in a battle.
Dustpaw ran forward looking behind his fellow apprentice for his mentor. Sandpaw followed and spotted Graypaw and Firepaw talking.
Bluestar stepped forward. "Ravenpaw?" she asked her voice calm, her eyes filled with worry. "Speak, Ravenpaw!"
Ravenpaw struggled to get up on Highrock and Sandpaw was watching him anxiously. Why weren't Redtail and Tigerclaw with them? She looked at Dustpaw who kept staring at the entrance but his head jerked to stare in horror at the apprentice as he said his next words.
"Redtail is dead!"
Sandpaw's fur immediately bristled up. She glanced over at Dustpaw, her friend seemed frozen to the spot eyes wide with grief and horror. She pressed against her friend comfortably and licked between his ears. She was to shocked to say anything and hardly noticed what Ravenpaw was saying. When she did she stared at the black cat but his wound was too much and fell off the Highrock.
Goldenflower ran over and cried for the medicine cat. "Spottedleaf!"
Sandpaw noticed the tortoiseshell she-cat leave her den and ran over to Ravenpaw. Sandpaw took her eyes off the black apprentice and looked at her paws. First a kittypet joining the Clan and now, Redtail was dead. She gulped her eyes felt watery from frustration and sorrow.
She looked up as she heard Tigerclaw by the entrance. He was carrying-
"Redtail!" Looking next to her the brown tabby stood up his tail completely fluffed up. "No, no no." He stood up and started to gather around the other cats to share tongues with his mentor one last time. Sandpaw stood frozen for a moment before she stood up and joined them.
Sandpaw stared at Redtail and bent down, licking behind the ears like a queen will do. "You where a great deputy, I will never forget the help you where to Dustpaw and me." she purred then backed away.
The rest of the night seemed to go by in the blur. Sandpaw stayed with Dustpaw as he sat a silent vidil for hid mentor. Bluestar named Lionheart as the new deputy and Sandpaw finally walked toward the apprentices den.
---not done-----
