Firestar & Sandstorm/Spottedleaf

1

  Firestar felt his life ebbing away as lightning struck the fallen beech tree beside him and flames lapped at his body. But he was ready to go to StarClan-especially when there was a beautiful medicine cat waiting for him. He felt his body fall to the ground, and everything blacked out for a moment. 

  Suddenly, something stirred inside him and his spirit stepped out of his body. 

  "His spirit is leaving," Jayfeather murmured somewhere behind him. 

  Firestar flexed his muscles-he felt young and energetic. Sweeping his gaze slowly around his Clan, he met every one of their gazes, lingering on Sandstorm's. 

  "It's time to go," Bluestar breathed. 

  Firestar dipped his head to Brambleclaw, then leaned down and touched his muzzle to Sandstorm's. Their eyes met, and Firestar saw all the grief in Sandstorm's eyes. He returned the look, but sadness still bloomed in her eyes as he turned and followed the StarClan cats out of the hollow. 

  As Firestar soared upwards, he replayed the moment of terror when he had seen Sandstorm underneath the claws of a deadly cat-Mapleshade. But then Spottedleaf had leaped in a second before Sandstorm was struck. She flung Mapleshade off, and Firestar heard Mapleshade taunt Spottedleaf. 

  Spottedleaf's eyes filled with grief and pain for a moment, and then she spat venomously, "There was nothing to steal. Sandstorm made him happy!" 

  Mapleshade lunged at her. Spottedleaf rolled under the warriors weight, paws flailing as she fell. It was almost the end of her as Mapleshade raised her paws when she hesitated. At that same moment, Sandstorm got to her bearings and barrelled against the Dark Forest cat. Mapleshade was beaten two to one when Firestar joined her. Mapleshade hissed but retreated into the bushes. Firestar then turned to Spottedleaf.  

  "Spottedleaf! Are you okay?" He rushed forward, and Spottedleaf gazed at him with a knowledge he never knew she possessed in her eyes. She got up and dipped her head to him.

  "I'm fine. Sandstorm is not." She said quietly. 

   Firestar blinked, then turned to a limping Sandstorm and bent over her. "Sandstorm-" he was broken off when Spottedleaf's sweet scent overlapped him. 

  "I'll be waiting, my love," she whispered in her melodious voice. 

  Firestar jerked his head up in surprise, but Spottedleaf was gone. He looked again for her, but Sandstorm's pained hiss made him look back down at his mate. "Sandstorm, are you okay?" He had asked worriedly. 

  The memory dissolved as Lionheart nudged him. "Hey, welcome to StarClan." Firestar looked up and saw the beautiful forest. Prey scuttled in the undergrowth, and the sun shone warmly here. The sun ray's filtered through the canopy, and Firestar enjoyed the rays of the sun beating down on him. The cats were all gathered in a clearing, and he quickly claimed a nest underneath an oak tree. "Settle in," Lionheart said as he glanced in amusement at Firestar. "This place is calling our Clearing." He informed Firestar as the former leader settled down. Once he had laid down, he found himself searching for a cat...But who? 

  Then remembered the cat he was searching for. A very special cat.

  "Where's Spottedleaf?" Firestar asked immediately. 

  Lionheart let out a loud purr. "So eager, eh?" Then he waved his tail towards the beautiful tortoise-shell she-cat a few meters away. She was talking to Silverstream. 

  Firestar turned towards her and ran forward. "Spottedleaf!" He purred loudly.   

  Spottedleaf's head turned and her gaze filled with happiness when she caught sight of him. Flicking her tail to mean that the conversation was over, she padded over to him. "Firestar," she murmured. "Welcome to StarClan." She purred, glancing up at him with adoring eyes. 

  Firestar blinked down at her and gave her a lick on the ear. "I'm so glad you could welcome me to StarClan. You almost didn't make it, but Sandstorm saved you." Firestar felt a cloud of sadness overshadow him when he remembered his mate. 

  Spottedleaf's tail twined with his, and Firestar allowed his heart to release a little. Right now, he could enjoy Spottedleaf's care and kindness. Sandstorm could wait. Besides, Sandstorm was well on her own. The Clan could take care of her, unlike Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf needed someone to be there for her, and Firestar set a strong mindset to be that special someone. Firestar touched his muzzle with Spottedleaf's, and the cloud was gone.  

  "Yes. Sandstorm." Spottedleaf's eyes clouded with jealousy, he thought, but it was gone almost a second later. Maybe he imagined it. "So, where's your nest?" She asked brightly. 

  Firestar pointed over to the oak tree. "There." 

  "Oh, my nest is there." Spottedleaf waved her tail towards a nest on the opposite side of the clearing. "Can I sleep with you for tonight? To welcome you?" She asked innocently. Firestar blinked, he never remembered Spottedleaf being so...so... "Well?" She prompted, breaking his thoughts. 

  "Er-sure!" He purred, tightening the twine with her tail. 

  "Perfect. For now, I want to show you something." Spottedleaf purred, licking Firestar's cheek. Firestar excitedly bounced, "Follow me." Spottedleaf broke away from him, and Firestar felt a cold sensation where she had just been a heartbeat before. 

  Firestar raced after her, not wanting to lose sight of her. I'm not going to lose her now! He thought. Then he shook himself and reminded himself that this was StarClan. Spottedleaf would always be here, and he will always be with her. 

  Wait, what? Firestar blinked, shocked at his thoughts. Just then, Spottedleaf stopped and looked back at him. "Are you coming or not, slow slug?" She darted back and playfully hit his nose. 

  Firestar purred, "Of course. Don't call me that!" He licked her nose, and she twitched her ears in surprise, then it melted to pleasure. When Firestar turned away to walk on, her expression of pleasure turned to delight. 

  I'm getting him. By the time Sandstorm joins StarClan, he won't even be noticing her! She thought, This is where I lost him. But I will get him back.  This is for all the time I was up here while he was...frolicking with that sandy good-for-nothing she-cat! 

Author's Note: Hope you guys liked this chapter! More to come. I changed the words a bit from the original book- The Last Hope. What do you think of it? Do you think Spottedleaf can be really that evil? No offense to those Spottedleaf lovers out there! I would love to hear everyone's opinion, though. :) Oh, and I made up the name Clearing for the clearing where Firestar made his nest. I'm not sure what name it is called, but I remember it was mentioned in one of the Warriors' book. If you do know the name, let me know!

~Jayhow 😋