Sandstorm

Sandstorm is a pale ginger she-cat with barely visible tabby stripes of darker fur and pale green eyes.

Into the Wild

 * Sandpaw is one of the older apprentices in ThunderClan, along with Dustpaw. Redtail, Sandpaw's father, is killed in a battle against RiverClan, supposedly while fighting Oakheart. Her mentor was Whitestorm, and one of her best friends was her fellow Clanmate, Dustpaw. Sandpaw and Dustpaw together mocked Firepaw because he was once a kittypet, and both were furious that, even though they had been apprenticed first, Firepaw and Graypaw were made into warriors before they were. Sandpaw and Dustpaw openly mock Firepaw during the Clan meeting about what to do with Yellowfang.

Fire and Ice

 * Once Fireheart and Graystripe finish their vigil, Sandpaw, along with Dustpaw, greet them with open hostility. Later, she joins Tigerclaw, Willowpelt, and Whitestorm on a patrol to support Fireheart, Graystripe, and their WindClan escorts in a border skirmish against RiverClan. Locked in a tussle with another warrior, she almost falls off the edge of the gorge, and is saved by Fireheart. Sandpaw yowls angrily at him, "I can win my own battles without your help!" Then she realizes that she was an inch away from death and how Fireheart had saved her. She begins to show feelings for him, to Dustpaw's dismay. Since then, when Dustpaw mocked Fireheart, she looked at the fiery warrior with a confused glance, instead of taunting him.


 * She helped Fireheart find Cloudkit when he had wandered away from the Clan camp during leaf-bare.


 * She fought in the battle against the rogues led by Brokentail that attacked ThunderClan. She was received her warrior name, Sandstorm, after Fireheart told Bluestar of her bravery when fighting off the rouges. She kept her warrior's vigil with Dustpaw, now called Dustpelt.

Forest of Secrets

 * She catches Fireheart and Graystripe going the opposite direction when the Clan is leaving the Gathering. Fireheart asks her to tell Bluestar they are going hunting when they really are going to see Ravenpaw. She is sleeping next to Dustpelt when Fireheart returns and she tells him she told Tigerclaw, but he didn't believe her. She then sleeps next to Fireheart, receiving a glare and snort of disapproval from Dustpelt.


 * Later on, she runs into Fireheart and Graystripe when they are on their way to visit Graystripe's kits in the nursery. Fireheart asks if he will see her in the den later which she replies with saying she'd see him, but keep Graystripe away from her. This showing that she didn't like the fact Graystripe had a mate in a different Clan.


 * She was sent out on a hunting patrol by Tigerclaw along Snakerocks, but was fetched by Cloudpaw once he and Fireheart discovered that rouges were going to attack the Clan. However, her patrol returns shortly after the fight is over and fetches Tigerclaw out of Bluestar's den along with Brackenfur. When Moonhigh has come and gone and Bluestar still hasn't named a new deputy she tells Fireheart. Sandstorm is annoyed that Bluestar won't set paw out of her den. She is among the first and small few cats to congratulate Fireheart for becoming deputy.

Rising Storm

 * When Cloudpaw is stolen away by Twolegs, Fireheart is devastated, and tells Sandstorm that he now has no one in the Clan he's close to. This hurts Sandstorm, knowing that she loves him, and she argues, saying that he has her and she apparently didn't mean anything. Later on, Fireheart apologizes, and Sandstorm is quick to forgive him.
 * Her love for Fireheart now becomes very obvious, although Fireheart seems unaware of it, so that even Cinderpelt has to tell him, "Fireheart, every cat in the Clan can see that Sandstorm is very, very fond of you!".


 * She travels with him to the Twoleg farms near Barley and Ravenpaw's barn with Fireheart and Ravenpaw to find the stolen Cloudpaw. On the way to the Twoleg nest, she and Fireheart were chased by two dogs, but manage to climb a tree before being attacked. On their return journey, they are stopped by the WindClan warriors Mudclaw, Deadfoot, and Mudclaw's apprentice, Webpaw. She and Cloudpaw drive away Mudclaw. Throughout the book she becomes a cat for Fireheart to confide in, and she also becomes concerned about Bluestar.

A Dangerous Path

 * When Fireheart goes behind Bluestar's back, arranging a peace meeting with WindClan, she says what a bad idea that is, asking Dustpelt if he agrees with her. He says that he thinks it is a good idea, for once choosing Fireheart's side instead of Sandstorm's.


 * When Fireheart chooses Brackenfur to mentor Tawnypaw, instead of Sandstorm, who was more experienced as a warrior and still hadn't yet had an apprentice, she becomes very irritable towards him, refusing to speak to him, and spending most of her time with Graystripe.


 * On the morning before the dog patrol, Fireheart approaches Sandstorm and asks her to come. She says she understands, and then Fireheart makes the ultimate apology and tells her he loves her. She says she loves him too, and she goes. She is also one of the cats in the line to the gorge.

The Darkest Hour

 * Sandstorm and Firestar are now openly mates. It is hard for Sandstorm to comprehend that it will be harder for Firestar to spend time with her, now that he is leader. Sandstorm seems to work out just fine to spend time with Firestar.


 * Before the battle with BloodClan, Firestar is comforted by Sandstorm when she talks to him. Also Sandstorm is seen training Sorrelkit, Sootkit,and Rainkit how to fight in case of an attack on the camp. The three all argue that they want Sandstorm to be their mentor, but Firestar decides that Sandstorm will be mentor to Sorrelkit.


 * Sandstorm fought with LionClan against BloodClan, and helped them win. She also witnesses Firestar make Graystripe deputy after Whitestorm's death. Firestar was seen running towards her, after the battle with Bloodclan saying "Thank StarClan!"

Firestar's Quest

 * Firestar sleeps at Smudge's house. Sandstorm and Graystripe both think that Firestar is going to tell them that he is going back to live with his Twolegs, and she asks him how he can abandon his Clan and herself to go look for other cats. Firestar asks her to travel with him to rebuild SkyClan.


 * While traveling during a storm, Sandstorm suggests that they spend the night in an abandoned Twoleg nest, but as Firestar steps inside he becomes frightened from his kittypet origins and insists that they find another place to rest. While they are looking, Sandstorm gets swept away by a giant wave. Firestar regrets the argument over his feelings for Spottedleaf that Sandstorm and him had been having moments before she was lost, as well as not staying in the Twoleg nest. He spends the next few chapters of the book desperately searching for his beloved mate. He eventually finds her and she insists on playing an equal role in the quest of rebuilding SkyClan. Sandstorm does most of the hunting during the book, and even manages to catch a fish. According to Firestar she acted like a WindClan cat when she caught a rabbit and a RiverClan cat when she caught the fish.


 * Sandstorm takes up the role of part time medicine cat for SkyClan when Patchfoot is injured by rats and Sandstorm is the only cat who has any basic knowledge of herbs which she learned from Cinderpelt before she and Firestar began their journey. She gets very upset when Spottedleaf comes to help Sandstorm heal Patchfoot, and Firestar lets it slip that he and Spottedleaf had seen each other before. Sandstorm insists that Firestar loves Spottedleaf and how the two had always seemed to belong together when Firestar first joined the Clan. Spottedleaf could not choose a mate, even if she desperately wanted to. Firestar also tells Sandstorm he would love her for all the moons to come and she would never be second-best to him. Though Spottedleaf would always be Firestar's first love, she reveals his love for Sandstorm belonged in the life they shared and would last for all the moons to come, basically saying that he now loves Sandstorm more than Spottedleaf. Sandstorm accepts, although gets slightly tense when Firestar brings up the name of the tortoiseshell she-cat again.


 * In the fight against the rats, Sandstorm refuses to leave Firestar in the barn and later chooses to save him over Rainfur, who dies. Together, Sandstorm and Firestar leave SkyClan and return home to ThunderClan.


 * In the epilogue, she gives birth to Firestar's kits: Squirrelkit and Leafkit. It was suspected by Firestar that she named Leafkit after Leafstar, or even Spottedleaf.

Midnight

 * Sandstorm was talking to Firestar about the tiger in the fire on the burning bramble bush. Sandstorm agreed that they must keep Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw apart. Soon after the two young cats disappear, Sandstorm mentions that the two could have been prophesied to save them. Sandstorm had also been telling Firestar that you don't demand off of Squirrelpaw, she will just get more stubborn, just to make it difficult. She worries with Firestar about Squirrelpaw and hopes that she will come back.

Moonrise

 * Sandstorm is worried for both of her kits who have gone missing. She prays to StarClan that they are safe.

Dawn

 * Sandstorm is among the ThunderClan patrol who witnesses the destruction of FourTrees. Sandstorm rejoices in the return of both her kits, Squirrelpaw, who had journeyed to the Sun-Drown-Place, and Leafpaw, who had been captured by Twolegs.


 * When Graystripe was captured by Twolegs, Sandstorm and Brambleclaw are the cats who did most of his jobs as deputy. Sandstorm also does her best to comfort Firestar after Graystripe is captured and when it comes time to leave Graystripe behind.

Starlight

 * She helps ThunderClan settle into their new home. Being one of the best hunters in the Clan, she helps stock up the fresh-kill pile in the new camp.

Twilight

 * Sandstorm starts to notice Squirrelflight's feelings for Ashfur. She tells Squirrelflight she needs to stop quarreling with Brambleclaw since their friendship had slipped away. She is also mentioned a couple of other times.


 * Leafpool approaches Sandstorm when she is troubled with her relationship with Crowfeather, but Sandstorm is talking to Dustpelt about the best hunting grounds.

Sunset

 * When Brambleclaw tells Firestar that he needs to get a new deputy, Sandstorm agrees and helps him convince the stubborn leader. After some convincing, Firestar loses hope, and admits Graystripe is probably dead. She chooses Brambleclaw, her daughter Squirrelflight's mate, as the new deputy. Firestar breaks the warrior code here, because Brambleclaw has never had an apprentice, but Sandstorm takes no notice.

The Sight

 * In the prologue of the book, it is revealed that Firestar never shared the prophecy Skywatcher had given him with Sandstorm. Sandstorm is seen mostly in short scenes, normally alongside Firestar. She is now the mentor of Honeypaw, who, after Sorreltail, is her second apprentice.

Dark River

 * She is seen mostly alongside Firestar. When she is mentioned, it is only in short scenes.

Outcast

 * Sandstorm is slightly annoyed when her apprentice, Honeypaw, goes on and on about Berrynose. She also agrees with Leafpool that Lionpaw, Hollypaw, and Jaypaw should go to the mountains, telling Squirrelflight she remembers a certain ginger apprentice who went on a journey uninvited.

Eclipse

 * When a ThunderClan patrol scent WindClan on their territory, Firestar suggests they go talk to Onestar. Sandstorm disagrees and wants to fight instead. When Squirrelflight gets injured, she is deeply worried. When Firestar says she should eat and rest, Sandstorm refuses, saying that Squirrelflight is her kit, and she isn't leaving her.


 * Sandstorm, Brambleclaw, Hollypaw, and Brackenfur go to find out why Windclan were stealing food from Thunderclan territory. They meet Harespring, Owlwhisker and Ashfoot the Windclan Deputy.
 * Harespring attacked Brambleclaw, and with one swipe Brambleclaw pinned him to the ground. Ashfoot begged Brambleclaw to let him go back to their own territory, saying Onestar had nothing to say to them. Brambleclaw led the Thunderclan cats back.


 * Her apprentice Honeypaw becomes a warrior, now known as Honeyfern.

Long Shadows

 * She appears quite often, and she is on the border patrol where Birchfall gets into a fight with Snaketail, a ShadowClan warrior. She chastises him starting the fight. Also later she tells Hollyleaf that Firestar is very proud of her and she shouldn't worry so much.
 * She was very worried for Firestar when he lost a life to greencough.

Sunrise

 * She takes a walk with Jayfeather because she is concerned about Leafpool and wants to discuss her concerns with him.  Out of all of the three Sandstorm seems to trust and like Jayfeather the best.


 * As ThunderClan was heading toward the Gathering, Sandstorm mentions how she missed Fourtrees. Firestar comments on how she sounded just like an elder. Playfully, Sandstorm says that she'll be the crankiest elder the Clan had ever seen. This probably hints she'll be retiring to the elder's den soon.


 * Sandstorm is disappointed in Hollyleaf when she announces to the rest of the Clans that Squirrelflight is actually not their mother, but Leafpool, her other daughter, is.

Secrets of the Clans

 * Sandstorm gives a tour of ThunderClan's camp back in the old forest, explaining such places as the Highrock and the different dens.

Cats of the Clans

 * Rock thinks that Sandstorm should be remembered for more than just being the loyal mate of Firestar, and a good mother to Squirrelflight and Leafpool. He says that it was Sandstorm who convinced Firestar to lead ThunderClan into battle with BloodClan, and that he was doing the right thing.


 * Sandstorm knows Firestar better than he realises, even more than Spottedleaf knows. She is not just Firestar's shadow; she matched his courage in the journey to rebuild SkyClan, and helped fight off the rats even though she only had one life to lose.


 * Rock says he holds Sandstorm in higher esteem than almost any other Clan cat, and that she has come a long way from tormenting the kittypet, Rusty with Dustpaw.

Code of the Clans

 * Sandstorm speaks about Firestar in this book, about how his kittypet origins may have helped him become one of the greatest warriors in the forest. She asked if a forest-born cat would have gone behind Bluestar's back to do what was best for the Clan, or if Fireheart would have suspected Tigerclaw of treachery if he wasn't a kittypet.


 * At the end, Sandstorm expresses that she loves Fireheart more than she could imagine loving any other cat, and asks that if Fireheart knew, if he would love her as well.

Members
Father:


 * Redtail - Deceased, Verified StarClan member

Mate:
 * Firestar - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Daughters:
 * Leafpool - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Squirrelflight - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Grandsons:
 * Jayfeather - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Lionblaze - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Granddaughter:
 * Hollyleaf - Status Unknown

Grandmothers:
 * Swiftbreeze - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * One-eye - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Grandfathers:


 * Adderfang - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member


 * Halftail - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Uncles:
 * Patchpelt - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Runningwind - Deceased, Verified StarClan member

Aunts:
 * Willowpelt - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Spottedleaf - Deceased, Verified StarClan member
 * Leopardfoot - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Nephews:


 * Spiderleg - Living (as of The Fourth Apprentice) 
 * Shrewpaw - Deceased, suspected Starclan member
 * Foxleap - Living (as of The Fourth Apprentice) 

Nieces:


 * Hollykit - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Larchkit - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Icecloud - Living (as of The Fourth Apprentice) 

Cousins: 
 * Nightkit - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Mistkit - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Tigerstar - Deceased, Verified Place of No Stars member
 * Sorreltail - Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Sootfur - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Rainwhisker - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Distant Grandfather:


 * Cloudstar - Deceased, Verified SkyClan ancestor

Distant Grandmother:
 * Birdflight - Deceased, Verified SkyClan ancestor

Tree
Quince--Jake---Unknown She-cat |                                    |       --                        -                          |       |    |                        |               |               Socks Scourge Ruby    Unknown Tom---Princess        Firestar---Sandstorm |                         |                                      ---               -                                       |                |                   |                     Brightheart---Cloudtail      Squirrelflight        Leafpool---Crowfeather-Nightcloud |                                              |                          |                                ---                                  --            ---                                 |                                   |           |            |             |                             Whitewing---Birchfall               Lionblaze   Jayfeather   Hollyleaf     Breezepelt |                              -                               |               |                            Dovepaw         Ivypaw

Warrior Ceremony
Sandstorm's and Dustpelt's warrior ceremony

Bluestar-
 * I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.
 * Sandpaw, Dustpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?

Sandpaw-
 * I do.

Dustpaw-
 * I do.

Bluestar-
 * Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Sandpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sandstorm. StarClan honors your courage and your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.
 * Dustpaw, from this moment you will be known as Dustpelt. StarClan honors your bravery and your honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

ThunderClan-
 * Sandstorm! Dustpelt! Sandstorm! Dustpelt!