Why did I ever leave the clan? Dawnkit's belly was growling. She had slept through the night, and now she was looking for prey. When she came in it smelled of mice, but she hadn't managed to catch anything. I can't hunt if my legs can't stand! Even though her belly was grumbling as loud as the noisiest waterfall, she knew she had to practice. She stretched her legs and tried standing on them, but collapsed. I will never be able to hunt! I give up! Right as she slumped down, she heard a familiar meow.

"I think I can scent her!" She heard Wolfpaw's meow.

"Are you sure? I don't think I smell anything." She heard Skypelt's meow.

"How would you know her scent, when I was the only one ever to actually visit?" He challenged back. Hawkstar sent a patrol to look for me! Dawnkit scrambled backward into a gap where she could see the conversation. Unfortunately, Wolfpaw seemed to notice and pricked his ears.

"I'm going in that nest." He meowed, fear and worry clawed at Dawnkit's belly as she heard the patrol's paws scamper at the entrance.

"Let's split up." Dawnkit noticed that Stonecloud and Watersplash were in the patrol, too. The clan deputy! Wolfpaw headed towards the spot she was hiding in, his nose to the floor. Dawnkit was crammed in her spot, but her legs were sticking limply out. She managed to fold them in. When Wolfpaw was less than a tail length away, she could tell that he was searching the shadows for her. His eyes seemed to connect with hers for a moment, but then they moved on. A few seconds later he went back to the patrol, and they left a few moments later. Dawnkit heaved a sigh of relief and got out of her hiding spot. She dragged herself to a spot where she could see the entrance, but not be seen, and heard Watersplash discussing with the patrol.

"I'm afraid to say, but I think it's time to give up. We have been searching since yesterday and found no trace. We must assume that she is dead." he meowed.

"I agree." Stonecloud meowed. The patrol started to head back.

"I'll catch up to you." she heard Wolfpaw meow. Her belly churned. Don't be mouse-brained! Why would he come this way? Relaxing, she went back in the den and collapsed. I should return to the clan. They think I am dead and I probably will die of starvation… but I can't bear the way the clan looks at me. No. I made my choice and I am not coming back until I can prove myself not useless! But how? Her belly rumbled again. Is that… mouse? It smells fresh… but how could there be a dead mouse? She dragged herself to the entrance, and she couldn't believe her eyes. A mouse was limply laying on the earth floor. She quickly snatched it up and went back into the den. When she sniffed it. She could detect Wolfpaw's scent on it. So he had seen her! She took a bite out of the mouse.

"Thank you, Wolfpaw." she murmured. Energy surged through her body. I can do this! She stretched her legs, on by one until they were quivering.

"If I stood once, then I can stand again." one foot, and then another. Her legs wobbled, and she collapsed. Again. I can do it if I believe. One foot, and then another. They quivered less. She rocked back and forth, stretching them this way and that until she could feel them strengthen. When she stood again her legs barely shook. "One step." she put her paws forward. Two steps! As she tried to skip with joy, she collapsed. At least I'm getting somewhere! How can it be?

She went to the entrance, and to her surprise, she saw a dead mouse laying on the ground. She quickly snatched it up and went back in the den. She sniffed the mouse and found a strong scent of Wolfpaw on it. Surprise tingled in her belly.

"Thank you Wolfpaw" She chewed on the mouse.

Energy surged through her body. I can do this! One leg at a time. She stretched them, and put one down. It was wobbly at first, but when she put down her other leg, they were stiffer. She rocked back and forth on them, to loosen them, and when she stood up again, they were less shaky. She bent them again and again, until she could stand with no problem. One step. Just one. She put one foot forward, and then a back foot. Her back legs were shaking horribly now. One more step! She tried stepping again, but she collapsed right away. I've got to learn how to walk or I won't be able to hunt! Dawnkit stepped on both her legs, forcing them to buckle. They weren't shaking at all now, which was a good thing. She stood firmly, rocking back and forth on her legs. When she took a step, she felt her legs firmer. She kneeled down, bending her legs, until she felt her muscles flex.

Why did Whitepebble say I will never be able to walk again? It just took two circles around the clearing! She took a step and then another, and another. This was easier than I expected! She started jogging across the clearing. Her legs were still shaking, but the two and a half moons of rest in the medicine den had helped her legs. Her muscles were still weak, but she was standing. She jumped, and skidded and ran around the abandoned den. She heard a shuffle in the shadows and smelled mouse scent. She pictured in her mind how Wolfpaw and Snakepaw always crouched down on imaginary prey. She tried copying them, but it felt uncomfortable. She brought in her legs to jump farther, aimed her distance and then jumped. A moment later a mouse was struggling underneath her paws. She stared at it in shock. I actually got it! She gave it a nip on the back of it's neck. She wasn't that hungry from the prey Wolfpaw had caught her earlier so she laid it down. The sun was starting to set outside so she curled up in the uncomfortable ground and closed her eyes. Tomorrow I can return to the clan! She thought drowsily. But as she was about to fall asleep, a thought struck her. But do I really want to?


Dawnkit woke up, thinking of a warm bedding of moss and bracken. She snuck out of the abandoned twoleg den and crouched down. It was before dawn, so the patrols weren't out yet. She saw a tree trunk full of moss, and tried to get as much big of a chunk that she could of moss. She heard paws approaching in the distance. She measured the distance between her and the den, and stayed where she was. There wasn't a very good chance she'd make it. She held her breath as a cat emerged from behind a bramble. Wolfpaw seemed to be sneaking through the undergrowth, but he was as loud as a dog. He went straight for the abandoned twoleg den, not even pausing to check if someone was around, and Dawnkit heard him whispering in there.

"Dawnkit? Dawnkit, I know you're in there, I can smell you." He meowed. Dawnkit left the moss behind and stalked behind him, until it was too late. Her pouce wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. She tussled with him until she was on top of him.

"You make a pretty big racket for a stalking cat." Dawnkit meowed with amusement. His eyes widened with shock, and then turned to laughter. He pushed her of him, and Dawnkit found herself pressing to the hard floor, Wolfpaw crouching above her.

"And you have a lot to learn" He teased back. Dawnkit struggle in his grip, but couldn't escape.

"Fine, I give up!" Dawnkit relaxed. He stepped off her.

"How did you, er, learn to walk?" He asked, curiosity and embarrassment gleaming in his eyes.

"I just… stepped on my feet?" She answered

"Why did you leave the clan?" He asked, his eyes traveling across the den. "And why did you come to live… here?" He asked.

"Nobody ever takes me seriously. 'Oh look, the half cat is stealing prey!' 'She'll never give anything to this clan!'" Dawnkit mimicked her clanmates voices, making Wolfpaw let out a mrrow of amusement.

"You sure sound like Stonecloud." Wolfpaw nudged her playfully."Anyways, you should come back. Something might happen to you, and the clan misses you…" Wolfpaw trailed off.

"Really? Who misses me exactly?" She challenged, seeing the disbelief in his eyes.

"Umm, well, er, Stormberry?" Wolfpaw stammered

"I think Stormberry is glad her useless poor little kit is missing" She hissed under her breath. "Why did you come here anyways?" Dawnkit asked.

"Well, yesterday I saw the mouse was gone, and your scent was strong in that area, so I wanted to go see if you're ok."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Dawnkit challenged again.

"Well, I… I was kind of worried when I came to see you at Sunhigh, and you weren't there… I was surprised no one saw you sneaking out, and you didn't know any hunting or fighting techniques, I thought something might happen to you. Please come back to the clan." Wolfpaw murmured.

"If you're so worried, why don't you teach me fighting and hunting skills. After all, I am only a kit." She asked.

"You're not a kit! You're supposed to be an apprentice! I will call you Dawnpaw, no matter what you say, and I will teach you everything I know!" Wolfpaw meowed. Dawnkit was taken aback.

"You don't have to…" She meowed

"But I want to. Here, Dawnpaw let's start now." He showed her a crouch, that looked like an attack. Dawnkit- no, Dawnpaw copied him.

"Like this?" She asked unsure.

"Just tuck in your legs a bit in, and pounce!"


Dawnpaw woke up in her nest, still feeling tired. Wolfpaw had practiced with her until they heard a patrol calling his name. She had gathered moss after that, and came upon a feather. She couldn't wait until Wolfpaw came back today. He had promised to teach her more skills, for he only taught her half of what he had learned. She could sense that it had rained last night. The air was dusty but fresh. She sat waiting until almost sunhigh, when she had lost all hope, when she heard the bushes rustle, and Wolfpaw appeared.

"I was starting to get worried you wouldn't come!" Dawnpaw purred. Wolfpaw looked uncomfortable. "What's wrong?" Dawnpaw asked, starting to get worried.

"Well… Silverflame got really frustrated because she couldn't find me all day, so I… I missed my warrior assessment… So Snakepaw got really mad because he had passed his, so now he'll have to wait. So I took it this morning, and I got my will probably get my warrior name at sunset. But then when I tried to get to you, Moonpaw wouldn't get away from me." He took a deep breath.

"You passed your warrior assessment? Congratulations Wolfpaw… Why do you seem so upset?" Dawnpaw asked.

"Well, Moonpaw got really suspicious. She claimed that I promised to hunt with her in the afternoon, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't, So she made me promise that today I will go with her. I just don't understand why she sticks around me so much…" He meowed uncertainly.

"Moonpaw always was like a tick in the back of the neck. Don't mind her." She meowed gently, moving so that her fur brushed against his. A moment later she moved away, uncomfortable.

"Er, I think I should teach you some more moves." Wolfpaw meowed awkwardly.

"Yeah, yeah you should."

When Dawnpaw settled down in her nest, she couldn't stop thinking about Wolfpaw. Why can't I stop thinking about him? Her muscles ached from the practice, but she didn't mind. Her hind legs were as strong as ever, and she practiced the moves Wolfpaw had taught her over and over in her mind.

Two moons had passed since Wolfpaw became a warrior- Wolfstripe, but he still visited Dawnpaw every day. And this time he came with news. When he burst into the den, Dawnpaw saw worry in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" She asked him.

"Moonpaw and Rainpaw became warriors. Moonspeckle and Rainfall." He meowed.

"It's ok, you couldn't have done anything." Dawnpaw reassured him.

" And I wanted to ask you something." He hesitated.

"Yes?"

" Would you- Would you like to be my mate?" He stammered

"Wolfstripe, yes. I would love to be your mate!" She meowed. She went over and brushed her pelt with his, purring. The den was filled with purrs so loud, until they heard a disbelieving hiss from the entrance. Dawnpaw turned her head and stared in horror, as a familiar shape burst into the den.

"What are you doing, Wolfstripe? Why are you here purring with this rogue, and not with me? Who is she anyways?" He meow was full of outrage and disgust.

"Moonspeckle! What- What are you doing here?" Wolfstripe meowed. Moonspeckle? My sister? She doesn't even recognize me anymore! Dawnpaw felt pain gripping her chest.

"You will come with me this instant! How can you be with this cat, right before I was going to ask you to be my mate?" Her eyes were blazing with anger and hatred towards Dawnpaw. Wolftrike's eyes were as big as moons, disbelieving clearly showing in his eyes.

"Be your mate? I would have never agreed to be your mate! I especially don't want to be with a cat who can't even recognize her littermate!" A moment after he had meowed the words, he realized he had just spilled a secret.

"What do you mean? She's not my litter- Wait, Dawn- Dawnkit?" Moonspeckle stared in astonishment as relaxation crept into her eyes along with… was that warmth?

"Moonspeckle, you-".

"Wait-" All the warmth disappeared from her eyes. "How do you know my warrior name? Wolfstripe! How long have you been visiting?" Wolfstripe opened his mouth to answer, but Moonspeckle didn't seem to notice. Her eyes grew cold. "So that's where you've been gone all those days! You care about that fleabag more than you ever cared about me! You! Dawnkit. I bet you never stopped being a mouseheart!" Moonspeckle's words drowned by a yowl from Dawnpaw. First, even Dawnpaw was surprised, but as she jumped on her sister's back, she felt all her training coming back to her.

"You will never, ever call me a fleabag again!" Dawnpaw hissed in Moonspeckle's ear as she clawed at her exposed belly. They tussled over the squeaking den yowling. Pain clawed at Dawnpaw's hind legs as Moonspeckle clawed at them.

"Let's get your legs out of use again." Moonspeckle sneered. She bit down on Dawnpaw's hind leg, but as she went for the other, Dawnpaw turned and clawed Moonspeckle's face. She felt nothing wrong with fighting her littermate, which brought horror to Dawnpaw. Moonspeckle tumbled back in shock as blood covered her eyes. She cleared the blood and reared on Dawnpaw. Dawnpaw dodged just in time as her sister brought down her legs with a thump on the hard surfaced ground. While she was stunned, Dawnpaw jumped on her back and scorched her back, making Moonspeckle yowl in agony. She tumbled to the floor. Dawnpaw's heart broke as she realized what she had done, and she stepped back, shaking. Moonspeckle turned to her and hissed.

"I am bringing warriors this instant to kill you, Rouge." She spat the last word at Dawnpaw with such venom the Dawnpaw was stunned. She rushed out of the den yowling into the forest.

"I better go with her. It's going to be all right, Dawnpaw. I promise." Wolfstripe hurried after Moonspekle. I can't stay here, now that the whole clan knows. They'll hunt me down. I need to go somewhere far far away. I hope Wolfstripe will be ok. She got out of the den and sniffed warily around before heading towards the mountains, out of clan territories.