The late newleaf warm air cooled steadily as the sun began to sink below the horizon, bringing almost every cat to the center of the ThunderClan camp clearing. Brambleclaw sat at the center of the bunch, issuing orders to those who were going to be participating in the confrontation of WindClan. Ashfur, Thornclaw, Stormfur, Hazelpaw, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Honeypaw and I will be on the second wave of cats that will attack once the first wave starts the battle. Those on the first wave will be Squirrelflight, Cinderpaw, Birchfall, Redpaw, Sorreltail, Dawnpaw, Brook, Brackenfur, Spiderleg and Whitewing."
As Brambleclaw finished the long list of names of the cats who were to participate in the attack, Dawnpaw felt a shiver of elation ripple through her and her paws tingled, ready to race all the way to the WindClan camp and back. Honeypaw was sitting beside her and her tail flicked happily, but her gleaming eyes betrayed her excitement. Cats milled around, all talking about the upcoming battle, and Dawnpaw glanced around for her littermates. She found Birdpaw looking a bit let down along with Poppypaw as Hazelpaw and Cinderpaw both celebrated their being chosen together. Redpaw was gloating to Mousepaw and Berrypaw, both of the older toms looking slightly agitated. Then she spotted Bravepaw sitting alone at the edge of the clearing, a dejected expression on his face as he stared at his paws.
"I'll see you later," Dawnpaw murmured to Honeypaw and she left the tabby she-cat to her own devices, padding slowly across the clearing. Bravepaw didn't look up as she neared and Dawnpaw pressed against him. She gave his shoulder a little nudge. "What's got you looking like that, Bravepaw?"
Dawnpaw's brother sighed and he lifted his despondent gaze, looking up at her with such a heartrending expression in his eyes that had Dawnpaw's heart aching for him. He sighed again. "Of course I didn't get picked to go on one of the battle patrols. I'm useless to ThunderClan. I'm so small and I probably look like that I should still be in the nursery. I don't know why Stormfur tries so hard to train me when I'll never be able to be a real warrior."
The bitterness in Bravepaw's tone made Dawnpaw flinch, noticing the hint of malice in his mew that she did not understand. Does he blame himself? Recovering from the shock of his confession, she touched her nose comfortingly to his ear. "No, you are most certainly wrong about yourself," she murmured warmly. Bravepaw's gaze hardened, challenging her to provide reasons to contradict what he had told her. "I've seen you hunt, and the squirrels don't even see you coming! You're so agile that you could probably sneak up right behind them and pounce without them ever knowing you were there! Now about your size; you're perfect for climbing trees and squirming under bramble thickets—you're so light that you could jump from tree to tree and I doubt that even the brambles would have trouble being able to snag a clump of your fur!"
At her explanation, Bravepaw's eyes brightened and his tail straightened from its previously dull, drooping state. "Really?" he asked excitedly and Dawnpaw suppressed a mrrow of laughter.
"Yes. Next time Berrypaw teases you about how big you are, tell him to try fitting his fat rump under a bramble thicket! Go on, spare him and Mousepaw from Redpaw's endless bragging," Dawnpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as Bravepaw raced off, happy to have appeased his dark thoughts for himself at least for just one night.
As Bravepaw joined his brother and the two toms, Dawnpaw tore her gaze away and she lifted her face to sky, where Silverpelt was just starting to make its appearance, the stars beginning to brighten against the darkening background. Dawnpaw closed her eyes, reveling in the reminder that their warrior ancestors were watching over them.
A prickling of the fur on her spine alerted Dawnpaw to the pair of eyes that were staring at her from across the clearing. Her eyes snapped open and they narrowed immediately as she met Firestar's thoughtful gaze. His green eyes met hers, both the same exact shade of green reflected by the color of a fern bush during the warmer moons. The same color that Firestar passed down to one of his daughters, Squirrelflight, and she passed to Dawnpaw as well as Bravepaw.
Dawnpaw held his gaze for a few heartbeats before Firestar turned his head away, distracted by his mate, Sandstorm, as she supplied him a question. Still staring at her grandfather, Dawnpaw wondered what Firestar had been thinking about when he had been observing her. He must have been watching me and Bravepaw, Dawnpaw dismissed the curious previous happenings. Firestar's so mysterious, though, nothing like Squirrelflight. She blinked and looked away toward Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, the two in a deep conversation with Dustpelt and Stormfur. Her father must have sensed her watching because his eyes flickered around the clearing until they met hers.
Providing an excuse, Brambleclaw slipped away from the three warriors and padded in her direction with Squirrelflight staring after him. Dawnpaw waited patiently for him to come to a stop beside her, and when he did she had absolutely no clue as to what to say, she wasn't even sure why he had joined her anyway.
Suddenly, Brambleclaw leaned down and rasped his tongue over her ear, pressing his nose to her forehead. "Remember everything that Sorreltail has taught you, Dawnpaw. Don't forget to watch your back, though I'm sure that Redpaw will be right on your tail."
Dawnpaw blinked, surprised as to why Brambleclaw was telling her all this. Then a rush of anger surged through her. "I know how to fight!" she replied indignantly. Brambleclaw only purred and his whiskers twitched.
"Listen to Brambleclaw, Dawnpaw." She tore her gaze from her father's face and looked at Squirrelflight, who she hadn't realized had padded up. "Your first battle can be pretty daunting," she meowed, giving Dawnpaw a collection of licks. Dawnpaw allowed her mother to groom her fur, not bothering to complain like her brothers always did. Soon she would have to fend for herself and she would be a warrior, when her mother would hardly, if ever, smooth down her fur for her and always look out for her wellbeing.
"What was your first battle?" Dawnpaw asked the two of them, deciding to be a young apprentice.
"The first major battle for was the one where BloodClan tried to take control of the forest, but I'm sure that Mousefur has already told you all of that, as well as leading the dog pack to the gorge in the old forest. I do remember, though, when the forest caught fire and Firestar—called Fireheart back then—had to rescue me from the burning camp. It wasn't exactly a battle but it was a challenge for both Firestar and me. Firestar was forced to save me as a kit over Yellowfang, the old medicine cat," Brambleclaw explained and Dawnpaw's eyes widened slightly. She had known that Firestar at first did not trust Brambleclaw when he was younger because of his heritage, but she hadn't known he still saved his as a kit over saving a Clan medicine cat.
"Hmm, all of those battles were before my time," Squirrelflight meowed, "But there was the whole Great Journey to be taken in account. On our way back from the sundrown-place we went through the mountains where we met some cats that lived by completely different ancestors than ours'. But what we didn't know at first is that a large cat called Sharptooth, looking like a lion, preyed on them. The Tribe thought that Stormfur was the silver cat to save them—I've no idea how they confused dark grey with silver. It turned out to be Feathertail, and she saved all of us. Without her sacrifice we probably wouldn't have made it out of the mountains alive, and you and your siblings would not have been born." Squirrelflight seemed pleased with her explanation and she deposited another affectionate lick on Dawnpaw's forehead.
"I hope this battle will live up to my expectations," Dawnpaw meowed, looking up at both of them. "I hope that we win the battle and WindClan will stop being such a pain in the tail." She added the last line for a bit of humor, but she meant it. She hoped that this battle will teach WindClan a lesson when it comes to walking over ThunderClan cats with the chins raised high to the sky, as if their arrogance couldn't get any larger.
"I do too, little one. However, let us all pray to StarClan that we come home safely," Squirrelflight meowed and Dawnpaw narrowed her eyes when her mother called her "little one." Then her gaze softened when her eyes met Squirrelflight's calm disposition. She leaned her head down to rub her chin over Dawnpaw's head. "Be careful, Dawnpaw."
"Of course," Dawnpaw whispered softly. "The Clan needs me. I wouldn't put my life in danger if there wasn't a good reason for it." She silently prayed to her ancestors that she wouldn't be wounded—or killed—during the skirmish.
Squirrelflight nodded, satisfied. She gave Brambleclaw a lasting glance before padding away. Dawnpaw lifted her head to stare up at her father. The worry in his eyes surprised her and it took Dawnpaw a heartbeat to realize that both of her parents were scared to death for her first battle—Dawnpaw's and Redpaw's first battle. Brambleclaw blinked and the emotion was gone, but his whiskers quivered in the nonexistent breeze. He rose to all four paws and then followed after Squirrelflight, but not before the tip of his tail caught Dawnpaw's ear.
"I don't know why they're so scared for you and your brother," Honeypaw's voice shook Dawnpaw from her thoughts. Her face had still been turned toward Squirrelflight's and Brambleclaw's escape route, and her head quickly snapped to the right, taking in the tabby she-cat sitting a few tail-lengths away. She must have been watching and listening to the whole thing. "I mean, Redpaw can take care of himself, and so can you. That's why they chose you two to be in the battle. Birdpaw is a little soft and I think Bravepaw needs to work on his confidence."
Dawnpaw knew that Honeypaw didn't mean to insult two of her siblings, but she sighed at her friend's carelessness anyway. Cinderpaw wasn't nearly as condescending as Honeypaw. However, before Dawnpaw had a chance to respond a yowl summoned every cat's attention. She looked away and trained her eyes on Firestar. He stood at the entrance tunnel of the camp. "Every cat in my patrol behind me!"
Giving a muttered "goodbye" to Honeypaw, Dawnpaw met up with Redpaw. He was twitching with excitement and anticipation, but Dawnpaw felt quite the opposite. She felt suddenly sick to her stomach, a pit that settled there and stayed there. She felt apprehensive and fearful, so much that she was nearly shivering with fright. Redpaw didn't notice.
"You'll be alright," a warm voice whispered in her ear and Dawnpaw jumped. She looked around her, but was surprised to find that no other cat was near enough so that she could feel their breath tickling the small hairs on her ear. Redpaw was too caught up with a conversation with Cinderpaw. Dawnpaw shook her head desperately, wondering if she had just imagined the voice in her ear. I'm going crazy!
With a yowl, Firestar dove into the bramble tunnel and the rest of the patrol raced after him, leaving Dawnpaw to take up the rear with Redpaw and Cinderpaw. She quickly gained on her denmates and pressed on ahead of them. Adrenaline coursed through Dawnpaw's veins and she enjoyed the soaring feeling she experienced as she ran. Sorreltail was right in front of her, her tortoiseshell tail streaming out behind her.
Dodging the low-hanging branches was easy and hopping over protruding tree roots proved to be just the same. She was smaller than the other warriors and her brother, and couldn't help let a mrrow of laughter escape her mouth when she heard Sorreltail swear when she didn't duck low enough to avoid a face full of leaves. Sorreltail glanced over her shoulder, glowering at Dawnpaw until her apprentice's amusement died away.
Dawnpaw was almost sad when Firestar slowed to a stop when the border with WindClan was right in front of them. She paused to catch her breath and looked ahead to the moors where the rabbit-chasers called their territory home. Dawnpaw couldn't help the shiver that went down her spine; she couldn't imagine not being under the safe refuge of foliage.
"When did you get so fast?" Cinderpaw stopped next to her, panting. She had only just caught up with Redpaw. Dawnpaw shrugged and she turned her attention to Firestar, looking over Sorreltail's shoulder. He was standing at the edge of the stream, staring out at the moorland. Dawnpaw wondered briefly why he was taking his time when she realized that he was looking for any WindClan patrols.
Obviously not spotting any, he flicked his tail and bunched his hind legs under him. With a soaring leap, he crossed the stream easily, landing lightly on the other side. One-by-one, every cat crossed and when it was Dawnpaw's turn she was staring wide-eyed at the water flowing to the lake downstream. She let out a shaky breath and tore her gaze away from the stream, instead focusing on her Clanmates on the other side. She bunched her legs beneath just as every cat had before her and tensed her muscles. With a push of her hind legs, she left the ground and flew through the air. Before she knew it, her paws touched soil once again and she breathed out a sigh of relief, moving out of the way so that her denmates would have room to cross.
Once every cat was over safely, Firestar led the cats over the open expanse of land. Dawnpaw felt very exposed without being under the safety of the forest canopy overhead and every other bush whichever way she turned. Flattening her ears to her skull, she narrowed her eyes against a blowing breeze, bringing with it the horrid stench of WindClan. Good, they won't be able to smell us.
Gradually, the WindClan smell grew stronger and stronger, soon enough encasing the battle patrol with the scent of rabbits, the prime food source for their Clan. Soon, Dawnpaw was able to spot a cluster of boulders in the distance and she could tell that the soil gave way to a scoop in the landscape. There was a cluster of bushes and heather that encased it, but that was the only protection of the camp from what she could tell.
Firestar gave the signal to stop and the patrol halted. He turned to his warriors. "Brook, Cinderpaw, Sorreltail, Birchfall and Spiderleg will attack from the left on the opposite side. The rest of us will attack straight on. Before long, the second wave will be here. We only need to hang on until then." He spoke in a whisper.
Those instructed to leave the main group did so and they slinked off, circling around the camp. Firestar motioned for them to continue once again and the pit in Dawnpaw's stomach had grown to consume her with a foreboding sense of danger. The fur along her spine began to bristle and her claws slid out of hiding, sinking into the ground with every pawstep.
And then Firestar was yowling a fierce battle cry and she was thrown into battle. Cats streamed from their dens, weary voices rising in surprise. Dawnpaw threw herself at the nearest cat, a brown tabby, and she raked her claws down the cat's side, causing him to hiss in pain. Taking advantage of his momentary weakness, she slipped under his underside and she knocked his legs out from under him, sending him sprawling onto his back. Dawnpaw leapt swiftly onto his belly and dug her claws in, the cat howling as blood seeped out of the wounds and gathered under her paws. The cat started to shift under her and she jumped off of him before he could muster up the strength to flatten her to the ground.
Leaving the tom withering in pain, Dawnpaw searched the cats around her for her brother. She spotted his dark ginger form struggling under the weight of a larger cat a couple of fox-lengths away. Dawnpaw growled and she crossed the distance in two bounds, leaping onto the cat's back. She sunk her claws into his shoulders and hung on tightly, allowing Redpaw to slip from his grasp and claw at his muzzle. The tom hissed in agitation and he went into a roll, taking Dawnpaw down with him. She immediately released him and was left dazed on the ground, her vision fuzzy.
In the moments of her absence, Redpaw had managed to get in a few more good strikes, but the cat was just too big of an opponent for him. Dawnpaw shook her head and she jumped up onto her paws. "Rake his belly, Redpaw!" she instructed while trying again to leap onto his back and hold on tightly. She dug her claws into his flank and then gave his ear a good swipe before she was forced to jump off again. Redpaw must not have heard her, but he was free again. Dawnpaw escaped the tom's claws and she rolled to the side, straightening and latching the teeth to the base of the tom's tail.
He let out a screech of pain and he tried to turn and get her away, but that meant pulling his tail from her grasp, and that wasn't happening. Redpaw took notice of the distraction and he attacked the cat head-on, clawing at his eyes. By the sound of his wails, Dawnpaw knew that the fight was done. She released his tail and moved to Redpaw, pushing him away before he could inflict more harm than needed on the WindClan cat.
A yowl sounded from just outside the hollow and Dawnpaw knew that the second wave of ThunderClan cats had arrived. She swept her gaze around the clearing, finding a moment of rest in the midst of chaos. Redpaw had slipped back into the battle. She spotted Squirrelflight fighting back-to-back with Sorreltail against two warriors. Cinderpaw was being helped by Whitewing against a dark gray tom that Dawnpaw recognized as Crowfeather across the clearing.
Her attention to her nearer surroundings were incredibly too slack to realize that a cat had snuck up behind until it was too late. A pair of strong jaws sunk into her scruff and she was lifted off the ground. She let out a surprised yowl and the owner of the sharp teeth began to shake her violently. Dawnpaw's mind became too rattled to comprehend sight and all she saw was a blur before her eyes.
When the shaking came to a stop she thought that she was done before she felt herself being thrown across a short distance toward the nearest boulder. "Dawnpaw!" Several voices cried out her name before she hit the stone and fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she was suddenly suspended in darkness as she lost consciousness.
Sorry I didn't update sooner. I was in Philadelphia a week ago and I've found that having time to write has been limited, considering that I haven't been home except for a night for the past few days.
But, it's done. Instead of having any other cat get hurt, I decided that it had to be Dawnpaw, just to add a little bit of drama. You will all find out who did this to her in the next chapter. And don't worry; Dawnpaw is not hearing imaginary voices. It'll all come to play later in the story.
Please Review, I like to hear from my readers.