Coaldust :: black furred male with yellow eyes :: OakClan

Aspenclaw :: white furred female with filmy blue eyes :: OakClan

Sunstar :: beige female with pale blue eyes :: OakClan

Falconstrike :: brown striped male with green eyes :: OakClan

Applepaw :: amber female with blue eyes :: Aspenclaw's apprentice :: OakClan

Brindletail :: brindled female with yellow eyes :: OakClan

Dovepaw :: white furred female with dark eyes :: Brindletail's apprentice :: OakClan

Berrywind :: speckled gray male with dark eyes :: OakClan

Eagleflight :: dark brown male with amber eyes :: OakClan

Warrior Cats belongs to Erin Hunter

It was dawn now, and just as Falconstrike had predicted, clumsy paws indeed had trodden all over his face. The tom snorted in his sleep and attempted to roll over. Sensing sudden movement, Coaldust froze in the den's entrance. He turned around to see a dark form shifting on the beds of moss. So that was what that weird soft object he had stepped on was.

As the dark furred tom emerged from the shadowy warriors' den, he blinked in the dawn's light. He stood there for a time, allowing his eyes to adjust to the shift in brightness.

"Coaldust, let's go already!" a female hissed at him from ahead.

Coaldust peered at the camp entrance and saw the silhouettes of two cats – a warrior and an apprentice. Grumbling, he briskly trotted forward. Some of the dawn mist curled away to reveal an impatient Brindletail and a bouncing Dovepaw waiting by the thicket. Near them were the cats on watch – two toms called Berrywind and Eagleflight.

"…absolutely sure? I know I scented badgers over there. I am of sound mind you know!" Brindletail appeared to be bickering with one of the watchers. Coaldust shot Dovepaw a questioning look and was answered with a simple shrug.

"Don't worry Brindletail," the male called Berrywind said soothingly, "I'll notify Sunstar of this immediately." But Brindletail appeared a little skeptical, even more so when their leader's name was mentioned. Surely she doesn't believe Sunstar is that incompetent, Coaldust thought worriedly.

Noticing Coaldust hovering near, Berrywind swiftly meowed, "Look, Coaldust's here now. Why don't you get on with your patrol?" He motioned for the black furred tom to hurry on, and he did so promptly. The glaring female had no choice but to follow suit, her tail waving furiously to indicate she had not dropped the matter and would continue to argue at a more convenient time.

"What was that all about?" Coaldust wondered aloud when they were out of earshot.

"I smelled some badgers up by the Squirreltrees but those mouse-brained idiots wouldn't believe me."

"Tell our deputy then."

"Morningbreeze?" Brindletail laughed with derision, earning her another strange look from Coaldust. "She's much too… delicate for these things."

"But… isn't she going to be leader after Sunstar dies?" Dovepaw queried.

The two adults looked at each other. Worriedly, Brindletail murmured, "May the day Sunstar dies never come…"

;;;;

Back at camp, Berrywind and Eagleflight continued to stand sentry. They were quiet after the departure of the dawn patrol, but once they were sure the trio could not hear, they began to softly chatter. Eagleflight started by snorting.

"Good luck telling anything to Sunstar," he laughed.

"Thanks for nothing," Berrywind grumbled. "You know, even though Morningbreeze is a bit weird about death and stuff, she is a bit more dependable then Sunstar. I think Sunstar's death could actually be a good thing you know."

Eagleflight traded him a strange look. "It's true!" Berrywind yowled defensively. "Well, our lovely little deputy's better than Coaldust at any rate. That coward hardly even leaves camp. I still can't believe those StarClan cats even chose him for the prophecy. Why not me? I'm strong and handsome and brave, unlike him. Right?"

Typically, at such implications, Eagleflight would shoot something sarcastic back at that egotistical tom. But now, he stared forward, his amber eyes seeming to witness something far away from this world. They suddenly lit up as he recalled something, something about Coaldust. Quickly, he said quietly, "Berrywind, can you stand watch for a bit by yourself? I need to go check something out. I'll be back very soon." And ignoring the other warrior's protests, he scurried off.

;;;;

Aspenclaw smiled as she tore the supple meat off of a juicy squirrel and watched Falconstrike assist Applepaw with battle moves. He had a nice build and the perfect temperament for dealing with apprentices, and yet for some reason, he had not been given an apprentice yet. And he was older than Aspenclaw herself too.

The pale, nearly sightless female mused over why this was. Did Sunstar just not trust Falconstrike? Had something occurred to persuade their leader to refuse the tom his very own apprentice? She felt sympathy for the poor tom. Perhaps when she next saw Sunstar she would bring up the query for him to receive an apprentice. She knew that their remaining queen, Littlefeather, was to be bearing kits soon.

Suddenly, she sensed movement from the hollow log that served as the leader's den. Sunstar crawled out of the entrance and wandered over to the tussling pair of cats. Seeing her approach, Aspenclaw quickly buried the remains of the squirrel and streaked over to their leader.

"Sunstar, can I have a word with you?" she asked somewhat breathlessly.

Sunstar gave her a stern look and muttered, "In a minute. I'm busy."

Busy doing what? She's just sauntering all over the camp, the cross warrior observed. But she said nothing.

The beige female strolled over to Falconstrike and Applepaw. She interrupted their practice and motioned for the tom to accompany her back to her den. At that, Aspenclaw felt a little more hopeful. Maybe she was delivering the news that he would receive an apprentice!

A little more pleased now, she turned to the abandoned apprentice and offered to take her around the territory borders again. As she exited the camp, she noticed only one cat on watch, the speckled gray tom named Berrywind. He appeared to be waiting for something. His dark eyes lit up as a whir of dark brown appeared and rushed into camp.

"Where is Sunstar!" it demanded. It was Eagleflight.

Thanks for all the reviews! They're especially helpful since this is my first fanfic.