CHAPTER FIVE

Dawnpaw sat in a secluded corner of camp, the morning sun striking her pelt and setting the ginger fur ablaze with light. A hint of a breeze rustled the camp, a reminder that the days of the leaf-fall were not far off.

She bit down into the vole at her paws, chewing without tasting. The she-cat swallowed hard, forcing the food down. She hadn't eaten since before she had slipped on the mud, three days ago, but she hadn't been hungry, either. It was only Elmpaw's worried comment that she would become mere skin and bones that had encouraged her to try and down some food.

It wasn't working.

Sootpaw was asleep. She could feel him snoring, the lack of consciousness on his half of the deal noticeable. If Dawnpaw probed back far enough into her mind, she could find the blackness that led to him. She knew that if she went just a bit further, she could push in, but the thought scared her. The last time she had pushed into Sootpaw's mind, she had been overwhelmed by the ferocity of his senses, and StarClan knew how he had felt at the time.

Scared. She reasoned that if Sootpaw had been in her mind, and not just conveying his pain to her, she would have been terrified. She probably would have frozen, unable to fight back. Luckily for both of them, Sootpaw had pushed her out. If he hadn't... she shuddered at the thought of still being trapped in his mind.

Truth was, Dawnpaw was so confused by this whole mind-sharing thing that she had just decided to go with. Wondering how it worked or why they were doing it, while important, could wait. Right now she was just trying to get used to the concept of sharing thoughts.

It was a frightening thought, which was why she was out in camp earlier than any apprentice should be up. This was the only time, when he was sleeping, that she could get some privacy. Sighing, Dawnpaw cast her amber gaze over the camp.

Nettleclaw, the deputy, was standing guard, his large form hunched by the camp entrance. Through the moss that covered the entrance to Slatestar's den, Dawnpaw could just make out a hint of dark grey. So their leader was still asleep. Were any other cats awake?

Her gaze fell on the medicine cat den. Branchpaw was sitting by the ferns that marked it, his amber eyes dark and his face gaunt. He moved his head up to look at her in slow, jerking motions, his gaze hollow and fur unkempt.

Dawnpaw flinched away as if she had been stung. Branchpaw was never up this early, but the distressed state of his pelt indicated that he hadn't slept all night. There was a certain weariness in his eyes, a desperate sorrow. She could tell that something was bothering her brother, but she was too nervous to ask what.

She suddenly became aware of a warmth at her side. Turning, Dawnpaw saw that Elmpaw had settled himself next to her. He met her gaze, his green eyes dark with worry. But unlike Branchpaw, all the worry in her friend's eyes were directed at her.

"I felt you leave the den this morning," said Elmpaw. "But I know you didn't have dawn patrol... and besides, the dawn patrol hasn't even left yet."

"Couldn't sleep," said Dawnpaw truthfully. She had flitted in and out of consciousness all night, scared that if she let herself fall into a deep sleep, her mind wouldn't be there when she woke up.

The golden tabby grimaced. "Sorry," he said, though they both knew that he had nothing to be sorry for. "Want to talk about it?" he added as an afterthought.

Dawnpaw paused and then finally shook her head. She couldn't worry Elmpaw about this when she herself didn't even know what was going on. Besides, who knew how Sootpaw would react to that? She didn't need him to be angry as well as arrogant.

Their conversation yesterday had been brief. She had felt his voice in her head and they had exchanged hellos, tentatively probing to find the line they could not cross. Sootpaw had lazily explained that he was an apprentice of ShadowClan, the best one ever, thank-you-very-much, and that the second he could figure out how to cut their connection, he would. She had meekly agreed.

Gently, she reached back into her mind, feeling for him. But the grey tom was still sleeping, and she hoped he would stay like that for awhile. The pain from the fox was receding, and she had half a mind to ask him if she had felt it because of him. After all, Grasscloud had noted that ShadowClan had chased a fox off of territory not too long ago.

It came back.

His voice resounded in her head. Angrily, she was about to tell him to go away when she realized that he had fallen back asleep. He must be drifting between the two, responding to something that he had seen in a dream.

Elmpaw must have felt her tense. "Are you alright?" he asked carefully.

"I'm fine," said Dawnpaw, managing a twitch of her whiskers. "I'm just tired."

He nodded thoughtfully, the sunlight illuminating his golden fur and causing his tabby marks to stand out in stark contrast. "I guess so," the tom said wryly. "But I see you ate...?"

Dawnpaw looked down at the half-devoured vole by her paws and nodded slowly. "I did. I'm getting my appetite back," she meowed, lying through her teeth. "My tumble the other day must have scared me, that's all."

"I heard about that," he said, voice thick with concern. "Are you sure you're alright?"

She wasn't about to admit that the reason she had fallen was that a ShadowClan apprentice was projecting his wounded flank onto her and that when she had been speeding down the slope, she had blacked out and entered his mind. "No," she said, deciding to at least be half-honest. "I guess I'm just a bit embarrassed that Thickfur had to save me." Which was partially true.

Elmpaw nudged her playfully with his shoulder, hoping to get her out of her dampened mood. "See?" the handsome tabbed asked. "He's not all that bad."

She shuddered. "But it was an accident, Elmpaw. I couldn't help it, and he just treated me like I was... like I was a kit."

"He's just worried about you," guessed Elmpaw, but his attempt fell flat. Dawnpaw snorted into her vole. As if Thickfur would ever worry about her. He was probably just angry that she had embarrassed him like that, and besides, Slatestar would have had his pelt if she had been hurt.

"Anyways," he added, trying to change the subject, "How about you just cheer up? It's greenleaf. The prey is plentiful, the sun is shining, and the toms are handsome..."

Dawnpaw rolled her eyes. Elmpaw, being four or five moons older than her, might have been at the age where he was beginning to find she-cats interesting, but she was still a bit too young for that. She flicked him lightly with her tail. "So go find yourself a handsome tom."

He purred and twitched an ear in amusement. "Unless you find me a pool of water, I doubt I can..."

"Elmpaw!"

He sobered up and sighed, nudging her once again. "Just trying to lighten the mood," he mewed, green eyes widening innocently. "I just want you to be okay."

"I'll be fine," she promised him. "Nothing is happening. Thickfur's just harsh, that's all. I feel like I'll never be able to impress him."

Scaredy-paws. You remind me of my brother.

Sootpaw was awake.

She stood up hastily and blinked apologetically at her friend. "I gotta go."

.

Sunhigh found her her in the training hollow with Thickfur. He was watched her carefully, the breeze ruffling his tabby fur as he sat, shoulders hunched and muscles rippling. Her mentor's amber eyes shone as they surveyed her, picking out her every move.

"Attack me," he instructed.

Dawnpaw froze. They had done some battle training before, but it had all been him showing her moves and her testing them out on Elmpaw or just on the air. Never had they actually fought. "What?" she asked dumbly.

"Attack me," Thickfur repeated disdainfully. "Get me before I can get you."

There was a long pause. Dawnpaw didn't move. Her mentor let out a long sigh, and then before she could react, he had thrown himself at her. She did the first thing that came to mind – she ducked. His forepaws landed just past her tail, but now he was standing over her. Intimidated by his bulk, Dawnpaw tried to roll away. Easily, he turned around and pinned her shoulders down, gently placing his jaws around the scruff of her neck. The ginger apprentice went limp.

Thickfur stepped off and padded away. "Next time I say attack me, attack me," he spat over the back of his shoulder. "Now try again."

Dawnpaw broiled with indignation. She didn't know how to fight! She had only been taught the moves, but she had no idea how to use them.

An enemy won't care how trained you are.

Shut up! Dawnpaw thought angrily. Sootpaw had been quiet most of the day, but now he was choosing this moment to resurface. Losing to Thickfur seemed twice as humiliating when there was another cat, especially one as confident and sharp-tongued as Sootpaw. He already had no respect for her due to her Clan.

You got that right, ThunderClan kittypet.

Before she could reply, Thickfur's paws crashed into her shoulders and knocked her down. Dawnpaw spun to the side, landing in the dirt with loud thump. Her mentor stood over her, one paw pinning down her neck. His eyes were narrow. "Pay attention."

Face hot, Dawnpaw pulled herself back to her feet. Her coat was thick with dust and it filled her with the urge to groom it, it was so itchy and unkempt.

You can groom your pelt later. Pay attention to Thickfur. Watch his paws.

Resentfully, Dawnpaw followed his instructions, focusing on Thickfur's paws. This time she saw his feet shift before his leap and nimbly moved out of the way before he could bowl her over. Thickfur landed gracefully on his paws and turned to face her.

"Alright," he said, with a neutral dip of his head. "Now attack me."

You're too small to leap onto his back. Tangle his paws up and trip him.

Dawnpaw braced herself and then shot forward, aiming at Thickfur's paws. He easily reared back, keeping his front paws safe, but instead of continuing at his back paws, she spun around on her hind feet and whipped at his paws as they descended.

Thickfur let out a sound of surprise as he lost his balance. The tom pitched sideways but quickly righted himself, stepping away from Dawnpaw's form. Not wanting to stay prone, she got back on her paws, facing him and breathing heavily.

Now attack him again before he's ready. This time, go at his muzzle with your paws.

The grey tabby opened his mouth to speak, but Dawnpaw cut him off by lunging forward. Claws sheathed, she threw two blows at his muzzle. They connected and whipped his head to the side, taking him by surprise. Recovering, Thickfur ducked her next blow and then thrust his shoulder into her side.

Dawnpaw staggered back, surprised. Her mentor loomed over her, prepared to strike again.

When he attacks, run by where he has the least weight. He'll be slow to follow you.

She took a deep breath and waited. Thickfur lunged at her with a large paw. Dawnpaw ducked it easily, but to her surprise, he threw the other one at her faster than she could blink. The she-cat hesitated for half a heartbeat and then ran.

Shooting under his front leg, Dawnpaw almost made it to the other side of the hollow before she felt something catch her tail and pull her back. She fell to the ground by his paws, breathing heavily and looking up at him in defeat.

"Fast, but not fast enough," said Thickfur, taking a step back. His voice was filled with a scorn, but a veil of contempt had been lifted from his eyes. She would have been proud of the new respect she had garnered if it wasn't Sootpaw who deserved it.

It isn't hard to outsmart a ThunderClan cat.

She wanted to tell him to be quiet, but she figured it was hypocritical to only listen to him when she needed his help. So Dawnpaw just sighed mentally, making sure her exasperation was conveyed to the errant ShadowClan apprentice.

Don't be jealous.

If those words had come from Elmpaw, they would have been lighthearted and underlined with affection. But Sootpaw's voice wasn't even humorous in the least. In was arrogant and flat, stating only what he considered to be fact. The apprentice really thought he was better than everyone else.

I am.

But he couldn't really be, could he? She had seen his mind, he had felt what he had felt, and she had noticed a clear twinge of unease. Something, she had no clue what, had unsettled the ShadowClan apprentice. He had a weakness after all.

There was a sharp flash of anger and then blissful silence as Sootpaw withdrew from her mind, clearly offended by her thoughts. Relieved, Dawnpaw turned her attention back to Thickfur, who was watching her guardedly.

"Get back to camp," he said flatly, not even deigning to look at her as he instead examined his claws. "Change the bedding in the nursery and then you can eat."

"Yes, Thickfur," said Dawnpaw, not mentioning that she wasn't hungry.

The ginger apprentice was halfway out of the hollow when her mentor spoke up again. "Also, before you do anything, clean off your pelt. You're a mess."

Swallowing, she pelted through the woods before he could sense the anger sparking off of her fur. The discontent poured from her in waves, and she was surprised that the rest of the Clan didn't notice it the second she returned. Who was Thickfur to comment on how she looked? A lump rose in her throat.

Elmpaw padded up to meet her, dropping the squirrel that was clutched in his jaws. "Dawnpaw! Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she mumbled. "I just need to change the bedding in the nursery."

He sighed sympathetically. "When Mousekit and Galekit are apprentices, they'll have to do their share of the work. But come on, let's go see how the queens are doing."

They were almost at the nursery when a terrible yowl sounded from within. Dawnpaw froze, eyes stretched wide, while beside her, Elmpaw tensed.

"Auburnfur!" Beechclaw dropped the mouse he had been chewing at and ran towards them, the fur on the back of his neck fluffed up to dwarf his face. "Is she...?"

"I think she's kitting," said Elmpaw, taking a slow step back. "Dawnpaw, go get Brindlefeather!"

She nodded and turned, but Branchpaw was already running up behind them, eyes like saucers. "Brindlefeather's out collecting herbs... I... Beechclaw, run and get her. Elmpaw, bring me some more warriors. Dawnpaw, come with me."

"Collecting herbs?" yowled Beechclaw. "How can she be doing that at a time like this?"

"Beechclaw," mewed Bracnhpaw, a note of urgency in his voice. "Go get her."

"But Auburnfur..." began the brown tabby.

Branchpaw shushed him with a flick of his tail. "I'll tend to her. The best thing you can do is find Brindlefeather. Now, Dawnpaw, come with me." Grey eyes strangely focused, the tom strode away from her and into the nursery. A heartbeat later, Dawnpaw followed.

The den, which was usually recognizable by the warm husk of borage and milk, was now characterized by the bitter tang of blood. Dawnpaw winced as she entered, but at Branchpaw's urging, sat by Larkflight. The calico she-cat was talking soothingly to Auburnfur, who was lying on her side and grunting in pain as she convulsed.

Elmpaw entered behind them with Larchstripe and Nettleclaw just as Auburnfur's whole body collapsed with a great shudder. The she-cat let out a pitiful moan as the scent of blood saturated the air. Dawnpaw wrinkled her nose but found herself unable to turn away.

"Keep pushing," said Branchpaw calmly, nosing her belly gently. He pushed a ball of herbs towards her with a sleek forepaw. "Larchstripe. Run to my den and get me the herbs that Brindlefeather used to deliver Mousekit and Galekit."

The silver tabby nodded and ran off. Elmpaw squeezed in between the medicine cat apprentice and his sister. "What can I do?"

"Right now?" asked Branchpaw. He leaned forward and gently grasped a slick bundle of fur as it came lose from Auburnfur's struggling form. "Lick its fur backwards."

Elmpaw nodded and quickly did as he was told, ruffling the small kit's fur. Underneath the layers of blood and sticky fluid, it was a pure black. Dawnpaw watched him with the kit for a moment before turning her attention back to Auburnfur. There was another kit coming.

"Nettleclaw, you take this one," instructed Branchpaw as he helped deliver the next kit. This one was a limp brown form, and Nettleclaw took it quickly, licking the kit roughly to help it breathe. Dawnpaw found herself admiring Branchpaw – he worked so efficiently, devoting both mind and body to the process.

Larchstripe returned with a bundle of herbs and placed them by Auburnfur's muzzle. Larkflight licked the she-cat's head gently. "Eat them," she murmured. "They'll make you feel better."

As Auburnfur followed the queen's instructions. Branchpaw passed the last kit to Dawnpaw. She began to lick it nervously, feeling the small tortoiseshell form wiggle underneath of her tongue. At least it was alive.

Auburnfur gasped and subsided into her nest. "Beechclaw will be back soon," murmured Larkflight soothingly, touching her tail to her friend's flank. "Just rest so you'll have enough strength to greet him and your kits."

The brown she-cat closed her eyes wearily. Elmpaw slowly put down the kit by his paws, which squeaked indignantly. "They'll name then together, then?" he asked.

"Her choice," mewed Dawnpaw through a mouthful of mottled fur. She placed the kit down beside the other, and they instinctively huddled together. Larkflight watched them fondly.

Nettleclaw, on the other hand, had grown still. He held the brown kit in his jaws, gently swinging it from the scruff of its neck. Dawnpaw's chest tightened. Elmpaw froze. Branchclaw turned before stopping, his eyes flickering with unreadable emotions.

"Is... is it..." Dawnpaw couldn't find the words.

Nettleclaw nodded gravely. The ginger and white tom looked at Branchpaw, sorrow shining in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he meowed. "There was nothing I could do."

"Take it outside and bury it," said Larkflight gently. "We can tell Auburnfur about it when she's ready."

"You would sent it to StarClan without a name?" Elmpaw interjected, his green eyes flashing.

Branchpaw slowly surveyed the scene. "I'll name it," he mewed finally, sounding moons older than his seven. "This kit shall be known as Sparrowkit. May he find peace in StarClan." The young brown tabby touched his nose to the bundle's forehead before rising to his feet and padding out of the den.

"I'll bury it," said Nettleclaw, regaining his composure. "Larkflight... Just be here for her."

They had once been mates, Dawnpaw remembered as she looked at them. She had never learned what had driven them apart, but there was still a sorrow between them, one more evident in the deputy's eyes than in Larkflight's. Suddenly feeling out of place, she stood up and went after Branchpaw.

She caught up to her brother in the medicine cat's den, where he was sitting with his back against the wall. Outside of the nursery he looked smaller, his shoulders hunched against his neck and his amber eyes bitter.

"You were amazing in there," she whispered, licking his cheek.

"I don't know what happened. One moment I was afraid, and the next, I just knew what to do. When I named Sparrowkit... it was like something outside was directing me."

"Branchpaw..." Dawnpaw trailed off. "Maybe it was StarClan, working through you to save Auburnfur and her two other kits. If you hadn't been there, who knows what would have happened."

He turned his gaze on her, his face once again gaunt, his earlier vigour gone completely. "I don't know what happened. But it wasn't me."

"Don't be like that," she said dismissively. "You're a hero."

"No." Branchpaw's voice was cold and it startled her. "I really mean it, Dawnpaw. It wasn't me."

X X X X X X X

A/N: Next chapter, Sootpaw runs into that RiverClan she-cat he was hyping about a few chapters back. He's also mean to Dawnpaw, again, though he's not really a bad kind of mean :) Also, we'll get another Branchpaw POV going, since I'm liking him more and more as the story progresses. I'm hoping for around thirty chapters, and over 100,000 words. So, almost a fifth of the way there, words-wise :)

PieInYaFace - nice guess there, you're right, but it's Toadstripe, not Toadpelt! :) Thanks for the review, and you can have a Toadstripe plushie for that :D

I guess there's a cat who will betray Branchpaw and a cat who will betray the Clans respectively, and he was sort of being warned about both of them. Hmm... I won't give you many more hints, but one of the two we haven't really met yet (we will soon though!). So that SUPER AWESOME Branchpaw plushie is still up for grabs. If it's guessed correctly, I'll take down the contest, but won't reveal it until we see it in the story :)

And thanks to eternal-ni6 and Thunderstar for their reviews as well! I've also learned that I need to proof-read more, so if you guys see any mistakes, please let me know.

Question for all of you:

As of right now, who are you shipping, pairings-wise?

Anyways, thanks to all my readers and if you haven't already, please leave a review!

Yours,

- PV :)