Happy Holidays, you guys! I figured that I should give you all something to read as my present to you, though I am a day late. Christmas was yesterday where I live. Anyways, here's the continuation from the cliffhanger in Chapter 8. I hope this meets everyone's expectation!
A million thanks to my reviewers, followers, and favorites too. I love getting them!
Please R & R!
Dawnpaw's felt her fur bristle and her eyes narrowed at Ashfur's proclamation. Around her, her Clanmates murmured and some hissed or growled in defiance. Firestar sat there, his gaze sweeping silently over his Clan. With ease, he rose and padded to Ashfur, who was still standing there, eyes wide and with a slightly wild look in them. As Firestar approached him, Dawnpaw marveled at how calm he was being even in the face of imminent peril.
Slowly but surely, the Clan began to quiet as heartbeats went by and Dawnpaw felt the brush of fur as Snowkit rounded her legs. He was completely unaware of the danger he was in and only curious of all of the commotion around him. However, Robinkit had gotten the gist of everything going on and she was more cautious, having noticed the other cats' distress.
"What's going on?" Snowkit squeaked as he tipped his head back to look up at Dawnpaw. His question was meant for her to answer.
Unsure whether or not to keep the kit ignorant from the approaching danger, she swept her tail around both him and Robinkit, keeping them close to her side. "Hush for now. Firestar must speak."
She turned her head to Firestar just as he began. "We should remain calm. We aren't going to accomplish anything by panicking—"
Mousefur interrupted him. "We aren't to get anything done just standing around either!"
Firestar ignored her. Though Dawnpaw saw Longtail whisper something to her with a stern expression on his face. Brightheart's kits tussled obliviously next to them.
"We must stop the foxes before they can reach the camp. I will have two patrols of warriors intercept them right before they enter and to fight them off. More cats will stay behind to defend the camp if the foxes manages to get through our defenses," he meowed. Flicking his tail to Brambleclaw, he added, "I will lead one of the patrols and Brambleclaw will lead another."
The moment his voice ceased cats swarmed around him and they all spoke at once. Dawnpaw, not wanting to get caught up in that cluster, bent her head and swooped down on Snowkit, holding onto the loose skin of his scruff gently. He protested quietly but she ignored him. "Come on, Robinkit," she murmured to the other kit around Snowkit's fluffy fur. She didn't look back over her shoulder as she padded toward the nursery to make sure that Robinkit was following. The she-kit was obedient enough.
"Oh thank you, Dawnpaw. I was looking for those two everywhere!" Ferncloud exclaimed as she spotted Dawnpaw with the two kits. "Just get them settled in their nest for right now. Brightheart and Daisy have gone to get the other kits."
Dawnpaw dipped her head in assent and she entered the comforting environment of the nursery. Finding the nest that smelled strongly of Ferncloud, she deposited Snowkit into it and Robinkit climbed in to crouch beside him. Her blue eyes were wide, but Dawnpaw didn't know exactly why that was.
After moments of quiet, the little tabby kit spoke up. "Are we going to die?"
Dawnpaw, who had been staring at the entrance of den, awaiting the arrival of the queens and the rest of the kits, snapped her head down to stare at the kit. She's afraid, Dawnpaw realized. Dawnpaw's eyes softened and she lowered her head to place a comforting lick between Robinkit's ears. "Not if I can help it. I won't let anything get to you, alright?"
Robinkit nodded, seeming to relax. "Thanks, Dawnpaw."
"Of course." Dawnpaw imagined the kit as just a victim of the foxes' ruthless wrath and she shivered. Her paws tingled as fresh adrenaline coursed through her. Nothing would hurt Robinkit, or Snowkit, or Brightheart's kits. Dawnpaw wouldn't allow. Her claws unsheathed and sank into the bracken underpaw. Let them try, Dawnpaw spat mentally. I'll tear out their throats, she vowed protectively.
Suddenly, the nursery entrance trembled violently and Dawnpaw pricked her ears, quickly putting herself between the newcomer and the kits. However, Dawnpaw relaxed her tensed muscles as Brightheart slid inside, Cloverkit hanging from her mouth. Daisy and Ferncloud both followed her quickly, both carrying another of the kits.
The three kits were placed with Robinkit and Snowkit and the five of them huddled together. Dawnpaw turned to Ferncloud. "Were the patrols sent out?"
Ferncloud nodded, her gaze was somber. "Yes, they left a few moments ago."
"Who was with them?"
"Firestar had Sorreltail, Sandstorm, Bravepaw, Cloudtail, and Hazelpaw. Brambleclaw took Redpaw, Stormfur, Birchfall, and Berrypaw," Daisy told her.
Dawnpaw stared back, mortified. "That hardly leaves enough warriors to fight off the foxes if they get past the patrols!"
Brightheart gravely nodded. "Firestar sent Mousepaw to round up the hunting patrols and border patrols."
"He left us on our own?" Dawnpaw mumbled in disbelief. None of the queens could answer her. Dawnpaw could almost hear the question rattling around in their minds.
"Daisy and I will fight," Ferncloud meowed and Dawnpaw looked at her. Her eyes blazed with confidence and Dawnpaw couldn't help but marvel her courage. She was willing to lay down her life for her Clan even though she was still nursing two kits.
"Hey, don't count me out!" Brightheart exclaimed.
"No, your kits are too young to go on without their mother. You can't fight and then lose your life. They must have a mother," Daisy told her sternly and Brightheart huffed indignantly, her flicking tail expressed her agitation.
"I can fight too!" Snowkit protested, not wanting to be left out.
Dawnpaw turned her head to him and opened her mouth to explain that he was too young when an ear-splitting screech sounding from in the clearing. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned away and dared out of the den.
What she saw stopped her in her tracks. Horror caused her fur to rise and the blood pounded in her ears. A large, full-grown fox stood over Brook in the center of the clearing, she had been the only warrior left in the camp. The she-cat was limp but Dawnpaw couldn't see any blood coating her pelt. For the briefest moment, an image of Mistymoon's blood-soaked body drifted into her mind and a growl rose in her throat. Unfreezing, she started forward, hackles raised.
Only a heartbeat had passed. And in another heartbeat, Brook could be dead.
Fur brushed on each side of her flank and she knew that Daisy and Ferncloud had joined her. "Leave her alone, you big brute!" Daisy hissed, causing the fox to snap its head around, fixing its glowing amber eyes on the cream she-cat. Thick saliva dripped from its jaw, pooling on the ground around it.
"Split up. Circle it carefully. When I say 'now' we'll all attack at once. That will confuse it," Ferncloud murmured to them without moving her gaze away from the fox.
Without another word shared between the three of them, Ferncloud and Daisy split away and round the fox, giving themselves at least six tail-lengths of room to maneuver. Dawnpaw narrowed her eyes at the fox. It still had its eyes on Daisy, but every so often it would glance at Ferncloud and over its shoulder at her. The fox was wary and alert, but it was still confident. Foxes are cowards in a fight. They would flee if they felt that they were outmatched.
"Now!"
At that moment, the fox had its back to Dawnpaw and she made a quick decision. Taking just one running step, Dawnpaw sprang from the ground soared onto the fox's back, sinking her claws in. The tactic was very similar to Sundapple's.
Ferncloud had gone for the fox's haunches and she tore her claws into the fox's flank and in a heartbeat she rolled away, avoiding the fox's vicious teeth. Dawnpaw blinked rapidly to clear the dizziness in her head from the fox's rapid movements. Daisy managed to catch the fox on its shoulder with a severe bite wound. The fox snarled in frustration as Daisy skittered out of reach.
Then it was Dawnpaw's turn to be paid attention to and the fox shook itself, causing Dawnpaw to lurch painfully side to side, but her claws remained inserted into the fox's back. "Dawnpaw, be careful!" Ferncloud called to her, but Dawnpaw was too lightheaded and nauseated to answer.
Ferncloud and Daisy dove in for another go but the fox was ready this time. Daisy struck first, scratching the fox's belly with sharp claws. Just before she was in the safe, the fox slammed its heavily-armed paw into Daisy's side, causing the she-cat to gasp before yowling in pain, curling in on herself into a ball.
Ferncloud nipped the base of the fox's plumed tail, causing blood to dribble from the deep bite. As she retreated, the fox lunged and as Dawnpaw went flying, she heard Ferncloud's howl of pain.
Dawnpaw landed heavily on her side and she exhaled sharply, winded. It was several heartbeats before she was able to thoroughly breath again, but even as she did there was a dull pain in her chest. Aching all over, Dawnpaw slowly mounted to her paws and she saw through heavily lidded eyes that Ferncloud had blood pulsing from a wound on her leg. The fox had left her and Dawnpaw's gaze swiveled around the clearing until she finally spotted it, staring right at her through menacing eyes and muscles taut, ready to leap.
Dawnpaw sighed. She was so tired. Her brain was fuzzy and she could feel the lull of the darkness behind her eyes. I might as well give up. I have no chance.
Dawnpaw felt her legs begin shaking from supporting her and she collapsed in a heap. However, her ears were still working properly and to her surprise, she heard a cat call her name.
She turned her head, her cheek rubbing against the ground. Brambleclaw caught her gaze. Cats moved behind him, streaming into the clearing and cornering the fox, but Dawnpaw paid no attention to them.
Brambleclaw rushed forward, spraying up dust behind him, and he ran toward her. Skidding to a stop beside her, he bent his head over her. Dawnpaw could see the anguish in his eyes. She tried to open her mouth to speak to him, but she couldn't. Her jaw felt too heavy.
"Dawnpaw, no!" Squirrelflight's distressed voice rang in her ears. The dark ginger-furred she-cat came into view and she frantically nosed Dawnpaw over, looking for wounds. Dawnpaw was too tired to cry out in pain as she skimmed around Dawnpaw's side.
"Please," Brambleclaw murmured, just loud enough for Dawnpaw to hear him, "Please, StarClan, don't take her away now. Please."
That was the very last thing she heard.
She stood among trees and shrubbery, in a forest different than the one she knew as her home. Dawnpaw lifted her face to the sky and saw that it was dark and the moon solely shone, basking the forest in a soft silver light. She was in StarClan. Again.
Only this time Dawnpaw couldn't locate Cloudwhisker. The large gray and white tom was nowhere to be found.
"I hope you don't make this a habit, Dawnpaw." She whirled around at the voice and started when she saw the tortoiseshell tom standing there. Although he was larger than her, he was still smaller than most of the grown toms she'd seen in ThunderClan and especially much smaller than Cloudwhisker. His tail also reminded her distinctly of a fox, all bushy and a very dark ginger color.
"Redtail," Dawnpaw murmured, more to herself than for him. She remembered the description given to her by Mousefur. He was Sandstorm's father, making him Dawnpaw's great-grandfather. He was also the origin of Bravepaw's small size and Redpaw's namesake.
"You are correct," he meowed, his whiskers twitching.
"Is this like last time?" Dawnpaw asked him, glancing around her to see if she could spot Cloudwhisker's lighter pelt in the dim light.
"Your body needs to rest for now. I volunteered to come and keep you company."
"Volunteered?" Dawnpaw echoed. Did Cloudwhisker volunteer to save her from the Dark Forest last time? She nearly asked her question but then thought better of it. She would ask Cloudwhisker again whenever she saw him next. So, she decided on the next important question lingering in her mind. "What about Daisy and Ferncloud?"
"They are both fine. Daisy only has a slight fracture to her rib and Ferncloud is still healing from her wound, but they will live. As will Brook," Redtail told her and Dawnpaw sighed in relief. She visibly relaxed into a sitting position, curling her tail over her paws.
"Is there anything you wanted to talk about?" Dawnpaw asked after a few moments of silence.
Redtail stared at her through calculating eyes, assessing her. Dawnpaw squirmed under his intense gaze. "You remind of a cat," he finally spoke. He paused, slightly tilting his head to side. "Bluestar was a strong she-cat, not afraid to speak her mind or challenge another cat's decision or opinion. However, she was also very intelligent and she had a soft spot for her close friends and the young members of ThunderClan. You remind me of her, Dawnpaw."
Dawnpaw blinked, taken aback at being compared to one of the most legendary leaders of ThunderClan. "Are you sure? I don't think so. I'm not so nice to the kits when they make me want to throttle them and I have a nasty temper sometimes."
Redtail let out a mrrow of laughter. "Bluestar doubted herself, too. When you caught her on an off day it wasn't such a good thing either. In any case, I think that you do have a soft spot for kits. I saw you make that promise to Robinkit earlier. You were protective of all five of the kits. I'd say that you were soft on them when you allowed them to pounce on you, even when you were at a disadvantage. You didn't want to ruin their fun."
Dawnpaw soared with pride at the thought of being compared to Bluestar and her eyes glowed.
"And," he continued, "Just like her, you have an important destiny."
"What do you mean?" Dawnpaw asked, confused.
"I mean to say that there is something coming—something big—and you and your siblings play a large part in it. Dawnpaw, I cannot tell you of what is to surely come, but you must be careful. Betrayal is a pain worse than any wound. Don't let it deter you from your path, or you may find yourself on the losing side of the battle."
"Battle?" Dawnpaw exclaimed, her voice higher-pitched than normal. Her head swam dizzyingly, trying to process what he had just told her. "What do you mean? I don't understand! Why can't you tell me?"
"Hush," Redtail silenced her frantic mews. He leaned forward and stretched his head toward her to rub his muzzle against hers and lick her ear. "Don't you worry too much about this information now, you still have time yet."
Dawnpaw sighed, calming herself down with slow, even breaths. She closed her eyes to help herself and it was several moments before she was able to open them again. "Can I go now?" she whispered.
Redtail gazed at her with sympathetic eyes. "Yes, you can return to ThunderClan."
Dawnpaw nodded and she quickly lowered herself to the ground and tucked herself into a sleeping position. She closed her eyes to return to her Clan, but then they snapped open again. She lifted her chin off her paws. "Redtail?" she asked. His ears pricked up in attention. "Have you ever met a cat named Sundapple here in StarClan?"
Redtail was silent before he answered and he gazed steadily at Dawnpaw for a few heartbeats before replying, "Yes, just once."
So how did you guys like it? I'd like to hear!