"Get back, fox!"
"You're no match for us!"
Dawnpaw purred as she watched Lizardkit, Littlekit, and Gravelkit play with a clump of moss. Had she ever been that little? It seemed like a hundred seasons since she could play innocently without a single worry. Darkpaw's arrival had changed everything, twisted what Dawnpaw thought was normal into something not even her heart could understand. Speaking of Darkpaw, the apprentice was beckoning for Dawnpaw to join him for a vole.
Dawnpaw quickly walked over to Darkpaw, grimacing at the scars Brightpaw had left on his ears. Stifling a pang of anger, she recalled how Houndfang had said that Darkpaw nearly killed Brightpaw, so she was only acting in self-defense, and most of the clan had agreed with him, sparing Brightpaw from punishment.
"Silversong, take Darkpaw, Houndfang, Leafdust, and Whitepatch to patrol the WindClan border." Adderstrike meowed, just as Dawnpaw had opened her mouth to greet Darkpaw. With a grunt of annoyance, Darkpaw ran to where the rest of the patrol was waiting, talking seriously among themselves, although Dawnpaw couldn't hear them. She suddenly felt a nudge from behind, and realized that her mother, Greyfoot, was trying to get her attention. Turning around, she saw her signal for Dawnpaw to follow her, then walk into the woods, and Dawnpaw padded after her.
When they were a good distance away from the camp, Greyfoot turned to Dawnpaw with a snarl.
"What did I tell you when you were a kit? You do not play with Darkpaw. You do not share prey with Darkpaw. You do not talk to Darkpaw. And you especially do not have kits with Darkpaw!" Greyfoot hissed. Dawnpaw cocked her head, confused. Who said anything about kits? Darkpaw wasn't her mate…yet.
"Kits? I'm not even a warrior yet! And Darkpaw and I are not mates!" Dawnpaw cried.
"Oh, really? I've seen the way you look at him! And share prey with him! And talk to him!" Greyfoot snarled. Dawnpaw glared at her. She hadn't even given Darkpaw a chance! She had feared him because of something he might never do!
"Yes. I shared prey with him. I talked to him. And I will continue doing that no matter what you say! There's nothing you can do!" spat Dawnpaw, as Greyfoot gave her a smug look.
"Actually, there is something I can do. Several of us, including Silversong's patrol, are going to confront Icestar and force him to banish Darkpaw. Redpaw and I will be with them. Will you?" Greyfoot murmured, as if she was afraid someone would overhear. Not waiting for a reply, she stalked away. Dawnpaw's eyes widened in fear. At this moment, Darkpaw was in danger. She had to warn him! Running through the pines to the WindClan border, she spotted Darkpaw at the back of the patrol and signaled for him to follow her into a clump of bushes.
"Greyfoot told me that she and some other cats, including your patrol, are going to try to force Icestar to banish you! You must hide here while I go warn Icestar. Roll in the dirt to disguise your scent." She told him when he was safely hidden with her. Without another word, she ran off towards the camp, hoping she would be there in time. But by the time she arrived, she knew it was too late. The camp was a mess of fighting, screeching cats.
Throwing herself into the battle, she spotted Brightpaw and Silversong clawing at Cinderclaw, so Dawnpaw leaped at Brightpaw and swiped at her, but failed to dodge a swat that seemed to burn and draw blood at the same time. Dawnpaw swiped at her again, and Brightpaw dodged, letting Dawnpaw's claws sink in to the next cat. Redpaw. Suddenly, Dawnpaw realized that these were her Clanmates that she was fighting. Backing away, she heard a sudden cry.
"Mother! No!"
Moontail was lying in the center of the clearing, covered in blood.