Chapter Eleven
Dawnheart sat under the dry branches of the birch trees on the evening of the Gathering, her tail draped over the sleeping Cheesefur. She had promised to wake him up once Riverstar called the Clan meeting to address who would be going.
The night was almost sticky with humidity, and even if the sun was going down, the temperature sure wasn't. Dawnheart envied how her orange friend could sleep through any weather without interruption easily. In boredom, she recalled the previous morning's events.
She had been sent on sunrise border patrol with Brambleclaw and Foxbark. It wasn't too bad, if you wake up early enough to get a bite to eat from the nearly-spoiled fresh kill on the pile. Now that it was mid greenleaf, it was hotter than ever and it was risky to eat prey that had been sitting out overnight. Dawnheart especially disliked this part of year, as her pelt was black and absorbed the sunlight. She was only glad that they had the shade from the trees and the rushing water of the river.
After that, she hunted with Nightstorm in a hunting patrol, whom of which consisted them and Tawnywhisker. Of course, she had to insist to Badgerstrike that she wasn't overheated and was glad to get her paws on another patrol. Together, the two had caught a rabbit, two sparrows, and a plump mouse. They were a force to be reckoned with once they set mind on a certain piece of prey.
Only after those two patrols did Dawnheart admit she needed rest. So, she had helped the elders with their ticks and getting water-soaked moss, since there were no apprentices anymore to do the job. Plus, she was the only willing warrior that had been in camp at the moment.
Once she had finished, she had attempted to talk to Lilymoon again, but the excitement from their warrior ceremony three sunrises prior had run out and so had Lilymoon's patience with Dawnheart. A certain hatred crossed the pretty cat's eyes every time she snuck a glance at her previous friend. Which Dawnheart would've passed off as just being angry at her, but it was still the matter of Brightmoon.
So now she was supervising Cheesefur's snooze after they shared fresh-kill. The last ray of sun blitzed over the landscape, making Dawnheart grimace and turn away. Just as she had expected, Riverstar had exited her den and hopped up on her usual branch. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here around TallOak!"
Elders roused themselves from stretching in the lingering warmness to pull their bodies towards TallOak. Most of the warriors practically ran to get a spot close to the tree, looking up at their leader with a, expectant sparkle in their eyes. Dawnheart nudged Cheesefur, who blinked sleepily, but sat up.
"As you all know, I'm going to be announcing the cats whom will come with me to the Gathering shortly. I see no point in waiting, so I'll get started." The grey she-cat paused, checking to make sure she had every cat's attention. "Of course, the new warriors; Brambleclaw, Lilymoon, Dawnheart, Cheesefur, and Brownpelt. Nightstorm, Brokenstem, and Foxbark. All of you please meet me by the main entrance once you're ready."
Dawnheart began to quickly and carefully groom herself, matting down the tousled fur behind her ears and the rowdy patches on her tail. She shifted her shoulders, feeling the fur in between them sticking up with sap. "Cheesefur, can you help me? I can't reach behind here…"
Her orange friend looked up at her call and padded over, beginning to groom the sapped spot. Dawnheart purred happily and thanked Cheesefur once he finished. He only nodded, heading back towards the small clump of cats waiting with their leader to go to the Gathering.
The black cat followed soon after, but sat a bit away from the group in the shade. It was cooling down now that the sun was sinking below the treeline, but humidity clung in the air like an irritable fly on fresh-kill. Dawnheart let out a content sigh as Nightstorm sat next to her.
"Busy day, huh?" He asked, looking up at the puffy white clouds littering the sky. She nodded.
"Let's just hope the Gathering goes well. It'll be my first as a warrior." The she-cat shuffled her paws on the thin grass. Nightstorm lay his tail across her back in encouragement.
"It'll go great, I promise." He carefully pressed his muzzle to her cheek, being taller than she was. A smile worked its way onto Dawnheart's face.
"Are we all ready?" Came Riverstar's call. She was standing at the camp entrance with her tail lifted high, pride shining in her eyes. When nods and calls of excitement came from the group, she whisked around. "Then let's go, shall we?"
Nightstorm stayed close to his previous apprentice during the walk to the Berry Patch, his pelt brushing hers every so often. Dawnheart didn't mind. In fact, she quite enjoyed having his silent company. The trees cast peaceful shadows along the ground as they walked at the back of the group of warriors accompanying their leader.
It was nearly dark overhead when FireClan made their way into the Berry Patch. All three of the other Clans were present already, their cats mingling. Riverstar swept cautiously through the horde of cats, making a beeline for her stump. She hopped onto it as Badgerstrike sat beneath it.
The clearing went quiet, but once it was clear the leaders had no intention to start yet, they continued their conversations. Nightstorm glanced to the side. "I'm going to go meet with someone, but I'll be back soon, okay?"
Dawnheart nodded and looked past him to see whom he had meant. She watched as her former mentor approached a pretty chestnut brown she-cat and began to talk with her. Jealousy stirred hot in Dawnheart's stomach, but she turned away before Nightstorm could see her glaring. Almost as soon as she turned, though, a familiar scent wafted towards her. Soon, the cat owning it appeared.
"Hey, Mintstripe!" Dawnheart greeted him, padding forward. He looked around in confusion before his eyes lit up, landing on her.
"Dawnpaw! Actually, I was looking for you…" His voice trailed off nervously as he glanced around. "Can we maybe talk outside of the Patch? It's private out there…"
She gave him a reproachful look, caught slightly off guard. "I-It's Dawnheart, and yeah, sure, I guess?"
Mintstripe got up quickly and darted to the edge of the berry bushes, exiting the Patch. Dawnheart followed in confusion. He trailed out at least a dozen tail-lengths away before sitting down, as carefully as if porcupine quills were stuck in the ground. The black she-cat sat in front of him. "What's all this about?"
He shifted uncomfortably, glancing from side to side. "Well, I wanted to ask you something…"
"Yeah, so? What is it?" When seconds snailed by and he didn't respond, Dawnheart got impatient. "The Gathering is going to start any minute. Just get on with it."
"Well… I guess I'll just come out and say it…" He paused again, staring at his shifting paws. "Do you wanna be my mate?"
Dawnheart stared at him, stunned. As she was about to speak, a snarl came from behind her. "Excuse me?"
Nightstorm stepped beside her, glaring at Mintstripe with his teeth showing. Mintstripe was backing away with a panicked look on his face. "I-I…Who…Who are y-you…?"
"Her mentor. Also known as the one making sure she doesn't break the warrior code to be with an idiotic furball." He growled, unsheathing his claws.
"Wait, Nightstorm, i-it's not like I was going to say yes…" Dawnheart began to protest, standing in between them.
"You weren't?" Mintstripe hissed, unsheathing his own claws. "You ungrateful foxheart, do you know how rude that is?"
"Don't. Talk to her. Like. That." Nightstorm growled, but Mintstripe continued.
"When a tom offers to be your mate it's just polite to say yes." He narrowed his eyes at her. "It's not like you'll find another one. Didn't you see the way this mouse-brain here was flirting with Deerheart? He obviously doesn't like you!"
Pain twisted inside Dawnheart, tears pricking her eyes. "Just look at her. She's prettier than you'll ever be. Nightstorm is just protecting you because he feels accountable. You're still a little apprentice to him, after all."
She barely heard Nightstorm growl at him to shut up. Her paws turned her around and took off into the woods as fast as they could go. Her eyesight was blurred, but she went the way she felt was right. Even though the night was hot, Dawnheart felt cold and alone. All she could see soon was darkness.
Bitter thoughts stabbed at her mind, pricking her eyes until she had a headache. Her paws fell from under her as she tumbled carelessly down a hill. Dawnheart came to a halt at the bottom and stayed where she was, closing her eyes and willing sleep to come take her away. Either that, or a bloodthirsty badger.
