Dawnstar's Legacy Chapter 2
Everyone, I officially welcome you to Dawnstar's Legacy! Please enjoy the story, reviews not mandatory! I do not own any official Warriors characters.
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The warm, summer breeze flowed through Riverclan's camp like the river itself. The winder stirred the reeds, making a clanking sound against the rough earth. It had been a quarter moon since Dawnkit was born, and she was sitting with Embersoul outside of the nursery watching patrols go in and out of the camp. Dawnkit watched with wonder in her little amber eyes as she watched her mother go out with a hunting patrol.
"Daddy, when will Stoneheart be back?" Dawnkit asked, worrying herself without her mother beside her.
"She'll be back by sunhigh, dear. I promise," Embersoul meowed to his daughter, "Let's play a game to pass the time." Embersoul picked up a wad of moss with his claws and rolled it into a ball. Then, he threw it up in the air. The moss ball zipped past Dawnkit's ear, making a whooshing sound as it flew by. Dawnkit turned around and looked at the ball of dampish moss confused.
"What are you doing?" She asked, looking up at Embersoul.
"We call it moss-ball. Some cat tosses the moss and the other cats go and get it. It's fun, try it." Embersoul smiled at Dawnkit, pushing her with his muzzle and encouraging her to fetch the moss. Then, Dawnkit scampered towards the ball. She picked it up with her teeth. It felt damp and squishy between her jaws. Her tongue brushed the green plant and Dawnkit spat out the moss ball, scowling.
"It tastes icky!" Dawnkit mewed, jumping up and down sticking her tongue out. Embersoul laughed, the sound of his voice echoed off the walls of some dens.
"You're not supposed to eat it, frog-brain." Embersoul continued to laugh, whiskers twitching. "You're only supposed to carry it back to me."
"I don't want to play this game anymore!" Dawnkit wailed, still shocked by the foul taste of the moss in her mouth. Embersoul stood up on his feet. He chuckled one last time to himself.
"Ok then, let's meet some of the clan. Follow me." Embersoul started off in a direction away from the nursery; Dawnkit followed him. Struggling to keep up with her father, Dawnkit had to run full speed. Her short legs kept her from walking as fast as her father.
"Wait up!" She called. Hearing her call, Embersoul stopped and waited for her.
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"This is the medicine cat's den," Embersoul meowed to Dawnkit. The pair stood in front of a den that resided between the roots of a tree. The tree itself sat on a mini island in the middle of the RiverClan camp. Embersoul had to carry Dawnkit across the water that cut the camp in thirds to reach the medicine cat's den. Embersoul then ducked under the roots, calling out to the medicine cat that was supposedly in the den.
"Hey! Leafstep! Are you there?" Embersoul's yowl awoke a broad shouldered, white cat with ginger tabby spots. His pelt smelled like herbs and mud to Dawnkit. The scent was pungent, but not unpleasant. Dawnkit padded up to Embersoul and sat down beside him. The little, silver kit looked all around the den. It looked much more spacious on the inside than outside. Dawnkit could see light filtering in the tree root woven roof of the den; the sun marking the earthen floor like a dappled cat pelt. Sitting at the sides of the den sat neat little piles of herbs, roots and berries. I wonder what those are for. Dawnkit thought, taking in all the scents and sights. Then, the new, spotted tom cat noticed the pair of cats in his den.
"Hello Embersoul, how are today?" The cat's mew stood calm and clear. Dawnkit watched to see how her father would react to this new cat, who obviously knew him.
"I'm very well, Leafstep. I want you to meet Dawnkit." Embersoul's pride could be detected by his daughter. She sat just a little straighter. Leafstep looked down at Dawnkit, inspecting her carefully. Then, the huge spotted tom purred.
"Welcome to RiverClan, little one. I think Blackwing is on her way back, why don't you meet her too." Leafstep said, "I need to get back to working, come back and visit anytime, you two." Embersoul started to lead his daughter out of the medicine cat's den. Dawnkit didn't want to leave just yet. She wanted to know who exactly Leafstep was, what all the herbs were for. And more importantly, find out who exactly Blackwing was. The pair of cats crawled out of Leafstep's den, finding themselves in front of the river. Before Dawnkit could take another step, she was lifted into the air in the jaws of her father. Embersoul hopped into the river. The sunlight glinted off the water making it shine like a sapphire. Embersoul swam strongly to the other side of the water, keeping his head above the swirling river. Soon, Dawnkit felt solid ground beneath her paws. She turned around to see her father climbing out of the river. He shook off his fur, water flying of his body in little droplets. Some water sprayed Dawnkit's fur. She didn't mind though. Water sprayed her all the time when Stoneheart came back from patrols or hunting. She often got some on Dawnkit when she lied down next to her daughter.
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Dawnkit stood up and followed Embersoul again. He was on the move to a larger den with some cats sleeping or laying in it. The cats didn't look old, so it was probably the warriors' den.
"The white and grey she cat is Splashfrost, the cream colored tom is Milkpelt, and the two cats sleeping over there are Fireclaw and Amberblaze. Fireclaw is the lighter colored ginger tom and Amberblaze is his sister. She's that dark ginger cat." Embersoul whispered to Dawnkit, "In the corner is Redfur, he's the reddish brown tabby. Sharing tongues with him is his mate, Silverstorm. She's the silver and black spotted she cat." Dawnkit stared at the cats; few stared back and welcomed the little, silver kit to the clan like Leafstep had. Dawnkit stuffed her nose with the unfamiliar scents of her clanmates. Soon her nose was overwhelmed and Dawnkit grew tired. Embersoul noticed the condition of his daughter and led her back to the nursery. On their way, a black pelted she cat with crystal clear blue eyes passed by. Embersoul stopped and greeted her.
"Hi Blackwing, how was your herb gathering trip?" Embersoul asked politely, paying more attention to his daughter's welfare than talking to Blackwing. The black she cat set down a mouth full of herbs to reply.
"Very fruitful, thank you for asking. Is this Dawnkit? She looks so much like her mother," Blackwing nuzzled Dawnkit affectionately. Dawnkit winced a little in surprise.
"I ready to take a nap now, Embersoul." Dawnkit stated. Blackwing twitched her whiskers, snickering to herself.
"And she's so much like you, Embersoul." Blackwing meowed. Embersoul smiled, catching the joke. Then he started to pad off to the nursery, expecting Dawnkit to follow him. Instead Dawnkit's gaze was fixed on Blacking's eyes. They seemed to glow as if they were made of stars. The blue beams of light seemed to penetrate Dawnkit's heart, making her tremble a bit with fear. Blackwing stared down at Dawnkit. She seemed to take on a whole new personality. Instead of being warm and affectionate, the black pelted she cat seemed chilling like night and the serious of her gaze appeared to stop the very breeze that flowed through the camp. Blackwing then opened her mouth to speak.
"The flight of the dawn shall rise with the clan that drowns in its own life." Blackwing's voice sounded like it echoed off a stone wall. It was elegant, but mysterious and spoke of ancient promises of salvation. Suddenly, Blackwing's eyes lost their glimmering sheen. Her eyes looked normal again and her voice softened back to the way it was. "Have a good day, Dawnkit." She mewed. Blackwing picked up her herbs and headed towards Leafstep's den. Dawnkit rushed towards her father, eager to be away from Blackwing and her mysterious revelation. She pressed up against Embersoul's grey and ginger fur, hoping for some comfort.
"It's ok, Dawnkit. She doesn't mean it." Embersoul meowed, trying to soothe Dawnkit.
"Who is Blackwing anyway?" Dawnkit asked, fear leaking away from her.
"Blackwing is a medicine cat. She's Leafstep's apprentice." Embersoul answered her question. He licked his daughter, then picked her up and set her down in her nest.
"Oh." Dawnkit said, mostly to herself. Embersoul showed no signs of hearing her.
"Do you want me to lay down with you till Stoneheart gets back?" Dawnkit's father asked her, leaning over to lick her forehead. Dawnkit nodded in reply. She closed her eyes and felt her father's warm fur press against her side. She listened to his rhythmic breathing and soon fell fast asleep.