Here we are with another chapter. Feels kind of nice to come back to this after so many years. It's hard, I'm not going to lie. Writing isn't easy. Kind of like how it is with artists and artwork, it's tough to produce something you like. I'd dread having this as my career, so hats off to those of you who have writing as your calling! My more popular story, History Rewritten: Brokenstar will be on an indefinite hiatus still. I'm not sure where I want to go from in there, honestly. But if any of you want to pick it up from me and continue it or even restart it, that would be fine with me. Please PM me if anyone is interested in that. It won't be seeing action for quite a while from me so if any of you would like it to stay alive, please consider taking it. You can even use my characters in it if you so choose (so long as you aren't claiming them as your own). On an unrelated note, I have scripting and art underway for both Dawnstar's Legacy and No Wings to Fly so expect something from the Blackwing story line sometime within the next year. Thank you again to everyone who has submitted characters over the years. They're all so beautiful and I wish I could provide a pivotal role to every single one of them but that's just not possible.
Leopardbreath and Torrentrunner belong to their respective owners.
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Dawnpaw felt the brambles that littered ThunderClan's territory scrape her pelt. She ignored the pain that came with fur being removed from her skin. She felt numb. She felt almost cold. The light rain and mist that covered the areas surrounding the lake didn't help. Dawnpaw sucked in a deep breath of moist air. Her chest heaved with another half sob, half hiss as she tried to prevent the sound from escaping her jaws. She didn't want to wail while she was in the middle of ThunderClan land. Warriors would spot her instantly and take her prisoner (so she thought). Another raspy and tear-filled breath later and Dawnpaw padded onwards over the leaf littered ground. Her tail dragged on the forest floor behind her, making soft swishing sounds as it brushed over the leaves. The silvery gray she cat didn't even know where she was heading. She had never seen ThunderClan territory before; she had only seen the thickly wooded lands from afar and could only imagine what it was like when ThunderClan cats described it at Gatherings. Dawnpaw found her self in awe of the natural beauty of the trees and thick undergrowth. But that feeling of wonder was quickly replaced by dread. Dawnpaw remembered where she was. She was standing in the middle of ThunderClan territory alone. The scent of the ShadowClan border had disappeared. The white pawed apprentice was surrounded by Thunderclan scent. Suddenly frantic, Dawnpaw searched for a place to hide. She leapt out towards bushes and tall grass, only to be met by more trees and brambles! Dawnpaw quickly diverted her path but skidded to a halt when she realized she was just as lost as she was before.
Everything looks the same!
Dawnpaw leapt and twisted around to run back the way she came, but the ground beneath her split open caught her back paw! Unable to yowl, the apprentice let out a tiny squeak and slid down into the opening. Crumbling dirt and plants toppled down onto her head and back as she struggled to find a paw hold on the unstable surface. Dawnpaw kicked her back legs out but continued to slide downwards into a seemingly never-ending pit. A heartbeat or two later, Dawnpaw felt her body hit hard packed earth. Clods of dirt and grass fell atop her face and fur. Dawnpaw coughed and brushed aside the crumbles of soil, amazed there was enough room for her to stand up.
I guess this is an old badger's set.
Dawnpaw stood up onto her dirt covered paws. Feeling the ceiling of the earth, she clawed the top of the old den. Soon the earth gave way to more dirt crumbles. Dawnpaw flinched as a few clods bounced off her pelt. The low light of the night filtered through the newly made hole in the ceiling.
Yes! I did it!
Dawnpaw pushed her head out the old badger's set, relishing the small victory. She immediately pulled it back in when she heard voices originating from somewhere overtop of her.
"Leopardbreath, you're really lucky I wasn't assigned the dawn patrol tomorrow." A she cat's voice mewed tersely. Dawnpaw held her breath.
"Hey, we need the freshkill! Plus, I really, really want to make up for bringing in that one squirrel that made Amberheart sick." Another she cat replied.
"That's technically not your fault, Leopardbreath. Prey all over is making cats sick."
"You're right, Breezepaw. But we still need the food. The clan still needs to eat. If we can get a few pieces tonight that aren't soiled, then the clan can eat tomorrow."
"You're right too. I just don't like being out late. And now I smell something."
Dawnpaw blinked and prayed the cats above her didn't smell her scent. Then she almost pawed herself in the face. Dawnpaw had left scent everywhere in her mad dash away from the grave.
I'm so so so stupid! I should have never left RiverClan's territory. I was lucky Emberpaw was there to cover for me. Now I'm on my own and I'm sure to get caught!
Then, the grey and white apprentice heard the second voice speak again.
"Yeah, me too. I found a mouse's nest a few tail lengths away from here. I smell them again. I'm going to go catch some and then head back to camp. Make sure you find something too, Breezepaw!"
"I will! I'll see you in the morning, Leopardbreath."
Dawnpaw flicked her ears back and forth, trying to detect the ThundeClan cats' movements, but she heard nothing, not even foot falls.
ThunderClan cats are so silent when the walk.
Dawnpaw exhaled in relief. She blinked a few times and swatted a few stray dirt crumbles from her paws. Then, she raised her head to push out the old den. Her hair stood up on her spine in shock when a silver striped paw thrust down though the hole and connected with her face. Dawnpaw pushed the paw off her face with a swift smack. The paw retreated. Dawnpaw huffed and stood rigid. Then she heard a purr and a friendly meow.
"I knew I smelled something." The voice from above her meowed. A smooth, silver tabby head pushed down into the badger's set. Shimmering, light blue eyes blinked at Dawnpaw's dark amber eyes.
"Breezepaw?" Dawnpaw meowed quietly, clearly overwhelmed at what had just occurred. The silver and white she cat couldn't believe her luck. Breezepaw smiled at her friend.
"The one and only. What are you doing here? What about your kits? RiverClan is really far away form her-…" Breezepaw cut herself off mid word when she noticed Dawnpaw tearing up.
"I'm so stupid, Breezepaw, you have no idea how stupid I've been this whole time." Dawnpaw said between small sniffles and tears. Breezepaw ducked her head in and slid down into the old den next to Dawnpaw. The silver tabby apprentice pulled her friend in close and lick her forehead.
"Shhhhh. It's ok, Dawnpaw, just cry it out." Breezepaw whispered. Dawnpaw sobbed into Breezepaw's tabby fur.
"My kits didn't make it. I should have never taken a mate so young. I should have just tried harder during their birth. It's my fault they died. Timberclaw probably think I'm heartless after I pushed them into the grave I dug-…" Breezepaw brushed her tail over Dawnpaw's muzzle. Dawnpaw just let out more tears. Breezepaw's blue gaze held Dawnpaw's.
"When StarClan calls, there's nothing you can do to stop them. It's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. There's nothing wrong with following your heart, Dawnpaw. Timberclaw loves you. He'd never think you're heartless or mean. Just breath, Dawnpaw, breath."
The gray and white she cat obeyed and took several deep breaths. Her dark amber eyes blinked away the tears.
"You can't stay here forever, Dawnpaw, but we can stay here some of the night if you don't want to go back to RiverClan right away." Breezepaw said. Dawnpaw nodded. Breezepaw curled her body around Dawnpaw's. For the first time in many moons, Dawnpaw felt like a kit again, being comforted by her mother. "I'll tell you a story Rosemoon used to tell me. It's about this cat named Ravenwing and she was a ThunderClan warrior countless seasons ago…" Breezepaw's mew became fainter and fainter as Dawnpaw closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep next to Breezepaw's comforting presence.
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Dawnpaw blinked the sleepiness away from her eyes as a paw prodder her flank. Breezepaw was no longer curled around her. Now Breezepaw stood in front of Dawnpaw, the dim light of the night that flowed through the old den's opening made her silver striped fur glow. Dawnpaw almost sighed.
How does Breezepaw always look so beautiful?
Dawnpaw's thought vanished when Breezepaw prodder her again.
"It's just past moonhigh. I know you were sleeping, but I think you should go back to camp in case some cat reported you as missing."
Dawnpaw nodded and stood up. Breezepaw pushed her body through the badger set's opening. Dawnpaw followed her as her friend's tail disappeared out of the den. The rain and mist from earlier that night had subsided. ThunderClan territory was quiet. Breezepaw nudged Dawnpaw out away from the den.
"Go towards the lake and walk on the shore. That way no one will be able to follow your scent. I'll take you there so I can cover your scent later." Breezepaw said quietly, urging Dawnpaw to follow her. Breezepaw effortlessly and silently stalked through the grass and trees. Dawnpaw felt painfully aware of her loud and heavy paw steps as she crashed through the forest. Breezepaw led Dawnpaw through ThunderClan lands until the trees thinned into a barren, grassy area materialized before Dawnpaw's eyes. The lake sat ahead of the two cats, reflecting moon and starlight. Dawnpaw walked ahead of Breezepaw and onto the damp shoreline.
"Breezepaw, thank you. For everything." Dawnpaw said gratefully. Breezepaw just smiled at her friend and rubbed her cheek on Dawnpaw's.
"What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't make sure my friends were ok?"
"I'll never forget your kindness, Breezepaw." Dawnpaw said as she bounded into the chilled lake water. The silver and white she cat made a splash as her paws hit the lake. She made one final glance at her friend before bounding off towards RiverClan territory. Dawnpaw trudged through the water lined shore, her strong legs easily pushing through the water. She passed ShadowClan territory and noticed the pine trees and shadow forest in the near distance. A light-colored cat leapt over the marshy grass. Purple-blue eyes blinked at her.
Emberpaw!
Dawnpaw blinked back. Then, Emberpaw turned and ran back deep into ShadowClan lands. Dawnpaw kept half swimming back to her clan's lands. She looked down at her paws, which were now back to their pure white state. The lake water had washed away the mud and dirt that had covered them previously. Dawnpaw was glad the water had done her a small favor. Sooner than she expected, the silvery apprentice crossed over back into RiverClan's territory. Familiar trees and reeds littered the area. Dawnpaw raced towards her territory back onto dry land. The grass caught on her paws but she didn't mind. The moon waned in the sky above her but she was just glad she was home. The RiverClan camp was surprisingly alert when she arrived. Cats gathered around the center of camp with Waterstar standing tall at the center atop her usual boulder. Every warrior, queen, apprentice and elder seemed focused on her. Dawnpaw was slightly amazed at how no guards had greeted her when she returned. The apprentice sat down beside Timberclaw, who's emerald eyes were bright. Dawnpaw mused at the sudden change. Last time she looked at him in the face, it seemed as if he was ready to keel over and die. This time, his face seemed bright with life. Dawnpaw was glad. Their kits' death had nearly destroyed him. Waterstar's yowl stole Dawnpaw's attention from her mate.
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear me!"
Well, she had their attention. Not really a need to even say that…
"Dawnpaw," Waterstar started. Dawnpaw's head snapped to face her leader. "You are ready to become a warrior. Timbeclaw, is this apprentice ready to become a warrior?" Timberclaw Nodded at Waterstar.
"There's no one else more ready." He stated proudly. He puffed out his chest a bit. Waterstar gazed back at Dawnpaw approvingly.
"Then, by the power of StarClan, Dawnpaw, you will now be named Dawflight. We honor your perseverance and kindness as a full warrior of RiverClan." Waterstar meowed. Dawnflight walked up to Waterstar and respectfully licked her shoulder.
"Dawnflight! Dawnflight!" The cats of RiverClan chanted. Dawnflight couldn't help but smile. Her parents beamed with pride. Thunderpaw cracked a smirk, Shinepaw and Hawkpaw yowled her new name. Blackwing grinned wildly at Dawnflight. Waterstar approached Dawnflight as the chanting died and reminded her of her vigil. Just as the RiverClan leader leapt off the boulder, hisses and growls erupted in the camp. The reed and brush walls that surrounded the camp shook. Warriors sidled up to the entrance, poised to strike at whatever was moving through. The elders and queens surrounded the nursery. Dawnflight sniffed the air and frowned when the smell reminded her of pines, wet grass, and Emberpaw's fur.
The reeds crackled a little and two cats pushed their way through into RiverClan's camp. A broad shouldered, yet lean tom with tan tabby fur and a white belly appeared alongside a scarred black tabby she cat with a white chin, ears, paws and tail.
Dawnflight's eyes widened.
Falconstar and Torrentrunner? I thought Mosswing was the deputy still.
The tom's lips curled into a toothy smirk and his leafy green eyes blazed with something Dawnflight couldn't quite put her paw on. The she cat stood up straight and proudly, but the expression on her face suggested that she more than likely did not want to be there. Torrentrunner caught Dawnflight's widened amber eyes, her own bright amber gaze pleaded and begged at the gray warrior. Torrentrunner quickly shook her head and mouthed something at Dawnflight.
Falconstar is a fox heart with the brain of a mouse. The ShadowClan warrior silently said. Dawnflight was left speechless.
Who talks about their leader like that?
Falconstar stared down Waterstar. Their green and blue gazes held each other for a heartbeat before Falconstar spoke.
"ShadowClan needs more prey rich lands. Waterstar, I demand that you let my warriors move the border past the twoleg half bridge and into the center of the second hill."
Torrentrunner threw her ears back, horrified. She visibly tensed up. Dawnflight felt sorry for the poor she cat. She was clearly embarrassed and did not follow her leader's line of thought. Waterstar scowled and snarled at Falconstar.
"That is nearly a quarter of our territory, Falconstar. Why would you possibly need that much land when your clan is nearly the same size as mine."
Falconstar's eyes gleamed. Dawnflight flinched at the sight; she could see why Torrentrunner didn't agree with Falconstar.
She's right, he's a stupid fox heart. He doesn't look like he thought this through either. He just wants more land just because!
"If you won't give up the territory peacefully, expect my warriors and me to fight for it. We will be moving the border in a half moon's time, regardless of whether you show up to defend it." Falconstar growled. Torrentrunner just sank into the ground at her leader's words. Waterstar didn't back away.
"Then fight we shall. Be prepared to lose, Falconstar. Now get out of my camp." Waterstar's final yowl included a hiss and snarl; her warriors joined in. Falconstar just laughed a bit and pushed his way out of the camp. Torrentrunner lagged behind him, her tail dragging on the ground shamefully.