Welcome back everyone! I think it's about time to finally bring back the "family" scenes. We haven't seen much of Dawnflight's relationships with others aside from Timberclaw and her friends outside RiverClan for a while. Need to help with continuity and such. Also, I reread my story to see if there were glaring errors. I found one. It's a discontinuity error with Blackwing, Darkfang and Leafstep's heritage. So what we have currently going on is that Blackwing and Darkfang are former rogues who arrived in RiverClan as kits and that Leafstep is also a former rogue, but from a different family. This was solidified in the allegiances page. I have to go back and fix that now, since the actual canon is what's posted in the allegiances page and that those three were rogues before coming to RiverClan. So far, no one has noticed this issue at all so that's good.
1 separating line goes here 1
Dawflight pushed aside the rough reeds that lined the outside of RiverClan's camp. She held them aside with her tail so Thunderpaw could follow her out. The orange and gray tom said nothing and padded behind his sister. Dawnflight wordlessly lead him out to the clear area beside the river where apprentices usually trained. Dawnflight briefly remembered all the times Timberclaw took her here, but swatted the memories away when a silvery gray she cat with green eyes came into view. Stoneheart stood up straight with her tail high above her head, beaconing her kits towards her. She smiled at them and gave a nod to Dawnflight. Thunderpaw received no such greeting. Dawnflight felt a pang of sadness for her brother. If the tom felt anything, he didn't show it. He stood stoic beside her, staring hard at his mother, who didn't seem to notice his gaze.
"I wanted to show you two some more battle techniques," Stoneheart began, "I want you both to be prepared for the battle with ShadowClan. We have less than a half moon left to train."
Dawnflight hid her disappointment and annoyance.
I'm already training at night with Torrentrunner! At this rate, I won't even have any energy left to fight!
Thunderpaw grumbled and twitched his tail, dislodging a few pebbles from the earth beneath him.
"Icepelt is already battle training me! She said I'm almost ready to be a warrior. Why do I need to do this?" The orange and gray apprentice nearly hissed. Dawnflight shared his attitude a little. Stoneheart just narrowed her bright green eyes and sternly meowed back.
"Icepelt may be your mentor, but I'm your mother. Believe it or not, I know some things better than she does. I have more battle experience so it would be best if you listened to me."
Dawnflight was slightly surprised at her mother's retort. It seemed cold and almost harsh, characteristics she had scarcely seen from her mother before. The white pawed she cat shook her fur a bit and stepped forward.
"Alright, what do you want to teach us?" she asked, genuinely curious. Thunderpaw quieted himself and took a place next to her. Stoneheart seemed to perk up with pride.
"I want to show you how to do some moves I created with Blackwing when we were younger. No one else knows them but us." The silvery gray queen's eyes shone with a youth and energy that Dawnflight envied.
I have no time or energy for this anymore!
"Watch this." Stoneheart mewed. She tensed herself as she crouched, her thick gray pelt displaying the hidden strength beneath. Then, she launched herself at some invisible enemy, lurching as she flew, scraping her back claws forwards and bringing down her forelegs into a front slash. Dawnflight and Thunderpaw looked on at their mother in disbelief at her nimbleness and skill. The two shared a short, shocked glance at each other before turning back to Stoneheart expectantly.
How are we supposed to do that?
Dawnflight hesitantly stepped forward. Stoneheart beamed.
"That's the spirit! Try it out!" She meowed excitedly. Dawnflight swallowed hard and imagined an enemy in front of her. She imagined a tall, muscular ShadowClan warrior before her, ready to pounce on her. Dawnflight shut her eyes for a moment to solidify the image. When she opened them again, she crouched down and leapt forward. Dawnflight outstretched her front paws and unsheathed her claws. As soon as she felt her back paws leave the ground, she lifted them up and swiped them up. Suddenly, the white pawed warrior felt her forepaws flailing above her head! Her body twisted upwards and flipped her around, upside down. Dawnflight felt her back hit the grass with a soft "thud!" Inwardly groaning, Dawnflight flipped herself back upright to her paws. Stoneheart looked at her, slightly disappointed, her green eyes as hard as emeralds.
"Try again, Dawnflight." The silvery queen said gently. Dawnflight crouched down again, ready to leap. The young she cat briefly heard Thunderpaw suck in a breath and hold it as she leapt forward again. Dawnflight jumped forward and twisted her back legs up in the air again, then forced her upper body down into the second swipe, but her right foreleg bent downward and caught the loose ground with her claws. The silvery she cat felt herself hit the ground once more, shoulder first. Uninjured, Dawnflight stood back up, ready to try again. Stoneheart frowned at her.
"Again." She said flatly. Thunderpaw let out his breath quickly, but Stoneheart didn't seem to notice.
This move is so hard!
Dawnflight crouched and leapt again, this time, she went too far forward and launched herself into the grassy soil again without getting a chance to do the first swipe. The white pawed warrior heard Stoneheart sigh behind her.
"You're doing it all wrong! It goes like this." Stoneheart mewed at her daughter before performing the move perfectly. Dawnflight sucked in a frustrated breath.
How can she do battle moves so perfectly?
Dawnflight stood up. Stoneheart stood next to her, tall and stoic, judging. Thunderpaw had the most horrified look on his face when the silver and white warrior glanced over at him.
"Do it again, just like that."
"No."
Dawnflight and Stoneheart turned towards Thunderpaw, who now wore a scowl. Silently shocked, Stoneheart gawked for a heartbeat.
"What? This is Dawnflight doing the move, not you."
"I said no, mother," Thunderpaw started, glaring his dark amber eyes at her, "stop telling her to 'do it again,' actually teach her what she's doing wrong! She's not going to understand a move you created in without practice! Stop being so harsh and judgmental!"
Indignantly, Stoneheart glared at her son back, defiance sparking between the two. Dawnflight could feel the tension prickle under her fur. Nearly hissing, Stoneheart challenged her son.
"You try the move then." She nearly hissed. Thunderpaw crouched into position and leapt. He flew through the air, paws outstretched. The orange and gray tom twisted his back legs into the first slash, then gracefully brought his front paws back down to the ground in the second slash. He stood back up proudly, his dark amber eyes smoldering. Stoneheart gaped at her son for a moment, then begrudgingly swallowed her pride to praise him, but before she could part her jaws to speak, the apprentice ran off back through the reeds. Stoneheart sighed and sat down, clawing at the grass a bit.
"I give up." She said to the ground. Dawnflight didn't stay to listen to her mother complain. She stood up on her white paws and bounded after her brother. The brush and grass crashed around her as she forced her way through them. Luckily, the silvery warrior didn't have to spend much energy or time tracking him down since his scent was all over. A few bits of orange and gray mottled fur stuck out on a few plants as well, marking Thunderpaw's path. Dawnflight flicked them aside and followed. Her brother was moving towards the heart of RiverClan territory past where the apprentices and warriors normally fished. She and he had only visited a few times between training to fish or practice moves in peace with their mentors. Dawnflight had never guessed he visited this well-hidden area on his own enough to flawlessly travel to it.
"Thunderpaw!" Dawnflight called out. A light breeze whistled through the reeds and bushes that surrounded the hidden part of the river, but no response from Thunderpaw. Dawnflight called out to him again and a voice hesitantly called back.
"What do you want?"
Dawnflight pushed through the plants with her forepaws, allowing the rest of her body through. Before her, Thunderpaw stood ankle deep in the stream. His gray and orange splotched fur was fluffed out and his eyes blazed at Dawnflight expectantly. Dawnflight padded into the water closer to him, where he stood, stalwart.
"I wanted to ask why you stood up for me back there," Dawnflight mewed calmly. In response, Thunderpaw let his fur lie flat. He avoided her gaze when his eyes stopped dancing with emotion. Instead, the silvery she cat noticed they had a different emotion swimming in them despite his best efforts to hide it.
"I know what it's like to be beaten down like that." He said quietly to the water.
"What?"
"Please leave me alone, Dawnflight." Thunderpaw requested as he turned his back towards her. Assuming she wouldn't get any more answers from her brother, Dawnflight turned around and stepped out of the stream.
I guess that answers that. This is as close as I'll ever get to him.
Before she pushed out of the brush surrounding the secluded grove, Dawnflight turned back towards her brother. The apprentice still had his back turned to her, but his fur was still smooth and flat against his back.
"Thank you." She meowed softly. Then, she forced her way through the thick undergrowth and out into RiverClan lands.
1 separating line goes here 1
Dawnflight ducked her head low under the roots that formed the medicine cats' den. The sun high rays filtered between the entrance and the rest of the den, illuminating all the medicinal stores a light, golden color. Dawnflight padded slowly as to not disturb any of the neat piles of hers and roots that were carefully strewn about the den. Blackwing was settled down next to a pile of all kinds of leaves, roots and berries, sorting them in little piles around her. Her black coat shone a little under the stray rays of sun. Dawnflight admired her friend's pelt for a moment before greeting her. Blackwing whipped her head around to see Dawnflight. The blue eyed medicine cat grinned and invited the gray cat to sort medicine with her. Dawnflight nodded and sorted leaves into piles.
"How have you been, Dawnflight? I haven't seen you in a while." Blackwing mewed softly. Her piercing blue eyes blinked happily at Dawnflight.
"I've been tired and nervous preparing for the battle," Dawnflight meowed back, "Stoneheart took Thunderpaw and me out to train. It didn't go well."
"Oh?" Blackwing seemed intrigued. She stopped rolling juniper berries into a group to listen.
"Yeah, she was trying to teach us a move she made herself. It involved leaping, slashing with back claws then bringing your front claws down to slash again. I kept messing up, it was hard!"
Blackwing gave a "mrroww" of laughter. Dawnflight huffed a bit, but the black she cat brushed her tail onto Dawnflight to calm her. Blackwing smiled at Dawnflight wistfully.
"Typical Stoneheart, assuming all others are as skilled in battle as her. Her moves are so advanced, many opposing warriors can't beat her and her skills can barely be taught to others. What else happened?"
Dawnflight revealed how Thunderpaw had acted during the training session and the strained relationship between the two. She also told Blackwing about how she and Thunderpaw had a rare moment of understanding, a moment where there was no hostility, just unsaid feelings. Dawnflight recalled how that was as close as she could get to him. Blackwing softened and gave Dawnflight a lick.
"Thunderpaw will come around, give him time and chances. React with kindness instead of fire. He will mature into a fine warrior."
Dawnflight nodded, slightly elated, but still slightly worried. But she decided to squash the feeling when she remembered she needed to take her daily dose of wild parsley.
"Oh, Blackwing, I still need to take my parsley today." Dawnflight mewed while sorting out the shriveled burdock roots from the plump, usable ones. Blackwing got to her paws and collected a few curly leafed, dark green herbs. She placed them in front of Dawnflight, who lapped them up. The silvery warrior frowned at the grassy, bittersweet taste. Blackwing snickered.
"They say that the more disgusting it tastes, the better it is for you, Dawnflight."
Dawnflight gave a mock "hiss."
"That's easy for you to say when you don't have to eat them!" She purred.
Blackwing settled back down near Dawnflight and continued to make little piles of medicine. Her feathery fur fluffed up as the light breeze fluttered through the den. Both she cats purred happily, enjoying each other's company. Dawnflight was glad she and Blackwing were so close.
See Leafstep? I'm fulfilling my promise.
Dawnflight glanced over Blackwing's form as she separated oak leaves from tansy leaves. Underneath the sleek and feathery black fur was a typical build and bulk of RiverClan cats. But her muscles illuminated a strength that warriors typically carried and that medicine cats lacked. Then, the gray and white she cat recalled that Blackwing had been a warrior before training as a medicine cat.
"What was it like being a warrior then becoming a medicine cat?" Dawnflight asked curiously. Blackwing looked back at her, her blue eyes shimmered.
"I must admit, it was a lot to get used to. I secretly missed training and doing patrols. I still train in my free time, actually." Blackwing admitted. Dawnflight's dark eyes widened in surprise. Blackwing twitched her whiskers at her.
"What did your brother think when you switched?"
The black she cat quieted. She looked down at her paws. Dawnflight immediately felt guilty for bringing up Darkfang in conversation.
"I'm sorry, Blackwing, you don't have to talk about him if you don't want to. I shouldn't have brought up any memories like that." Dawnflight meowed apologetically. She brought herself closer to Blackwing, who gratefully accepted her touch. Dawnflight wrapped her white tipped tail around the black she cat protectively. Blackwing shook her head and gazed at Dawnflight sadly before giving a small smile.
"No, don't be sorry. I should talk about him anyway. I still have a lot to say about him that I should tell someone."
Dawnflight silenced herself to listen. Blackwing took in a breath and relaxed herself.
"Let's finished up this sorting job," Blackwing said while pushing herbs into more piles, "We'll be in here a while." Dawnflight broke away to continue her half of the job, she cocked her ears towards Blackwing to hear what she had to say. "Darkfang wasn't alive to hear me announce my decision. He greeted me when I went to the Moonpool at my first half-moon meeting. He was proud of me; he said I was growing up and that he was glad to watch his little sister grow into a wonderful cat."
Blackwing took a pained breath. Dawnflight just nodded and listened to her and leaned in close. The black she cat seemed grateful for the comfort. Blackwing looked down at her paws, but stood still when she continued.
"Darkfang was an amazing cat. He was the best brother I could ever ask for," Blackwing mewed quietly, "but he wasn't without his flaws. Long story short, he died because of them. But he also died because of mine."
Dawnflight let out an involuntary gasp. Blackwing looked at her instantly. Her bright, blue eyes seemed sad and wistful of the memories.
"What happened? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Dawnflight back peddled. Blackwing huddled her slim form a little closer to Dawnflight's fluffy, silver fur.
"I want to tell someone. I know you won't tell anyone. There's only a few cats who know the truth in RiverClan. Your parents and Fireclaw. Darkfang had a mate in WindClan."