Chapter 12

Sunlight crept over the landscape shyly, shedding light on the new day. A figure padded out of the warriors den, strolling toward the thorn tunnel. As sun warmed his fur, he became more visible. He was Ashenfur, with unmistakable blue eyes and grey pelt. He nodded to the three newest warriors of ThunderClan.

"Your vigil is over now. You may speak, and go ahead and get some rest," Ashenfur mewed. "You did well."

Dewleaf yawned and stretched her muscles, blinking gratefully at her grandfather. Beside her, Cloudstorm and Clovernight did the same. She glanced at them, her blue eyes glowing with excitement. "I can't believe we're warriors! Finally!"

Clovernight yawned. "I can. We deserved it, we've been training for seven moons! And I need some rest!"

Cloudstorm nodded in agreement. "I'm stiff from the dew that set in last night." He shook his fur and yawned.

"Well, come on! We get to sleep in the warriors den now," Dewleaf pointed out, her tail flicking. She led the way into the den, stepping past sleeping warriors. The three siblings found some empty spaces near Lightheart.

Berrytail's nest was close by, too. Dewleaf settled down, not even bothering to tuck her paws under her chest. She saw Cloudstorm and Clovernight laying down, too, when her eyelids drooped, and she fell fast asleep.

~oOoOoOoOoOo~

Dewleaf muttered in her sleep. But something else prodded her. "Stop, Cloudpaw!!!" she hissed. After hearing an amused purr, she blinked and saw Leafdapple standing over her. "Oh, hello, Leafdapple," she mewed, her ears flattened against her head with embarrassment.

Leafdapple purred. "Get up, Dewleaf. You're on patrol with us."

"Oh, okay." Dewleaf got up to her paws and glanced around. Cloudstorm was still asleep, but Clovernight was gone. She shrugged and padded outside after Leafdapple.

Whitepelt and Flightpaw were waiting at the thorn tunnel. They got up when Leafdapple and Dewleaf approached.

"Hello," Dewleaf mewed, dipping her head.

Whitepelt purred. "Hi, Dewleaf. How was your vigil?"

Dewleaf purred. "Tiring, definitely, but exciting."

"I wish I could get my warrior name soon," Flightpaw mewed wistfully.

Whitepelt flicked her tail at Flightpaw's flank. "Don't worry, your training is going along well."

"Come on, then, let's go," Leafdapple mewed, flicking her tail. She trotted out of the clearing, the other three cats flowing out behind her.

Dewleaf followed excitedly. This is my first patrol as a warrior! she thought. As she trotted along, she smelled the distinct scent of mouse. Her belly grumbled involuntarily. She hadn't had a bite to eat since last night! "Can we hunt?" she mewed.

Leafdapple nodded. "I imagined you'd be hungry."

Dewleaf dipped her head gratefully, then scented the air. The fresh smell of mouse hit her. Darting silently from bush to bush, she crept closer to the mouse, then pounced. She killed it quickly, then took it back to the others. "Anyone hungry?"

They all shook their heads, so she sat down and devoured the fresh-kill ravenously. Afterward, she kicked dirt over the bones and licked her lips, eager to get going.

"Let's check the RiverClan border," Whitepelt suggested.

Dewleaf held her breath. Would Rainheart's scent still be there? She hoped not. She didn't remember if they had disguised the scent or not.

To her relief, there was only a faint scent of ThunderClan cats.

"On to the WindClan border," Leafdapple announced, flicking her tail.

~oOoOoOoOoOo~

Back at camp, Dewleaf padded over to Cloudstorm quickly. He was eating a vole at the fresh-kill pile. "Hi," she greeted.

Cloudstorm flicked an ear in greeting.

"I see you got up late," mewed Dewleaf. "I was on patrol."

Cloudstorm looked up at his sister sheepishly. "Well, I was tired. Anyway, where's Clovernight?"

Dewleaf shrugged, glancing around. "I haven't seen her since dawn, when I first fell asleep."

"Okay. I haven't seen her yet, either," her brother replied. "I have to be on hunting patrol soon, Dewleaf."

Dewleaf nodded. "Okay, then. See you later." She flicked her tail and padded toward Falconpaw, who was sitting alone.

"Hi, Falconpaw," Dewleaf mewed.

Falconpaw seemd surprised at her greeting. "Hello, Dewleaf," he said, dipping his head. "So, how was your vigil last night?"

Dewleaf rolled her eyes, purring. "It was very tiring! But I guess it was exciting, somehow."

Falconpaw flicked an ear. "I can't wait until I get to sit vigil for my Clan." He looked wistful, like Flightpaw had been earlier.

"Oh, don't worry, you've been training for a few moons, and you're doing well," said Dewleaf, laying her black tail on her friend's ginger shoulder.

He seemed to flinch a little at the contact, then purred. "I guess. Thanks."

Dewleaf withdrew her tail quickly, curling it over paws, embarrassed. "Yeah, well, I… I'm going to go find my sister."

"Okay, bye!" Falconpaw called after her.

She flicked her tail in acknowledgement and popped her head into the medicine cat den. Mosspelt looked up, in surprise.

"Hello, Dewleaf. What brings you here? Did you hurt yourself on your first day of being a warrior?"

Dewleaf shook her head, purring. "Actually, I was wondering if you had seen Clovernight. I haven't seen her since morning, and I was a bit worried. So, have you or Frostpaw see her?"

Mosspelt shook her head. "No." She turned to Frostpaw questioningly, and her apprentice shook her head. "Sorry, Dewleaf."

"Okay, thank you," Dewleaf replied, though inside, she was worried. "I guess she went hunting or something, maybe alone." She padded out back into the clearing of the ThunderClan camp and looked around. She spotted Clovernight's dark fur at the thorn tunnel, fresh-kill in her mouth.

"Clovernight!" Dewleaf called. She bounded over. "Hey, where have you been?"

Clovernight looked up, dropping the fresh-kill, then purred. "Hi, Dewleaf. I was just out hunting."

"Alone?"

Clovernight nodded in reply. "Yes, I was just… I had some stuff to think about."

"Oh," Dewleaf answered, her voice full of understanding. "Well…"

Clovernight shrugged. "I'm feeling better now." Her eyes began to glow. "We're warriors now!"

Dewleaf purred and nodded.

"We get to boss the apprentices around, and we don't have to listen to mentors!" Clovernight cheered.

"But we still have responsibilities within the Clan," mewed Dewleaf.

Clovernight nodded. "Of course, Dewleaf, I know that." She glanced around camp and mewed, "Where's Cloudstorm?"

Dewleaf shrugged. "He told me he was going hunting with a patrol."

"Oh," Clovernight replied. Her eyes scanned the clearing, then immediately swiveled back to Dewleaf, her eyes dark.

Dewleaf turned her head to see what her sister had seen, then saw Thorntail padding over to them. It was apparent that he was stiff, probably with anger or the awkwardness that hung between him and the newly named warriors. Dewleaf dipped her head, hoping he would just pass by.

He didn't. "Hello, Dewleaf, Clovernight."

Dewleaf flicked her tail, but Clovernight stayed still, glaring.

Thorntail didn't seem swayed at all. "I just want you to know that I'm proud of you. You trained well as apprentices, and definitely deserved your wonderful names."

Dewleaf let out a small purr, and Clovernight mumbled a word of thanks.

Thorntail hesitated, then added, "Feathercloud thinks so as well."

"Then why doesn't she come and tell us that?" Clovernight hissed.

Thorntail glanced back at the warriors den, where, evidently, Feathercloud was. Then he shrugged.

Dewleaf turned away, sharing a bitter look with her sister, when the tom muttered, "I'm sorry."

Dewleaf turned around slowly, but he had already left. She turned back to Clovernight and sighed. "I just want to know why, and how. And they won't tell us."

Clovernight rolled her eyes. "That's not important. Feathercloud probably thought she loved Rainheart, then decided to be Thorntail's mate. But what is important is that Feathercloud and Thorntail expect us to treat them as if nothing had happened! I mean, think about it! They lie to their kits! And Rainheart still loves Featherclod! Think how he felt, his love with another tom, and his kits not even knowing that he was their father! I feel so bad for him," Clovernight meowed loudly, but quiet enough so others couldn't hear.

Dewleaf nodded. Her sister was right. But I want to know why! Then maybe that'll clear some names! She hissed under her breath impatiently, then lashed her tail.

She was popped out of her thoughts when someone hissed at her. She glanced around, then saw Shadowclaw.

"If you'd like to do something other than stand around and gossip, come join our hunting patrol." He beckoned his tail to where Snowstorm and Thistlefang were waiting.

Dewleaf nodded and padded over, glancing at her sister.

Clovernight shook her head respectfully. "Thank you, Shadowclaw, but I'd like some rest. I just returned from hunting."

Shadowclaw only grunted.

~oOoOoOoOoOo~

Dewleaf leapt for the rabbit, and a big one at that, too. It noticed her and began to flee. She gave chase, but the rabbit, evidently from WindClan moors, was much too fast for her. She slowed to a stop, letting out a soft hiss, then scented the air. Smelling vole, she dropped into a crouch, stalking closer, using brush to hide herself. When she was close enough, she pounced, satisfied when the creature went limp in her jaws.

"I think that's enough," Snowstorm mewed, regarding the fresh-kill that had been caught. "Let's head back to camp."

Shadowclaw nodded in agreement, licking his mate's muzzle. His eyes weren't filled with impatience, like it usually was. They were full of affection and tender love.

I wonder if Feathercloud and Rainheart felt that way about each other, Dewleaf thought. She let out a small sigh and picked up some other fresh-kill, padding toward camp.

Back at camp, she dropped the fresh-kill on the fresh-kill pile and made her way to the warriors den to rest, and think. She was about to enter when Feathercloud stopped her. She lashed her tail and turned around. "Yes?"

Her mother sighed, then sat down, curling her silver tail around her white paws. Dewleaf had to admit, her mother looked pretty, the sun making her silver fur shimmer. No wonder she had two mates.

"Dewleaf, I'm sorry. I really am. I wanted to tell you the truth… I truly did, dear. But you see, Thorntail liked the fact that you accepted him as father. You should be grateful, otherwise you would've grown up without having a male figure role model in your life. And at the time, Silverstorm had just been injured, and I could see you three were already in stress." Feathercloud's blue eyes were stretched wide, apologetic and pleading.

Dewleaf hissed. "I'd much rather prefer Silverstorm, who's not even my real kin, over you!"

Feathercloud winced, as if her daughter had slashed her claws across her muzzle. "Dewleaf, please, forgive me!"

Dewleaf sighed, almost feeling sorry for her mother. Before she could reply, though, someone slipped out of the warriors den and stood beside her.

"No," Cloudstorm growled. His fur was rumpled, probably from sleep, but his hackles were raised.

"Please," Feathercloud whispered, her eyes sad. "Forgive me. I know I was wrong to lie to you."

Dewleaf glanced at her brother. His fur was bristled, and he began to bare his teeth. She glanced back at her mother, unsure of what to do. Cloudstorm growled and shook his head.

Feathercloud's eyes filled with sorrow and disappointment, but she turned away, her tail drooping.

Dewleaf let out a sigh. "Cloudstorm, I feel so sorry for her."

Her brother nodded. "I know, but she should see what it feels like." He lowered his head, then. "Although Silverstorm is not my kin, I really feel that she is. She was very kind, and understanding. And she didn't judge us by our blood, like some did."

"Yes, she is a noble cat," Dewleaf purred. "She injured herself to remain loyal to ThunderClan."

Cloudstorm nodded. "Yeah."

After a moment of silence, Dewleaf got up silently and padded into the warriors den, her head swimming with thoughts and ideas.

So, what do you think? Dewleaf seems really intent on finding out Rainheart and Feathercloud's history, while Clovernight defends her true father and shuns Thorntail. Cloudstorm just wants to teach Feathercloud a lesson. Also, then next few chapters will all be in Dewleaf's POV. Let me know what POV you'd want to hear next! And please vote on my poll! I want to get started on a new fic! Thanks to all those loyal reviewers out there! And go to my forum, the link is on my profile! ANd let me know if you did these 3 things via PM:

1. reviewed

2. voted on my poll

3. gone to my forum

Then I will let you make a character in my story or give you some info about what'll happen next! Tell me what you want to know!