Chapter 3: At The End Of The Day
"At the end of the day you're another day older.. And that's all you can say for the life of we loners!" A red tabby tom said from outside the borders.
"It's a struggle, it's a war! And there's nothing that anyone's giving.. One more day standing about, what is it for?" His sister, a red she-cat meowed.
"One day less to be living." They meowed together.
"At the end of the day you're another day colder.. And the thick fur on your back doesn't keep out the chill!" A young calico cried.
"And the clan cats hurry past... They don't hear the little kits crying! And leaf-bare is coming on fast, ready to kill.." A dark grey she-cat wrapped her tail around her kits.
"One day nearer to dying!" All four cried.
"At the end of the day there's another day dawning... And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise!" A tortoiseshell she-cat whispered.
"Like the waves crash on the bank, like a storm that'll break any second.. There's a hunger in the forest!" The loners' stomach's growled at the thought of fresh food.
"There's gonna be lives to pay... At the end of the day!" They said, glancing at the clan's borders.
"At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing.. Sitting flat on your tail doesn't buy any mice!" The deputy, Hawkfeather hissed at the sitting warriors.
"There are kits back at the nursery." A ginger tabby she-cat named Flameflower quietly meowed.
"And the kits have got to be fed.. And you're lucky to be in a clan! And be a warrior!" A black tom named Shadefur flicked his tail.
"And we're counting our blessings!" All the warriors put their catches on Breezeclan's fresh-kill pile.
"Have you seen how the deputy is fuming today? With his terrible breath and his wandering paws?" A tabby she-cat named Dovefur whispered to Flameflower.
"It's because little Dawnpride won't give him his way! Take a look at his legs, you'll see where he stands!" Flameflower hissed-whispered back.
"And the leader, he never knows.. That the deputy is always in heat! If Dawnpride doesn't look out, watch how she goes! She'll be out in the forest!" Tanclaw, a tan tom referred to the yellow tabby she-cat.
"At the end of the day it's another day over.. With enough in your belly to last for a week.. Fetch the mice, fetch the birds. Keep on hunting as long as you're able! Keep on hunting till you drop! Or it's back to the leftovers of the clan.. You've got to hunt your way! At the end of the day!" The warriors said.
"And what have we here, little innocent sister? Come on Dawnpride, let's have all the news!" Misteyes, a misty eyed she-cat waved her tail, towards a loner who had a message for Dawnpride.
"Dear Dawnpride, you must send us more food! Your kit needs a medicine cat! There's no time to lose.." Fire, a ginger tom said, then rushed away.
"You had no need of the message. It is none of your business.. with a kit in the forest, and a bit on the side! Is there anyone here, who can swear before Starclan, she has nothing to fear? She has nothing to hide?" Dawnpride hissed.
Mistdawn and Dawnpride started to growl and snap at each other, until Crowhaze burst out of the warrior den and came out. He had most likely heard the commotion.
"Will someone tear these two apart? You are warriors, not kittypets! Now, come on she-cats, settle down! You're in a clan of repute! You are the warriors of this clan!" Crowhaze turned to Hawkfeather.
"I look to you to sort this out.. And be as patient as you can." Crowhaze left.
"Now someone say how this began!" Hawkfeather demanded.
"At the end of the day, she's the one who began it! There's a kit that she's hiding in the forest! She has to send food to a cat! You can guess how she picks up the food! You can bet she's earning her mice, stealing around! And the leader wouldn't like it!" Mistdawn glared at Dawnpride.
"Yes it's true, there's a kit, and the kit is my daughter! And her father abandoned us leaving us flat... Now she lives with an loner cat and his mate, and I feed for the kit. What's the matter with that?" Dawnpride nervously glanced at the deputy.
"At the end of the day, she'll be nothing but trouble! And there's trouble for all, when there's trouble for one! While we're earning our daily mice, she's the one with her paws in the pile.. You must send the stealer away, or we're all gonna end away! And it's us who'll have to pay, at the end of the day!" The warriors made Dawnpride feel more nervous.
"I might have known the fox could bite, I might have known the badger had claws, I might have guessed your little secret.. Ah yes, the virtuous Dreampride... Who keeps herself so pure and clean! You'd be the cause I had no doubt, of any trouble hereabout. You play a virgin in the light! But need no urgin' in the night." He waved around Dawnpride, making the yellow tabby gulp.
"She's been laughing at you while she's stealing her food! She'll be nothing but trouble again and again.. You must throw her out today, throw the cat today!" They said, demanding to have Dawnpride thrown out of the clan.
Hawkfeather grinned and said, "Right my girl. On your way!" Dawnpride lurked out of the clan, sighing.