(Don't worry my fan's I just have to upload this fanfic and get it out of my system and then all shall go right with th world and ill be able to move on to some of my other fanficiton's! and also I have made a few mistakes in my other warriors future idea's concerning most of the cats and what clan they lived in, so im trying to make up for that! So instead of Fern leaf it will be Milkweed taking her place! Also the whole ember incident never happens! Sorry for all the cut outs!)
0o0o0o
Dawn trotted along side the river she almost drowned in, it was a warm day a big contrast to the rainy weather she was used to by now. Her pelt ruffled by the warm wind as she gazed across the water and wondered how River Ripple was fairing. Her mind switches however to Cream wondering if she got to her house folk alright, she felt a flicker of disappointment when Lightning Tail had to leave. But felt guilty for not sticking to her promise to see him in the morning.
"I hope he doesn't find me out, when I promised to stay inside!" Dawn promised that she'd wait for him today at her Stick home, but it was such a lovely day that she just couldn't wait around all day without experiencing a little walk.
"Let's just hope I get back before him!" Dawn thought to herself, she found it nice that he worried about her so, when he returned he collected enough moss to smother her to death, while also promising a fat rabbit when he came back the next day.
"You know, its dangerous to be out here all alone," Spoke up a voice from behind her, making her flinch as she turned around to find a mangy, scarred brown tabby tom with white slash across his front legs.
"Im fine," She retorts. Watching him with her eyes as he slowly circles her, she kept her fur flat not wanting to get in a confrontation just yet, not if she could help it.
"Really? It must be hard all alone out here, what do you say that you accompany me back to where me and my friends live and we can make sure that your protected." He said coming to stop right in front of her.
"I'm a bit busy hunting right now," Dawn averted. "And I don't need your type of help!" She thought on silently, though she didn't voice it aloud.
"Hmmm, We have plenty of prey in my camp, and I'm willing to share," He persuaded, getting uncomfortably close to her.
"There's no need, I have someone to meet up with!" Dawn said coolly, her tail tip stiff as she edges around him quickly keeping an eye on his at all times. But he made no move to follow her, but she did hear him call over his shoulder.
"If you ever change your mind, the names Slash, I hope to meet again soon!" He had a dark look in his eyes that left her hair prickled and claws unsheathed. It was only when she was far enough way did she force herself to relax.
"Too much stress is bad for the babies" She repeated in her head, forcing herself to put the meeting with Slash to the back of her mind as she continued on her way.
Glancing around her she realized that she was in the deeper part of the forest, she never been to this part before and found it both exciting and frightening.
Turning her head she caught a glimpse of a colorful bird, crouching down onto her back paws Dawn makes a hesitant step towards the bird. She tries her best to not allow her bulging stomach to brush the ground, as she stalks forward she recognizes the bird as a Finch and instantly takes action as its head swiveled towards another direction.
Realizing the bird was preparing to take flight, she sprang from her hiding place. She lets out a shriek however as another cat jumped out at the same time, they both barley manage to twist out of each others way as they both snagged a claw in the birds breast.
Dawn lands hard on her front paws but shacked it off as she turned to confront the cat who she almost ran into; she was amazed at such a cute cat. A sleek dark stormy gray she-cat, with black fur edging her paws and her wide, soft ears. She has a long, thick tail, a soft muzzle and amber eyes.
If Dawn was human in that moment she would have most likely squeezed her to death, seeing as how adorable she is.
"You're a good hunter," The unknown cat said softly, startling Dawn out of her daze.
"You are as well!" Dawn squeaked, embarrassed to be compliment by such a pretty cat.
"You know it was your catch, you should have it." The pretty cat said, nudging the Finch towards her. "Oh, uh, Thanks!" Dawn meowed in shock. "Not only was she pretty but nice as well."
"My name is Dawn!" Dawn blurted, pinning her ears back in embarrassment as she other she-cat murmured in amusement.
"We almost have the same name," The cat replied. "My name is Violet Dawn." She explained.
"That's quite a coincidence!" Dawn's whiskers twitched in amusement, but she nearly jumped out of her skin as a voice called out to them.
"Violet Dawn! Where are you?" Turning around Dawn spotted an orange tom with white paws. He had broad muscular frame, just like a lion in a way.
"So this must be Thunder!" Dawn thought to herself, remembering how Lightning Tail always goes on about his best friend.
"I'm over here Thunder!" Called out Violet Dawn, Thunder's head turned to them as he trotted up to nuzzled the side of Violet Dawn's head. Dawn shifted nervously on her feet, feeling like she intruded on a private moment. But as quickly as their love struck eye catching daze happened, it ended. Thunder turning to her in interest, Dawn's tail grew ridged unease clawing at her chest as she stared at the ground unsure of what to do.
"Thunder, this is Dawn, Dawn this is Thunder leader of Thunderclan!" Violet Dawn purred, introducing them.
"I already know actually!" Dawn said at the exact same time as Thunder said: "I know who you are!"
"Huh?" But before Dawn could say more she heard the call of her name. Turning around she was almost over run by a black blur.
"Slow down Lightning Tail, you'll trample her!" Violet Dawn scolded him, making Lightning Tail shoot back as he surveyed her to see if he in fact hurt her.
"I'm fine you fur ball." Dawn assured, nudging his shoulder as he looked down at her fondly.
"So this is Dawn," Thunder mused, gaining both their attention as Violet Dawn pressed against her mate. "Well I must say she seems like a wonderful cat!" Violet Dawn shared a secret glance with Thunder, making Lightning Tail glare at the pair.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked with unease in her voice. "What has he been saying about me?"
"Just that you're a good hunting partner and great company!" Thunder looked like he wanted to add more, but held his silence with a threatening look from Lightning Tail that he innocently ignored.
"I try," Dawn said nervously. "I should be getting back home so…" Dawn trailed off, looking in the direction of her home.
"Why don't you come back to our camp?" Thunder asked with enthusiasm, making Dawn is taken back. "Oh, I don't know…" Dawn really didn't want to join any of the clan's or groups or whatever their called right now, still getting used to the ways of a cat and all. "Besides what will they do to my kids if I go with them?"
"Come on, it would be nice to have you around!" Violet Dawn added, blinking at her warmly.
"No, I should go home." Dawn said strongly, making all three clan cats ears drupe in disappointment.
"I can take you home if you like?" Lightning Tail offered, but Dawn was already leaving.
"No, that alright I can get myself back safely!" Dawn tried to not look like she was running away as she set a quick pace, she was glade when Lightning Tail or the others didn't come after her, and she couldn't stand them always asking to join them.
"I'm just not ready."
0o0o0o
Dawn's eyes were wide with worry as she watched the rain poor down, the puddles forming around her home sending her into a flash back of the flood. But she forced herself to relax it wouldn't be good for the babies.
She settled into a restless slumber her dreams haunted with sounds or cries and voice that shouted with anger and fear.
"What in the world?" Dawn looked around, but all she saw was opened ground, all around there was nothing but mist and she could barley see an inch from her nose. She could hear those awful sounds as they intensified, making her flatten her ears only finding out that it doesn't help one bit.
She decided to head off in one direction, but the farther she went the louder the voices got. Peering through the mist she pulled back when she saw shadows of two cats rolling around one another, claws clashing was it looked like blood was thrown through the air.
She turned to the side seeing another pair of cats, but one stood over top another twitching form, their paws raised for a death blow. Dawn pelted away as fast as she could, but it seemed every which was she turned their was some type of fight going on. She eventually came to the opening of what looked like a cave, hearing nothing she decided to step inside.
Creeping inside, keeping her ears alert for signs of danger, she stared up as the narrow beams of sunlight slanting through a hole in the cave roof. Lighting the columns of stone that stretched upward for many lengths. Pools on the ground reflected the sunlight, and a huge hollow space was filled with sound of steadily dripping water.
"It's so peaceful" She thought, walking around the room, gazing up at the soft light that filtered through, calming her nerves.
"Welcome Dawn." Dawn froze at the sound of her name, snapping her head to the side she came face to face with a white she-cat with green eyes. Dawn held in a screech of fear at them being so close together without her even realizing it.
"There's no need to be afraid of me." The she-cat promised, beckoning towards her and the hollow space.
"Where am I?" Dawn questioned, coming to sit next to the white she-cat.
"My name is Half-moon, and I speak of your destiny," She gestured for her to lean forward, almost like she should have a drink. When Dawn leaned forward, she instantly jerked back but peaked back at her reflection.
Where there should be a cat with a white muzzle, white ear tips and feet and brown body. She found herself staring into her own eyes her Human face, without the fur, her hair is where it has been for 17 years. As she waves a paw in the air, her reflection waved a human hand with five fingers.
"Whoa! This is amazing!" Dawn thought, trying to wave her tail but nothing showed up. "That's right, humans don't have tails!"
"You're here for a reason Dawn," Half-moon continued, making Dawn look up to stare at her. "The path you are preparing to take will be a long one, so be wary, and keep your mind open for-"
"Wake up!" Dawn snapped her eyes open, her tail bristling as she stared around to see a dripping wet Lightning Tail, standing at her home entrance. "I'm sorry for waking you its just…you looked like you were having a nightmare."
Dawn wanted to snap at him, but seeing him shuffle in the rain it melted her heart. "Come inside where it's not so wet!" Dawn moved around, making room in the limited space.
"You'll have to find a bigger den once the kits come." Lightning Tail remarked, coming to squeeze in next to her but as close as they were laying his tail still hanged out the den.
"Your right," Dawn agreed. "But I will have to do that another time." Dawn snuggles close to his side, feeling warmer then she ever has before.
"What is it you plan to do with your kits once they are born?" Lightning Tail asked, making Dawn's pelt spike in unease.
"I haven't thought about it yet." She confessed. "What should I do? Teach them to hunt and defend themselves and take care of them? What happens when they get older? Will they just leave me?" Dawn nipped down on her tongue at that last thought, she didn't want them to leave, not by a long shot.
"What's it like?" Dawn asked instead, gaining a drowsy black tom's attention. "What's it like in a clan that is?" Dawn said quickly, not holding back as soon as she said it.
"We hunt for each other, and fight for each other. Protect each other when some are weak and stand by each other when we are strong, we look after everyone and no one is left behind." Lightning Tail muttered softly, looking warmly at Dawn whose pelt smoothed back as she felt that warm flow through her, relaxing her as she lolled her to sleep.
0o0o0o
Dawn blinked open her tired eyes, realizing that Lightning Tail wasn't beside her when she woke up. she smothered her disappointment, telling herself that he couldn't be with her constantly, that he had duties of his own to look after.
Today proved to be sunny, and full of life, so she decided to take a walk as she had no real destination in mind. "Maybe I should see River Ripple; I haven't seen him in a while!" Thought Dawn as she renewed her steps that were taking her to his side of the territory.
As she walks by the stream she sees a mouse nibbling on a seed nearby. "A little hunting never hurt anybody now does it?" But as she prepared to spring a red fox shot out, scaring the mouse so it scattered down a nearby hole.
"What the-" Dawn didn't finish her thoughts as the fox who unsuccessfully tried to catch the mouse, whipped around to stare hungrily at her. Dawn's feet couldn't have token her fast in all her life, letting out a screech louder then she thought her vocal cords could take she ran fast through the forest, the fox close on her tail.
She didn't even realize that another cat was running beside her, until she felt a brush of fur beside her. Turning her head sharply to the side she catches a look from the splotchy ginger-and-black she-cat. Who flickered her gaze upwards towards a hazelnut tree.
Taking the hint Dawn threw herself at the bark, digging her hind feet in to get her up the tree with added force. She made it to a thick branch, the splotchy ginger-and-black she-cat coming to rest beside her.
"Take that you crow-food eater!" The other cat hissed, snarling angrily at the fox whose jaw snapped up at them.
"What? That the best you can do? Huh you piece of dung!" Dawn huffs out, hissing tiredly as she bars her fangs at him. The fox circles the tree a few times, but seeing no way to get at them it relentless leaves them to go search for other prey. Once they were sure that the fox was gone the both climbed down the tree.
"Thank you, I wouldn't have gotten away if it wasn't for you." Dawn thanked her rescuer.
"Its fine, I would of done the same for any cat." The she-cat said friendly, running a paw over her ear. "My names Dawn."
"And mines Milkweed, and it's nice to meet you Dawn." The she-cat introduced. "Do you live around here?" Milkweed added, eyeing Dawn for a moment with a calculating look.
"For a while." Dawn says, most of it true. "Are you part of one of the clans?" She asks, looking at Milkweed in interest as she nods. "Your not…" Dawn hesitates for only a moment, until she remembered that Milkweed saved her and that she isn't a bad cat. "Part of Slash's group is you?"
Milkweed's calm look turns visibly aggressive, her spine arches as he fangs showed. "How do you know about Slash?" Milkweed demands, looking pointedly at Dawn.
"I saw him not to long ago, he asked me to come with him but I decided not to." "Not to mention he's a total creep!" Milkweed's fur began to flatten down as Dawn explained, her eyes grown wary as Dawn finished.
"You should be careful around a cat like Slash, he's dangerous and can kill you, so you best watch out," Milkweed eyed Dawn for a moment. "Or else he might just take you as a mate." Dawn stared at her in horror, being a mate to HIM? Unheard of and that was something Dawn was determined never to happen.
"Do you mind if I walk you back, I would feel better if I walked you back? You never know if that fox might come back." Dawn was happy for Milkweed's company, as they began to walk she felt a bad pinch in her paw. Stopping momentarily she found a tear in her paw and it slowly oozed blood.
"You're bleeding! How about you come back to camp with me and we can have Cloud Spots fix you up." Milkweed offered. Dawn didn't know who Milkweed was talking about but she could faintly remember Lightning Tail mention someone by that name. but she really didn't want to burden them and just show up like the stranger she was.
"It will stop bleeding soon, and it's not deep!" Dawn assured, trying her best not to let the twinge of pain stop her from heading on. "Are you sure?" Milkweed pressed, only for Dawn to wave her tail dismissingly.
"Its fine, so what clan are you from? If I may ask?" Dawn questioned, starting light conversation.
"Thunderclan," Milkweed replied. "And what about you? Where do you come from?" Milkweed questioned back.
"Think Dawn, think of a good back story!" "I used to be a kitty pet," Dawn began, seeing Milkweed's surprised look. "I was taken from my mother when I was young; she was a house cat to!" Which made Milkweed gasped in horror. "I was placed into a Twoleg nest with a mean cat and so I left and decided to make a new life for me and my kits." Dawn finished, amused when Milkweed's eyes instantly landed on her stomach.
"Congratulations! I'm more then pleased to have helped a fellow queen!" Milkweed purred. Dawn took the term 'Queen' as mothers as soon to be mothers or mothers in general.
"My home is just over there," She pointed with her nose to the area that here stick home resided. "I hope to see you again soon!" Milkweed said, lingering for a moment as she began to leave, casting looks over her shoulder every now and again.
0o0o0o
The dreams came again that night, full force in fact, this time she could easily see the shapes and colors of the cats the real actual blood that sprayed off of them as she pelted towards the caves, looking at them for shelter.
When she reached the safety of the cave she sighed with relief. Staring around at the calm walls she was prepared to see Half-moon again, Half-moon blinked at her warmly gesturing her to step forwards which she did without question. When she faced the water again she saw her human face, but was shocked that she was torn in two. On one side was her human form, but on the other side was her cat form.
"You can't have a paw in two worlds Dawn," Half-moon explained when Dawn looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?" Dawn questioned.
"You must let go of your old life," With a pat of her tail over her human image it disappeared, making Dawn look on in shock as her human form disappeared like it was never there. "And make way for your new life." With a nod of the head, it was like the reflection cat in the water listened to Half-moon and took position, kind of like when Peter-pan was reunited with his shadow.
"Why am I here for exactly?" Dawn questioned, not looking away from her water image.
"You are here to save everyone before the worst." Dawn turned to Half-moon, where her white coat was it was a clear shimmer that held a night sky filled with stars in it. "Your destiny awaits you Dawn!"
With a gasp Dawn awoke, blinking in the harsh light that filtered in through the holes in her stick home, she looked over towards the entrance to see Cream poke her head in.
"Cream! What are you doing here?" Dawn cried out happily, going to touch noses with her friend after shaking off the dream with Half-moon.
"To see you of course!" Cream purred back, eyeing Dawn up and down. "You gotten bigger!" Cream remarked.
"That's just what I wanted to hear." Dawn replied sarcastically, but took no offence.
"The bigger you are, the more kits you're going to have." Cream pointed out. "Well I might just have a hundred seeing how big I am." But it made Dawn worry, what if she had too many kids that she couldn't handle it?
"I bet their going to come out looking beautiful though, especially if their yours!" Cream assured. "Where's Lightning Tail? Is he still around?" Cream asked, looking around for the black tom.
"He isn't here at the moment," Dawn replied. "He's with his clan right now."
"Hmmm, why haven't you joined the clans? I mean, you're much safer with them! I hear their very fierce and can take down fox's with a single slash of their claws." Cream demonstrated by making a clawing motion in the empty air beside her.
"I'm doing well by myself so far." Dawn purposely left out the bits about running into slash and almost eating eaten by a fox.
"Well it was just a suggestion!" Cream said with a shrug of her shoulders, coming up to nuzzle Dawn's cheek.
"I missed you Dawn, its no fun in Twoleg place without you!" Cream whined, making Dawn quietly laugh.
"I agree." Turning sharply as one as they saw a big muscular brown cat come into a clearing flanked by two more.
"Harvey!" Cream wailed in fear, her fur fluffing up in fear and horror. And just at that moment Dawn let out a screech of pain as a watery liquid ran down her legs.
Dawn was about to have her kits.