Warriors A Tale Of Two Brothers
Chapter 5
Dawn watched as Bark bit down on Dirt's neck. The brown tom's eyes seemed to fill with terror; he began pleading for his life.
"Bark, please!" He screeched. Bark let go and stepped off Dirt. Dirt sat up and shook himself off before looking around, almost confused. Dawn looked at Oak, who seemed stunned in shock at what had just happened in front of him. Dawn went to go over to him but he was quickly overtaken by Speckle, her wound still slightly bleeding. Oak's eyes became calmer as he saw her coming over. Dawn couldn't but feel jealous of his brother. He moved a little closer to hear their conversation.
"Oak, I can't believe you did that for me!" Speckle exclaimed. She wasn't facing Dawn but he could imagine her wide eyes staring in awe at his brother. He did not realise but a slight growl began to rise his throat. He quickly swallowed it down and went over to Stone and Trickle, his old denmates, and sat by them.
"Dawn, hey," Stone meowed welcomingly as he came over. He felt a little better now. Trickle simply smiled at him, so he did the same.
"How's being an apprentice?" Dawn asked the two, they both frowned slightly. Dawn gave them each a confused look.
"It's not what you would think, Bark is really harsh," Trickle admitted. Dawn listened while they kept explaining. Stone told him that Flame was mean to them both; Trickle looked away when he mentioned Flame.
"Violet is really nice though, she and I are getting along well," Stone purred. Trickle gave him a gentle nudge and smirked. Stone gave her a nudge back and the two of them started quarrelling. Stone won by pinning Trickle to the ground. Dawn watched on while the two laughed at each other and felt a deep sadness so he walked away and left the two.
"Dawn, where are you going?" Trickle called. Dawn didn't answer. He could not stand being close to the two littermates who reminded him of what he had lost a few moons ago, his dear sister Ivy. While he walked around the clearing a few cats greeted him but he simply replied by smiling back at them.
"Hey there Dawn." Dawn stopped when he was greeted by Spider, his leader. He quickly straightened up but Spider just laughed.
"H-hi, Spider," Dawn replied, his pelt going hot in embarrassment. Spider stood up and signalled for Dawn to follow.
"Walk with me, we haven't spoken in ages," Spider meowed. Dawn leaped to his side and they began walking around the clearing, every cat they walked past blinked at Spider. Dawn had never noticed but this cat was deeply respected by the whole clan. He watched as his leader blinked back at each of them, so he started doing the same whenever a cat did it to him as well. Dawn felt proud to be at Spider's side so he puffed his chest slightly and strained to be taller. Spider suddenly stopped and Dawn noticed the fresh kill pile in front of them. Spider grabbed two mice from the top of the pile and sat down a little further away from it. He cocked his head slightly meaning Dawn could come over as well.
"So, how do you become leader?" Dawn asked as he lied down to bite into the mouse that flooded his senses with warm meaty goodness. Spider chuckled at Dawn, who hadn't realised he was gulping the mouse down as fast he could. He slowed down and looked at his leader.
"Well, my last leader chose me to be deputy and when he died I was promoted to leader. But sometimes new leaders aren't as lucky as I was," Spider explained, laying down next to Dawn and placing his tail on his back. Dawn looked around the clearing at all the cats; they all looked so peaceful as if nothing could go wrong in the world.
"Why? How is being a leader not lucky?" Dawn queried. Spider locked his eyes on Dawn's, making him feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Sometimes, not all the cats agree with their previous leader's decision and they challenge the new leader to a duel, the winner is the one who survives and they become the new leader," Spider explained. Dawn listened intensely as his leader explained how being a leader is not all good and well. Sometimes even the deputy can become thirsty for power and plot to kill their leader so when a leader picks their deputy they need to be sure that their honour does not become blinded by power. Dawn hadn't realised that being a leader was so stressful.
"Who would follow someone who killed their leader?" Dawn retorted in shock. Spider shrugged, then stood up and stretched his paws out in front of him. Dawn stood up as well; Spider crouched down and pointed at Bark, his deputy, who was sharing a rabbit with Swoop.
"See that? I'm guessing that soon Bark will be in the queen's den," Spider sighed. Dawn hadn't noticed it until now but Bark was looking quite round and Dawn realised that Spider was going to need to pick a new deputy while she was looking after her kits.
"Who are you going to pick?" Dawn asked. Spider just laughed and then smiled at Dawn. Dawn felt his cheeks flush, as if Spider would tell him who the next deputy was.
"You're about ready to be an apprentice, yes?" Spider purred in praise. Dawn nodded and filled with excitement. Spider placed his tail on Dawn's shoulder.
"Well then," Spider leaped to the top of the boulder he used to address the clan when he needed to announce something. Dawn jumped into the air and raced over to Speckle and Oak who were sitting on the other side of the clearing speaking to each other; they stopped when they saw Dawn heading for them.
"Get up now!" Dawn screeched. Speckle and Oak stood up and followed him to a spot close to the middle of the clearing, they seemed slightly uncomfortable.
"Do we have to sit here?" Speckle whispered. Dawn turned back and nodded at her, then faced Spider once more. Spider yowled loudly to his clan and they all stopped what they were doing and looked up at him.
"Today is a special day for the whole clan, three kits have come of age and they are ready to become apprentices," Spider praised, looking directly at Dawn. He filled with pride and looked his brother and Speckle, their faces had lit up and they were staring intently at Spider so Dawn did the same.