Warriors A Tale Of Two Brothers
Chapter 9
Dawn stretched his jaws out in a gaping yawn and sat up. He smoothed his chest fur down with his tongue and then slithered out into the clearing, making sure not to disturb any of his denmates. Violet's wound had slowly started to heal, the majority of her ear was still missing, but the tear was becoming less severe. She had stopped complaining about the pain and no matter how happy Dawn was about her not being in pain, he knew that once she was fully recovered Spider was going to make her a hunter and her and Dawn would not be able to spend as much time together.
"Spider, where are you?" Dawn heard a furious yowl come from ahead of him and shortly after, Swoop stomped past the entrance to the apprentices den. Dawn leaped out into the clearing and saw the tom pacing around near Spider's den. The leader slowly made his way out and then stretched his front paws out before facing Swoop calmly.
"Yes, Swoop?" Spider queried sleepily. Swoop didn't sit down but he did stop pacing to face Spider.
"You sent Bark to the queen's den early, Spot is dead and you still haven't picked a new deputy. This clan is falling apart," Swoop scolded. Spider looked down at the ground and then sighed.
"Spot was a close friend of mine; we had known each other since apprenticeship. I wish I could have been there for-" Spider was cut off by Swoop who had leapt at him and thrown him to the ground. Dawn went to help him but his father quickly stopped him.
"He's challenging him," Jay meowed abruptly. Dawn stood where he was and watched on to as the two fought.
"Fight, you coward! Spot was my brother; you know nothing of his love and compassion for his clan and his mate. I will not rest until his death is avenged!" Swoop stayed strong on Spider's shoulders but his eyes were beginning to tear up. Spider instantly grabbed his foot and threw the tom to the ground, holding him down with his paws pressed onto Swoop's chest. Swoop was looking at Spider with regret and a deep sadness in his eyes.
"Swoop, you know how this ends. One of us must die and I cannot kill you. You know Spot would not want this," Spider pleaded. Swoop just began to cry more but he bared his teeth and went for Spider's ankles. Spider pushed harder into his chest and began to sob; Swoop gasped and looked as if he was searching for breath.
"Swoop, no! Spider, stop please!" Bark had appeared from outside the queen's den and she was staring at the two denmates with absolute horror. Spider loosened his grip on Swoop's chest and allowed the tom to stand up.
"Swoop, you can end this," Spider confided in him. Swoop arched his back and hissed. He looked at Bark and then stopped; he took a few looks around the clearing and then locked his gaze on Dawn. Dawn shuffled a little closer to his father without looking away. Swoop's back straightened up and his face went back to normal.
"I miss him so much," Swoop whimpered. Spider stepped closer to the tom and they both laid down together. Swoop placed his head under Spider's chin and the two of them sat for a bit, not worrying about anyone around them. Spider and Swoop both closed their eyes and just sat there. Dawn closed his eyes as well and thought about what Swoop must be going through. If Oak ever died, Dawn wouldn't know how to deal with it. He would just give up.
"I miss him too, we both knew him so well. You two may have been born in the same litter but I felt as if Spot was a brother I never had," Spider grieved. Swoop fell silent and then raised his head to face Spider.
"You're a brother to me Spider. I'm sorry for what I did," Swoop purred. The two of them stood up and gently touched their noses to each's shoulder before parting ways. Swoop padded happily over to Bark and gave her ear an affectionate lick before touching his nose to her stomach; they then disappeared into the queens den. Dawn was imagining what Violet would look like so plump and ready to birth his kits. He smiled at the thought. Spider gave Dawn a slight nudge that knocked him back into the present.
"Go wake up your denmates, we have training soon. I'm teaching you to hide and track a scent," Spider ordered. Dawn nodded and fled off into the apprentices den. Oak and Speckle had started sharing tongues near the back but they quickly stopped when Dawn came in, their ears going hot.
"We need to wake everyone up," Dawn chuckled slightly. Oak and Speckle nodded before sitting up and giving Violet and Trickle a few gentle nudges. Dawn padded over to Stone and prodded his flank with his paw; the tom groaned and then rolled over.
"Come on Stone, we need to start training," Dawn ordered. Stone opened his eyes slightly and then sneezed. Dawn flew back from his friend and then stepped back over to him, giving his pelt a good sniff. His scent smelt off and Dawn could feel an intense heat propelling off him.
"I don't feel like it," he moaned. Dawn looked over at the other apprentices who were all up and ready to leave. Violet came over and placed her paw on Stone's flank, removing it shortly after.
"He is quite hot," she conceded. Trickle squeezed past Dawn, their pelts slightly touching and then left the apprentices den. She returned shortly after with a worried Spirit at her side. Stone's mother lay down at Stone's side and gave his ear a few licks. Suddenly Spider appeared and looked around; he locked his eyes on Dawn and then looked at Spirit.
"Trickle and Stone, you may be excused from today's training session. The rest of you, meet me outside," Spider asserted. Speckle and Oak left the den side by side and then Dawn followed. He turned to wait for Violet but she hadn't moved from Stone's side. Dawn growled slightly and then fled out into the clearing.
"Dawn, where's Violet?" Speckle queried, her head peering slightly behind her denmate. Dawn huffed and then walked up to them.
"Why does it matter? Let's just go," he snapped, biting his tongue slightly. Speckle and Oak glanced at each other and the she-cat just shrugged.
"Who trod on your tail this morning?" Oak asked. Dawn stood up and faced his brother.
"No one, I was up before all of you. Leave me alone!" He snarled. Oak took a step back from him in shock and then walked away with Speckle accompanying him. Dawn sighed and then started to follow them.