A/N: Chapter 1 was written pretty hastily and I forgot to put in the disclaimer, my traditional author's note, and everything! OH NO! And I changed the title of the fanfic because I had a strange new notion on how to direct the story… xD Weird me!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Warriors series, this is only a fanfiction.
Chapter 2 – Glory
Duskpaw was, for the first time, not the only cat to wake up without any complaints. For once Rowanpaw was not in his nest, probably off hunting early. He nosed his sister, who was still sleeping beside him, and mewed, "Dawnpaw, time to get up. Let's go hunting."
Dawnpaw groaned and turned over for another snooze, and Duskpaw rolled his eyes. He left the den alone, determined to bring in some prey for the Clan. And perhaps train by himself, too.
Duskpaw set out thinking of how he and his sister would earn so much of the glory in the daylight Gathering, just one day away! Tonight they were to meet at the Gathering island to confirm the daylight Gathering for the next day. The other Clans will learn to fear ThunderClan's warriors now, with us on the loose! His mentor Stormclaw had mentioned as much, dropping hints of an early warrior promotion if he did exceptionally well in the daylight Gathering.
Before long he was holding two mice in his jaws, disappointed by his small catch. Well, hunting was never really part of his repertoire, anyways.
Duskpaw was well-known to try and go along with most of the border patrols, hoping for some excitement from the other Clans. He didn't know how to explain it to anyone but himself—in battle he was calm yet excited, and somehow he knew just when to strike. He wondered whether he should give his thanks to StarClan for the gift. As my sister brings in prey for the Clan to survive, I can end the lives of others. Just as she is of the dawn and I am of dusk.
There was a scuffling nearby; Duskpaw could hear it. Scrambling up a small but thick tree until he could leap from branch to branch while being sheltered by the leaves, he peered out from his perch to spot a familiar dark reddish-brown pelt. It was Rowanpaw, testing some new battle move against random objects, such as falling leaves and tree trunks.
Interesting. So Rowanpaw was this bent on beating him. The moves were indeed strange; Rowanpaw must have done his best to actually devise a decent move against an unsuspecting cat. What's the point? ThunderClan won't be able to fight ThunderClan! Or maybe Rowanpaw wasn't trying to beat him in the daylight Gathering. Perhaps he was just honing his moves for the sneaky ShadowClan, or the swift WindClan. Even so, Duskpaw crouched in a comfortable position that granted him a good view of the apprentice.
A small part of himself protested. Duskpaw knew what he was doing: spying on an enemy cat and learning his moves to prepare. Have you no honor at all? It sounded like what Stormclaw would tell him.
Well, who cares? When you fight someone, honor and honesty doesn't win you anything! It was glory Duskpaw wanted, and glory that he was determined to win.