Chapter 5

Dawnspirit padded through the prickly brambles, a wad of catmint and chervil wedged between her jaws. She scampered across the moist ground into the medicine cat den, hoping to avoid Crookedstar. Her wounds still throbbed and burned, and she growled in fury as if the brutal tom stood before her.

She placed the herbs down and sank onto her haunches with a groan. The den seemed so empty now without her mentor. The wind whistled through it and a melancholy silence was the only thing which filled the void. It had been a quarter moon since he had died, yet somehow it felt so much longer.

Since Dawnspirit had no parents to watch over her, Pebbletail had been just like her father. He had found her alone in the forest as a kit and had begged Falconstar to treat her as his own. Although she had been nursed by Iceflower, Pebbletail had taught her everything she knew about the clans the moment she had opened her eyes.

She could still remember the long walks he had taken her on to collect herbs. He would stride calmly ahead of her, spinning stories of heroism and mystery in the air, while she bumbled along behind him. He would then scoop up the herb he had been searching for and show it to her.

"This is tansy," he would say, and then ask her to repeat it back to him. She'd always say it back wrong, simply to make him laugh, and then she'd say it right and watch his eyes light up. "I know you're not my daughter," he'd always say. "But you're definitely mine." That would bring a squeal of happiness out of her little mouth and the two would chase each other back to camp.

Dawnspirit laughed softly as the memories poured through her. However it was too much for her to contemplate at one. Her mind was still racing with the events of the morning and she shook her head back and forth as if to escape from her thoughts. With a hiss of pain, she pushed herself to her paws and padded to the entrance of her den.

She gazed out at the camp, rays of glorious sunlight the only source of happiness. The fresh-kill pile was sparse and simply two skimpy mice lay on it. "Blueflower!" Her voice tore out across the dead clearing like a ghost.

The blue-grey warrior poked her head out of the warriors den. At the sight of the exhausted medicine cat, she bolted out across the camp and into the den, her ears flattened against her skull. "What happened to you?" she exclaimed. "Were you in a fight?"

Dawnspirit looked away and shook her head.

Blueflower didn't say anything, understanding that she didn't want to talk about it. She began to chew some marigold leaves into a poultice and gently applied it to Dawnspirit's wounds. The she-cat winced at the tingling sensation it brought, yet relaxed as it passed.

"Thanks," she murmured.

Blueflower pressed more cobwebs onto the cuts, her movements gentle and well practiced. Since Pebbletail had often gone off into the forest by himself, Dawnspirit had needed an extra paw around once in awhile to help out. She had taught her friend the basic herbs and how to apply them in case there ever was an emergency.

"Did you apply these on yourself?" Blueflower mewed, puzzled, gazing at the previous cobwebs. "They're very messy."

Dawnspirit snorted, trying to stop herself from laughing. Batwing had done a terrible job of patching her up, and it was quite obvious. "I was a bit out of it," she said quickly, hoping her little lie wasn't caught.

Blueflower nodded, her muscles rippling as she got to her paws once more. "If you won't tell whats going on then I won't pester you," she replied with a sigh. The she-cat padded out of the den and Dawnspirit followed her out into the camp, her lustrous pelt ruffling in the soft breeze.

"Blueflower! Just the one I was looking for!"

Dawnspirit stiffened in terror as the tom's voice floated out behind them. She slowly turned around to face him, her eyes cold.

Crookedstar's expression was unreadable, and his voice remained cool and impartial. "I was wondering if you could lead a hunting patrol, the fresh-kill pile is getting low."

Blueflower forced a smile and blinked. "Of course," she mewed.

Crookedstar gave her a brief nod before padding away.

Blueflower glanced back at Dawnspirit. "Still not going to tell me?"

Dawnspirit gave no reply.

"If thats what you want," she said with a sigh. She then raised her voice and called out, "Dreamfire, Sableleaf, Twigtail, and Applepaw."

The four cats appeared out of the dens, their eyes calm yet wary. Crookedstar's behavior through out the clan had begun to put every cat on edge, and it showed through the way they jumped every time the leader came by, and through the bags under their eyes.

Dawnspirit shivered, hating how the cats now seemed afraid in their very own clan, is the one place they felt at home was no longer a refuge for them. Sableleaf scampered up to the pair, his face worried. "Can we leave Applepaw behind?" he said quietly, not wanting his voice to rise. "After what happened to Hawkstorm..." He trailed off and looked at the dirt.

Dawnspirit followed his gaze, her eyes just as sad. It pained her to see him so afraid for his young apprentice, afraid for what Crookedstar might do to her.

Blueflower nodded vigorously. "Of course," she replied, her tone warm. She turned back and shook her head at the small brown she-cat who had just begun to pad over and join them. "Not this time," she called, her voice sweet yet also commanding, as if she knew the apprentice had no desire to go on the patrol, yet also knew that it must be perceived as an order so no blame were to fall on the young she-cat.

Applepaw seemed to let out a breath of air, and her muscles relaxed. She dipped her head in thanks and darted back into the apprentice den.

"Well lets get this over with," Twigtail muttered, now that all four cats were gathered together. "We should be out fighting battles and claiming territory, but instead we're hunting for lousy cats who are too old to catch their own prey. Big fat waste of time if you ask me."

Dreamfire nodded at his words, her eyes sparked with a fiery confidence.

Blueflower shot the young warrior a glare of fury and turned her back towards the other two cats. "Ignore him," she said brightly, sharing a look with Sableleaf.

Twigtail snorted in annoyance and raced ahead of them out of the camp, his pelt brushing against the thicket. "Come on!" he called back.

Dreamfire and Sableleaf bounded out after him, their muscles rippling under their fur. Blueflower turned back to Dawnspirit, her pale blue eyes flowing with concern. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course!" Dawnspirit mewed, rolling her eyes. "I'm always okay."

Blueflower nodded slowly, disbelief rippling across her, torn between the words built up as a defense or the true feelings of her friend. With a sigh she raced out of the camp to join the patrol, not looking back.

Dawnspirit whimpered softly as she watched her friend leave. She glanced back at the medicine cat den and then up at the sky. It was an unpleasant grey color, matching the emotions which were circling her mind. And as she gazed up at the clouds, one large drop of water plopped right onto her nose, splashing into her eyes.

The rain had begun.