Warrior Cats: Beyond the Clans

Dawnmist's Heart - Chapter 1

Dawnpaw was in the shadows of the apprentices' den, pretending to nap. She'd tripped over her paw in training that day, and Jayfeather had ordered her to rest. She shuffled around in her nest, unable to be comfortable. The seeds that the medicine cat have given her were helping, but the pain was keeping her awake. It was the first day of leaf-bare today, and greencough had spread through the camp so fast she couldn't even keep count.

Something built up in Dawnpaw's throat. She scratched at it with sheathed claws, coughing slightly. Panic shot through her. Do I have greencough?

Dawnpaw staggered out of the den, coughing more heavily now.

A black shape emerged behind her. His bright blue eyes were open and were worried. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Demonpaw, thanks." Dawnpaw gritted her teeth and continued on her way to the medicine den, ignoring the pain in her paw.

"You're not fine, look at you, you're coughing!" Demonpaw nagged.

"I'm FINE!" she hissed. "Leave me alone, you arrogant furball!"

In the dark, Dawnpaw could see Demonpaw smiling. "You need to see Jayfeather. I could take you."

"Where in StarClan do you think I'm going, Demonpaw? Wait- did you just ask me on a date?" Dawnpaw stopped in her tracks.

"Maybe...if you want it to be so," Demonpaw purred.

Dawnpaw coughed.

"You really should go to Jayfeather,"

"I'm going there, you psychopathic furball," Dawnpaw nearly yowled.

"What's this?" Jayfeather appeared at the entrance of the medicine den, exhausted. "Another one? Who is it this time?" His blind blue eyes flicked between the two of them.

"It's Dawnpaw, sir." Demonpaw choked out.

Jayfeather sighed. "Larkpaw! I need you to check Dawnpaw."

Larkpaw hobbled out of the medicine den and examined her.

Get off me! Dawnpaw tried to growl but coughed instead.

"Greencough," Larkpaw sighed as well.

"Have you got any catmint for her?" Demonpaw's bright blue eyes looked over the two medicine cats.

"We're too low on catmint, Demonpaw. We need to save it for the cats who are closer to death. And anyways, why do you care so much? Dawnpaw isn't your sister." Jayfeather snapped.

"I um...I care about her because she's in my Clan," Demonpaw stuttered.

Dawnpaw stifled a purr. She had never heard Demonpaw stutter before.

"Well? Leave!" Jayfeather glared at Demonpaw. "You're going to get infected too!"

"Right. Sorry." Demonpawe muttered, casting a long look at Dawnpaw before leaving.

"Now, you've got weak greencough, so you can stay in the abandoned Twoleg nest. That's where we're keeping whitecough patients and weak greencough patients." Larkpaw led Dawnpaw to the abandoned Twoleg nest.

"What about my training?" Dawnpaw said in between coughs.

"I'm sure Luckystar is busy enough as it is," Larkpaw mewed briskly. "But you'll catch up."

"Okay." Dawnpaw agreed sullenly.

"Here's your new nest," Larkpaw pointed out a messy and small nest in the abandoned Twoleg nest.