Warrior Cats: Beyond the Clans

Dawnmist's Heart - Chapter 10

Dawnmist sat in Sun's den. Sun and Sand stood at the entrance, making sure no one came in while the she-cat talked with Eclipse.

"So, what's all this about?" Eclipse said briskly.

"I'm leaving," Dawnmist said quietly. "The Dynasty isn't for me. I miss ThunderClan, my parents and my littermates. I miss my old friends, although I'll miss you."

"Oh...Dawnmist," Eclipse ducked her head against Dawnmist's. "I will miss you forever too. I understand when you say you want to go back. I'd feel the same if I left the Dynasty for a moon."

A moon, Dawnmist reflected. It had been one full moon since she had arrived at the Dynasty's camp, close to dead. A moon had passed since she had felt so unhappy, and now?

Now she felt happy.

"I hope you're happy," Eclipse echoed her thoughts. "Wherever you go."

"You too," Dawnmist purred, nuzzling her best friend.

She left Eclipse in the den, a sad feeling crossing her body, her heart. She hadn't felt this sad since...Demonclaw and Foxclaw.

I haven't thought about them in a whole moon. I've been so happy.

"And I still am," she said out loud. "I still am."

Her heart beat with content and her breath was clear and even. Her ears pricked with anxiety and excitement and her pelt was sleek under the warm sun of Greenleaf.

This is the life.

Demonclaw and Foxclaw still carried a special spot in her heart, but she decided she wasn't going to spend all eternity worrying over them. She'd move on.

"You're leaving," Sun remarked. It wasn't a question, more of a statement.

"I am," Dawnmist agreed hesitantly. "Thank you for letting me stay."

"It was my pleasure. I'll tell the Dynasty after you leave." Sun dipped his head, and Dawnmist dipped hers in return.

Dawnmist held her head high as she left through the entrance of the camp, leaving her home for a moon, leaving friends and comrades, leaving a kind leader and a warm deputy, some loving mothers and some joyful kits, and leaving Eclipse. Her best friend, her only friend.

"Goodbye," she whispered before running off through the woods, leaving the Dynasty's territory.

One moon later...

Dawnmist paused, her nostrils pulsing as she smelt a scent she hadn't scented in two moons. ThunderClan.

"Time to go home," she murmured to herself.

Bounding through the woods she had grown up in, she purred and thought of memories, good and bad. The trail that Demonclaw had taken her to when she was ill. The secret fox-den she had used to sneak away from camp. The clearing where Demonclaw had died. And finally, the camp.

Scents rushed towards her, all at once, dizzying her. She smelt Duskpelt and Frogfern and Sunrise and Luckystar and Goldenperch and everyone. She burst into the camp, happy to be home at last.

Duskpelt was the first to notice her, her ears twitching and her nose quivering. Then, she had turned around and ran towards her. Frogfern and Sunrise had followed immediately.

As Dawnmist struggled to leave her mother's embrace to actually see her littermates, she thought about her life. I've suffered, but I will bounce back. I've loved, but I will treasure them in my mind forever. I've witnessed death, but I will continue to live my life to its fullest.

I will live and love, not for a mate, but for my family. 

Short- yeaa but I rather like this ending.