Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 1

Dappledtree sat, glaring at something in the upper wall of the nursery that wasn't there. Dawnkit shivered, trying to get her mother's milk. The other kits would have nothing to do with her; since they had all opened their eyes before her, and went to explore. Her eyes were still sealed shut, and she twisted her head around to scent where her mother's milk was. As she found her, she rubbed on her furry body and purred. She suddenly felt as if she was being pushed, or dragged away, back to where she started.

"Go away," Dappledtree hissed, "you've done enough already to hurt me; and now you want milk? Ha! Why don't you go over to Lilysong, she gives any kit milk. Now get away from me!" She then went back into her trance.

Dawnkit wondered what she did wrong; it must have been something terrible for her mother to hate her from birth. She searched in her mind something she could have done, but found nothing. She curled up, trying to gather warmth from her tiny body, but she needed someone else. She sniffed out for Lilysong, who had just had kits of her own. They were so noisy, and always kicked around, but were more friendly then her litter-mates. Lilysong pulled Dawnkit over to where she lay, and let her have milk at last. She glared at Dappled tree and then looked back at her own kits, before lying down to sleep.

The next morning, Dawnkit woke up and light filled her eyes. She could finally see! She purred with delight. Everything was so huge! She sniffed around, still mostly relying on her nose, and carefully got up, "Lilysong! Can I explore?" she whispered, trying not to wake the kits.

Lilysong nodded, not fully awake, and put her head down on her paws, drifting back into sleep. Dawnkit carefully stepped over her mother's tail, and wobbled out of the hollow tree. The morning sunlight filled her eyes, and she shut them tight for a few moments, trying to see her bright surroundings. The camp was humongous and seemed to go on forever. She couldn't wait to explore and show Ashkit, Willowkit, and Specklekit, what she was capable of. She stared in awe at the towering fresh kill pile. It was over three times her size! She wondered how a nice, juicy squirrel would taste. Her mouth watered, and she wondered if she could climb to the top. She stepped on a squishy mouse, and thought better of it; bouncing over to a large den. Many large cats laid together, their chests rising and falling. "This must be the warriors den!" she whispered to herself. She stepped back, not wanting to wake them up, but accidentally stepped on a large black, battle-scarred, young tom. He woke up, his green eyes gleaming in the dark space. She could see his fangs sticking slightly out of his mouth. Dawnkit squeaked in surprise as he let out a yawn, his long white teeth showing against his jet black fur, "Last time I checked, this was the warrior's den, not the nursery!" he joked, rousing three other warriors.

"Longfang! Shut up!" growled a large, fluffy gray tom, "Can't a cat get some sleep around here?"

"Sorry Grassblade, a certain little kit woke us up. Hey! Where'd she go?" he mewed, then shrugged and went back to sleep.

Dawnkit was out of there in a flash. Those warriors were scary, she couldn't imagine ever being that big. She sighed, thinking of the day that she would become a warrior. She looked around her. She could see a small snowy white she-cat walking to the warriors den, "that must be Whitefang!" she gasped in awe at the beautiful deputy. She was completely white except for a black tip on her tail.

She quietly bounded over to a small bush that separated what must be the apprentice's den and the nursery. Her black and white fur was a terrible cover, and she was easily spotted in the dense, green bush, "Hello Dawnkit!" mewed the majestic warrior, "I'm Whitefang."

"I-I know, I mean I-" Dawnkit stammered, trying to find the right words to say to the second most important cat in the clan.

"I'm glad to see you've finally opened your eyes. It's been almost a quarter moon! How do you like the camp?" she asked.