Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 3

"....From now on until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Dawnpaw!" Moonstar yowled from the highrock.

Dawnpaw's eyes lit up with joy. she'd be sleeping in the apprentices den tonight! She waited for Moonstar to finish.

"Your mentor will be Longfang. I hope he passes down all he has learned on to you." he said, as Longfang padded up happily, touching noses with his first apprentice.

"Willowpaw! Speckledpaw! Dawnpaw!" her clan mates cheered happily as they watched the new apprentices. Speckledpaw had gotten Stormfeather, while Willowpaw got Grassblade.

She ran off the highrock with Longfang, "So... what will we do first?" she asked excitedly.

"I think we will test your skills by showing you the territory first." he purred, walking her out of the camp.

Dawnpaw squeaked with happiness. She could finally see the territory. The second she set foot outside of the camp, she felt exhilarated with new energy. She bounced, skipping pawsteps and stumbling. Longfang caught her by the scruff, "Hold on there! we just made it out of camp; we don't need any injuries just yet." he purred with amusement.

Dawnpaw felt hot with embarrassment. She laughed lightly at his remarks, and padded forwards.

"Now this is the border we share with Sea Clan," he explained, "what do you smell?"

Dawnpaw sniffed the air, "A weird, fishy scent."

"That's them!" he purred, sniffing as well to make sure none had crossed the border recently.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of multiple pawsteps, and her sister Speckledpaw appeared with Stormfeather by her side, "We were wondering if we could walk with you," huffed Stormfeather, out of breath.

They both nodded, and Speckledpaw walked by her side, "Where's Willowpaw?" Dawnpaw wondered.

"Oh, Grassblade is making her clean out the elders den!" she laughed.

Dawnpaw laughed with her. Grassblade was never the most fun type, but he was a good warrior.

As they neared the Mountain Clan border, she smelled something odd. It was a cat with no clan scent that was in her territory. She opened her mouth to take in the strange smell. Should I report this? She wondered. I really want to check it out myself though.... she looked at the other warriors and her sister; but there was an extra cat. Shadowstripe! she gasped. He was watching her, making sure she would make the right decision. She sighed, defeated.

"Ummm, Longfang?" she meowed, "I-I think I smell a rogue on our territory."

Longfang looked alarmed, sniffing out the area, "I don't smell anything, Dawnpaw. It is probably your imagination. Do you smell anything, Stormfeather?"

Stormfeather sniffed the air, "Nope, the air is clear! A Mountain Clan cat scent could have drifted over to our border."

"But-"

"It's ok, Dawnpaw," mewed Speckledpaw, "we all make mistakes!" she moved on, obviously not noticing the scent either.

Dawnpaw huffed in annoyance and moved on back to camp. She enjoyed the beautiful smells of the forest, and wondered how any of the clan cats could live without seeing the beautiful pines every morning. She took in the fresh air, but couldn't help thinking about how the scent was so noticeable, but none of the other cats could smell it. "Wait a second!" she thought out loud, accidentally.

Longfang stopped, "What is it this time Dawnpaw?"

"Um, well um, I, I smell a mouse!" she lied, trying to cover up what she had said.

"Maybe you need to see a medicine cat," Stormfeather laughed, "you're smelling things!"

She forced a small smile and chuckle and moved onward. Since I made the right decision, Shadowstripe didn't allow the other warriors to notice the scent. Now I can check it out by myself! She thought happily, I just have to find a way to get out without them noticing....

Later, as the sun went down, the apprentices gathered to share prey together. Dawnpaw's mouth watered as Speckledpaw and Willowpaw brought over a plump mouse, but she knew she had to check the scent out, "You guys go ahead," she managed to say, "I'm not hungry.... in fact, I think I want to take a walk in the forest."

Willowpaw and Speckledpaw exchanged glances, "Okay..... since you're an apprentice now... but are you sure you're not hungry?" asked Speckledpaw.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." Dawnpaw said through gritted teeth as her belly rumbled. She shook off the temptation and padded into the dense forest. As she neared the Mountain Clan border, she stopped to take a breath.

Suddenly, she smelled the cat again. She followed the scent trail, until she saw a large tom fleeing into the underbrush. You won't get away that easily, she growled, chasing after him. She kept running until the cat was cornered by a large rock. The brown tom immediately bushed out his fur and hissed, "Come any closer and I'll claw your eyes out!" he threatened, "And don't think I won't."

Dawnpaw backed up, he could have reinforcements, or worse: my mother could be one of them! she thought, not wanting to have to fight her own mother, "I, I won't attack you. I am not that dumb." she mewed, referring to her tiny size and his large frame, though they seemed to be the same age.

His fur slowly stopped puffing, and he was back to his normal size. Dawnpaw couldn't believe how easily he trusted her!

"I'm Bear!" he mewed, his voice deep for his age.

"Bear?" she mewed, confused, "Just Bear? Wait a second, what are you doing on Ice Clan's territory?!"

"I am a rogue, so I can do whatever I want," he bragged, his eyes lit up with pride, "I live out here all by myself."

"Really?!" she squeaked in amazement.

"Well, actually I live with my mom, brothers, sisters, and Cricket..." he muttered under his breath, "but still! Rogue life is way better than clan life. You basically get to do whatever you want!"

"But there has to be some sort of rules!" she protested.

"Not if you're a rogue! Your totally free, well sort of... but wait, you never told me your name."

"Oh!" she mewed, feeling stupid, "I'm Dawnpaw. I am an Ice Clan apprentice." she tried to brag.

He purred, "Cool! Well I have to go before Scar..... I just have to go." he said hurriedly, "meet again? Tomorrow night?"

Dawnpaw looked at the cat. Would this be the wrong decision? But he was the only cat I know that really trusts me! What will Shadowstripe say? Will he punish me? Oh who cares what that old cat thinks?!

"Tomorrow night." she confirmed, smiling.