Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 4

Dawnpaw plumped down into the apprentices den, exhausted. She curled up on her comfortable nest next to Speckledpaw and Pebblepaw, resting her head on her paws. She sighed, thinking of the past four nights that she had met Bear. She had really gotten close to the muscular and handsome rogue. He was the only one besides Longfang that would actually listen to her problems. The only thing was, she had barely gotten any sleep. She and Bear agreed to wait another night before meeting up again.

She hated lying to her clan mates, and especially her leader, but she really did like to talk to Bear. She couldn't wait to rest for the rest of the night, maybe even sleep till sunhigh! Her eyes drooped, until they finally shut and she fell into a deep sleep. As she dreamed of frolicking through the forest, chasing birds and rabbits, something started to poke and prod at her, until it completely made her fall over! She turned around and saw Shadowstripe, "You will pay for this!" he growled as he lunged at her. She woke with a start. It was just a dream.... she sighed in relief. She looked over and saw Speckledpaw sitting over her.

"We have dawn patrol. Now get up!" she grumbled with a cross tone of voice.

She sighed, "I guess a good night's sleep will have to wait another day..." she said as she got up and stretched her aching legs.

Longfang, Stormfeather, Pebblepaw, and Whitefang sat and waited for the sleepy apprentices to make it out of their dens, "We're ready!" Speckledpaw squeaked. Dawnpaw just nodded groggily, not fully focused or awake for that matter.

"You look like you've been out all night!" Longfang teased.

Dawnpaw shook herself awake, "What?! No! That's crazy! Did you follow me?!" she hissed, alert, "I... I mean... haha! Never mind..."

Longfang and Stormfeather exchanged glances, wondering what had gotten in to the usually quiet apprentice. Whitefang waited impatiently, "Come on, let's go! We don't want to wake the whole forest up!'

***

After the dawn patrol, Longfang took Dawnpaw to the training hollow, "We haven't done combat in a few days, but I assume you've been practicing like I asked? Show me how you've improved."

She jumped in surprise. Practice combat moves?! When did he tell me to do that? It must have been when I was distracted! She thought, looking around guiltily. She couldn't believe she had forgotten to practice again, "I, er, um... ok!' she said, failing to think of an excuse. She strode into the training hollow, tripping over her own two paws. Longfang stood, waiting for her. He was already crouched down into the fighting position.

She reluctantly did the same, and sprang at him, claws sheathed. It was a clumsy jump, and he easily dodged it. He moved behind her, and as she tried to turn around, flipped her over easily. She landed with a thud. After a few moments of laying there, Longfang peered over at his apprentice, "Did I hurt you?"

She groaned, "I'm fine..." Dawnpaw shakily got up and faced him again, her muscles aching. Longfang waited patiently for her.

This time she jumped over him, landing behind. He turned around to face her, watching her every move. She swatted out at him, forgetting what to do next, and he easily overpowered her, sending her to the ground yet again.

She stood up, out of breath. Longfang had a look of concern and disappointment on his night-colored face, "I think that's all for today." he sighed, "Why don't you get some rest?"

She nodded, her head down in shame. She hated making the warrior she trusted most feel so terrible. She padded over to the fresh kill pile and picked out the scrawniest mouse for herself, "I don't even deserve this..." she muttered. After picking at her mouse, she walked with heavy paws to the apprentices den and got some much needed rest.

***

Two days later, Dawnpaw set out again after all of the warriors slept. She went out through the dirtplace tunnel so she wouldn't be seen by Agileclaw, since he was on watch duty. She felt so guilty, but she couldn't just not visit her newly made friend anymore; it would be wrong! She could hear Shadowstripe's voice in her head, "It's your decision...."

She tried to clear his haunting voice out of her mind, breathing in the fresh scents of the pine trees. She could also sense that Bear was nearby. She forgot what was troubling her and rushed to meet him, "Hey Bear!" she purred.

"Hello Dawnpaw!" he mewed in his deep voice, "did you get much rest?"

"Oh... yes," she meowed, looking away, "I feel so... guilty.... not telling my clan mates and running off in the middle of the night. It's like I'm betraying them." she admitted.

"You could always run away," he suggested, "and live the free life out here with me!"

She thought for a second, and shook her head, "No... I couldn't do that to my clan..."

"It's not like they would care." he growled, remembering what she told him, "they are mean to you!"

"But Moonstar was never mean to me.... and Longfang and Speckledpaw!" she defended her clan, "and besides... Moonstar is on his last life! He needs apprentices like us to defend him."

"What's this about 'nine lives' anyways?" he scoffed, "do you actually believe in Star Clan?"

Dawnpaw was shocked, "Of course I do! Star Clan gives every leader nine lives. So the leader will have to die nine times, or on rare occasions they are taken all at once." she remembered stories of leaders in the past.

"Really?" interest sparked in his eyes, "how do they get taken all at once?"

"Well..." she thought, "some wounds are so bad that even Star Clan can't heal them!"

He smiled, an almost evil looking gleam was in his eyes, "Hmmm, very interesting!" He shook his head quickly, the normal look was on his face again.
Dawnpaw purred, sitting by him and looking at Silverpelt. She wondered if her father was watching her now. She sighed wistfully as she watched the quarter moon with Bear.