Dawnstar's decision ( ShadowClan AU)

Chapter 3: Training and Ceremomies

A/ N: I don't own Warriors. Erin Hunter does. I just play with the characters.

" Speech"

Thoughts, dreams

' Flashback'

A few days after the gathering Dawnpaw got woken up before sunrise by Pondpaw's claw poking her side.

" Ow! Pondpaw, why aren't you asleep? Even the dawn patrol hasn't left the camp yet. " The cream she-cat hissed at her sister.

" I can't sleep because Pouncepaw snores like a badger. And besides, it's almost dawn. I'm sure that Maplestar will give the announcement for patrols soon. " Pondpaw mewed, flicking her stubby tail excitedly.

I can't believe that she's this energetic after the training session we had against Nightpaw, Ratpaw, and Scorchpaw yesterday. I'm still sore from it. Dawnpaw thought, glaring at Pondpaw slightly who seemed unbothered.

After what felt like a few moments but must have been more than she thought, Dawnpaw was awoken again by a voice beside her ear. " Dawnpaw! Get up! We are going on the hunting patrol." The voice of her mentor, Acorndapple told her, which caused Dawnpaw to jolt awake, blinking blearily in the sunlight.

" What is it, Acorndapple?" She asked, yawning.

" I told you. We are going on the hunting patrol with Shadowsnare, Boartooth, Pouncepaw, and Cinnamonpaw. " Acorndapple explained, beckoning her with his tail.

Dawnpaw got up, stretching her back, wincing slightly. Ow, I definitely should be a bit more careful today while on patrol. I don't want to end up in the medicine cat den, not so soon after becoming an apprentice. I don't want to delay my warrior ceremony, like happened to Stormpaw after she got a deep cut in her leg half a moon ago... But I overheard Pouncepaw talking to her about how he passed his assessment and she said that she'd have one in a quarter moon, I think.

As she padded slowly out of the den by her mentor's side, Dawnpaw noticed the rest of the patrol was already waiting for them. One of the apprentices, a young silvery-cream tom with reddish-brown tabby stripes, white chest, and paws was watching her closely, his distinctive curly fur sticking out every which way.

" Are you ok, Dawnpaw? I heard that Scorchpaw put up quite a fight with you yesterday. I bet that you're still hurting, aren't you? " Cinnamonpaw asked, sounding smug.

Dawnpaw didn't reply to him in any way but couldn't stop her claws from unsheathing as her fur bristled ever so slightly. He's just trying to ruffle my fur because he wants to show off to Pouncepaw, that he's a real Clan cat now despite his loner origins.

As the patrol left the camp Dawnpaw breathed in the scent of pine forest, enjoying the strong scent. I can't wait to be a warrior of ShadowClan! I wonder what name I'll get, maybe something like Dawnsong, Dawnfang, Dawnheart, Dawnleap, or even Dawntuft or Dawnwing after my parents!

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a squeak from above her head. As she looked up, she saw a squirrel nibbling on an acorn, unaware of the cats nearby.

" Can I try to catch it? I know how to climb trees, it's so easy, even a kit could do it." Pouncepaw mewed, his tail flicking excitedly as he looked at his mentor who nodded.

Pouncepaw scrambled up the tree, swiping at the critter, managing to stun it before biting on its neck. After that, he jumped down with a pleased look in his eyes.

Boartooth nodded, looking at the young tom. " Bury it now and we'll come to get it later. "

After that, the patrol continued padding and sniffing around the territory. Suddenly Dawnpaw got a whiff of something revolting. What is that stink? Did a kittypet come over the border? Or a loner?

Acorndapple and Shadowsnare sniffed the air, having smelled the same scent. " Do you smell that? It smells like... crowfood mixed with the faint stench of a loner or rogue, doesn't it? And lately there has been more of signs of trespassing around the border with the Twolegplace, haven't there? " The black tom mewed, his hackles rising slightly at the thought of non-Clan cats trespassing on the territory to steal prey.

" We should look for the source of the stench and then report to Maplestar" Acorndapple suggested.

Boartooth nodded, having listened to the conversation. " That sounds like the best course of action because it looks like the cat in question has already left the territory. "

After some time of looking around, they found the source of the stink, a pair of half-eaten sparrows. Boartooth and Shadowsnare buried the carcasses before the patrol headed back to the camp, Dawnpaw carrying two of the four frogs she and Acorndapple had managed to catch. Thank StarClan, none of the frogs managed to jump away. They must have been too rigid and slow for that.

At the camp, Boartooth and Shadowsnare went to the leader's den to inform Maplestar of what they had found while the rest deposited the prey into the fresh kill pile.

Dawnpaw noticed Nightpaw, one of the younger apprentices, padding over to her along with Ratpaw, a skinny black tom with a long tail.
" How did the patrol go? Looks like you had good luck. " Ratpaw asked, looking at the cream apprentice.

Dawnpaw nodded. " We found a pond of half-frozen frogs and two half-eaten sparrows. "

" Half-eaten? So basically crowfood? Eww! " Nightpaw hissed.

Later that day, Maplestar called the Clan meeting. After the Clan had gathered below the Clanrock she started. " During the hunting patrol near the border with the Twolegplace Acorndapple, Shadowsnare, Boartooth, and their apprentices found a pair of half-eaten sparrows surrounded by a stench of at least two outsiders. There has been a rise of unknown scents near that part of the border, too. From now on, we'll increase the patrols around that area to catch the culprits.

And, I know that we need all of the warriors we can get. So, Shadowsnare, is your apprentice ready for his warrior name? " The leader asked, looking at the dark tom who nodded, eyes shining proudly. " Yes, he is, more than ready. " Shadowsnare replied, purring.

After that, Maplestar gazed at Pouncepaw, beckoning him forward. Pouncepaw padded forward, his amber eyes shining excitedly.

" I, Maplestar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. " The leader recited the ancient words of a warrior ceremony.

" Pouncepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" She asked, looking at the brown and white tom.

" I do. " Pouncepaw mewed confidently.

" Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Pouncepaw from this moment on you will be known as Pounceclaw. StarClan honors your energy and fighting skills and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Maplestar mewed, placing her head on top of the newly named warrior as he licked her shoulder.

" Pounceclaw! Pounceclaw! Pounceclaw! " The Clan cheered.

After that Dawnpaw along with the rest of the apprentices surrounded Pounceclaw, purring. " Congratulations ,Pounceclaw! I can't wait for my own ceremony. " Stormpaw mewed, purring.

Dawnpaw purred at the sight. You aren't the only one, Stormpaw. I can't wait either, even though mine is moons and moons way.

A/N: What do you think? What should happen next? A rogue/loner attack? Sickness? Or something else?