The Quest of Dawn (Warriors, Book 3)

Chapter 1

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

Dawnkit's ears pirked up. Her father, Hauntedstar, was sitting on the Highrock, his black and white fur outlined with gold from the sun. Dawnkit gave her own golden fur a few quick licks, feeling like the most beautiful cat in the world as she gazed at her midnight-black spots.

"Go on," A cat gently nudged Dawnkit. She turned to see her foster mother, Seedrise. She was technically her grandmother; she had gotten her pretty golden fur from her.

Dawnkit thought of her real mother, Flowerpelt; the warrior had given birth to Dawnkit and her brother, Bellkit in secret to suprise the Clan. But Flowerpelt had been killed in a battle with WindClan, and Bellkit had gone missing a few days later. Hauntedstar, who was injured after fighting some rogues and kittypets with RiverClan, had sent a warrior named Waspheart to go fetch the kits to bring them back to the camp. One of the kittypets, however, had ambushed Waspheart and they were both found dead. But Dawnkit was fine, and she was taken back to camp and adopted by Seedrise.

Dawnkit shook away the memories and instead bounded into the clearing, pushing past the other cats. Her three friends, Mulchkit, Applekit, and Graykit ran beside her. Mulchkit and Applekit we're littermates. Their mother had died at birth. Her name was Mulchstorm, and Mulchkit had been named after her. Graykit's parents were Fluffystep and Christmasleaf, and Applekit and Mulchkit's dad was Drypelt.

My parents are cooler, Dawnkit thought. Her father was the leader of ThunderClan, and her mother was a hero and the former ThunderClan deputy! Darkfur, a dark gray tom was the new deputy.

Dawnkit sat down, her tail twitching with impatience, as Hauntedstar cleared his throat and the Clan went silent.

"Four ThunderClan kits have reached the age of six moons," He spoke, his voice clear and loud. "And are ready to become apprentices." He beckoned the four kits with his tail. "Graykit, Dawnkit, Applekit, and Mulchkit. Step forward."

Dawnkit and Applekit sprang to their paws and shot forward, while Graykit followed more slowly and Mulchkit hesitated before following.

"Graykit, from this moment onward, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Graypaw." Hauntedstar addressed the soft-furred tom thoughtfully. "And your mentor will be Parrotfeather."

Dawnkit glared at the tortoiseshell. Parrotfeather didn't have a great reputation among the Clan; he had bullied Hauntedstar when they were kits, even physically harming him. Parrotfeather had surprise in his eyes as he bent down to touch noses with Graypaw.

"Dawnkit," Dawnkit's attention was shot back to Hauntedstar as he said her name. "From this moment onward, until you recieve your warrior name, you shall be known as Dawnpaw." He studied the crowd before his gaze landed on a short-furred brown tabby sitting at the front of the crowd. "And your mentor will be Drypelt."

Dawnpaw's jaws nearly dropped.

Drypelt; the most strict and serious cat in the Clans! He never let Dawnpaw or the other kits sneak out of camp, never let them steal some feathers from the birds in the fresh-kill pile or put lizards in the warriors' den.

Regardless, she stomped over to Drypelt and touched noses with him. Her fur bristling, she sat down next to the brown tabby. Dumb furball!

"Applekit," Hauntedstar was continuing. "From this moment onward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Applepaw." He studied the crowd. "And your mentor will be Bubbleheart."

Applepaw purred and bounded over to the warrior.

Dawnpaw felt a flash of jealousy. Bubbleheart was a funny tom, always ready to tell the kits a joke or funny story. Dawnpaw wished Applepaw could have Drypelt; maybe that would teach the apprentice to shut up every once in a while.

Hauntedstar went on. "Mulchkit, from this moment onward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mulchpaw." He studied the crowd before his gaze landed on a silver-furred tomcat with clashing amber eyes. "And your mentor will be Ironfur." He paused. "Clan dismissed."

Dawnpaw looked up at Drypelt as the Clan dispersed. "Can we go hunting now?" She asked impatiently. "Or at least go kill a RiverClan cat or too?"

Drypelt looked at her. "You shouldn't need to kill to win a battle," He told her. "And no, we won't be hunting. We'll go see the territory with the other apprentices."

"Ugh." Dawnpaw grumbled.

The brown tabby narrowed his eyes. "You can go talk with your friends for a bit," He told her, his eyes plain and with the same annoyingly strict light in them. "I suppose you'd like to talk about your new role, as an apprentice."

Dawnpaw glared at the warrior then sprang off towards her friends. They were sitting together, their eyes bright with excitement.

"Hey guys!" Dawnpaw purred. "Drypelt says we get to see the territory." She lowered her voice. "I wanted to hunt or kill a RiverClan warrior or something, but Drypelt keeps speaking mouse-dung about the code and how important it is."

Graypaw looked at his paws. "I mean, it is..."

Dawnpaw glared at the gray tom. "Shut up, it's stupid. I think we should all be able to do whatever, as long as we don't like, betray our Clans or something."

Applepaw nodded, though Dawnpaw could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. She didn't care, though; it felt good to be in control, even if it was only a group of fresh apprentices. Soon, she would be a warrior, then the new deputy of ThunderClan, then even the leader. She would probably make Mulchpaw her deputy, but Bubbleheart was good, too.

Eh, I'll decide this in a few moons.

"Anyway, I got the worst mentor," She hissed to her friends. "Drypelt's soooooo strict. I wish I got someone cool, like Darkfur." She didn't want to admit that she wanted Bubbleheart as her mentor. That would imply that she was jealous of Applepaw.

"I think he's cool," Mulchpaw admitted.

Dawnpaw narrowed her eyes, filled with anger. "Are you kidding me?" She yowled. "Drypelt's the worst mentor ever!"

She hadn't realized she had raised her voice until Drypelt trotted over.

"Am I?" He meowed. "In that case, you can check the elders' for ticks once were done touring the territory." Drypelt glanced at the other warriors, who beckoned their apprentices closer with a flick of their tails.

This is the worst day ever, Dawnpaw thought angrily, following after her mentor. Yet she felt a rush of excitement as she stepped through the gorse tunnel. But I'm an apprentice now. One step closer to greatness!