Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 14

"What?! This is terrible! Moonstar can't get greencough!" Dawnsky cried.

"Well he already has it, and it is getting worse..... What if he can't survive it?" Nightpelt mewed worriedly.

Dawnsky shook her head, and just then the rest of the patrol burst through the entrance. Whitefang was the first inside, and her blue eyes were burning with anger, "Nightpelt! Dawnsky! You both are in a lot of trouble for running off on me like that. Now excuse me, I need to speak to Moonstar."

"You can't!" Dawnsky and Nightpelt mewed at the same time.

"And what makes you two the deputy now?" she growled, pushing past them.

Featherpool appeared out of his den, looking very stressed, "No one is allowed to see Moonstar right now! Do not come near his den under any circumstances." she yowled to all of the cats in camp.

"What is the meaning of this?" Whitefang hissed, lashing her tail in annoyance and confusion.

"Moonstar has greencough....." Dawnsky whispered.

"Oh no....." she gasped, closing her eyes, "Moonstar, this is his last-"

"Don't say it!" Stormfeather cut in, "Moonstar will be fine. He is a strong leader and he will pull through. He has to!"

"What's going on?" demanded Smallface from the elders den.

Brackenpaw rushed out of the apprentices den, "Is Moonstar going to die?!" he squeaked. Mosspaw swatted him in the face and Brackenpaw sneezed all over Mosspaw's paw.

"No you mouse brain! And gross!" he flicked his paw.

Dawnsky watched Lakepaw rushing into the medicine cat den for some catmint, and came out with one small stem, "Featherpool, this is our last stem!"

Featherpool gasped, "What do you mean this is the last stem?! Th-there has to be more!" she rushed into the medicine cat den and frantically looked around. There was a crowd of cats surrounding the medicine cat den, all of them whispering worriedly. Featherpool pushed past the cats and snatched the stem from Lakepaw. Dawnsky had never seen her so stressed.

"This is worse then when Dappledtree's kits came during the battle..." whispered Smallface to Tawnypelt. Dawnsky flinched when she overheard her mother's name.

Their conversations were interrupted with a fit of coughing from Moonstar's den. Longfang was also coughing and Dawnsky moved over to him, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah.. I'm fine, but what about Moonstar?" he mewed worriedly, before coughing more.

Oh no.... she thought as she looked around her. Featherpool was already up to his den, and she reappeared again, her eyes glazed with sadness and defeat, "Whitefang, Moonstar wishes to speak to you...."

Whitefang stiffened, and slowly walked up to his den. Dawnsky knew what was happening, but she refused to believe it, still having a little bit of hope. She could see Speckledpath, Willowfur and Nightpelt huddled together. Firefur was with Longfang, Stormfeather and Grassblade. She sighed, sitting alone, anxiously watching the entrance to his den.

After what had seemed like moons of waiting, Whitefang and Featherpool appeared out of Moonstar's den. They exchanged glances and Featherpool nodded to Whitefang. She took a shaky breath before jumping up onto the highrock.

"Everyone," she mewed loudly, "Moonstar.... is dead."

All of the cats around Dawnsky gasped including her. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. She looked around her and could see every cat around her was stunned with grief. Moonstar had been leader before most cats in IceClan had even been born. She put her head down in both sadness and shame.

"This is all my fault...." she whispered in sudden realization. I made the wrong decision today, and Shadowstripe took it out on Moonstar!

Longfang walked over to comfort her, "Dawnsky, none of this is your fault. It was his time..."

"No...no you don't understand!" She mewed, starting to freak out. Her breathing quickened as she stepped back.

"Dawnsky, are you-"

"I...I can't always make the right decision! I'm not perfect! I'm a danger to the clan!" She thought out loud, not even listening to Longfang.

"What are you talking about?! How are you a danger to the clan?" He burst into another fit of coughing.

Dawnsky was about to say something, but she could see that Smallface and Tawnypelt were bringing Moonstar's body to the center of the clearing so the cats could sit vigil. She knew that most of the senior warriors would sit vigil with their former leader all night, but many of the younger cats including Dawnsky paid their respects, and shared tongues with Moonstar one last time before heading back to their nests.

She couldn't sleep that night and she constantly sat up in her nest, deep in thought. If I made a bad decision like that again, the whole clan would be in danger! I can't be perfect all of the time.. or any time..... she argued with herself, I have to do something. "I... I can't stay here...." she whispered out loud.

She winced at the sudden thought. I have to.... leave! She knew this was the only way to keep her clanmates safe. She shakily got to her paws, and turned her head to all of the sleeping warriors. She could see Speckledpath curled up next to Nightpelt. Firefur, Pebblefur, Swiftwillow, and many other cats slept soundly, their chests rising and falling at the same pace. She took a deep breath and walked silently outside, past the warriors who were sitting vigil and out the back entrance.

Dawnsky knew she had to get out of there fast before anyone found out she was missing, especially Longfang who had seemed worried about her. She tried not to look back as she moved further and further away from the only home she ever knew. She looked up at Silverpelt and wondered if Oakfoot was watching her right now.

She was nearing the end of Ice Clan territory, and she took one last look at the beautiful, towering pines. She felt a pang of regret and sadness as she stepped over the border and turned away from her old home and into new territory.