Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 22

The morning rays of sunlight shined into the badger set, waking Dawnsky. She looked around groggily, trying to remember where she was. Suddenly it hit her. I have to get to IceClan! She made herself get up, feeling awful. Her throat tightened as she remembered her kits she left in the paws of Bear.

"They will be safer...." she tried to convince herself.

She stepped slowly out of the badger set, taking in her surroundings. Unfamiliar trees and landmarks surrounded her, and she looked around in confusion. Where do I go now? She thought warily.

She walked around for quite some time, the bare trees not helping her to know where she was. Suddenly, she recognized where she had broke through some bracken and brambles in a desperate attempt to flee from Bear the last night. I will just follow the trail that I made! She nodded. As she followed along, she could also make out drops of blood from where she had left a gash on Bear's cheek. This made an easy trail to follow, and she soon knew where she was.

Now to get back to IceClan.....she sighed warily, scanning the area for the easiest and quickest trail to follow. At least it's not raining! She thought to herself, trying to think of positive things to block out the question that was floating in the back of her mind, and constantly worrying her: Will they even take me back? She hoped so, but she had a feeling it might be hard convincing them since she had ran away with no explanation or even a goodbye. She padded through the forest, trying to enjoy the sounds of the birds chirping in the trees, but she couldn't get her mind off of her kits or the fact that she might have to remain a loner for the rest of her life if her clan didn't accept her.

She trekked through the forest for long hours, and the sun was now high above her head. An icy breeze ruffled her fur and made the trees sway slightly. She shivered and sat down to take a rest. Dawnsky could see that she was getting closer to her home because there were more and more pine trees the farther she went. She sniffed around, trying to catch the faintest scent of prey, but she could smell nothing. Her stomach rumbled in complaint, but she ignored it. There will be lots of fresh kill in IceClan.... if they let me in. She shuddered and moved on, panting in exhaustion.

A while after that, clouds covered the sun, making it much chillier. Dawnsky didn't know how much longer she could go on like this, and she had to constantly stop and take rests. Just as she was about to give up hope and find a place to sleep in for the night, she smelled a familiar scent. I'm at the border for IceClan! she purred out loud with joy.

"I guess I should just wait for a patrol to pass by so that they won't think I'm invading their camp..." she reasoned, curling up by a shady tree.

She fought to keep her eyes open and stay alert, but no matter what she did, her eyelids always seemed to droop and she was caught off guard every time she heard a noise. Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes startled her awake again. Her neck fur rose, and she hissed, backing up. Is it a fox? A badger?  She was too tired to think straight, and a scrawny squirrel rushed out of the undergrowth. Mouse dung! It was only a squirrel.... and it got away! She scolded herself as the squirrel quickly made its way up the tree.

"Get out of IceClan territory, you fox-hearted thief!" snarled a male cat voice from inside the undergrowth.

"Yeah! Don't you even think about stealing our prey, rogue!" hissed another voice.

Dawnsky stood, glued to the spot from fear and exhaustion, "I... I didn't mean to-"

"Sure you didn't!" the first cat interrupted, making his way out in the open. It was Firefur! "And I will fight you if I have- wait a second! Dawnsky? Is that you?"

The second cat pushed past Firefur, and she recognized Stormfeather, "Dawnsky! You're back!" The mood rapidly changed and they rubbed against each other happily.

"Sorry for trespassing, it's just-"

"Trespassing? What do you mean? You're no trespasser, you're one of us!" Stormfeather said warmly.

"Where have you been all this time? Why did you come back?" Firefur asked, looking slightly hurt.

"I...I... I had to...." she didn't want to talk about Bear or her kits, "I had to get out...because I....."

"Oh Firefur, it doesn't matter where she was. It just matters that she's home!" Stormfeather rasped, licking her on the shoulder.

Dawnsky smiled gratefully at her, "I am hoping to rejoin the clan. Do you think that Moonstar, er Whitestar, will take me back?"

The two warriors glanced at each other, as if sharing a moment of grief, and then looked back at Dawnsky. Firefur spoke up, "We need all of the warriors we can get right now..." he said.

Dawnsky suddenly noticed how scrawny and underfed the two cats appeared. They looked like they hadn't eaten in days, and she could see the ribs plainly through their fur. Their eyes looked duller as well, and it seemed like they were not only physically hurting, but emotionally hurting as well. She felt guilt rush over her, since she had been very well fed for the time she was away, "What... happened?"

Firefur opened his jaws to say something, and then held back when Stormfeather gave him a warning look, "We... had a.... famine..." he chose his words carefully, "and the clan... hasn't been doing so well..."

 "I am so sorry! This is all my fault!" she mewed with her head down. 

Stormfeather sighed, "None of it was your fault...." she then muttered under her breath, "although it definitely looks that way...."

"I will do anything I can to help out." she promised.

Firefur, looked like he was hiding something, but he shook his head and looked at her with a forced smile, "Well what are we waiting for? Let's get back to camp!"