Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 23

"So, what's new in IceClan?" Dawnsky asked as they walked deeper into IceClan territory.

Firefur looked hesitant, and he glanced quickly at Stormfeather, "Ummm, Orangetail and Specklefrost are now mates. And... umm... yeah." Stormfeather hastily explained.

She looked suspiciously at her, "Soooo that's it?" They're hiding something from me! She lashed her tail.

"Well, other things have happened..." Firefur meowed, hinting that he didn't want to talk about this anymore.

Dawnsky sighed in frustration and continued through the forest. Snow flurries began to fall, and one landed on her nose. She sneezed loudly, and Firefur and Stormfeather instantly jumped back in fear as if they had just seen all of Star Clan appear in front of them. She narrowed her eyes, "Are you sure that you're okay?"

They nodded warily and shakily moved in closer to Dawnsky. They seemed to be keeping at least one fox length away from her at all times. She shrugged and kept moving, growing more and more curious about what they were hiding from her. As they neared the camp, Firefur stopped her in her tracks.

"Dawnsky, wait!" He mewed.

She stopped, her tail lashing harder in anticipation, "Yes?"

"Before you go in camp, I... I just wanted to warn you. There has been a small epidemic in the clan..."

Before he even told her, Dawnsky had already caught the acrid stench of sickness that wafted from the camp. She fought the urge to step back and leave the terrible smell, "A small epidemic?!" She hissed, "I can smell the sickness from here!"

They were silent, looking embarrassed for exposing their Clan's weaknesses. They kept on walking and they lead Dawnsky to the entrance of the camp.

The smell was even stronger, and a new scent was added to it: the smell of death. Dawnsky shuddered, trying not to gag. Her breath quickened as she entered the camp, and she gasped at what she saw.

The warriors and apprentices that she could see were underfed and she could count each of their ribs. The place where the fresh kill pile was had one scrawny mouse and what looked like crowfood. She could see how dull their eyes were, as if they had never had a happy day in their life. She barely even recognized her own sister, Willowfur, who was curled up by the warrior's den.

She padded towards her, "Umm Willowfur?" Willowfur lifted her head and her eyes brightened.

"Dawnsky!" With effort, she quickly got to her feet and touched noses with her, "Dawnsky, it's you!"

Warriors all around turned their heads and walked up to her.

"Dawnsky? Is that you?"

"Oh I missed you so much!"

"Where have you been?"

She was immediately surrounded by the cats she had missed greatly while she was away. But it seemed as if there was a few cats missing, "Where are Speckledpath and Longfang?" She interrupted the crowd.

All of the cats went silent, beckoning for the other to speak. Finally, Darkclaw spoke up, "Er Longfang is in the medicine cat den.....and-"

"Dawnsky!" Growled a voice from the highrock. She looked up and saw Nightpelt, "Come here, now!"

She glanced back at the crowd who was giving her sympathetic glances. What is going on here? She thought desperately. Nightpelt was giving her a cold glare as he waited for her to come up the highrock. She shuffled reluctantly to where he was standing and gave him a questioning look, "What is it?" She said with a low growl.