Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 24

A small rustle in the bushes lead Dawnsky to a tiny mouse that was collecting berries and totally unaware of the danger behind it. Dawnsky got into the hunter's position and crept steadily towards the small creature. Normally, she wouldn't go for such a scrawny mouse, but this was the only thing that she was able to find the whole time she was hunting. She quickly pounced on the mouse and killed it instantly. She buried it by the bush so she could get it later, her stomach growled in protest. Before I eat, the clan must eat, Dawnsky kept telling herself, trying to ignore the growing pain in her stomach.

That was not the only pain she felt; Dawnsky was hurting all over. She couldn't believe all of the damage she had caused her clan for making the wrong decision. She missed her sister and her apprentice more than anything in the world right now, they were both so young... and poor Grassblade... he lost his mate and two of his kits within 3 moons! She dipped her head, thinking of Silvermoon. She didn't know how she could handle so much grief all at once. She lashed her tail and turned around, taking a deep breath. I must be strong... she willed herself onward. She took another step and gasped as a large bird flew right in front of her face, cawing angrily as it flew away. "Fox dung! I didn't even notice it!" she spat, clawing the grass angrily as the bird flew to the top of the tree and started cawing again, as if it was mocking her.

"Hey, it's okay!" mewed a cat from behind her. She whipped her head around and was relieved to see it was only Willowfur.

"You scared me! I thought you were a rogue." Dawnsky exclaimed.

Willowfur smiled a little, "Sorry. I was just coming to help you hunt... if you need me." she mewed shyly.

She sighed in relief, "That would be great, thanks." She needed to be around someone right now.

Willowfur had already caught the trail of something, and she was moving deeper into the undergrowth. Dawnsky sighed; she had never really spent much time with Willowfur, since she was always so quiet and Dawnsky was shy as well. She's my only family now..... she sighed sadly. Willowfur appeared again, carrying a nice-sized thrush.

"Great catch!" Dawnsky praised, her stomach rumbling again.

"Thanks." she mumbled through a mouthful of feathers. She quickly set the fresh kill down by Dawnsky's mouse.

The snow was falling a little harder now, and Dawnsky shivered and shook the flurries off of her already wet pelt. Willowfur was flinging some of the cold snow off of her sensitive paw pads, and she accidentally flung some on Dawnsky's muzzle, "Sorry!" she mewed.

Dawsnky smiled mischievously and flicked some on her ear. She squeaked in surprise and narrowed her eyes playfully. She dug her paw in the snow and smeared it all over Dawnsky's pelt.

"Hey, that's cold!" she laughed. Willowfur chuckled, sitting down by her and giving her a mischievous smile. Dawnsky sighed. It felt good to laugh; she hadn't laughed in what felt like moons.

Willowfur looked as if she was feeling the same thing, "I'm glad you're back." she purred.

Dawnsky nodded, "Me too..." she looked up at the sky. It was getting pretty dark, "We should head back, the prey is probably hiding because of the cold." she suggested, picking up her mouse and walking back towards camp.

She looked back when she saw that Willowfur wasn't following her, "Uh Willowfur? You there?"

Willowfur looked up at Dawnsky, her eyes filled with curiosity, "Dawnsky, where were you when you were away?"

She stiffened, her fur fluffing out a little, "I...I was far away from here." she said, her eyes narrowing from the painful memories of Bear and her kits.