Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 25

"Dawnsky!" whispered a voice in the darkness, "Dawnsky!"

She slowly cracked open her eyes
to see Featherpool standing over her. She looked flustered and very stressed. Dawnsky stretched and sat up, "Yes, Featherpool?" she yawned.

"Dawnsky, Whitestar is awake. She wants to talk to you." She explained urgently.

"Talk to me? Why?" Dawnsky asked curiously.

"How am I supposed to know?" she snapped, and then looked guiltily at her, "Sorry... I haven't slept in days, so I'm a little on edge."

Dawnsky felt so badly for Featherpool. She was usually so calm and nice, but now she was always frazzled and on edge because of all the sick cats she had to constantly check on, "Okay, I will go talk to her." She mewed, walking out of the warriors den. She was careful not to wake any of the snoring cats that she had to step over. Pebblefur yawned loudly and stretched, but he quickly fell back to sleep.

Featherpool followed her out, stumbling every other step she took. Dawnsky could see the dawn patrol coming in with mouthfuls of prey. She was so relieved. Maybe now everyone can eat something! she thought happily. She looked behind her and saw that Nightpelt was sitting on the highrock as if he was leader already. She snorted and turned her head away. Once she entered the medicine cat den, the stench of greencough filled her nose and she sneezed loudly.

Whitestar turned her head and nodded in greeting, "Hello, Dawnsky." she croaked.

Dawnsky padded up to her, "Hello Whitestar..." she mewed a little awkwardly.

Whitestar narrowed her blue eyes, "Come closer."

Dawnsky was hesitant for a second, since she didn't want to catch Whitestar's terrible case of greencough. She reluctantly shuffled foward, "What did you want to speak to me about?" She asked politely.

Whitestar cleared her throat, "Well I haven't seen you since you left! But anyways, there is a reason I wanted to talk to you."

She started to cough again and Dawnsky patiently waited for her to continue.

"Where were you when you were away?" She croaked, narrowing her eyes.

She stiffened. This wasn't a question she was prepared to answer. It never even crossed her mind that Whitestar was sleeping when she had returned to the clan. What if she decides to kick me out? "I... um.... was..."

"Be honest Dawnsky." Whitestar rasped, "Tell me where you were."

She sighed, knowing that Whitestar could easily tell when she was lying, "I fell in love with a rogue," she started.

Whitestar didn't seem phased by this news, she just beckoned for her to continue. Her sky blue eyes seemed to be burning into her, as if she already knew all of her darkest secrets and was just waiting for her to admit to them.

Dawnsky made herself look into her eyes, "His name was...Bear. I, I wasn't thinking, well I was, but I was only thinking about myself. And I'm really sorry!" Her words jumbled out.

Whitestar nodded, closing her eyes to think for a minute. It seemed like seasons had passed before she opened them again, "So you were with this Bear the whole time you were away?"

"I... um yes...." she admitted, "well I was with him for most of the time." She shuddered, hoping that Whitestar wouldn't make her talk about her kits.

"And why did you come back?" She questioned, the same curiosity in her eyes as everyone else who had asked Dawnsky the same question.

Dawnsky tried not to roll her eyes at the annoying question that never seemed to stop haunting her, "I realized, " she paused to think after every word she said, "that my loyalty is and always will be only to Ice Clan, and this is my real home."

Whitestar looked as if she didn't fully believe her, "Okay.... so what you're saying is after all those moons, you just suddenly decided to be loyal again, right?"

"Yes?"

"That sounds like you're asking me instead of answering me, Dawnsky." She mewed skeptically, "Are you sure there weren't any kits involved?"

Dawnsky gasped, "How did you-"

"I can smell your milk scent...." she growled, "but since you lied to me about it, then it must mean you don't want to talk about the subject. It's none of my business, anyways... so do you really feel that your loyalties lie with IceClan now?"

"Yes." She mewed, feeling sure of herself, "And I promise I will do everything I can to help restore IceClan back to how it was when I left."

She could see Whitestar open her jaws to say something, but she held back the question and looked at her, "Well, I still don't know why or how in Star Clan you decided to come back, but I am glad that you did. You are a good warrior, Dawnsky, but you must promise never to run away again."

"I promise!" She mewed, smiling.

A small smile appeared on Whietstar's face, "Well, you should probably get going before you catch what I have... thank you for coming back, and remember what I told you!"

Dawnsky nodded, turning to leave. Suddenly, Lakeheart burst through the entrance, almost crashing into Dawnsky, "Featherpool! Featherpool!" She called, out of breath.

Featherpool turned her head from the herbs she had been sorting and padded quickly up to her, worry in her eyes, "What is it, Lakeheart?"

Dawnsky could see nothing but happiness in the medicine cat apprentice's eyes, "I found it!" She breathed.

"Found what? For Star Clan's sake, spit it out!" Featherpool mewed anxiously.

"I found catmint, and a lot of it!" She purred triumphantly.

Featherpool looked overjoyed, "Really?! Where is it?"

"It's on the far edge of the territory," she explained, "I may need a few warriors to come with me though."

Featherpool was smiling already, looking relieved, "Dawnsky, would go with Lakeheart and take Firefur with you?"

Dawnsky nodded, feeling happy for her clanmates, "Of course!" She rushed out of the den and called Firefur from the fresh kill pile.

He quickly followed after her and they were soon on their way. After a while of walking through the dense forest, Dawnsky suddenly picked up a familiar scent. Bear! She thought, her eyes widening. She opened her mouth to see if she could pick up anything else, he didn't come alone... she thought with dread, remembering his chilling words, "You are my number one enemy....so watch your back." She shook the terrifying thought out of her mind and walked up to the other two, ready to report what she had smelled. But the strong smell of catmint filled her nose.

"Look! It's right here!" Came Lakeheart's excited mew. She picked a few of the precious stems and gave them to Dawnsky to carry.

Her mouth was full, and so she shrugged, I'll tell them when we get back to camp.... she thought, carrying the life-saving herb with her towards camp.

((So sorry this took so long to post... I had a writer's block, I guess. But anyways, here it is!))