Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 30

Stormfeather was standing over Dawnsky, an angry but concerned look in her eyes, "Dawnsky!" She yowled again.

"Huh?"

"Dawnsky, you were thrashing around in your sleep. It sounded as if you were in a fight with another cat. And look at that! Your scar reopened! How did that even happen?"

"Er a thorn?" She mewed sleepily.

"Some thorn!" She scoffed, "Come on, let's go to Lakeheart's den before you make the whole clan think there's a battle."

Dawnsky slowly got up and trudged after Stormfeather.

"I'm getting too old for this..." she heard the senior warrior mutter ahead of her.

The blood had started to flow again, covering her eyes. She hissed and shook her head to try and clear her vision. Lakeheart, hearing the commotion outside, was already at the entrance of her den.

"Dawnsky, what did you do?!" She gasped.

"Apparently a 'thorn' reopened her scar during the middle of the night." Stormfeather growled sarcastically, and then whispered, "She won't tell me the real reason..."

Dawnsky rolled her eyes as the two cats whispered about her. She sighed impatiently, "Do I need any herbs?"

Lakeheart looked up from her conversation, "What? Oh yeah! Yes, you do. Come inside."

Dawnsky entered her den and sat down, watching her gather cobwebs amd comfrey leaves. She carefully applied the cobwebs to the gash after Dawnsky had licked it clean. Lakeheart let out a relieved sigh, "There." She mewed, looking satisfied, "It should heal in a couple of days if you don't pick at it or somehow reopen it. So don't pick at it." She ordered in a stern voice.

"Yes, Lakeheart." She answered obediently.

She tilted her head, "So a thorn reopened your scar, eh?"

"Umm yes." She didn't look into her eyes, "But I got rid of it now. So it won't bother me or any cat anymore."

Lakeheart rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Just make sure you don't do anything to re-injure your wound."

Dawnsky quickly raced out of her den, relieved that she hadn't asked anymore questions. The dream still hung in her head like the thickest cobwebs, and she couldn't shake it out of her mind. She had to find answers to what little Shadowstripe had told her.

Who is Larkstar? Why have I never heard her name before? She knew exactly where to go to find these answers. She turned directly towards the elders den in a hurry, hoping that Tawnyfoot was in a story-telling mood at the moment.

Dawnsky cautiously poked her head into the only living elder's den, and saw Tawnyfoot curled up in the very back corner. She started to step back, I guess I won't disturb her of she's sleeping... she thought with dissapointment.

Suddenly, her ears perked up and she turned her head around, "Dawnsky?" She rasped.

"Oh.. sorry to wake you..." she mewed carefully, "I will just come back later."

"No, no! Come on in!" She urged, "I wasn't sleeping, just resting."

"A-are you sure?"

"Oh stop it with the politeness!" She snapped, "Ever since Smallface died, cats have been avoiding me like I'm an angry badger. They won't even look me in the eye!"

Dawnsky padded in the den and sat down next to her, "I'm sorry." She apologized.

She could see a small smile on Tawnyfoot's face, "Well I guess that's a start. So what did you want to ask me?"

"Oh, I just wanted to know if you have ever heard of this certain cat before."

"Oh believe me," she cackled, "if you've heard of this cat, then I definitely know them. I probably grew up with them! So who is it?"

"Well, I believe she was Larkstar?" She asked hopefully, "Do you know her?"

Tawnyfoot narrowed her eyes to think for a minute, "Larkstar.... hmmm, Larkstar..." she repeated the name in her head, "the name is somewhat familiar, but I'm not exactly sure...."

Dawnsky started to get up, "It's okay if you don't remember..."

"No, wait!" She insisted, "I think I remember now. She was a few generations after Jaystar.." she squinted her eyes to try and regain any memory she had of this very old cat.

Wow, how old exactly is Shadowstripe? Dawnsky thought to herself. He must be ancient!

"Oh yes! Now I remember." She announced, "Larkstar was the sister of the evil cat named Shadowstripe. Yes that's it." She confirmed.

"That's all you know?" She asked, trying not to sound dissapointed.

"Well where did you hear the name Larkstar anyways?" She growled defensively.

"Er, you know...around...." She mewed awkwardly.

"Well I can tell you that she was leader of Ice Clan for a very short time, but then she went insane. After that, her clanmates kicked her out of the clan. But that's all I really know." She explained, "She was a pretty insignificant leader."

"Oh..." she mewed. So Shadowstripe was her brother.... and he drove her to insanity?! And I thought my siblings were hurtful...

"I wish Smallface was here right now. He knew everything about every leader..." she sighed with a wistful look in her eyes.

"Do you know why she went insane?" She asked.

"No. What I told you is the only thing I've heard about her." She replied, "Well anyways, I hope that helped."

"Yes, thank you." Dawnsky mewed, getting ready to leave.

"And Dawnsky?"

"Yes?"

"Remember to visit me more often. Don't worry, I won't bite." She teased.

She smiled and laughed lightly, "Okay, I will. Thanks again!"

***

Later on, after a hunting patrol and a walk in the woods, Dawnsky finally had time to contemplate what her dream last night was supposed to mean.

She grabbed a sparrow from the fresh kill pile and sat outside the warriors den. Okay, so I just have to gather all of the information I have gained through past dreams and try and figure out what Shadowstripe wants from me... so if Larkstar is part of my family line and he has haunted a cat from each generation afterward, then I am obviously his next victim.

But what does he want from me? She let out a frustrated sigh, Will he stop haunting me when he achieves his goal? But what is his goal?! "Why does everything have to be so complicated?!" She accidentally hissed out loud.

A few cats turned their heads, and Specklefrost padded up to her, "Hey, are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes. Sorry, I was just thinking out loud..." she mewed, picking at her sparrow that she had barely touched.

"Yeah, I know things have been pretty tough lately," she mewed in a sympathetic tone, "but you're strong. I know you'll pull through."

Will I? "Thank you, Specklefrost." She said, forcing a smile.

"No problem!" She purred, "And if you are ever feeling down, you can always come talk to me."

"Okay." She sighed tiredly as Specklefrost walked away to go look for Orangetail.

She finished her sparrow and then entered the warriors den. She curled up on her nest and closed her eyes, almost dreading sleep. What if Shadowstripe wins?

((Ok, so just to let everyone know, there is going to be one more major event before Dawnstar's Decision ends. There will be a couple of chapters leading up to it, but I've got it all planned out already. But anyways, I hope you enjoy!))