Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 31

Dawnsky watched as the busy camp prepared for Raggedpelt's kitting. Apprentices scattered, trying to find the freshest moss. Everyone was excited for this gift of new life, especially Raggedpelt. There hadn't been kits in the clan for a while, due to the very harsh leafbare.

Too bad my kits never got to see the clan... she thought sadly, they would have been fine warriors. I wonder what they're doing now. I bet they've grown a lot. The sound of an agonized wail interrupted her thoughts. Raggedpelt was having her first kit, "I better see if Lakeheart needs any help..."

She brushed by Nightpelt and Agileclaw who were chatting silently, "I wonder who the father is." She heard Agileclaw meow curiously.

"Yes, I'm beginning to wonder about that, too..." Nightpelt growled skeptically.

Dawnsky rolled her eyes, he's so suspicious about everything! Such an annoying furball. She didn't stay to hear the rest of their conversation, and she padded into Lakeheart's den.

She could see her rummaging through her collection of herbs. Dawnsky cleared her throat and Lakeheart lifted her head, "Oh, hey Dawnsky! Can you do me a favor?"

She perked her ears, "Yes of course! What do you need?"

"I'm running low on borage leaves, could you go find some for me? Raggedpelt will probably need some."

"Sure!" She mewed, glad that she could help with something.

"Thanks. You can find them pretty much anywhere in the forest," she explained hastily, "their leaves are kind of hairy, and, well you probably already know what they look like."

"Okay," she nodded, starting to leave.

"And Dawnsky," she mewed.

"Yes?"

"Be careful out there." She mewed, her eyes filled with sadness from the memory of Featherpool.

"I will. Don't worry." She promised, heading into the forest.

She sighed happily, taking in the fresh pine scent. She looked around once she got to a place filled with undergrowth. She parted her mouth to try and see if she could scent the herb, "There it is!" She finally mewed.

She carefully gathered the leaves in her jaws until she could carry no more. Once she was satisfied with the amount, she started to turn towards camp. Suddenly, she picked up the scent of a cat.

Oh great... that's probably Storm looking for Willowfur again.. she groaned in her mind. She almost ignored it and moved on, but curiosity got the best of her and she started to follow his scent. She placed her borage leaves where she knew she would find them again, and padded after him.

He wasn't too far ahead, and she was quickly gaining on him. She could see his shadowy figure through the dense undergrowth and she inched closer. He had stopped in his tracks and was looking around. She could pick up a scent of urgency from his pelt as he continued to look around.

"Hey!" She hissed, "Storm!"

Storm nearly leaped out of his fur. He whipped his head around and sighed in relief, "Oh, Dawnsky, it's only you." He mewed, trying to hide his embarrassment, "I thought you were someone else..."

Dawnsky rolled her eyes, humor showing in her blue gaze, "So are you looking for Willowfur?" She mewed, her mood darkening again.

"Actually, I was looking for you." He admitted.

"Me? Why?" She asked.

"Because I wanted to warn you about Bear." He meowed.

"Please Storm," she groaned, "I have heard this a million times. I know he's dangerous. But I am doing very fine staying away from him in case you haven't noticed."