Dawnstar's Decision

Chapter 33

After the long night of sitting vigil, Dawnsky stretched out her paws and yawned. She watched sadly as Tawnyfoot and Grassblade carried Whitestar's body away to be buried. She could see that Nightpelt was getting ready to leave to make the long journey to the Moonstone.

He was being accompanied by Lakeheart, Longfang, and Firefur. Lakeheart left her den, her mouth full with bundles of traveling herbs for each cat. Nightpelt is sure to choose his brother to be deputy. Dawnsky thought. She could see the muscular orange and white tom make his way over towards the gaping hole that the dogs had made when they broke into their camp.

"You ready to go?" He asked Nightpelt.

"Yeah, I guess so." Nightpelt grumbled sleepily, "You ready Lakeheart?"

"Hold on!" She said, her voice muffled since she was carrying the herbs, "Eat these first." She placed each bundle in front of the cats.

Everyone lined up to wish them good luck, and when it was Dawnsky's turn, they were already about to head out. Firefur turned his head around and smiled.

"May Star Clan light your path." She mewed to the group.

They nodded, "We'll be back by tomorrow morning." Nightpelt confirmed, "Grassblade, you're in charge."

Grassblade looked up from scratching his ear, "Huh?"

Stormfeather shook her head, "Oh great..."

Dawnsky watched them leave with a concerned gaze. I hope nothing goes wrong while they're away... she let out a tired sigh, and waited for Grassblade to issue out the patrols for the day.

Grassblade cleared his throat and rasped, "Er, the dawn patrol will be uh Swiftwillow-"

"Swiftwillow was injured in the battle." Stormfeather softly corrected him.

"Oh. Right." He shook his head in confusion, "Okay then the dawn patrol will be Pebblefur, Specklefrost-"

"Specklefrost is in the nursery." She rolled her eyes, "Okay dawn patrol is Pebblefur, Talonpaw, me, and Agileclaw."

Grassblade sighed in relief, glad that Stormfeather took over. He whispered into her ear something else.

"Oh, right! We need some cats to fix the wall. Any volunteers?"

"I will!" Dawnsky and Willowfur both meowed at the same time. They turned and glared at each other with narrowed eyes.

"Okay, that's great!" Stormfeather mewed, though she looked uncomfortable, "Hopefully it will end their little feud..." Dawnsky heard her mutter under her breath.

"But isn't there anything else I can do that isn't with her?" Willowfur complained.

Ouch... Dawnsky thought.

"Well there's the apprentices duties." Grassblade suggested humorously.

Willowfur rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'll work with Dawnsky..."

Dawnsky held back a laugh. She waited until the dawn patrol left and then awkwardly walked up to her sister, "So... do we gather brambles?"

"I guess so..." she muttered, not making eye contact.

"Okay, let's go then." She sighed.

They walked with as much distance as possible from each other until they squeezed one by one through the thorn tunnel. Dawnsky shook her pelt and then moved on, not waiting for Willowfur to come out. I can find the brambles myself... she fretted like a kit.

"Hey, wait up!" Willowfur hissed.

"Sorry..." she grumbled under her breath.

Once they reached a spot that had enough of what they needed, Dawnsky started to gather the brambles. She fully focused on her job, not even looking towards Willowfur. She shouldn't be the one mad, I was only trying to protect her! She thought, furiously pulling more brambles down, she is so ungrateful, and rude, and- "Ow!" She cried.