Dawnstar's Legacy

Chapter 16: Broken Trust

Dawnstar padded through the camp’s entrance, Ambermoon at her side.

Snowstorm raced toward them.

“Where were you?! You left last night and Ambermoon was missing.”

Dawnstar’s smile faded as she stared at her sister.

“I must speak with you privately. Go to my den, I’ll meet you there.”

Snowstorm nodded quickly then trotted into Dawnstar’s den.

Dawnstar flicked her torn ear and dismissed Ambermoon. She padded after the medicine cat and stopped when she made it to the back of the den.

“Thank you for coming. I’m afraid that I can’t tell Thornpetal about this, not yet at least.”

Snowstorm cocked her head.

“What do you mean? Did you figure out the prophecy?!”

Dawnstar shook her head and looked down at her paws.

“No, but I need to know I can trust you. Do you promise not to tell anyone about this, not even Starclan!”

Snowstorm stepped back, her tail low to the ground.

“You have my word, but, what if Starclan requests me to tell them what’s going on?”

Dawnstar hissed angrily and Snowstorm clamped her mouth shut.

“Thank you. Now, I am going to tell you something that only one cat knows about. I’ve been receiving visits from the Dark Forest. The cat who’s been visiting me is Suntail.”

Snowstorm gasped as she stared at Dawnstar.

“You mean, Nightshade’s...”

Dawnstar cocked her head at the mention of her father.

“What do you mean?”

Snowstorm sighed and pressed herself against the den’s stone walls.

“Nightshade had a sister. Her name was Suntail. I’ve heard stories from Featherstar that her brother was killed by a rogue who used to be a clan cat. That must have been her!”

Dawnstar hissed and shook her head.

“No, she told me that Nightshade betrayed her. She couldn’t have meant that he killed her in cold blood!”

Snowstorm looked down at her paws and sighed again.

“I’m sorry Dawnstar, but it just all fits together. There must be more to her story. You need to tell Thornpetal or Fiercefang.”

Dawnstar growled and pinned her sister down.

“I will not be told what to do by you!”

Snowstorm’s eyes lit up with fear.

“What are you doing!”

Dawnstar stepped off the white she-cat and hissed again.

“You will not tell me what to do Snowstorm. You will not question my judgement and you will not mock me with names!” Dawnstar roared, remembering the quarrel they had before Thornpetal found her.

Snowstorm pelted out of the den and ran toward Crescentsky.

Dawnstar watched her begin weaving reeds for the nursery.

Ambermoon padded towards Dawnstar as she watched Snowstorm.

“I was wondering if you would like to practice later?”

Dawnstar shrugged and looked at Ambermoon.

“No. I’m dealing with something and I think it would be unwise if I were to ignore it. Besides, I think you can practice by yourself for now.”

Ambermoon nodded and trotted out of the camp. Dawnstar hissed when Snowstorm looked at her, and then at Thornpetal. The medicine cat turned around when Nova came toward her.

Together, the two walked out of the camp and deep into the surrounding forest. Dawnstar jumped slightly as Thornpetal sighed.

“I sent Frostfang out with Honeydew and Foxtail to the Darkclan border. I think Foxtail needs to get over himself and just accept that Crescentsky is apart of the clan and it wasn’t Frostfang’s choice. Besides, if they get into another fight, I’m sure Honeydew will fix it.”

Dawnstar nodded and looked around. The clan was peaceful, and boring.

“Thornpetal, I’m going to go hunting, I’ll come back soon.”

Thornpetal smiled in response.

“Can I come with you?”

Dawnstar nodded and began to make her way to the camp’s entrance.

I hope she doesn’t bug me about anything. I already feel betrayed and I don’t need anyone else to make it feel worse. Until Nightshade confesses, I can only trust those who were not there when Flintstar made the clan swear not to tell the truth. Those like Frostfang and Nova.

* * * * *

Dawnstar padded through the camp entrance. Together, Dawnstar and Thornpetal caught two mice and a squirrel. After Thornpetal set the mice down, she turned to Dawnstar.

“I’m glad there was prey today. We’ve been low ever since the storm hit and some of the senior warriors haven’t eaten today.”

Dawnstar growled in response and unsheathed her claws.

“I'm not pleased that Fireclan has been weakened by this storm. Make sure that the rest of today’s patrol catch enough fresh-kill to feed the entire clan,” Dawnstar meowed.

She then walked onto High Rock and began to sunbathe.

Thornpetal glanced over at Snowstorm, who was working again on the nursery walls, and then at Dawnstar.

Something defiantly happened between them, and I plan on getting to the bottom of it.