Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 15

 Dawnpaw stared at the sky, the snow had stopped falling but the ground was still covered in it. She let out a sigh, her breath billowing out in front of her in the frozen air. She looked at her paws, she couldn't stop picturing them covered with her father's blood. She closed her eyes, forcing away the image. Dawnpaw stared into the forest, it felt silent and still. Her world hadn't felt the same since her parent's died, in the two days since she barely slept or ate. She wanted to go back in time, back before the badger. Wishing she could tell the patrol to take more cats, wishing to tell her mother and father to stay behind.

Dawnpaw closed her eyes, imagining her parent's faces, alive and happy. Looking at her with eyes full of love and pride. She lowered her head, they were in StarClan now, back with Willowkit. Was she selfish for wanting them here with her and Turtlepaw instead?

"Dawnpaw." Dawnpaw opened her eyes when she heard the voice of Thornpelt, she was too sad to care about being scared of him. She looked at him, unable to read his expression. "Let's talk." Dawnpaw hesitated, she was waiting for Turtlepaw to wake up, but she listened and stood up without speaking.

Thornpelt led her away from the apprentice den, closer to the moss hollow. Dawnpaw felt uncomfortable walking this path, the path that lead to Jagged Rocks. She avoided looking in that direction and instead stared at the forest floor.

"I apologize for the loss of your parents, Dawnpaw." Thornpelt said, looking off into the trees. "I underestimated the size of that badger." Dawnpaw looked up, anger bubbling up inside her, she dug her claws into the frozen ground.

"Or you didn't." She growled. "You sent us there knowing that it was too big to handle, in hopes that it would kill my father."

Thornpelt stared her down, Dawnpaw held his gaze intently. The tabby tom stepped forward and Dawnpaw didn't move. "You really think I would do something like that?"

"I saw you talking with Echoheart, and you know I did." Dawnpaw replied, her voice curling into a growl.

"Let's face it, Dawnpaw." He turned away, a hint of laughter in his mew that made her feel sick. "I'll be a much better deputy than your father. If Snakewhisker can't handle being deputy because he lost a daughter, why could Blazeheart? A cat never gets over the loss of their kit."

Dawnpaw's pelt bristled. How dare he speak of Willowkit. "You killed my parents!" Dawnpaw spat, all her rage coming out at once. "You're a murderer!"

Thornpelt whirled on her, causing Dawnpaw to jump backwards away from him. "I haven't killed a single cat, Dawnpaw." Thornpelt hissed, towering over her. "Foxes, badgers and other cats have killed but not me. I have not killed a single cat."

Dawnpaw couldn't breathe, she stared up at her mentor and bared her teeth. "I'm not a warrior, you can't even become deputy yet."

"That's where you're wrong." Thornpelt flicked his tail. "If you remember, I turned this into a warrior assessment for both you and your brother. As far as Rainears and I are concerned, you passed. You two will be made warriors and I will be made deputy." Dawnpaw stood frozen, unable to believe what she was hearing. Thornpelt began walking away. "You should prepare for your ceremony, Dawnpaw." Giving one, last, dark look over his shoulder "I know I'll be preparing for mine."

Thornpelt vanished into the woods back towards camp, leaving Dawnpaw alone. She stood in silence, her breathing short. Thornpelt had not only caused the death of Blazeheart but Tigertail as well, and more than likely the death of Sunstream as well. He probably had Echoheart kill her so he could become my mentor. The thought plagued Dawnpaw's mind, she sat down, unable to think of anything else.

She was finally able to move when she heard Turtlepaw's call from the apprentice den, Dawnpaw quickly got her paws and hurried back to the apprentice den where Turtlepaw stood. "Where were you?" He questioned once she got into view.