Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 17

 Coughing woke Dawnfire from her slumber. She opened her eyes to see that Sandfoot was upright and coughing. Applespots was also woken by her sister's coughing and pressed a nose to her pelt.

"You have a fever!" She exclaimed. "You need to see Poppyfur." Applespots voice was riddled with worry.

"What's going on...?" Lionclaw groaned from beside Dawnfire, he lifted his head, eyes groggy with sleep.

"Is it necessary to wake every cat before dawn?" Crowfur growled from her nest, lifted her head up.

"Sandfoot has a cough and a fever." Applespots explained franticly. "There's already an outbreak of whitecough in camp, you need to get checked."

"Applespots I'm fi--" Sandfoot's body quivered with a coughing fit, after it was over she just looked at Applespots and nodded, rising from her nest.

"Since every warrior is already awake..." Thornpelt growled, standing up. "The dawn patrol can start now. Crowfur, Applespots and Lionclaw, grab your apprentice and go patrol. Dawnfire I want you to organize a hunting patrol when they get back."

Dawnfire looked at Lionclaw who gave her a warm look, they exited the warriors den together. They said nothing, their gazes said it all. Lionclaw went to the back entrance for camp to get Flamepaw, and Dawnfire let out a sleepy yawn. Leaf-bare continued to grip the forest with icy claws, Dawnfire's eyes moved to Poppyfur's den where she heard coughing. Several cats had whitecough, Icepetal was the first case and not long after she was joined by Adderstrike, Rainears and Brackenpaw. Dawnfire silently thanked StarClan that Cloudkit had not gotten any worse.

Dawnfire sat outside the warriors den and rasped her tongue over her fur to warm herself up. Lionclaw returned with Flamepaw and looked at her gently before heading out with his patrol. It had been several days since their run in the forest and she felt closer to him. They slept beside each other in the warriors den and hunted and patrolled with each other whenever they could. They shared tongues and prey and Dawnfire couldn't be happier.

Behind her, Turtleblaze pushed his way out of the warriors den and stretched. Dawnfire got her brother's attention.

"Want to go hunting?" She questioned. She hadn't been able to spend much time with him since their warrior ceremony, it would be nice to go hunting together.

"Sure," He yawned. "Sounds fun." He padded forward and Fawnheart followed him, Dawnfire shoved back her previous irritation for Fawnheart, she didn't seem to be as bad as she was when she was an apprentice. Still bitter and rude at times, but she wasn't always picking fights. While the dawn patrol was gone Dawnfire managed to get Squirreltail, Heatherpaw, and Goldenleaf to join her. The dawn patrol returned and they looked slightly concerned.

Dawnfire padded up to Lionclaw and looked at him curiously. "What's wrong? Did the patrol go alright?"

"Sort of." Lionclaw looked uncertain and slightly annoyed. "We found AshClan scents inside the border."

"Oh?" Dawnfire's claws itched at the ground. What would AshClan be doing inside of their border.

Lionclaw nodded. "I'm going to report it to Flowerstar now."

"Okay," Dawnfire dipped her head, and was slightly surprised when Lionclaw brushed his muzzle against her cheek, but it left her heart racing.

"You ready?" There was a pleased purr behind her, Dawnfire turned to see Goldenleaf, her eyes sparkling.

Dawnfire's ears burned. "Yes, let's go." She gathered her patrol and led them out of camp, as they walked, Goldenleaf fell in beside her

"I think it's sweet." Goldenleaf said quietly, her voice as soft as honey.