Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 22

"Heatherflight! Flamepetal! Brackenpelt!" The Clan cheered as Flowerstar named their newest warriors. The three new warriors held their heads high, as did their parents Bramblepelt and Willownose. Lionclaw had his chest puffed out and his eyes glowed with pride as his apprentice was named. Squirreltail and Redclaw's eyes also shimmered with pride, Dawnfire let out a purr of happiness; new warriors were always a good thing for any Clan.

"Now," Flowerstar continued. "We have no current apprentices in training, with the exception of Pebblestep." The gray and white she-cat's ears twitched when Flowerstar mentioned her. "And all of the apprentices duties cannot just fall on to her, she does have her own medicine cat duties. So, I'm asking all warriors, not just young, to participate in all Clan duties, it will be a few moons yet before Cloudkit becomes an apprentice."

"Or you could make me an apprentice now!" Cloudkit piped up from where he watched at the nursery.

"Hush, Cloudkit!' Willownose hissed at her adopted kid. "You're being rude." Cloudkit backed up but didn't look hurt or scared, he just sat back down.

Flowerstar let out a purr of amusement. "As I was saying...it won't hurt our warriors to participate in some apprentice duties."

"We're not that old yet." Nightwing mewed from Hawktalon's side. "We can help provide for ourselves."

"Just because I'm blind, doesn't mean I can't help out around camp." Hawktalon added, his blind eyes cheerful.

"You always enjoyed having busy paws." Thornpelt dipped his head to his parents. "As for the rest of us, I don't care if you're a senior warrior or not, you will be helping around camp."

"Thank you, Thornpelt. " Flowerpelt dipped her slender head and leapt down from the SunTree. Dawnfire avoided eye contact with Thornpelt as much as she could, if looks could kill she would be bleeding out on the forest floor.

Dawnfire stood up and approached Pebblestep. "I don't mind getting some moss if you need it, I always enjoyed doing that." She suggested, which was true. Dawnfire loved collecting moss, it gave her time to think and it was always relaxing.

"That would help a lot," Poppyfur said, stepping in beside her apprentice. "Tonight is the half-moon and we need to prepare to travel."

Pebblestep nodded. "Thank you so much, Dawnfire." The she-cat purred happily. "I have to go through what herbs we have and put in mind which ones we need."

"You're always so thorough," Poppyfur said with a yawn and turned away, brushing her tail against Pebblestep's flank. "I'm glad you're my apprentice." The medicine cat padded confidently into her den.

Dawnfire felt a surge of admiration for Pebblestep, when Flowerstar lost a life to greencough, Pebblestep blamed herself. Now, however, her blue eyes shimmered with confidence in her medicine cat abilities.

Dawnfire left the medicine cat's side, she noticed Lionclaw leading Rainears, Turtleblaze and Applespots out of camp for a patrol. Thornpelt was talking to Icepetal, Sandfoot and Snakewhisker, planning out a patrol she assumed. Bramblepelt had a squirrel in his jaws that he delivered to Cloudkit and Willownose. Willownose wasn't Cloudkit's mother and she no longer had to stay in the nursery to nurse him, but the she-cat stayed in there with him anyway. Dawnfire assumed she didn't want Cloudkit to be alone in the den, there were no other expecting queens and no other kits. As for Bramblepelt, he was also rather close to Cloudkit, acting like a second father to him.

Dawnfire enjoyed when Cinderflame, Yarrowtail or Pebblestep would visit their sibling and play with him, especially Yarrowtail. Rockfur visited his son almost everyday, he also seemed to have formed a close friendship with Willownose and Bramblepelt, expressing his gratitude to the queen for taking care of his son. I hope Dovetail can see how much the Clan adores her kit. Dawnfire thought with happiness glowing inside her chest.