Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 25

       "Stay low to the ground." Dawnfire commanded her apprentice. Cloudpaw nodded and pressed his belly flat against the forest floor.

"Not that low," Dawnfire mewed. "You want to be able move don't you?" She stood up and moved into the hunting crouch. Her belly fur barely brushing the ground. She looked to the side and watched her apprentice copy her. His form was good, Cloudpaw was good at the crouch, but not the execution of the hunt.

"Now," Dawnfire said. "Watch me." She focused her attention of a small stick and moved forward as she would hunting prey. Her pawsteps were light, and her breaths quiet. Even if it was just a stick, she wanted Cloudpaw to get the entire picture. When Dawnfire got close enough, she lept forward. Her white paws hit the stick, snapping it in two. Dawnfire stood up straight and turned around to see Cloudpaw, his blue eyes were intent and focused.

"Now you try," Dawnfire motioned to another stick. "Try it on that stick." Cloudpaw nodded and dropped to his crouch. His form was decent but he was slightly off balance. As he stepped forward, his pawsteps were somewhat clumsy and he crunched a leaf. He looked up with concern in his eyes. "Don't fret about it too much, losing prey is bad but with luck you can find your prey again, try it again."

Cloudpaw repeated what he did before, but seemed to be taking more care in his steps. Dawnfire watched his moves carefully, finally he jumped onto the twig. His forepaws pushed it slightly forward but he still caught it.

"Much better." Dawnfire praised, brushing her tail across his shoulders. "Now, why don't you go look for actual prey. Sticks don't feed the Clan."

It was quite a while before Cloudpaw caught a piece of prey, but his catch was a fat squirrel that he carried with pride.

"Good job!" Dawnfire purred. "When we get back to camp you can give that to Nightwing and Hawktalon, I know they would appreciate it."

With a mouth full of squirrel, he nodded eagerly. As they headed back to camp Dawnfire spotted another squirrel and caught it for herself. The more prey the better. She thought as she carried her kill. Upon entering camp Dawnfire noticed Several cats crowded around Applespots.

Dawnfire and Cloudpaw set their prey down on the fresh-kill pile and Dawnfire went up to Lionclaw, brushing her pelt against his. "What's going on?" She questioned.

"Applespots is expecting my kits." Thornpelt answered before Lionclaw could, his amber eyes burned with a fierce pride. Thornclaw a father? Dawnfire just couldn't see him as the perfect role model for any kit, she remembered how her apprentice training went with a shudder. Would he be any lighter with his own kits?

"That's incredible," Rainears purred. "SunClan needs more kits!"

Cloudpaw pushed his way through the cloud up to Applespots. "You be sure and have to kits soon so I have apprentices to train with!" He said with eager eyes.

"They'll be born as soon as they're ready." Applespots mewed. "But don't worry, when they're old enough you can play with them as long as Dawnfire says it's okay." Applespots moved her green gaze to Dawnfire.

"Of course, if all your duties are finished." Dawnfire purred. Even if they were Thornpelt's new kits were always wonderful. In two moons the nursery would be lively with kits. Dawnfire noticed Thornpelt shooting Cloudpaw a nasty gaze, Dawnfire tensed. Stay away from my apprentice you fox-heart. A wave of protectiveness surged through her, she wouldn't let any cat hurt Cloudpaw.

"Everything okay?" Lionclaw asked, his voice like honey.

"Yeah," Dawnfire relaxed. "I'm excited for SunClan to have new kits in the nursery." She purred. "It will be wonderful for SunClan."