Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 27

 Dawnfire's paws hit the mouse dead on, quickly killing her prey. She sat up and buried her fresh-kill quickly, she looked around for Cloudpaw but no sign of his gray and white pelt. Dawnfire stood and moved through the undergrowth, green eyes peeled for her apprentice. The only cat she did spot was Redclaw who had a squirrel in his jaws. He met Dawnfire's gaze and dropped his prey.

"How's your hunt going?" He questioned with a twitch of his whiskers.

"Good," Dawnfire dipped her head. "Just looking for Cloudpaw," She said, looking around once more.

"I think I saw him over by the AshClan border. " Redclaw answered. "He didn't notice me though, he was pretty focused."

Dawnfire dipped her head, "Thank you, Redclaw. I think I'm gonna go get him." The ginger tom dipped his head, grabbed his prey and hopped away into the forest. Dawnfire also turned, heading towards the AshClan border. She soon saw the border through the trees as well as her apprentice. Cloudpaw was crouched, stalking a piece of prey that was out of Dawnfire's sights. She watched him closesly, his form had gotten a lot better and Redclaw was right, he was very focused. Movement caught Dawnfire's gaze away from the young tom, she spotted another silver pelt. This one with dull green eyes on a face marked with scars. Echoheart! Dawnfire tensed as she watched the AshClan she-cat, her eyes were set on Cloudpaw, and her gaze filled with malice. Dawnfire looked quickly towards to Cloudpaw, he was nearing the AshClan border, he waggled his haunches as he prepared to pouch, Echoheart also prepared to attack.

"Cloudpaw!" Dawnfire burst from the brush, the same time that both of them moved forward, only Cloudpaw stumbled and fell just short of the border. He sat up and shook the dirt from his fur, Dawnfire noticed he looked up and saw Echoheart, causing him to jump backwards with alarm. He looked over his shoulder at Dawnfire.

"Dawnfire?" He said. "What are you doing here?" He questioned, looking between Echoheart and Dawnfire. "Who is this?"

"My name is Echoheart," Her voice was sharp with annoyance.

"She's an AshClan cat," Dawnfire stepped forward, standing protectively beside her apprentice.

"Oh, cool!" Cloudpaw perked up, looking at her with excitement, Dawnfire knew he had an interest in the other Clans.

"She's not a nice AshClan cat," Dawnfire added with a growl.

Echoheart's eyes faked hurt, "Now that's not very fair, Dawnfire." She purred. "You won't even give him a chance to get to know me."

"You could care less about getting to know him," Dawnfire retorted. "You were getting ready to attack him." Cloudpaw tensed beside Dawnfire, he hadn't been aware.

"Only if he would've crossed my border," Echoheart lashed her tail. "Which," She turned her cruel gaze on Cloudpaw. "You almost did."

Cloudpaw's ears flattened and he took a step back. "I- I didn't mean to," He stuttered. "I didn't notice,"

"Maybe your mentor should teach you how to smell AshClan from SunClan," Echoheart looked back at Dawnfire. "Although it's amazing she can teach you anything."

Dawnfire's claws dug into the earth. "Don't you have somewhere to be, Echoheart. Instead of lurking around our border?"

"I'm free to do whatever I want in my own territory thank you very much," Echoheart hissed. "As well as any cats who stray into it." Her tone darkened and her eyes glanced at Cloudpaw for a heartbeat.

Dawnfire hated her arrogance, and there was something else in her eyes. Something in the murky green depths that filled Dawnfire with unease. "Stay away from my apprentice, Echoheart." Dawnfire growled sternly. She wasn't scared of Echoheart the same way she was scared of Thornpelt, maybe it was the fact that Echoheart was in AshClan.