Dawnstar's Legacy

Chapter 23: Help

Dawnstar stood at the Treeclan border, her tail twitching.

"When a patrol arrives, we must be friendly. They make still think I'm angry and will try to kill Clearstar."

Foxtail gave the tabby an angry look. "I would understand why. I don't even know if I trust you yet!"

Frostfang hissed at the tom. "Shut up! Dawnstar is sorry for what she did. She doesn't need your disloyalty on her mind either. Now grow a backbone and help your leader."

Foxtail glared at the surrounding cats but said nothing more. Dawnstar rolled her eyes and smiled at Frostfang.

A rustle ahead told the patrol that there was a nearby border patrol coming their way. Dawnstar lowered her tail and swept it parallel to the ground. The patrol behind her spread out and stood still.

A ginger tom stepped toward Dawnstar, followed by a small white and black she-cat and a black tom. The ginger tom's yellow eyes glowed with the midday light.

"What do you want traitor?" he hissed, his voice edged with a snarl.

Dawnstar rolled her eyes, ignoring the threatening tone.

"I would like to speak with Clearstar. He needs to be aware of what we're doing and I would like to ask him something important," she responded.

Dappleheart glared at the tom and hissed. "You watch your tone Hawkfur."

Hawkfur's eyes showed anger as he turned to his clanmates.

"What do you think Smokepaw?" he asked the black and white she-cat.

Smokepaw smirked and turned to Dawnstar. "I don't know. Why would she need a battle patrol just to talk to Clearstar? Looks like an invasion to me."

Dawnstar shrugged and raised her gaze to Hawkfur.

"I can't help it if you're apprentice's are to mousebrained to see past my own reasons."

Hawkfur snarled and unsheathed his claws. "Don't talk to me like that, especially about my apprentice!"

Mistyrain growled at the ginger tom. "She'll do as she wishes. Now let us go to Clearstar!"

Hawkfur relaxed and smiled.

"Fine. Talonwhisker, will you please take our guests to Clearstar. I'll continue the patrol with Smokepaw. Don't let them out of your sight!" Hawkfur growled at the black tom.

Talonwhisker dipped his head and turned around, pointing his tail toward the inside of Treeclan's territory.

"Come on. It's this way."

Dawnstar smiled and padded after the tom, her patrol following.

* * * * *

Dawnstar stood still as Clearstar angrily walked toward her.

"Who let this monster into my camp!" he yowled.

Talonwhisker looked guiltily at his paws. Clearstar scratched his cheek and hissed. "I told you all to not let anyone from Fireclan into our territory, much less our camp!"

Talonwhisker held his ground and stared at the grey tom.

"I'm only doing what Hawkfur told me to do. Dawnstar said that she needed to speak with you about something urgent."

Clearstar hissed again and began pacing.

"What could you want from me besides my life?!"

Dawnstar stepped back, hurt, and looked down at her paws.

"I'm sorry about what I did to Breezestar, but he deserved it," she meowed, her gaze locking with Clearstar's.

Clearstar hissed at the tabby she-cat and unsheathed his claws.

"He did not! If all you did was come here to gloat, then you can get out of my camp!"

Frostfang formed a small cloud of ice around the Fireclan patrol and bared her teeth.

"Listen to what she has to say."

Clearstar stepped away in fear but nodded.

"Come this way. We can speak in my den. Talonwhisker, I want you to stand right outside of my den, just in case." Cleastar added, glancing nervously at Dawnstar.

Dawnstar gave a cold smile at the grey tom and made her way into the mossy den.

"I need your help," she meowed.

Clearstar gasped in mock horror and crouched to his paws.

"Oh no! If the great Dawnstar needs help, then surely it must be bad!"

Dawnstar growled in annoyance but shrugged.

"I deserve that."

Clearstar glared at her, his green eyes glowing lightly. "And much more. You killed Breezestar! If there's anything you need help with now, it's on how to regain the trust of the clans and your clanmates."

Dawnstar hissed at the tom and he clamped his mouth shut.

"Thanks. Now, if I could kindly request assistance without being interrupted!"

Clearstar nodded quickly and sat down. Dawnstar sat too.

"I need your help driving Hoshi and his pack away. Hoshi has personally attacked one of my warriors and will continue to grow bolder each passing day. The four clans of Fourstones must drive this threat out of existence if we are to survive!"

Clearstar looked up, deep in thought.

"I will help you, in return for one thing." Dawnstar nodded for him to continue. "I want Hollowsky and Deerpaw to have access to Snowstorm's medicine stash. We're running low, despite the weather growing slightly warmer."

Dawnstar shrugged and stood up.

"Sure. We attack at dawn."

Clearstar smirked at the tabby she-cat.

"That seems fitting."

Dawnstar rolled her eyes and made her way toward the camp's entrance.

"Let's go Fireclan. We still need to ask Stormstar and Ebonystar the same question."

The patrol nodded and hurried after their leader.