Dawnstar's Legacy

Epilogue

Dawnstar trotted through the forest, her amber eyes glowing with the moonlight. She stopped at a small clearing with short grass. Dawnstar sat down and curled her tail around her paws.

Dawnstar fought back tears as she saw Ambermoon walk into the depths of the forest. Giving up, Dawnstar exploded into a river of tears. Thornpetal and Fiercefang walked over to Dawnstar and sat beside her. Dawnstar stared across the clearing before turning to Thornpetal.

“What are you doing here at night?” asked Thornpetal.

“I’m okay. Don’t worry about me,” Dawnstar whimpered.

Thornpetal smiled and looked at Dawnstar. Unknowingly, she began to stare at the many scars across Dawnstar’s body.

“Why are you staring at me?” Dawnstar whispered.

Thornpetal jumped at the question and she quickly turned her gaze away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare,” Thornpetal stuttered.

Dawnstar smiled and looked back across the clearing.

“It’s fine. I got quite a few glances at the last gathering. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to explain the scars at the next gathering,” Dawnstar meowed quietly.

“So why were you out here alone and crying?” Fiercefang asked.

“I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been having nightmares every night. They’re all the same. Every night, I dream about that day. I remember them cutting me and falling off that cliff.  Then I see you and the Clan. You’re all happy. None of you don’t care that I’m dead. No one cared that I wasn’t there. I didn’t matter. I couldn’t make it stop! I screamed for it to end!” Dawnstar responded.

Her tears overwhelmed her eyes and she began crying again.

Fiercefang and Thornpetal stared at the scarred tabby in shock.

“You’ve been living a nightmare this whole time, even with her gone,” Fiercefang whispered.

Dawnstar nodded before continuing.

“Those words… They echo in my mind. They always echo!” Dawnstar yowled, her eyes closing in shame,” No friends to help you. You never took care of your friends! The only reason I ever cared for you, was because I pitied you! You never loved me!” Dawnstar yowled.

She fell to the ground in tears once again. Thornpetal looked down at Dawnstar with compassionate looks. Fiercefang looked down at his paws, tears lining his eyes.

“They hurt you so much. I’m so sorry!” Fiercefang whispered. Dawnstar nodded, her eyes still closed.

“Come on. Let’s get back to camp. We’re here for you and we’ll never stop caring for you Dawnstar,” whispered Thornpetal.

Dawnstar nodded and padded slowly back to camp.

* * * * *

Dawnstar opened her eyes and found that it was sunhigh. She walked out of the den and yawned. Looking down, Dawnstar spotted Honeydew sunbathing while Nightshade and Foxtail played with Crescentsky’s kits.

Thornpetal looked up from the fresh-kill pile and waved her tail. Dawnstar smiled and waved back. Dawnstar walked down the path and toward Thornpetal, who was enjoying fresh-kill with Snowstorm, Frostfang, and Fiercefang.

“Do you mind if I stay here with you four for a little?” Dawnstar questioned.

The four cats shook their heads and continued eating and discussing the latest patrols and herb stashes.

Foxtail looked down at the four tiny kits and smiled.

“I know! Why don’t we tell you a story? You’re becoming apprentices next moon so I think you should here at least one last story before you begin cleaning our moss,” Foxtail teased.

Gingerkit bounced on her paws and grinned.

“I want to here a story!”

Her siblings quickly gathered around the two elders and waited patiently. Foxtail glanced at Dawnstar, then Nightshade. Nightshade winked at the red tom.

“Go ahead. You fought in the battle after all and they were pretty young!”

Foxtail smiled and looked down at the excited kits.

“Do you all want to hear a scary story about Dawnstar?”

The four kits all jumped to their paws and squeaked in agreement.

Foxtail and Nightshade laughed as the kits settled down. Foxtail took a deep, dramatic breath before starting.

“It all started a long time ago, when our old leader Flintstar died…”