starchild ▷ a warriors oneshot

☆ s t a r c h i l d ☆

  Poppypaw lazily blinked open her eyes to see the pale outline of a muscly she-cat with glowing white eyes slowly grooming her.

  "Wake up, Poppypaw," Dawnfang murmured into her ear, "You'll miss the sunset," The calico apprentice groaned and turned over, away from the transparent molly. Dawnfang nudged her again and Poppypaw raised her head to look at her, ears flat. The small apprentice stood up quietly and stretched before silently padding out of the den and onto the moor. It had rained the night before, and the grass was still slick with water. The warriors were gathered inside their rarely used den.

  The sun was just barely rising over the horizon line, illuminating the mountains beyond. Poppypaw sat down beside Dawnfang, who was made almost completely transparent by the sun's light.  The small calico turned towards Dawnfang before hesitating.

  "Dawnfang, you're not from WindClan, are you?" Poppypaw looked at her paws nervously, swallowing the lump in her throat. Dawnfang nodded before answering.

  "I'm from RiverClan,"

  "What's dying like?" Poppypaw said suddenly. Dawnfang thought for a moment.

  "It's... warm, but cold at the same time. It's dark for a while, and then I just.. woke up in StarClan," Dawnfang turned her head as another pale, transparent cat joined them. Robinkit plopped down and leaned against Dawnfang.

  "Hey, Robinkit," Poppypaw greeted. Robinkit dipped her head in acknowledgement of Poppypaw. The sun was above the horizon now and other cats were waking up, including Poppypaw's mentor, Plumpounce. The dusty lilac tom walked up to his apprentice.

  "Are you ready for dawn patrol?" He asking, yawning.

  "Yes," Poppypaw sat up. Plumpounce nodded and walked through Dawnfang before grabbing a piece of fresh-kill. Dawnfang shuddered, and Poppypaw lashed her tail before calming down.

  Two other warriors and an apprentice slithered out of their dens to grab their own fresh-kill, while Poppypaw sat near the entrance to camp. Plumpounce, Finchbreeze, Ospreypaw and Heatherfur joined her for dawn patrol. They walked out of the camp, Poppypaw trailing behind. Her tail stuck in the dirt, and she huffed. Robinkit hurried behind her. Poppypaw smiled as the ginger cat accompanied her. The small ginger tabby kit had died a while ago, before Poppypaw was born. Her brother, Ospreypaw was on patrol with her right now.

  "What's it like to be an apprentice?" Robinkit asked, scurrying along with Poppypaw.

  "Fun, yet exhausting," Poppypaw giggled. Plumpounce turned around and looked at Poppypaw.

  "Who are you talking to, Poppypaw?" Plumpounce said accusingly. The calico snapped her head up.

  "No one," Poppypaw smiled. Plumpounce narrowed his eyes and turned around, muttering to himself. Poppypaw caught Robinkit's eye and laughed.

☆

  Poppygaze smiled to herself as the clan chanted her name out loud. Dawnfang, Robinkit and an elder who had joined her group only a moon ago, Lilactuft, surrounded her, chanting the loudest. Of course, only Poppygaze could hear them. Poppygaze glanced around, staring at her three friends.

  The crowd dispersed and the cats continued on their day. Falconpool approached the calico out of the corner of her eye carefully.