Chasing Dawn: Moon

Chapter 1|New Era

Moonpaw looked at her mentor and sighed. "Do I really have to remember what coltsfoot does?"

Her mentor nodded. "Yes, you do. Now come on. Coltsfoot eases the breathing of a sick cat. Repeat."

"Coltsfoot eases the breathing of a sick cat." Moonpaw glared at the pile of herbs in front of them.

"Now. Burdock root is for infected rat bites." Her mentor pointed at the dirty stick in the pile.

"Burdock root is for infected rat bites." Moonpaw sighed and rolled her eyes. Why did she think this would be fun?

"GINGERSNAP!!!!"

Gingersnap whipped around to see another cat barge in. "Freckletail is hurt! We were attacked by ShadowClan!"

Moonpaw leaped to her paws and grabbed cobwebs while Gingersnap grabbed the other herbs and they tore out of the den into the clearing.

Gingersnap started chewing the herbs and spreading them on Freckletail's wounds. Moonpaw paced nearby, waiting for the chance to prove she could be a good medicine cat without knowing all the herbs.

"Cobweb."

Moonpaw stumbled forward on three paws and held the cobweb out. No! I wanna use it!

Gingersnap took it off her, grunting a 'thanks' and wrapping it on Freckletail's wounds.

Moonpaw hurried over to the crowd to hear what happened.

"We were patrolling the border and then a ShadowClan patrol appeared out of nowhere and attacked us on our land!"

RiverClan roared with outrage.

The leader sought Moonpaw's gaze and sighed. "ShadowClan is as dangerous as ever. From now on, no apprentice will go out without the company of two warriors or an apprentice and a warrior. Including the medicine cats."

Moonpaw's jaw dropped open with outrage. "What?"

"It's for your own safety." The leader narrowed her eyes at Moonpaw. "Now go help Gingersnap."

Moonpaw whirled around and stalked over to Gingersnap, who was now patching up the rest of the patrol.

Gingersnap glanced at her. "Could you get some more cobwebs and marigold? I need them, please."

Moonpaw nodded and bounded over to the den. She found the cobweb immediately, but it took a little longer to find the marigold. Once she found it she ran out of the den and toward Gingersnap. "Got it!"

Gingersnap shook her head. "That's coltsfoot. Try again."

Moonpaw flattened her ears with embarrassment and ran back into the den. She found marigold this time and took it out to her mentor. "This it." She muttered.

Gingersnap nodded. "Thanks." She took the marigold and chewed it into a pulp, rubbing it into Honeydapple's wounds. Moonpaw grabbed the cobwebs and wrapped Honeydapple's wounds in cobweb.

The leader startled Moonpaw by speaking suddenly. "You do a very good job of cobwebbing wounds, Moonpaw."

Moonpaw whirled around. "Uh, thanks, Echostar."

Echostar nodded. "No problem."

Gingersnap stood and stretched, "I'm going to get some food. Moonpaw, you can take a break too."

Moonpaw nodded and bounded over to the freshkill pile. She took a big fish and wolfed it down, starving.

***

Night fell and Moonpaw curled into her nest, wishing Gingersnap goodnight. She looked up at the stars through the den entrance. She sighed and closed her eyes. How I wish things could be different.

She opened her eyes and leaped to her paws. Her nest in the cold rock wall had vanished and instead lay a clearing with cats milling around it. Moonpaw felt strength in her forelegs and her pelt was smooth.

"Hey Moonstar!"

Moonpaw felt her head turn to watch her friend Lilacpaw.

"I'm expecting Scorchwing's kits!"

Moonpaw felt the body she was in purr. "That's great news!"

Moonpaw was so confused. But Lilacpaw's only an apprentice!

Lilacpaw purred back. "Scorchwing is so excited." Then the bigger apprentice turned and trotted off.

Moonpaw looked around and a jolt of horror swept through her when she realised the clearing wasn't the RiverClan camp. She whipped around, searching for the exit, when she woke up.

Her heart pounded. She leaped to her paws and ran out of the den. It was moonhigh but she didn't care. I had my first vision!

She ran toward the leaders den and scuffled the ground. "Echostar?"

There was a grunt from inside the den. "Who is it."

Moonpaw stepped into the moonlight, sending a shadow into the den. Echostar snorted. "Hello Moonpaw. What is it." She half sat up, exhaustion rippling through her.

Moonpaw was shaking. "I had my first vision!"

Echostar snapped awake. "What?"

"I was in a new camp, and I was older and strong, and everyone called me Moonstar!"

Echostar looked surprised. Her eyes were wide. "And?" She croaked.

"Lilacpaw was expecting kits!" She giggled.

Echostar nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "StarClan came to me, too." Then she stood up abruptly, scaring Moonpaw. "I need to speak to Gingersnap."

Surprised, Moonpaw stepped out of the way and Echostar swept past her.Start writing your story