Warriors: A Dawn Rising

Chapter Three

          Dawnpaw was grooming her fur, she had woken up early. Her first two days of training were tiring, but she was determined to work harder than the other apprentices.

           "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the tree for a Clan meeting!" Robinstar called, the apprentice was slightly confused. Why would he be calling a meeting? Were one of her denmates becoming a warrior? She searched the other apprentices' faces for any sign of excitement or happiness, but each reflected her own feelings of confusion.

           She slipped out of the den, gathering with the rest of the Clan. Leafpaw and Mossybriar didn't come out of their den, and confusion grew inside of Dawnpaw. She settled beside Icemask and Rosepaw. "Do you have any idea why Robinstar is calling a meeting?" The pale ginger she-cat wondered, but Dawnpaw shook her head.

           "I have been informed by Doefrost that one of our warriors attacked a ThornClan tom during a patrol to collect herbs." Robinstar meowed, his voice was full of anger, fear, disappointment, and worry. Dawnpaw glanced around the crowd, wondering which warrior had done a mouse-brained thing. "They have declared war on FernClan." Most of the warriors gasped, Dawnpaw's eyes widened in surprise but her muscles tensed with the urge and excitement to fight.

           "Are we going to attack first?" Cedarpaw piped up, his tail was twitching, his muscles also tense.

           "We have no reason to attack. Though, I will be speaking with the mouse-brained warrior who decided it was okay to attack another warrior unprovoked." Robinstar's voice boomed, his tail lashing. "I do want frequent border patrols near the ThornClan border, show them we are not afraid, and we will fight tooth and claw to protect our territory. All apprentices and warriors must be ready to fight at all times." A rush of adrenaline ran through Dawnpaw, she was dreaming of this day since she was born! "I want barriers and dens reinforced, four cats guarding the camp at night."

           "FernClan! FernClan! FernClan!" The entire Clan chanted, each and every one of them eager and ready to sink their claws into the rugged fur of ThornClan.

            "Meeting dismissed." Robinstar meowed, the golden-brown she-cat's fur bristled with excitement. She wanted to start sharpening her claws right away! That would show ThornClan.

        She hurried over to Sharpeye's side. "What's first? Battle, patrol?" She asked, her eyes gleaming with battle-hunger.

"You need to speak to your sister." He meowed, Dawnpaw suddenly felt taken aback. Leafpaw? Resentment burned inside of her. Why should she talk to her? Obviously, Leafpaw is more special than she is. "You're not doing anything until you do."

"And is this under Robinstar's command?" She challenged, narrowing her eyes.

"Actually, it is." Her father's bold voice took her by surprise as he padded next to Sharpeye. His eyes showed all sorts of emotions, but the only one Dawnpaw recognized was deep pain. "You and Leafpaw have not been getting along lately, so until you solve the quarrel, you are confined to camp and won't be participating in the battle."

"Wait, what?" She asked, surprised. Her neck fur bristled in anger. "That's not fair!" Her eyes widened as her claws sunk deeper into the dirt below her. "I want to show ThornClan who we really are! Leafpaw has been getting special treatment just because she's small! Hasn't she? How come I get held to a higher expectation? I hate StarClan!" She spat, turning sharply on her heels and stomping away. Every ounce of her body was fueled in anger. She slid into the apprentice den, plopping down on her nest. This is so unfair... She whimpered in her head, wanting to yowl out her feelings to the sky.