Dawnberry's Escape

Prologue

  A pale tortoiseshell opened her green eyes, looking around her. It was a bright and sunny meadow, flowers growing out of the soft dirt. A stream ran swiftly behind her, and a rabbit leaped across the tortoiseshell's feet. She purred. 

  A dark pelt came out from behind a tree. "Who's there?" The she-cat called, not even feeling scared. It was too bright and happy a place to feel that way. 

  The black cat stepped out and padded slowly towards the tortoiseshell. "Hello, Brightfern." 

  Brightfern paused. "How do you know my name?" She asked curiously. 

  The newcomer purred, but it wasn't because of amusement or happiness. "I watched you when you were an apprentice. You made a formidable warrior of RiverClan, and you are a great fighter. However, there is still some room to improve. You know that. You just can't beat Sandclaw however hard you try." 

  There was some truth in his words. Brightfern had wanted to beat his brother, but however hard she tried she always came second. 

  "Thats true." Brightfern meowed cautiously. "But I'm still going to be a great RiverClan cat." 

  "I'm sure you will." The dark warrior meowed, somewhat reassuringly. "But I can teach you." 

  "Teach me?" Brightfern mewed, surprised. "I was just appointed a warrior two moons ago. I can't become an apprentice again!" 

  He shook his head. "You won't be an apprentice. You'll just learn here, in your dreams. I'll teach you battle moves, so you can excel in them and use them to protect your Clan more fiercely than any RiverClan warrior." 

  Brightfern took a step back. "Really? But won't that be unfair to the other warriors? If there are new moves you should teach them as well." 

  An impatient hiss came from the black cat, and he meowed, a little more sharply, "You want to be better than your brother? The spotlight won't be on your brother all the time now. Oh Sandclaw! That move was excellent! Brightfern.. you can work on your grasp." He imitated her mentor, Featherheart. 

  Brightfern let out a small growl. "I know. It always happens and when I do something better they don't seem to notice." 

  He nodded. "That's the spirit. I'll teach you everything you have to do in order to become a strong warrior, so strong and so skilled that Mossystar would want to appoint you as deputy and leader." 

  "I do want to be a strong warrior, at least so other cats will notice. But leader?" Brightfern hestitated. "I think a warrior is good enough." 

  The other cat rolled his amber eyes. "Then your skills will be wasted. Think, Brightfern, think. With the skills I'll teach you, you'll be a great leader of RiverClan. The best the lake has ever seen." 

  Brightfern had wanted to be leader as a kit, but which kit doesn't? This opportunity allowed that ambition to rise up in her. How could she say no? 

  "I'm in." She decided. "What do I have to do?" 

  "Excellent." The black cat purred. "We'll meet every night in your dreams so that we can train. One thing though, you are not allowed to tell anyone. Think of this as... our secret." 

  "I promise." Brightfern nodded, drawing a wet paw over her ear. 

  "Also, I will be your mentor now, and you'll be my apprentice. But you'll still be a RiverClan warrior. You are only an apprentice here." He went on. "You will do as I say. Apprentices obey their mentor's orders. This way you will become the best leader, with me to guide you." 

  The pale she-cat nodded again, excitedly. All suspicions and distrust that had been swimming in her disappeared. She wanted to be the best warrior, and this cat will help her. There's one thing though. 

  "Wait!" Brightfern called after the cat, who was walking away. "I don't even know your name! I'll need to know how to call you!" 

  The dark cat turned and fixed his amber gaze on Brightfern. "Breezepelt."