Dawnberry's Escape

Chapter 15

Dawnpaw's eyes refused to open, though Dawnpaw wanted to open them and see where in StarClan she was. Her throat was parched, and her whole body was sore and stiff. A low murmuring was heard, and she could smell.. herbs? Did StarClan smell like herbs?

She forced her eyes to open, and they focused on a wall of herbs stuffed into cracks in tree bark. Wasn't this.. the medicine den? Dawnpaw looked around, and saw Morningpaw, facing the other way, mixing together a pile of herbs with her claw. On the other side, Streamlight was sitting close to her, eyes closed. Dawnpaw knew she was awake because of her upright stance.

Dawnpaw tried to sit up, but she let out a loud groan as pain shot through her. At once, Streamlight opened her eyes and jumped up, staring at Dawnpaw. Relief and happiness flooded through her mother's gaze as she realized her daughter was awake. "Dawnpaw! You're awake!" And Dawnpaw was rewarded with a shower of licks.

"Water.." Dawnpaw mewled weakly, her throat hurting with every syllable. Streamlight grabbed a large wad of moss with her jaws and returned shortly with it dripping wet. Dawnpaw licked the precious drops and soothed her throat.

Morningpaw came forward next, purring hard as she inspected Dawnpaw's wound. "I need to change your poultice. It will sting." She mewed tenderly, and peeled off the cobwebs. Morningpaw then washed off the old mixture of herbs and blood, then very gently applied an ointment.

As soon as the herbs touched Dawnpaw's flesh, she winced, but as she did, more pain came from her belly. "Don't move." Morningpaw soothed, giving her a lick on the ears as she continued smearing the ointment.

When she had finished sealing cobwebs over the wound, Morningpaw whispered. "The wound was nasty. We thought you could have an infection but, thank StarClan, you didn't. I was so afraid that you will join StarClan. You have lost a lot of blood."

Dawnpaw stayed silent for a while. Then she croaked. "How long was I.. out?"

"More than three sunrises after the battle." Morningpaw replied. "You looked like Spottedkit when he.." Her voice trailed off.

Streamlight gave Dawnpaw a gentle grooming, smoothing out her matted fur. Dawnpaw noticed a few scratches on Streamlight's pelt, but she knew that it was nothing compared to what Blackpaw had given her.

"They were about to kill you." Streamlight mewed in a hoarse voice. "How could they? It's against the warrior code. What did their mentors teach them? I hope you'll see them in a Gathering and make them feel guilty. But then... they wouldn't care would they? They are on our territory and they wanted to kill you." Dawnpaw couldn't say anything, so she felt relieved when Nightleaf padded in.

"That's enough." She mewed sharply, giving Streamlight a hard stare. "Dawnpaw needs rest. You better go off and do your duties."

Streamlight nodded reluctantly, knowing better than to argue, and ambled out of the medicine den.

"How are you feeling? Nightleaf asked, much more softly.

"Stiff. And sore." Dawnpaw sighed. "I have an itch near my tail but if I move, it'll hurt a lot."

Nightleaf nodded in understanding. "It'll take at least a half-moon for your wounds to seal up completely. You can't train until I see fit."

Dawnpaw pouted, and opened her mouth to argue, but Nightleaf didn't give her the chance to.

"You have to stay here, or you could easily get an infection. And there are some good news." Nightleaf told her.

"Good news?" Dawnpaw felt confused. Why hadn't she known about it? Then she remembered. "What is it?"