A New Beginning

Chapter 7

Dawnpaw sleepily opened her eyes. Sunlight was just starting to filter into the den. The sleeping form of Breezepaw lay in his nest. Dawnpaw yawned as she got to her paws. She stretched out her aching muscles.

She sighed as her stomach rumbled loudly. Breezepaw will be delighted if I bring back some prey for him. Dawnpaw quietly crept over the sleeping Breezepaw, making sure not to wake him.

Her eyes watered as the bright sunlight stung her eyes. Dawnpaw tentatively looked around before stepping out into the open.

A few small boulders were scattered here and there but other than that there was few places to hide. She trotted out into the open moorland.

Dawnpaw felt incredibly vulnerable out in the open. She didn't like the thick cover of the pine trees but she hated the open space of the moor.

Suddenly a rabbit darted out of a hole in the ground nearby. Without hesitation Dawnpaw gave chase. She weaved around small boulders as she ran after the rabbit.

After awhile she started to get very tired. She couldn't run as fast as the rabbit. Out of know where some barreled into the rabbit.

Dawnpaw ran over to the now dead rabbit. Beside it stood a long legged dark brown tom with dark amber eyes. She slowed to a halt about a tail length away from the tom and glared at him.

"That was my rabbit!" she growled throw clenched teeth. "You weren't the one who caught it. And by the look of it you weren't going to be the one to catch it," he meowed calmly. Dawnpaw snorted, "You don't know that." "Actually I do know that. You were running slower than a pregnant queen. Of course you weren't going to get that rabbit," he laughed.

Dawnpaw huffed, "Whatever just take your rabbit. I'll find something else." As she started to walk away the tom called after her. "Hey, who are you anyway? I've never seen you on the moor before," he meowed.

Dawnpaw stopped in her tracks to turn back towards him. "I'm Dawnpaw and I'm from Shadeclan," she meowed, answering both of his questions. The toms eyes lit up with alarm and hostility. "Your one of those clan cats from the pine forest! One of your friends almost clawed off my brothers fur for no reason!" the tom spat.

Dawnpaw stepped back in shock, "U-umm well I-it wasn't me. M-me and my friend are just on a mission and when we're done we will be on our way." The tom relaxed slightly but didn't look happy.

"I don't fully trust you. That's why I'm taking you back to my home to watch you and you friend for a couple of sunrises. Then I'll let you go," he growled. Dawnpaw felt her fur prickle with alarm. "But.." she started but the tom cut her off. "If you don't want to get your fur clawed off I would advise you to shut up. Now lead me to where your friend is," he hissed.

Dawnpaw let her head and tail droop as she led him to where Breezepaw was.

As they approached the boulder den a sleepy Breezepaw stumbled out. The sandy colored toms eyes widened as he saw the other tom. "I'll explain later, just come on," Dawnpaw mewed.

Breezepaw hesitantly padded over to her side. The dark brown tom looked at them both and started to lead them away. Dawnpaw glanced at Breezepaw. He was glaring at the other tom ahead of them.

"What did you do?" he asked quietly to her. She sighed and looked down at her paws, "I went hunting and I was chasing a rabbit when he got it before me. Then he got suspicious because he figured out that I was a clan cat so now he is taking us to his camp."

Breezepaw had a troubled look on his face as he walked beside her. She felt so small beside. The sandy colored tom was muscular with long legs that made him look like a full grown warrior. Dawnpaw knew he was a moon older than her and should be becoming a warrior soon but on their journey she felt equal to the tom.