A New Beginning

Chapter 9

Mud

---------------------

Dawnpaw hung her head as she passed beside Angel. This was her fifth sunrise in the rogue camp and she felt miserable. She hated the open sky above her, she practically freezes to death every night because of the wind that comes through the camp, and she can't catch a single rabbit.

One night she over heard a conversation between Sparrow and Mud. The brown and white tom had complained about the two clan cats staying in their camp any longer.

"I don't want to keep them around anymore. That she-cat can't even catch a rabbit. I don't want to waste energy and prey on those flea-brains. I have my own problems with worrying about my unborn kits. I don't need anything else to think about," Sparrow had growled.

But Mud wanted them to stay a little bit longer. Dawnpaw wished Mud would have agreed to let them go, then she could get off the open moor and they could get back to their mission.

She sighed and looked down at her paws. Angel noticed the young cats sadness. "Hey what's wrong?" she meowed worriedly. "Oh its just I have a stomach ache and it really hurts," she lied. Angel looked at her with concern, "I'll bring you to Star to get you checked out."

Dawnpaw tensed. She wasn't really sick but she just had to play along. She followed Angel to the crevice between the two rocks. "Go on," Angel urged. Dawnpaw gulped and squeezed into the den.

The sharp tange of herbs hit her nose as she walked in. There was only patches of light in the den, the rest was dark and dusty. The den was pretty big as she walked through it.

Dawnpaw jumped as a small black she-cat walked out if the shadows of the den. "Hello," the she-cat greeted cheerfully. Dawnpaw dipped her head, "Hi, you probably already know who I am but I'm Dawnpaw. Angel sent me here to get my stomach checked out."

The black she-cat purred, "I know who you are little one. I'm Star. Come sit." Dawnpaw hesitantly sat down in front of the she-cat. "I have a feeling your not actually sick," Star meowed. Dawnpaw was surprised, "How did..."

"I know more about you than any cat realizes," Star purred. Dawnpaw felt suspicion creep over her as the mysterious she-cat continued. "I know what you looked like long before you arrived here. I know much about you and Breezepaw," Star meowed.

Dawnpaw felt the fur along her shoulders rise. "What are you not telling me," she hissed impatiently. Star looked unalarmed as she continued, "I have had dreams about you two for several moons now. I didn't know when you and Breezepaw would come but I knew my destiny was to wait for you. Once you arrived I stopped having my dreams and I knew it was y'all. I don't think you two know how special y'all are."

Dawnpaw eyes widened with alarm. "What do you mean?" she meowed urgently. "Starclan told me long ago to keep an eye out for you and Breezepaw. A cat named Sunstar told me that y'all were the cats that would shape the future of the clans. The future of the clans are in your paws Dawnpaw. You can't stay here any longer. Your job is done here," Star meowed.

"What do you mean 'your job is done here?' I don't even know where to go next!" Dawnpaw whimpered. Star touched her nose to Dawnpaw's head lightly. "Go where your heart wants to go. I will distract my friends while you leave. Now go and may Starclan light your path," Star urged.

Dawnpaw gave the she-cat a grateful look before dashing out of the den. As she left she barely heard the whisper of Star, "You'll be back soon little one." Dawnpaw tryed to look normal as she padded over Breezepaw.

"We've got to go," she whispered in his ear. He looked at her questioningly. "How are we supposed to get out without being seen," he growled. As if he had summoned her himself, Star came rushing out of her den. "Everyone gather around, I just had a dream that might mean something!" Star yowled.

Dawnpaw watched as Mud raced over to her with Sparrow and the pale ginger she-cat on his heels. Breezepaw looked at Dawnpaw with surprise. Dawnpaw purred with amusement.

"Let's get out of here," she mewed. Breezepaw and Dawnpaw quickly crept out of the rogue camp. They left unnoticed. The apprentices ran as fast as they could to the border where the moor changed to a forest.

As they approached the line of trees they slowed to a halt. "It seemed like crazy dreams weren't new to them," Breezepaw chuckled. Dawnpaw purred with amusement.

As they walked under the cover of the trees Dawnpaw felt relief flood over her. She was surprised to see Breezepaw looking up uncomfortably. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong with him when the crack of a twig alerted them. Dawnpaw's fur stood on end as she gazed around for where the noise came from.

"Who's there?" Dawnpaw yowled, threatening the unknown figure. A moment later a familiar white she-cat with bright blue eyes walked out into the open. Breezepaw gasped, "Angel! What are you doing here? How did you find us?"

Angel looked down at her paws nervously, "I saw that y'all had left camo so I followed you. I didn't want you two to go alone, where ever your going. I feel like I could be of some help. I know some of the cats that live here." Dawnpaw looked into her blue eyes. They were full of hope and promise. Dawnpaw purred, "That would be nice, thanks Angel. Now lets get moving again."

Angel bounced on her paws as she followed behind Dawnpaw. Breezepaw walked beside Angel. Dawnpaw rolled her eyes at the sight of the two.

It felt like moons before Dawnpaw heard the trickle of water. She trotted forward the see a stream flowing quickly before here. In the middle was a island where cats could live. The stream was completely surrounding the island, making it hard for anything to escape or get in.

Dawnpaw was about to poke her paw in the water when she felt a huge weight slam into her side. She huffed as the wind got knocked out of her and she fell onto the ground. She looked up at her attacker as he snarled, "Who are you and what are you doing on my territory?"

---------------

Ahhhhh I show my goat in two days!! Y'all wish me luck!