A New Beginning

Chapter 11

Dawnpaw eyes flickered open. Sun light was seeping into the den. She yawned and sat up in her nest.

The day before was there first day in the rogue camp. They had made their nests and all fell asleep shortly after that.

Now she was stretching in her nest she had made yesterday. It was probably the most comfortable nest she had ever slept in. It felt different compared to her nest in Shadeclan. It felt comfortable and welcoming.

Breezepaw's nest was beside hers with Angel's nest beside Breezepaw. Dawnpaw chuckled when she saw Breezepaw twitch and scoot closer to Angel's nest. Those two are for sure going to be mates some day.

She yawned again as she padded out into the clearing. The air was chilly and had the promise of rain. Dawnpaw practically jumped out of her fur when Trout walked up beside her. She stepped away as his pelt rubbed against hers.

He didn't seem to notice as he started to talk. "Hey, do you want to learn how to fish? I can teach you. I know your not scared of water so don't pull that excuse. I saw how fast you hopped over those stepping stones without hesitating," he meowed.

Dawnpaw purred, "Sure." Trout purred with delight. He trotted out of the camp walls and into the forest. They quickly hopped over the stepping stones. Dawnpaw looked around nervously as they approached the the river, which was one of Sunclan's borders. This was the closest she had been to clan territory in a while. They had been gone for a moon now, Sunclan wouldn't possibly recognize her, right?

She kept her ears pricked as they approached the river. Trout crouched beside the waters edge and beckoned for her to join him.

Dawnpaw crouched beside him. "When your trying to catch a fish you have to make sure your very still and you make no noises. Even the twitch of your whiskers could scare off a fish. Also, you don't want your shadow to be cast across the waters surface. That scares the fish away. When you are ready to catch it you swipe your paw into the water and hook the fish up with a claw. Then kill it," Trout instructed.

Dawnpaw nodded, trying to take in all he said. She stayed perfectly still beside Trout. After a few moments a carp swam towards them. Trout glanced at her, signalling for her to catch it.

She held her breath as it swam closer. She made sure that her shadow wasn't cast on the waters surface. Once it was in reaching distance Dawnpaw shot her paw into the water.

She felt her claw hook into the fish's scaley side. Dawnpaw pulled the fish out of the water and threw it on the ground beside her. She jumped onto its floppy body and killed it with a single bite.

Dawnpaw picked up in her jaws to show Trout. He had a look of shock and amazement. "That was really good for your first time. I can see you living with us in the future," he meowed.

Dawnpaw was about to purr when a yowl interrupted her. Her head whipped around in search of the cat who yowled. A young pretty tortioseshell and red she-cat was racing up to them.

Once she was close enough Dawnpaw saw panic clear in her amber eyes. Trout raced up to her in a flash, "Apple, what's wrong?"

The she-cat was panting heavily from the run but managed to squeeze out, "Millie told me to show Angel and the new tom around the territory. We stopped by the river thats beside the twolegplace and the tom fell in! He can't swim and Angel and I can't swim to help him. We need your help."

Dawnpaw looked to Trout for a reaction. Please agree faster. Breezepaw needs help, we don't have time to waste!

After a few moments Trout still hadn't answered. Dawnpaw huffed impatiently and took off past the two rogue cats.