A New Beginning

Chapter 18

Dawn light filtered into the leaders den. Dawnstar's eyes sleepily flickered open. She jumped to her paws excitedly when she realized what day it was.

Today was her first day as a clan leader. She purred and peaked outside her den.

Last night after they got back from the Moonpool Dawnstar had made dens. She established the medicine cat den, the leaders den, the nursery, the warriors den, the apprentices den, and even the elders den.

She looked around the camp for any sign of her clanmates. Reedsong was still sitting on guard. Dawnstar pushed her way out of her den and walked over to him.

"Your good now, Reedsong. Do me a favor and wake up every cat. I'm about to call for a meeting," she meowed to the black tom. He nodded with bright eyes and trotted towards the warriors den.

Dawnstar jumped onto a log that was stationed beside her den. It wants big but it was big enough to sit on for clan meetings.

She dipped her head to Millie as she padded out of warriors den with Trout and Reedsong. Then behind them came a dark brown tabby tom with one white ear. Dawnstar had just met him yesterday. She didn't see him when she was here as an apprentice. But supposedly he was here the whole time. His name was Bark, and his mate was Splash.

Speaking of Splash, the white she-cat with black paws came walking out of the nursery with her two kits, Bird, who was a light brown tabby she-kit, and Vole, who was a black and white tom.

Dawnstar greeted them with a flick of her tail. The last cats to arrive were Leaf and Apple. Dawnstar looked around her clanmates.

"To be an official warrior of Dawnclan you all need warrior names. Millie, please step forward," she meowed to the dark gray she-cat.

Millie padded forward with a serious look in her eyes.

"I, Dawnstar, leader of Dawnclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to do look down on this cat. She has showed her loyalty and I grant her as a warrior in her turn. Millie, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan even at the cost of your life?"

Millie nodded, "I do."

"Then by powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Millie, from this day forward you will be known as Minnowleap. We honor your loyalty and leadership as we welcome you as a full warrior of Dawnclan," Dawnstar meowed and touched her nose to the new warriors head. Minnowleap looked up at her with confusion.

"After I touch your head you have to lick my shoulder. Its a clan tradition," Dawnstar whispered. Minnowleap nodded and licked Dawnstar's shoulder with respect. Dawnstar watched as Minnowleap stepped back to sit beside Trout.

Then she made Trout into Troutclaw, Bark into Barkstripe, Splash into Splashheart, and of course Bird and Vole into Birdkit and Volekit.

The only cat left was Apple. Dawnstar looked to the young she-cat. "Apple, you are not old enough to become a warrior but to old to be a kit. So you must be an apprentice. Apple, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Applepaw. Your mentor will be Barkstripe," Dawnstar meowed.

Applepaw skipped over to Barkstripe and touched noses with him. Dawnstar was about to dismiss the clan when Leaf stepped forward.

"What about me Dawnstar?" she meowed.

Dawnstar dipped her head to the she-cat, "I have a special proposal for you, Leaf. Every clan needs a medicine cat and I know you have a lot of experience with herbs. Leaf, would you like to be Dawnclans first medicine cat?"

Leaf nodded vigorously, "I would love too."

"Leaf from this day forward you will be known as Leafwhisker. We honor you as the first medicine cat of Dawnclan. Now every half moon you will meet with the other medicine cats at the Moonpool to speak with Starclan," she meowed.

Leafwhisker purred and sat down once more. Troutclaw stood up to face Dawnstar. "I thought you said every clan has a deputy too. When will you decide who our deputy is?"

Dawnstar nodded, "I have thought about it a lot and I have finally come to a decision. The first deputy of Dawnclan will be...Minnowleap!"

Minnowleap didn't look surprised at all as she padded up to Dawnstar. "Thank you Dawnstar. I won't let you down," she meowed, dipping her head with respect.

Dawnstar purred, "I know you won't. Now, we need to set up our borders. I want to show Sunclan and Shadeclan that we are an official clan. Not just a bunch of rogues. We will show that we have no weaknesses and we are strong enough to take on anything."

The cats around cheered with agreement. "Minnowleap, do you know how to mark a border?" Dawnstar asked. Minnowleap nodded.

"Good. Minnowleap, take Reedsong to where we discussed the Breezeclan border and mark it heavily. Applepaw and Barkstripe will come with me to the new Sunclan border. Troutclaw, I want you to stay and guard the camp while we are gone," Dawnstar instructed.

Troutclaw drooped his tail in disappointment but he didn't argue. Applepaw bounced over to Dawnstar, barely able to contain her excitement. Barkstripe followed more slowly.

Reedsong shot Dawnstar an annoyed look before padding after Minnowleap. She sighed. I know he's made about not being deputy. And I know he's mad about having a former rogue boss him around. But he doesn't understand that I need to show them that I can be a good leader. After all, they didn't have to join the clan.

Dawnstar shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. All that mattered now was marking the borders. She led the way out of camp with Applepaw and Barkstripe on her tail.

She relished the sun on her pelt and the cool breeze that made the trees above her sway. Dawnstar leaped over the stream surrounding the camp. Applepaw nervously looked at her from the other side.

"Come on. Its not that far of a jump," Dawnstar urged gently. Applepaw took a deep breath and leaped. He front paws slammed onto the river bank but her hindquaters fell into the water.

Dawnstar grabbed the small she-cat by her scruff and pulled her onto land. Applepaw huffed as she stood beside Dawnstar. Barkstripe easily leaped across.

They made their way through the reeds. Soon they were beside the river that separated their territory and Sunclan's territory.

Barkstripe led Applepaw over to a clump of reeds and began to teach her how to mark the border. Dawnstar marked the rest of the border quickly.

She met the two by the stepping stones. Applepaw was bouncing on her paws excitedly. "You did good today," Dawnstar told the apprentice. Applepaw purred and trotted beside Barkstripe with her head held high.

When they got back to camp Minnowleap's patrol was already there. Barkstripe dipped his head to Dawnstar before going over to sit with Splashheart.

The queen touched noses with him and they both turned to watch their kits play with a piece of moss. Leafwhisker was talking with Minnowleap while Reedsong and Troutclaw were heading for the camp entrance.

"Hey, where are you two going?" Dawnstar called to the two toms. "I'm going to show Reedsong how to catch fish," Troutclaw meowed.

"May I come with you? The fresh-kill pile is empty," she meowed. Troutclaw dipped his head to her, "Of course."

Dawnstar got to her paws and padded after the two toms. Her first day as leader was already a success.