A New Beginning

Chapter 20

Dawnstar walked into camp with a fish hanging from her jaws. She dropped it on the fresh-kill pile and grabbed a vole instead. She brought it over to the log and sat down to eat.

It was now dusk. Her clanmates were stretched out lazily eating their meals. Birdkit and Volekit scrambled over to her.

"Wow! Did you catch that?" Volekit squeaked. Dawnstar purred, "No I didn't. I caught a fish. This vole is really good though. Do you want some?"

Volekit and Birdkit nodded vigorously. "Go ahead," Dawnstar pushed her barely eaten vole to the kits. They swiped their tongues over their lips and dug in eagerly. A moment later Splashheart rushed over to them.

"Why are you two eating Dawnstar's prey? There is plenty of fresh-kill on the fresh-kill pile to choose from. I taught y'all not to eat other cats food. Plus Dawnstar has been working hard all day and all you two have done is play and sleep," Splashheart scolded.

Birdkit and Volekit looked at Dawnstar apologetically. "We're sorry for eating your fresh-kill," Birdkit mewed. Dawnstar licked the kits forhead, "I don't mind. I am happy to share. But why don't you just go with your mother before she gets even more mad," Dawnstar meowed.

Birdkit and Volekit nodded before trotting after Splashheart to the nursery. Dawnstar sighed and went back to eating her vole.

Suddenly the reeds to the camo entrance rustled. A moment later a familiar sandy colored tom stepped into camp.

Dawnstar rushed to meet him in the center of camp. Out of the corners of her eyes she could see her clanmates giving Breezestar hostile glares. Dawnstar touched noses with him, "Hi! What brings you here?"

Behind Breezestar stood Sparrowwing, who was looking at the Dawnclan cats wearily. "We need to talk. Somewhere private," he meowed and glanced around her clanmates. Dawnstar was taken back.

The usually skittish and uncertain tom was now calm and professional. Dawnstar had a feeling that they weren't friends anymore, they were no more than acquaintances.

Dawnstar nodded and signaled for Minnowleap to follow. Her deputy quickly scrambled after her.

Dawnstar led Minnowleap and the Breezeclan cats to the lake shore. She sat down and curled her tail over her paws. She shifted over to let Minnowleap to sit beside her as she gave Breezestar an expectant look.

Breezestar sat down in front of her and began, "Earlier today I was on a patrol with one of my warriors. We then came in contact with a Shadeclan patrol. After a long argument Thorntail said a battle is sure to come. I think we have a new problem coming our way."

Dawnstar's fur prickled. I bet Squirrelstar is still hurt. Why else would she being doing this!

Dawnstar looked at Breezestar. If he was going to play professional and be only all about his clan and not friendship, then she was going to do the same. "I don't share a border with Shadeclan. There is no reason why Shadeclan would want war with Dawnclan," Dawnstar meowed.

Breezestar's eyes showed sudden disbelief. "Does our friendship mean nothing to you now? After our journey together your just going to reject me plead for help? I came here to warn you and ask for your support. But obviously this was a waste of my time," Breezestar growled.

Dawnstar watched as Breezestar and Sparrowwing stormed towards the Breezeclan border. Guilt began to prick in her belly.

"I think you did the right thing. We dont have enough warriors to spare if its a war mainly focused towards Breezeclan. Plus we don't have enough warriors to go against a full grown clan," Minnowleap meowed.

Dawnstar looked down at her paws and sighed, "I know I did. I just don't think he sees it as the right thing." The trek back to camp was slow and felt like rocks were weighing down her paws.

As she stepped into camp Reedsong rushed up to her. "What did Breezestar want?" the black tom asked. Dawnstar looked at Reedsong, "I will tell you later. I need some sleep."

Without another word Dawnstar slumped away to here den. Where she could ponder on what she could do to get that friendship back with Breezestar.