A New Beginning

Chapter 22

Dawnstar sat at the edge of the clearing with her tail rapped around her paws neatly. Barkstripe lunged at Applepaw, easily knocking her to the ground. Dawnstar had insisted on watching Applepaw train with Barkstripe today. She wanted to know where Applepaw was in her training. The she-cat had already known how to hunt before she became a clan cat.

The only thing Barkstripe had to teach her were battle moves. Applepaw got her paws and shook out her dusty fur.

"You need to act faster. You have the power and cleverness so you don't need to worry about that. You just have to think and act faster. In a real battle you won't have time to think, you just have to act," Barkstripe meowed.

Applepaw nodded and glanced at Dawnstar nervously. Dawnstar looked back at her with reassurance. Applepaw got in an attack position as Barkstripe circled around her.

Barkstripe suddenly lunged at her with an outstretched paw. Applepaw side stepped to avoid his blow. Barkstripe's paw slammed onto the ground and Dawnstar saw him wince. But he quickly recovered and wiped around to face Applepaw. The apprentice took that as an advantage and leaped at him.

He tried to step away but her paw caught on his flank. Barkstripe stumbled. Applepaw turned on her hind legs to smash all of her weight down on her mentor. Barkstripe fell onto the ground from the surprise attack. Applepaw leaped onto his belly and pinned him down.

Dawnstar purred, "That was very good Applepaw!" Applepaw swished her tail in delight. "Can you get off of me now," Barkstripe growled from underneath Applepaw. The young cat quickly hopped off her mentor. Barkstripe climbed to his paws and shook out his dirty pelt.

"Lets get back to camp. The hunting patrol should be back by now," Dawnstar meowed.

She led the way back to camp.

As they neared the camp the sound of her clanmates voices reached her ears. She pricked her ears. There was someone else too. Dawnstar charged through the reeds that sheltered the camp.

In the middle of the camp Minnowleap was facing an orange tabby tom with a white belly and paws. The deputies fur was bristling and her muscles were tense. Reedsong's head shot up as Dawnstar approached them.

"What is going on here?" Dawnstar growled.

Minnowleap was still glaring at the tom but she growled, "This fox-heart was on our territory!" Dawnstar glanced her with confusion. "Then why didn't you just chase him off our land," she meowed.

"Because I want to join your clan," the tom finally spoke. Dawnstar snapped her gaze to him. Minnowleap gave her a frantic look. "Can I speak to you. Privately," she hissed.

Dawnstar guided the gray she-cat over to the log and waited for her to speak. "I know this cat, personally. He was in our group before you and Breezestar came along," she began. Dawnstar cocked her head, confused, "Okay." Minnowleap looked back at the tom and when she returned her gaze to Dawnstar there was fury in her eyes.

"He was my mate." Every word sounded forced. "Then he decided he didn't love me anymore. He chose another she-cat over me! I told that excuse of a cat that I never wanted to see him again. And if I so ever saw a whisker of him I would tear his ears off."

Dawnstar stepped back, surprised back her harsh tone.

The fury faded from her eyes and she looked down at her paws miserably. "But its your choice. I can't force you to do anything," Minnowleap growled and walked away to the warriors den. Dawnstar looked after her with sympathy. But she knew what she had to do for the clans sake.

She turned around to face the tom. The stranger was now flanked by Reedsong and Barkstripe. His eyes lit up as she neared them.

"I will let you join Dawnclan," she meowed. Before he could get excited she continued, "But you must prove to me that you are worthy of becoming a Dawnclan warrior before you get your warrior name. I will have Reedsong be your temporary mentor."

The tom dipped his head gratefully, "Thank you." "What's your name?" Dawnstar asked curiously.

The tom looked to the warriors den. She knew he was thinking of Minnowleap. "My name is Copper, and you are?"

"Dawnstar, leader of Dawnclan and your new leader," she meowed. Copper nodded, "When do I start." Dawnstar glanced at Reedsong, "Now. Reedsong, take him on a tour of the territory. While your out make sure to hunt. The fresh-kill pile will be empty by the time you get back."

Reedsong nodded and beckoned for Copper to follow him into the reeds. Barkstripe looked after them. "What was wrong with Minnowleap?" his mew took her by surprise.

"Nothing. I promised not to say," she meowed. Barkstripe looked back at the nursery. Volekit and Birdkit were tossing a piece of moss high into the air. They squealed happily when they caught it in their tiny paws.

Dawnstar jumped when a rumbled erupted from the sky. She looked up to see dark gray clouds. A drop of water splashed onto her nose. "It looks like we're about to get some rain," Barkstripe growled.

Dawnstar nodded and looked around the camp. Applepaw was cleaning Leafwhisker's nest, until the rain began to come down harder.

Splashheart herded her kits into the nursery quickly. Leafwhisker quickly helped Applepaw haul her nest into the medicine den. Troutclaw grabbed a carp and retreated to the warriors den. Dawnstar also went to her den. It was going to be a long night.

    *______________*

Dawnstar was fast asleep in her nest. Until a yowl erupted from outside her den. She jolted to her paws and looked around wildly. She raced out of her den. Only to be stopped as her paws splashed in a puddle of water. Dawnstar looked down with confusion. Surely enough her den was filled win water.

She gasped and raced into the clearing. Her clanmates were standing outside there dens with wet pelts and startled eyes. Volekit and Birdkit huddled between Splashheart and Barkstripe. Minnowleap dashed over to her.

"Every den has been flooded. We can try to move everyone off the island but the stream has overflowed. We're trapped!" she exclaimed. Dawnstar's eyes widened. Troutclaw and Reedsong were looking at her expectantly, waiting for an order.

"We're going to have to swim across," she meowed. Minnowleap looked back at the kits, "But what about the kits. They might drowned." Dawnstar eyes flashed in the darkness, "If we stay here the island might flood completely and then we'll have to swim. This is our only option. Unless you want to stay here and become a fish."

Minnowleap sighed, "Fine, lets do it." Dawnstar nodded with approval and turned to her clanmates. "We are swimming across the streams. Barkstripe and Splashheart are in charge of the kits. Reedsong, I want you helping them just in case. Minnowleap will help Leafwhisker over. Troutclaw, you will make sure Applepaw doesn't drown. Copper, your with me. The faster we get across the faster we can get to shelter. "

Every cat nodded and went to prepare for the swim across. They all gathered beside the stream. "Splashheart, Barkstripe, and Reedsong you can go."

The three cats paddled across the raging stream. Volekit and Birdkit clung onto the backs of their mother and father. As they stepped onto the opposite bank Dawnstar sighed with relief. Next was Minnowleap and Leafwhisker. Then Troutclaw and Applepaw.

Dawnstar looked at Copper when it was finally their turn. "Are you ready?" she asked. He nodded. She took a deep breath and waded into the cold water. She swam forward with strong strokes of her paws.

Copper swam beside her strongly. As she neared the bank a roar sounded in her ears. Dawnstar looked to her right and saw a huge wave looming towards them. She tried to swim faster but it was no use as the wave crashed down on them. Sending her into darkness.