A New Beginning

Chapter 26

Breezestar treked up the slippery slope. Mud was clogged between his paw pads and his wet fur was plastered against his lean body. Dawnstar trugged beside him with her head and tail drooping with defeat.

As they approached the camp the sun shone between the clouds. Maybe it would stop raining soon. He frowned when the sun went back into hiding behind the gray clouds. He pushed into the camp slowly.

Sparrowwing was organizing patrols when they padded into the clearing. He stopped what he was doing when Breezestar approached him. Sparrowwing waved Mudtail and Fernrose away quickly. The two cats trotted out of camp.

"How did everything go?" the deputy asked. Breezestar sighed, "Not good. Before you ask, I will discuss it with you later. I'm not in the mood right now." Dawnstar shifted beside him. "I can't stay here much longer. I have to go find my clan."

Breezestar looked at her worriedly, "But where will you go? You said your camp was flooded." Dawnstar looked at him softly, "I will figure it out. I just have to make sure they are okay. There are kits that need protecting." "Well then I'm coming with you to make sure you settle somewhere decent," he growled.

"I don't feel like arguing so okay. We'll leave right away," she meowed and walked over to the medicine den where her clanmate slept. A few moments later she returned with him. Frostleaf raced over to Breezestar and nuzzled his cheek. "When you weren't here this morning I was so worried. Where did you go?" she asked worriedly.

Breezestar licked her cheek affectionately, "Don't be worried, and I will tell you about it later. I have to go and help Dawnstar." Frostleaf glanced at Dawnstar and then looked back up at him. "Okay but be safe," she meowed. Breezestar purred and pressed against her, "I will."

Breezestar led the way out of the camp. Dawnstar trotted up beside him. "So are you two mates yet?" she meowed playfully. Breezestar purred, "We are actually." Dawnstar laughed, "I saw it coming. So when is there going to be kits?" Breezestar shoved her playfully, "Be quite." Dawnstar laughed once more.

The rest of the way to the river the small group was silent. Breezestar pricked his ears when he heard the rush of water. The heavy rain had turned into a light drizzle and the clouds were still dark gray.

Dawnstar raced ahead of him when the river came into view. Breezestar trailed behind her more slowly. The narrow river was now flooded. The normal peaceful trickle was now a series of waves. Breezestar looked at Dawnstar, waiting to hear her response to go back to the Breezeclan camp. But she did the opposite.

Dawnstar paced at the side of the river while looking out into her territory. "I have to get across," she meowed while pacing. "But there is no way to get across the river. Even the best swimmers wouldn't be able to swim across that," he meowed and pointed to the raging river.

Dawnstar suddenly stopped her pacing and looked around. Breezestar looked at her with confusion. "What are you looking for?" he asked, bewildered. She didn't answer him. Her tail suddenly quivered with excitement. The tortioseshell she-cat rushed over to an old log.

She put her paws on it and started to push. "Copper, Breezestar, come help me," she growled. Breezestar rushed over to her and pushed his paws against the wood. Copper joined them on the other side of Dawnstar. Sure enough the log started to roll. They pushed it to the edge of the river and sat back to take a breath.

"What do we do now? The log isn't big enough to go across the whole river," Breezestar huffed. Dawnstar was panting heavily while Copper was also short of breath. "I think we should push half of the log over the river so then half is still on the bank. Hopefully it will be close enough to jump over to the other bank," she meowed. Breezestar looked at her with alarm, "That's risky, and I don't know how to swim. So if I fall in I'm crowfood."

Dawnstar looked at Copper. "Breezestar, you will go first. Copper will be right behind you to help you out of the river if needed. Don't worry, I trust Copper. He saved my life. Then once you two make it across I will go last. Understood," she meowed. Copper and Breezestar nodded.

She nodded hastily and went back over to the log. Breezestar and Copper joined her quickly.

The three used all of their muscles and pushed half of the log over the river. Breezestar looked at the river fearfully. Dawnstar nudged him towards the log, "Don't worry, Copper and I will be right behind you. Just make sure to really jump forward and not up."

He nodded irritably. She was treating him like a scared kit. He knew how to jump. He didn't need help from her. Breezestar crept onto the log. He dug his claws into the wet bark almost immediately. As he neared the edge of the bark fear squirmed through his belly.

He flinched when he felt Copper join him on the log. "I'm right here if you need me," Copper meowed. Breezestar rolled his eyes. I'm not a kit! I obviously know how to jump. I don't need you watching my every move over my shoulder.

Breezestar took a deep breath and got ready to leap. He bunched his hind legs underneath him and sprung off the log. Breezestar soared through the air. He gasped when his front paws hit hard ground. But his hind legs hit the water with a splash. Breezestar yelped as the cold water chilled him to his bones.

He quickly scrambled onto the bank and shook out his pelt. Great, I just love being wet. Why don't I just become a Dawnclan warrior while I'm at it.

Breezestar looked back at the log. Copper had already joined him on the bank. Dawnstar was still on the log. The tortioseshell she-cat crouched low against the bark and sprang into the air. Breezestar held his breath as she soared through the air. When she hit the bank with her paws she gasped.

Breezestar and Copper quickly scrambled over to her. "Are you okay?" Breezestar asked with concern. Dawnstar was holding her front right paw above the ground. "I think I twisted my paw," she grunted with pain. Breezestar looked down at her paw. Sure enough her paw was twisted at an odd angle.

"We can go back to the camp if you want," he offered gently. Dawnstar sighed and shook her head. "No, I have to find my clan. Once we find them Leafwhisker can fix my paw. We have wasted too much time. Let's go!" The tortioseshell she-cat hobbled ahead of the two toms. Breezestar glanced at Copper. The tom was looking after Dawnstar with confusion. Breezestar sighed, "You'll get used to it. She can be stubborn. Let's go before she gets too far ahead of us." The two toms trotted after the Dawnclan leader.