Warrior Cats: Dawncloud's Journey

Chapter Three

Dawncloud's kits wailed as the two she-cats grasped them gently around their scruffs.

"Quite children, we'll rest at dawn," Dawncloud mumbled, looking around to make sure no twolegs or angry kittypet was witnessing their escape.

"Well, you certainly can tell that they're your kits. They wail as much as you!" Dovefur joked, mumbling through black kit fur.

The grass crunched under their paws as they traveled with only the moonlight as their guide. Dawncloud expression worried at all the ways something could go wrong. What if a dog showed up? What if they couldn't find shelter in time? What if they met an unfriendly gang of rouges? She swallowed hard as she stepped in sync with her fluffy friend.

"You look troubled, is there anything wrong?" Dovefur said quietly as she set the two kits down.

They let out a squeal as they playful attacked each other, causing the other three to squirm free to join them. Dovefur chuckled as she sat down to watch them. Dawncloud stayed quite and motionless for a moment.

"Dovefur, what if we can't make it back to WindClan?" She finally spoke, still not moving.

"We will make it back, our ancestors have made it clear of this," Dovefur reassured, nuzzling her friend.

Dawncloud titled her head towards the chubby she-cat.

"Our?" She asked.

Dovefur quickly stood up and scooped up the two black kits again.

"We have no time to talk, Dawncloud. Dawn will be here eventually, and we need to find a shelter.

Dovefur began to run through the bushes and brambles, causing Dawncloud to panic and quickly grab the remaining three kits.

"Mother, slow down!" Featherkit pleaded as she swung violently, bumping into her siblings.

Dawncloud continued to run until she bolted to a stop at Dovefur's paws.

"This is where we'll stay for the day," Dovefur panted.

She walked over towards a small burrow under a tree. It smelt of stale badger, which worried Dawncloud. Reluctantly, she placed down her three calico kits, who collided with the two black ones.

"I am Crowstar, and this is my deputy Cloverkit!" Crowkit mewed, climbing the tree.

Dawncloud purred as Ravenkit angrily hissed from the bottom of the tree.

"You said I was going to be your deputy!" he spat, climbing after his littermates.

"Cloverkit can climb faster than you, and he is the oldest!" Crowkit protested, as Cloverkit puffed out his chest.

"It doesn't matter the age of the deputy, Crowkit," Dawncloud said, climbing the tree along with Dovefur.

"It's about the loyalty they bring to the clan, and how skilled they are," Dovefur explained, leaning on one of the tree's branches. "As long as you train as you need to the clan will love you, deputy or not."

When it became quite, Dovefur awkwardly jumped down the tree and into the burrow underneath it. One by one, the kits followed just as the sun began to peek through the trees. Only Dawncloud was left, sitting without moving. She was startled that Dovefur knew so much about clan life, since she was a loner her whole life. Dawncloud also began to think of her friend's name. 'Dovefur' wasn't something a cat would be named unless they were from a clan.

"Are you coming, Dawncloud?" she heard Dovefur's voice echo.

"Yes, I'll be there in a moment," she muttered loud enough for her to hear.

As she made her way down the tree, she couldn't help but wonder.

What was Dovefur hiding from her?