Warrior Cats: Dawncloud's Journey

Chapter Eight

Dawncloud looked in amazement as a small, black tom walked in between the two much larger cats. His scent was sweet, it smelt of fresh kill and tree bark. The two locked eyes and froze for a moment. The mysterious black tom then shook his head and stood back.

"Who are you and why did you bring your kits here?" He demanded. 

Dawncloud eyed the large cats as they walked towards the nest. The tom saw this and hissed at them. They nodded, and stood on opposite ends of Dawncloud.

"I'm Dawncloud, WindClan warrior, and my kits were freezing to death. I'm sorry I invaded your territory, but I had no choice," she said, trying her best to sound bold.

The tom nodded, and backed further away from the she-cat, the larger cats doing the same.

"I'm Blackbird, these are my younger brothers Fang and Claw," he responded, reaching up to lick Fang's ear.

Dawncloud was shocked. Younger brothers?

"You can stay for a while, but it will cost you," Blackbird continued nudging for her to stand up. "You will groom me every morning before you attend to your kits." 

Dawncloud nodded as she felt her face burn. She walked over to her kits who were still wide eyed. 

"It's okay my dears, the nice toms are letting us stay in their territory for a while," she purred. 

Blackbird dismissed Fang and Claw, and they marched outside. He soon stood next to Dawncloud, inspecting her children. He sniffed them, and then stepped back.

"They will only take up more food, so you will hunt for them," he ordered, his tone with disgust.

A loud hiss came from behind them as Dovefur was flung into the air. She landed with a loud thump , then quickly scrambled up, claws unsheathed. She let out another hiss before glaring at Blackbird, then Dawncloud. 

"Who are you?" Blackbird demanded, pinning the fluffy cat down without hesitation.

"This is Dovefur, she was hunting for my kits and I," Dawncloud jumped to her friends defense. 

Blackbird grunted as he let her go. 

"Any other cats you invited to my den?" he hissed. 

"I'm sorry, Blackbird, we didn't know this was your den," Dawncloud mumbled. 

Dovefur pulled Dawncloud away from the toms and glared.

"We are not staying here! I'd rather die than live with these toms!" She protested.

Dawncloud's fur prickled at the thought of freezing to death, seeing her lifeless kits bodies and facing StarClan's wrath. 

"So you'd choose your selfishness rather than our prophecy?" She hissed as Blackbird watched in amusement. 

"This is your prophecy Dawncloud, and it doesn't say that you must stay with rude and dangerous rouges!" Dovefur hissed back before storming away . 

"Where are you going?" Dawncloud called out, anger flooding her eyes. 

"I'm going to find my own food and shelter, you can put your kits in danger as you please," she remarked sprinting away once again.

Blackbird chuckled as he left with his brothers, leaving Dawncloud alone. She gazed towards her kits, who hid Crowkit's face. She nudged them out of the way only to reveal  her face wet with tears. The kit's eyes reflected her own, clouded anger and sadness. Crowkit slowly lowered her head again, followed by the rest of her siblings. Dawncloud turned away, and lowered her own head. Tears formed a puddle on the ground as she drifted into a dreamless sleep.