Warrior Cats: Dawncloud's Journey

Chapter Ten

"Good morning, Sunshine," A voice called out.

Dawncloud grunted as she looked around, she had fallen asleep out of stress. Without replying, she got to her paws and walked towards the exit of the den. Claw was still guarding it, and glared at Dawncloud as she tried to pass. He flicked his long tail at her, causing her to stumble backwards.

"I need to go get food for my kits!" She hissed, batting furious at the tom who was much larger than her.

"My fur is a little matted from our little fight yesterday," Blackbird taunted, sitting down near the kits' prison.

"Don't force our mother to do anything you pipsqueak!" Featherkit spat, much more talkative than usual. 

"I thought you were an adult? I'm almost taller than you and I'm only eleven moons!" Crowkit said rudely. 

Blackbird quickly turn around and lunged towards the prison. Instead of flinching, Crowkit got closer towards her challenger. 

"I'll kill you!" He hissed, moving the rubbish blocking the cage.

Dawncloud was ready to run after him, but was knocked down and pinned by Claw, his grip tight but not tight enough to kill. The kits squealed in horror as Crowkit was lifted into the air and throw to the ground. She quickly got back up, and aimed for his throat. He was swift, however, and was able to move out of the way. She hissed in fury and glared at her siblings. 

"Ravenkit  go for the haunches, Featherkit distract him, Spottedkit go check on Mother, Cloverkit go for the throat!" She ordered.

Dawncloud was shocked at how well she gave orders, and was even more surprised when the kits strictly followed those orders. 

Blackbird laughed as the kits grew closer to him. "You just told me your whole attack plan you bird brained fool!" 

Crowkit smirked as she looked directly into the challenging eyes of her first real enemy.

"But I didn't tell you mine," she sneered, clawing at his eyes.

Blackbird let out a sharp cry as he slung the black kit off of him. He stood up and pounced onto her, claws out at full length. Dawncloud shrieked as he and Fang threw them outside one by one. Dawncloud was throw out as well, but was quickly pinned down again. 

"Goodbye you obnoxious prey!" He cackled, getting ready to deliver a killing blow.

Suddenly, a blur of black flashed across the ground and collided with Blackbird. Dawncloud felt weight remove from her as she flashed a quick look at Dovefur , who was battling the cat two times her size. 

Taking no time to waste, Dawncloud sprang over to her kits. Crowkit was trickling blood down from her shoulder, and Cloverkit's paw was sore. She let out a sigh of relief that they were not seriously injured. 

Blackbird let out a sharp cry as he quickly sprang up. Dovefur was surprisingly quick as she battled Claw with full spirit. That left one more enemy. Dawncloud gasped as she turned around in horror. The kits were all battling the largest of them all, Fang. He growled as he tried to fling the kits away, but they held on. Cloverkit and Spottedkit had his back legs pinned, and Featherkit and Ravenkit had his front legs. Crowkit once again, had her attackers face in her grasp as she clawed furiously. Dawncloud decided to help Dovefur, as she saw she was loosing her energy. She pounced at the tom, as he let out a yelp. Dovefur clawed his ears while Dawncloud clawed his legs. This went on for a few minutes until a dying yelp was heard. Everyone stopped as they gazed around. Dawncloud's eyes went wide as she saw Fang's lifeless body laying in a pool of blood. Her kits fur was matted and bloody, they breathed heavy as they stumbled to their mother's side. 

Blackbird spat a furious hiss as he ran over to his brother's body. He kept his muzzle in his bloody fur before slowly rising again. His eyes were full of hatred and grief.

"I will get my revenge, Dawncloud, and you will feel the pain I feel," he muttered before running into the forest, soon  followed by Claw.

Dovefur walked swiftly over to the kits and began to examine their wounds. 

"Cloverkit, Featherkit, and Ravenkit need Burdock Root for their bites." She said professionally. "Spottedkit is alright, and Crowkit will needs cobwebs for her wounds."

She began to limp into the forest (the opposite way of Blackbird) before she was stopped by Spottedkit.

"I want to help, Dovefur, I have no wounds and I'm not squeamish!" She begged. 

Dovefur nodded as the two disappeared into the woods. 

Dawncloud gazed thankfully at the black tom who had saved her kit's life.

"Thank you so much stranger-" she said before she was cut off by a gasp.

Oliver turned around and looked at his former mate as if he didn't know her well. 

"I did what I had to do to save my family," he said looking hopeful at his kits. "Even if it meant putting myself in danger."

Dawncloud purred and licked his ear thankfully before he inched away. 

Oliver sighed as he looked towards the ground as if he were embarrassed. 

"Please don't do that Dawncloud, I'm not your mate anymore. I have my own love, and my own kit I love as much as our five. But I can't be here any longer to protect you," he touched noses with her before inching towards the kits. "I know that they'll be safe in your paws, goodbye Dawncloud." 

She watched as he licked each of the kits tenderly before walking away towards the twolegs place. He gave her a tender farewell glance before vanishing over the twolegs fence.