Dawnkit's Journey

Chapter Three-

"Leafclaw, look. What's that?" The white she-cat asked the black tom. He looked at Dawn, and snorted.

"A kit. Come on Frozenclaw. It's just a little kittypet that strayed too far from her nest. I'll give it a few scratches to teach it to not come back." He extended his claws and crouched, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. The last cat stepped forward, horrified.

"She's a kit!" She hissed at Leafclaw. "You can't harm her!"

"Tawnyheart's right. We can't harm a kit. It's against the warrior code." Frozenclaw put a white paw on the tree trunk. "What's your name?"

Dawn looked at the she-cat, eyes wide and terrified. The she-cat put the second paw up.

"We won't hurt you. What's your name?" Frozenclaw asked sweetly. Dawn gulped air as fear gripped her throat.

"D-dawn." Dawn stuttered. Frozenclaw smiled.

"Leafclaw, go find a mouse please." Frozenclaw commanded the tom. He glared at her.

"Why should I?" He pushed himself up. Frozenclaw shot him a look. He ducked his head.

"She's starving. Now go get her some food." She growled. Dawn shrunk back further onto the branch, making it shake under her weight. The tom muttered something Dawn couldn't hear, then darted into the undergrowth. Frozenclaw stared after him, then looked back at Dawn, eyes soft. Tawnyheart sat down. Frozenclaw clawed her way up the tree, sending bark flying down as she went up. She sat on the edge of the branch, tail dangling off the edge. Dawn didn't move. Frozenclaw looked around, enjoying the tree.

"This is the Sky Tree. It's been here since the three clans came here. It's at the heart of JadeClan territory, in which you are in. I'm Frozenclaw, and that down there is Tawnyheart." Frozenclaw purred. "Leafclaw was that snappy, battle happy tom you saw. He should be back any moment with a nice mouse for you. I can see you're starving. Now, if you don't mind me asking, where is your mother?"

Dawn stared, wide eyed. Frozenclaw looked at Tawnyheart. Tawnyheart shrugged.

"Well?" Frozenclaw prompted. Dawn moved her mouth, but no sound came out. "Should we take her to Sagenose?"

"It would probably be a good idea." Tawnyheart stood, and backed away from the tree. Frozenclaw crawled towards Dawn, and Dawn crawled back as Frozenclaw came closer.

"Dawn, we won't hurt you. We are only going to take you to Sagenose so he can make sure you aren't hurt. Okay?" Frozenclaw positioned herself to jump. Dawn shook her head, and went back some more, just a mouselength from falling. Then she slipped. She yelped, and Frozenclaw lunged at her. Frozenclaw grasped Dawn's scruff, and landed on the ground with Dawn safe. Dawn was still frozen with fear. She dangled limply from Frozenclaw's jaws. Tawnyheart and Frozenclaw padded side by side back to camp, expertly moving smoothly through the forest.