Fawnstar's Return

Chapter 1

Wind whistled through the branches as Fawnstar padded out of camp.Briarspot, who was guarding camp, gave Fawnstar a nod of approval as she passed. I have to find somewhere to sleep. Fawnstar thought. She had been having dreams of the river flooding. Hopefully Moonclan would be okay. Fawnstar came to a grassy clearing. She settled down into some dry moss.

She tilted her head to look up at the stars. "StarClan, please help me see what's wrong." She had to do something about the river. But slowly, slowly she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Fawnstar awoke to pale dawn light filtering through the branches of the forest. She stretched and gave herself a quick grooming. I should probably be getting back to camp by now. They'll be wondering where I am. Getting up, she turned around and some cat launched himself onto Fawnstar's back.

She tried to throw off her attacker, but he had fastened himself to her back. Fawnstar heard scuffling sounds and the little tom meowed,

"Gotcha!"

"Cloudpaw? What are you doing?"

"I was practing my attacking skills," he mewed excitedly.

"Where's your mentor?" Fawnstar asked.

"Sorrelpelt is too busy hunting mice, so I sneaked off without her," he replied.

"Ah. Come. We better find her and get back to camp," meowed Fawnstar.They padded out of the grassy clearing to find Sorrelpelt rushing towards Cloudpaw.

"Cloudpaw, don't ever run off again like that," she told him sternly. "Sorry," he mumbled. All three padded in silence as they made their way back to camp.

As Fawnstar entered camp, Brambleheart greeted them at the gorse thicket. Fawnstar let out a purr.

"Where have you been?" Brambleheart asked her gently.

"I just needed some fresh air," she replied.

"Well if there's anything bothering you, you can always talk to me." Then Brambleheart padded off to the warriors den.

Fawnstar did want to tell him about her dreams, but she knew she would have to confide in Frostpool first. She then needed to find Oaktail. She scanned the clearing to find Oaktail sharing tongues with Briarspot under the shade of the birch tree. "Oaktail!" She called. "I need you over here!"He stretched, then padded over to where Fawnstar was standing.

"What is it?" he yawned.

"Have you sent out hunting patrols yet?" she asked.

"No, not yet."

"Well, I want the fresh-kill pile stocked by sunhigh." He then padded across the grassy clearing to yowl orders to his clanmates.

Fawnstar recalled she should probably get Patchpaw. She sighed, then padded off to find the nosy apprentice. Patchpaw emerged from the bramble bush (which is the apprentice's den) play fighting with Blossompaw.

"Take that, and that!" he was yowling.

"We're going to the mossy hollow!" Fawnstar called to Patchpaw.

"Can Blossompaw come too?" Patchpaw asked.

"If Mapleflight's okay with it."

When Mapleflight and Blossompaw had joined them, they padded through the trees to get to the mossy hollow. Fawnstar heard rustling sounds in some ferns. Instantly, she could smell mouse.