Fan Fiction

Chapter 5 of The First Warrior! Let me know what you think!

Chapter 5

Dawnpaw sorted out the catmint into a pile. Leaf-bare was almost here, and that meant greencough would spread in the coming moons.
“How are you doing with that?” Ambershine asked, coming over to inspect her work.
“I’m done!” Dawnpaw announced.
Ambershine sniffed the pile of herbs and pawed at them. “Great job!” she finally meowed. “I’m impressed that you were able to do that already.”
Pride filled Dawnpaw’s chest. Ambershine said she did everything right!
Lilypaw stuck her head into the den. “Sorry to interrupt, but Needlestar said it’s time to get going.”
Dawnpaw wanted to bounce up and down in excitement. Her first Gathering! She was so happy that Needlestar had chosen both her and Lilypaw to go. The only bad thing was that Lionpaw was going too. Ever since Everflame had complimented him on his battle skills, he thought he was so special. Unfortunately, so did Lilypaw. Dawnpaw’s sister had been so obsessed with Lionpaw lately that it was getting annoying. Dawnpaw just hoped that Lilypaw would focus more on her than Lionpaw.
Ambershine swished her tail. “You go along, Dawnpaw. I just need to finish a few things.”
“Are you sure?” Dawnpaw asked.
Ambershine nodded. “Go, go.”
Dawnpaw and Lilypaw ran out of the medicine den. “Are you excited?” Lilypaw breathed.
Dawnpaw let out a mrrrow of laughter. “What do you think?”
Lilypaw giggled. “Good point.” She sighed. “Lionpaw has been to lots of Gatherings.”
Dawnpaw huffed. Here we go. “I’m sure he has,” she muttered. She and Lilypaw had been on thin ice since their fight–the first one they ever had–but things were better now. Except… when her sister was obsessing over Lionpaw
Lilypaw blinked at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” Dawnpaw already knew that the night would be all about Lionpaw. She might as well just accept it.
“He said that sometimes the leaders fight, but it’s really fun because all of the apprentices from other Clans hang out with each other. How cool is that?”
Dawnpaw began walking in-step with Lilypaw. “It does sound really fun,” she admitted. “But can you not just talk to Lionpaw the whole time? I mean, I’m here, too.”
Lilypaw’s eyes rounded. “I’m sorry if I haven’t been spending as much time with you,” she meowed. “I just really like Lionpaw, and I think maybe he likes me, too.”
Dawnpaw looked at the ground and saw paw prints leading from Lilypaw’s paws to where Lionpaw was standing. She blinked, and they were gone.
An omen, she realized. Was this StarClan’s way telling her that her sister and Lionpaw were meant to be together? Mouse-dung, she cursed to herself. That meant she had to accept the grumpy tom.
Turning to Lilypaw, she said, “I’m sure if it’s meant to be, it will happen.”
Lilypaw snorted. “Do you always have to talk like a medicine cat?”
Dawnpaw swatted her with her tail. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lilypaw purred. “I’m sure if it’s meant to be, it will happen,” she mewed dramatically. “Like, what does that even mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” Dawnpaw retorted.
“Hey!” Lilypaw’s eyes lit up. “There’s Stormfrost!”
“She’s coming too?” Dawnpaw asked hopefully.
Lilypaw shrugged and raced over to their mother. Dawnpaw trailed after her. She hoped that Stormfrost was going to the Gathering. Maybe she would be able to introduce her to some of the other warriors there. Hopefully she’s in a good mood today, Dawnpaw thought.
“Are you going to the Gathering tonight?” Dawnpaw heard Lilypaw ask.
Dawnpaw braced. She knew that even if Stormfrost was picked, she probably would stay back because of some excuse about being too tired, or not feeling well. But to her surprise, Stormfrost answered, “Yes. I can’t wait to finally introduce you to my sister, Fernleaf. I don’t know if you remember her from when you were kits, but she is very kind. Oh, how long it’s been since I’ve seen her. And my mother, Silverdusk. I miss her so much. ”
Dawnpaw felt warm with happiness at the thought of meeting new kin. It must be so hard to have a sister in another Clan. I don’t know what I would do if Lilypaw wasn’t here. “I can’t wait to meet them,” she murmured, pressing up against Stormfrost’s flank.
Stormfrost wrapped her tail around Dawnpaw. “You’ll love them both.”
Needlestar yowled for silence. “The Gathering is at RockClan,” he reminded everyone. “And to recap, the cats going are myself, Everflame, Ambershine, Stormfrost, Icestone, Redfall, Smokefoot, Lionpaw, Dawnpaw, and Lilypaw.”
Icestone approached Lilypaw. “You have to be respectful at a Gathering,” she meowed sternly. “No fighting with other apprentices, no insulting the other Clans, and no talking while the leaders are talking.”
Lilypaw let out an exasperated sigh. “I know, Icestone.”
Icestone nodded swiftly. “I was just making sure.” She padded off to join her brother, Redfall.
Needlestar lashed his tail. “Let’s go!”
Dawnpaw was giddy with excitement as she walked beside Lilypaw and Stormfrost to the RockClan camp. She wondered what the mountains would be like, and what the camp looked like. And I will be able to see all of the medicine cats again!
When they finally crossed over the RockClan border, Dawnpaw gasped at the sight of the sheer cliffs and swooping birds. The camp was beautiful, a valley with a clear stream running through it.
“Stormfrost!” A cry made Dawnpaw’s head jerk up to see a dark tabby she-cat dashing towards them. “Stormfrost, you’re here!”
Stormfrost’s eyes rounded.”Fernleaf!”
Fernleaf’s scent hit Dawnpaw and she was momentarily brought back to when she was a very small kit, and Fernleaf had watched over her and Lilypaw.
Fernleaf turned to look at Dawnpaw and Lilypaw. “These are Dawnkit and Lilykit, I presume?” She quickly corrected herself. “Oh, it must be Dawnpaw and Lilypaw, now. You’ve gotten so big since I last saw you!”
Lilypaw nodded proudly. “Icestone is my mentor, and Dawnpaw is training to be a medicine cat!”
Fernleaf blinked. “Wow! That’s amazing, both of you!”
“Do you know where Silverdusk is?” Stormfrost suddenly asked.
Fernleaf beamed and nodded, but Dawnpaw could sense she was hiding something. Whatever it is, it’s a good thing. A very good thing. She padded after them to find out what it was.
Fernleaf led Stormfrost to a silver tabby she-cat with three wide-eyed kits trailing behind her. “Stormfrost, this is Hollykit, Graykit, and Ashkit.”
Dawnpaw understood at the same moment that Stormfrost did. “You had kits?” Stormfrost exclaimed. “Who is the father.”
Silverdusk gazed lovingly at a gray tabby tom on the other side of the camp. “Whistleshade.” She bent her head down to the she-kit. “Hollykit, say hi to your sisters.”
Dawnpaw couldn’t keep herself from bounding forward. “These kits are my kin?’ she cried out.
Stormfrost turned to her in surprise. “Dawnpaw! You followed us?” She softened. “Yes, they are your kin. Come meet Silverdusk and her kits.”
Dawnpaw curiously approached the three kits. “Hi,” she greeted them.
Hollykit tilted her head and sniffed Dawnpaw. “You’re from PineClan, aren’t you?”
“How did you know that?” Silverdusk asked suspiciously.
Hollykit’s eyes widened. “Graykit told me they smell like pine needles and sap.”
“And how did Graykit know that?” Silverdusk pressed, turning her head to her son.
Graykit batted Hollykit with his paw. “You weren’t supposed to tell her that!” he whispered loudly.
Dawnpaw stifled a purr as she turned and padded away. Lilypaw must be wondering where I am, she thought. To her dismay, she noticed Lilypaw talking with Lionpaw. The two of them were laughing and joking around with each other, and Lilypaw didn’t seem to notice that Dawnpaw had even left. Do I even matter to her anymore? Now I’m going to be all alone at my first Gathering. And it’s all Lionpaw’s fault! Dawnpaw was so focused on her sister that she didn’t see the brown tabby she-cat until she bumped into her.
“Oh!” the brown tabby exclaimed. “I’m sorry!”
Dawnpaw shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I put my paws.”
The she-cat purred. “It’s fine. I’m Brindlepaw.” She noticed Dawnpaw’s lingering gaze on Lilypaw and Lionpaw. “My brother likes you, you know. You don’t have to worry about her.”
Dawnpaw whipped her head around. “What?!” she yowled, her fur bristling.
Brindlepaw stared at her quizzically. “I mean, he hasn’t actually said that he likes you, but I can tell.” Noticing Dawnpaw’s shocked expression, she mewed, “You are Lilypaw, right?”
Relief swept through Dawnpaw and she let her fur lay flat. “No,” she laughed. “I’m her sister, Dawnpaw. I’m training to be a medicine cat!”
Brindlepaw looked mortified. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I just thought— I thought you were Lilypaw, and she was Izzy. You know, with the gray fur and green eyes. My brother hates Izzy.”
“No, she’s Lilypaw. Izzy isn’t here,” Dawnpaw informed her.
Brindlepaw duck her head. “Well, I’m sorry again for the misunderstanding.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Dawnpaw assured her.
Two more apprentices, a tortoiseshell she-cat and a gray tom joined Brindlepaw. “Do you know where Sorrelpaw is?” The she-cat asked.
Brindlepaw rolled her eyes. “Probably with Mistpelt, pretending she’s already a warrior.” She glanced back at Dawnpaw. “Dawnpaw, this is Applepaw and Molepaw. Applepaw and Molepaw, this is Dawnpaw.”
“Hello,” Applepaw meowed cheerfully.
“Is this your first Gathering? I haven’t seen you before,” Molepaw remarked.
Dawnpaw nodded timidly. “Yeah. It’s nice to meet you.” She shot a glare at Lilypaw and Lionpaw. “Though it would be nice if those two would join us.”
Brindlepaw snorted. “Tell me about it. Both of my siblings abandoned me for a crush.”
“Is this, like, where the apprentices are hanging out?” A tiny tortoiseshell and white she-cat asked. A gray tabby tom and a black and white tom stood behind her.
Molepaw shrugged. “I guess so.”
“I’m Morningpaw,” she said brightly. “These are my brothers, Daypaw and—”
The black and white tom shouldered past her. “I can introduce myself,” he interrupted. “I’m Lightpaw. We’re from ShadeClan, the best Clan.”
Brindlepaw narrowed her eyes. “You hunt in trees, just like PineClan. The only difference is PineClan has pine trees and you have oaks. LakeClan is just weird because they can swim. So that means that RockClan is actually the best Clan.”
Lightpaw growled. “ShadeClan is by far the biggest Clan. We outnumber any Clan in battle, so we always emerge victorious,” he countered.
“Well—”
“Hush,” Morningpaw whispered. “Dapplestar has started speaking.”
Dawnpaw was about to turn her attention to the RockClan leader when soft fur brushed up against her. “Lilypaw!” she purred.
Lilypaw affectionately licked her ear. “Did you really think I would leave you the whole Gathering? Mouse-brain.”
Happy that things were back to normal, Dawnpaw listened to Dapplestar speak.
“One of our queens, Silverdusk, gave birth to three kits last moon named Hollykit, Graykit, and Ashkit. We have not scented any rogues since the battle with Snake, so I think it is officially safe to say that they have left. Hunting has been kind to us, and our warriors have been able to catch many birds. I hope that you all can say the same for your Clans.” With the dip of her head, Dapplestar stepped back and Reedstar took her place.
“LakeClan’s missing warriors still have not returned,” he meowed, his voice heavy. “That includes our deputy, Ripplestep, along with Meadowbird, Riverpelt, Heronflame, Gooseflight, Bubblesplash, Minnowsplash, Marshstripe, Puddleleap, and Drizzlecloud. I waited a long time for them to return, but it is time to accept that they are dead. I named Lightningstripe as the new deputy. Willowheart, Mallowfern, Loudbelly, and Gullfeather died. We still do not have a medicine cat, and we announce with a heavy heart that Swanfeather has joined StarClan. A patrol ran into a fox, and the wounds she received led to infection. We didn’t know how to treat it.” Reedstar’s voice broke off and guilt shone in his eyes. “She died yesterday. We did kill the fox, though. On a happier note, we have four new warriors; Flowerpetal, Shimmerfern, Rushfoot, and Rookfeather.”
“Flowerpetal! Shimmerfern! Rushfoot! Rookfeather!” Dawnpaw cheered along with everyone, but the cheers sounded dull. Reedstar’s depressing announcement had taken a toll on the cats.
“How did they lose so many cats?” Dawnpaw whispered to Lilypaw in dismay.
“Icestone said that most of LakeClan escaped to RockClan, but when RockClan was attacked, they ran into a trap. No one knows what happened to them,” Lilypaw explained. “Her sister’s mentor brought her to RockClan and went missing with them.”
“Turtlepelt, right?” Dawnpaw asked. Lilypaw was lucky that she got to hear Icestone’s cool stories. Stormfrost refused to talk about anything involving Snake.
Lilypaw nodded. “Yeah.”
“Stop talking,” Morningpaw hissed. “Needlestar is speaking now.”
“PineClan has been thriving,” Needlestar began. “We have two new apprentices, Lilypaw, and Dawnpaw, who has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Turtlepelt and Featherpaw still have not returned.” He shot a dark look at Nightstar. “We have scented ShadeClan on our side of the border. We understand that the weather is getting colder, and that prey is scarce for everyone, but we just ask that you stay on your side of the border.”
Nightstar rounded on Needlestar. “PineClan has always been a small Clan,” she snarled. “You have more territory than you could possibly need. ShadeClan is growing more and more. Palelight just had four kits a few moons ago! It’s simple. We need the space, you don’t.”
Needlestar hissed. “No, you don’t need more space,” he argued. “You have the entire woods! Here’s what is simple: your territory ends at the thunderpath.”
“Look!” Thundercrash of ShadeClan cried. “Clouds over the moon! StarClan is angry.”
Nightstar flicked her tail. “The Gathering might be over,” she warned. “But this isn’t.”