Dawn of a Warrior Chapter 9

Warrior Cats FanFic
Dawn of a Warrior
Chapter 9

"What? Shouldn't you be dead or something? How are you here talking to me and how did I even get here?" Dawnpaw practically shouted. She was terrified. She had had strange dreams before, but none where dead cats came back to life to haunt her!

"I am dead," the leader said shortly. "I came to talk to you on behalf of StarClan. You have been chosen, young apprentice for great things in the time to come." Patchstar padded around Dawnpaw, as if sizing her up for a fight.

Dawnpaw watched the dead cat circling. "Why me? I'm new to the Clan. Isn't there someone else who can be chosen? Someone more... experienced?"

Patchstar stopped in front of Dawnpaw. "StarClan doesn't think so." The leader growled, "I think we should have chosen a Clan born cat, but no. They gave me a kittypet who doesn't even want to be chosen."

"Oh Patchstar, we have already told you, we didn't choose Dawnpaw, the prophecy did." A gray shecat with matted fur stepped out of the bushes surrounding the clearing. "She will do fine, otherwise, the Clans are in danger. Dawnpaw has potential. Besides, she has the help of her clanmates to guide her pawsteps, and she can't have gotten a better mentor."

Patchstar snarled at the gray cat, but then sighed. "I know Yellowfang. I just want the best for my clan, and I don't think a kittypet is the answer! The prophecy states-"

"Wait, wait, wait. What is this prophecy that you keep talking about and what does it have o do with me? I didn't ask to be special, so go pick someone else. I don't even know how to be a Clan cat yet!" Dawnpaw was becoming anxious. She hated being talked about like she wasn't even there.

Yellowfang turned to Dawnpaw. "You know, kit, it is rude to interrupt your elders while they are speaking!" The gray cat turned back to Patchstar. "I know what the prophecy says, but right now, all we can do is try and make a clan cat out of a kittypet! You will have to learn how to trust this cat, or Shadowclan will turn out just as you fear it will."

She turned back to Dawnpaw. "You will learn more about the prophecy when the time comes. It is time for you to get some rest. We will see you again in the future, and remember to mind your elders! You can learn a lot from their stories if you listen and don't interrupt."

The Starclan cats started to fade. Dawnpaw was still trying to figure out what just happened. She didn't know who those cats were or how they came to see her, but they said she was special. Before Dawnpaw knew what was happening, she opened her eyes and was back in the apprentice's den it was still dark outside, but there were a few faint rays of sunlight filtering through the trees..

She sat up and shook off the feelings of the dream. That was strange! Why would those cats come and tell me those things? I know I can't be part of a prophecy! I just got here!

Dawnpaw padded carefully past the other apprentices, and sat down outside the den. She watched as the dawn patrol padded out of camp in silence. Dawnpaw started daydreaming while she sat there, and again, time got away from here. Soon Duskpaw padded out of the den and sat beside her.

"Why are you up so early?" Duskpaw yawned. "Didn't you sleep well?"

"I slept fine," except for the whole 'dead cats think I'm special' thing "I just couldn't sleep any longer, so I came out here to watch the sunrise."

"Oh. Well I'm glad nothing is wrong. I heard we are going hunting today! I can't wait to learn how to do the hunter's crouch! Eaglepaw showed it to me before we came here, but I wasn't very good at it. I hope I can do better today!" Duskpaw started practicing stalking forward while Dawnpaw watched.

Ashstar came out of his den and padded over the the apprentices. "You two should get something to eat. You both have training today." Then he padded over to where Jaytail and Mosstail were talking. Duskpaw raced over to get herself some fresh-kill, and Dawnpaw followed more slowly.

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Dawnpaw crouched down low, using the pine needles to silence her pawsteps as she creeped closer through the shadows. She kept her claws out, using them to keep herself steady so she wouldn't trip. She moved forward slowly a few tail-lengths. "Very good Dawnpaw, but try to make sure your belly fur doesn't move the needles as you go forward, and keep your tail still."

Ashstar was sitting quietly by with Mosstail as Dawnpaw and Sandpaw were practicing their hunting techniques. They had been practicing for what seemed like forever. Sandpaw, already knowing how to do it, was perfecting the pounce. Dawnpaw was still learning the basics. Dawnpaw was jealous of Sandpaw's natural skills. She would have to work extra hard to catch up to Sandpaw's training.

"Why don't we send them out to hunt on their own? They can stay together and Sandpaw can watch out for Dawnpaw since she doesn't know the territory yet," Mosstail mewed in a soft voice.

"That sounds like a great idea. That will give me time to check on the patrols." Ashstar mused. "Dawnpaw! Sandpaw! Come here please." he called.

The apprentices ran over to their mentors and waited. "You are going to practice those on some real prey now. Sandpaw, stay close to Dawnpaw. You can split up, but stay close enough to each other so you can hear if the other one needs help," Mosstail ordered. "I will be watching also and will be reporting back to Ashstar on how well you did." Mosstail looked from one apprentice to the other. "Think of this as your first assessments. Be back at camp before sunset. There is going to be a ceremony tonight."

"Okay! Don't worry Mosstail! We will be safe and catch some prey!" Sandpaw squealed. "Come on Dawnpaw! We don't have much time left!" Dawnpaw saw this as an opportunity to be better at something than Sandpaw.

Sandpaw raced away into the trees. Mosstail and Ashstar padded away. Dawnpaw followed Sandpaw, happy to be using her skill at last, and ready to out show Sandpaw. I will be the one who catches the most prey!