The fresh-kill pile loomed over Dawnkit as she nervously picked her way through a mountain of leftovers. Last night had taken away ValleyClan's appetite after Fernkit's body was found right below the towering hill where mother and many other apprentices had practiced the ultimate feat of ValleyClan's warriors- catching an eagle. Eagles were juicy and thick and fed up to a few cats apiece, and were the most resourceful prey- considering that no part went to waste. Their thick bones were used to construct the dens, their furry coat to keep the littlest of kits and the oldest of elders warm. But last night, no amount of eagles could take away the somber mood that hung heavy in ValleyClan's air. Crescentstar had ordered that Fernkit would have a ritual fit for a king, and that the nursery- as well as general camp openings, be watched over at all times, but Dawnkit still couldn't bear to watch her little brother's limp body lie in the softest forest bed. She had refused to get up from bed this morning, her eyelids heavy with tears, but Starkit rose up like it was just another day, as if nothing had happened. Dawnkit still could see the pain in Starkit's eyes, but Starkit had managed to get up. By sunhigh, hunger had forced Dawnkit up and into ValleyClan's clearing. She winced as the bright sun hit her eyelids, pieces of prey scattered around and sleepy cats not even bothering to glance at them. As Dawnkit helped herself to a few small mice, she watched her little sister trot in and out of the medicine cat den, tending to sick patients with whitecough. Dawnkit knew very well that whitecough, if left untreated, could easily turn into greencough which was life threating for any cat, despite age. Whitecough often struck the clan late fall and leading into winter, though the sun could easily fool cats into believing that summer had never left them. Suddenly, Dawnkit heard a mighty voice from Highrock. "May all those who can hunt and climb gather underneath Highrock!" Crescentstar's voice rumbled throughout the air , ringing beyond the horizon. Hesitantly, she picked herself up, tail drooping, towards Highrock. " I wonder what this could be?" squeaked Daisypaw, her mother's tail wrapped around her. Dawnpaw missed Nectarsong. She barely got to see her mother anymore, and she missed the sweet lullabies that her mother crooned, the soft licks she used to tame Dawnkit's fur.. For days now Nectarsong barely left the nursery, and didn't bother to eat or talk to anyone. Nettlefern had said it would pass, but Dawnkit wasn't so sure... Was this about papa? Dawnkit broke from her thoughts as Midnightstar's booming voice called her name. " Dawnkit, till the day you receive your warrior name, you shall be addressed as Dawnpaw. I shall mentor you." Valleyclan's voices roared in approval. " Ashpaw, Blazepaw, Starpaw, Dawnpaw!" they shouted. Dawnpaw shyly touched noses with Crescentstar. She couldn't believe that her mentor was Crescentstar herself! Traditionally, leaders only took apprentices rarely; perhaps their own kit or their deputy's kit. But Crescentstar had chosen her! It was a big honor to be trained by the leader themselves, even though a lot would be expected of a warrior trained by the leader. "So you got Crescentstar, eh?" Blazekit whispered as he passed by" Lucky!" " Yeah, you are super lucky!" Ashkit agreed as she bounced up and down in excitement. " Yeah.." Dawnkit said distantly. Starkit passed by her sister and looked her in the eye. " You'll do fine!" she assured her trembling sister" I believe in you!" "Thanks" Dawnkit whispered. At that second, a flicker of hope appeared within her, a hope that would get through these tough times. A flicker of hope that helped her realize that Fernkit would always be with her in her heart; a hope that helped her to believe that mother would stay with her. And that flicker of hope was all that she needed.
:o Happy New Year guys! I hope y'all have a happy & prosperous new year! About the design.. Please give me time! I'm working out all my characters' designs and I haven't quite gotten the hang of these designs yet... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next- Not yet released! Previous- https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/585286282\ First- https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/556201659/
