Weeks later… “Copperpaw, where is mama. She’s been missing for weeks..” Dustpaw said scared of what had happend. “I don’t know Dustpaw, we should probably ask Icestar to send a search patrol for her.. it’s the best thing to do.” Copperpaw said In a calm tone. “I’m sure she’s fine..” Copperpaw added Blackpaw walked towards them. “I’ll ask Icestar to send a search patrol.” Blackpaw offered. “Please do..” Dustpaw pleaded about to tear up. “Ok I’ll go ask, Copperpaw stay with Dustpaw.” Blackpaw said before heading to their leader. “Icestar, I have a question.” Blackpaw said to his leader “Yes? What is it Blackpaw?” Icestar answered turning to look at the apprentice. “Our mother. Dawnbeam, has been missing for hours, do you think you can send a search patrol for her..? Dustpaws been really worried.” Blackpaw said eager to show Dustpaw their mother is ok. “Sure, I’ll go ask Messyfur to get a patrol ready.” Icestar said before heading off to go ask the deputy. Blackpaw headed back to Dustpaw and Copperpaw to tell them a search patrol has been sent out. “Their sending a patrol right now, I’m telling you, she’s fine.” Blackpaw said tired of his brothers sadness for no reason. “B-But what if she’s not!” Dustpaw burst out, tears falling. “Hey, hey.. it’s okay, I’m sure she’s fine..” Copperpaw said to comfort him. Hours later.. A screech was heard.. it sounded like a screech from one of the cats from the search patrol. “W-What was that!!” Dustpaw yelled frightened. “It sounded like a screech!” Said Copperpaw. “…I… Oh no..” Blackpaw said scared as that was the only patrol that was sent out. “That was the search patrol..” Blackpaw said. “What..!?” Dustpaw said turning to Blackpaw. “It’s ok I’m sure it’s nothing..” Copperpaw said to Dustpaw to try to calm him down. The patrol ran into the camp “Dawnbeams dead!” Yelled one of the cats in the patrol. “What!!” Dustpaw yelled in tears. “W-W-What…??” Copperpaw screeched. “I-I knew it..” Blackpaw said quietly. The three apprentices ran towards the patrol as they set the body down, other cats approached the body. “I’m sorry for your loss..” Said another cat. “T-T-Thanks you..” Dustpaw said, holding back tears. Icestar ran towards the body. “What happend!?” Icestar exclaimed. “We don’t know, it looks like a cat killed her.” Honeycomb said sadly. “Mama! No.. why. Why. WHY!!” Dustpaw screeched in tears. “I-it’s okay Dustpaw…” Copperpaw said in tears. “…” Blackpaw was in tears and couldn’t speak. “It’s time to say goodbye now, we are going to bury the body now.. I’m sorry this had happend..” Icestar said to everyone. Icestar grabbed the body and brought it over to a dug hole, she then dropped the body in the hole. “Honeycomb can you help cover the body? I’ll make the gravestone.” “Yes Icestar, I can.” Honeycomb said. She started filling the hole with dirt. Once she finished the leader came with the gravestone and placed it behind the buried body. “Let’s go to bed now..” Said Blackpaw. “It’s getting late…” She added. “O-Ok..” Dustpaw said. “I’ll help you..” Copperpaw said letting Dustpaw lean on her and brought him to the den. “Hey!” Said Heatherpaw. “Hey..” Said Dustpaw heading to the bedding next to Heatherpaw. “You okay? Is it another sad outbreak again..?” “No it’s not.. mamas dead.. she’s dead..” Dustpaw said in pain. “It’s okay.. it’s going to be okay..” Heatherpaw said calmly. “A-Are you sure..? Mama was the only one I could really love..” Dustpaw said about to tear up again. “I’m sure..” Heatherpaw said tiredly. “Let’s get some sleep now..” Heatherpaw added. “Mkay..” Dustpaw said barely being able to keep his eyes open. They both fell asleep together, the others fell asleep too. Clawfur entered the apprentices den and whispered into his children’s ears “Psst.. I need you real quick.. come meet me outside camp.” Clawfur walked out of camp. “Ughhh… Let’s go..” Dustpaw said tiredly The other 2 got up, and left the camp. “Clawfur..? Where are you..?” Copperpaw said. “Over here!” Said a voice. The 3 cats walked over. “I don’t see anyone..” Blackpaw said, they heard big paw steps that didn’t sound like a cat, there was growling. Dog.. growling. “W-What was that..” Dustpaw said terrified. Copperpaw smelled the air. “Dog..” She said horrified.
The dog slowly came out of the bushes, all 3 of them in one area, the perfect night meal. Dustpaw stepped in front of his siblings to protect them so they have time to run if it attacks. The dog jumped at Dustpaw grabbing him firmly on his stomach. “AHHHHH” Dustpaw yelled. “Dustpaw no!” Copperpaw said jumping at the dogs face and clawing its eyes, nearly blinding it. The dog threw Dustpaw against the tree. Nearly killing him. Blackpaw watched in horror as she saw her siblings being killed. The dog chomped onto Copperpaw face causing a permanent scar, throwing Copperpaw after, but luckily she landed. She fell over tired and in pain. Blackpaw was the last one the dog thought was alive, Blackpaw tried to run but got her tail bitten off. She jumped away and ran. She hid in a bush till he thought the dog was gone. Hours later.. She slowly crawled out of the bush and ran back to the spot where his siblings were. “Copperpaw..? Dustpaw..?” She said terrified. She heard the slight cry’s of a cat sounding like Copperpaw. “Copperpaw? Is everything ok?” She crawled into the spot and saw Dustpaw dead.. “D-Dustpaw…?” Blackpaw said, traumatized. “H-He’s gone..” Copperpaw said in pain. “I-I…” Blackpaw ran over in tears. “I’m sorry I ran and left you guys.. im sorry…” “I-it’s ok.. let’s go back to camp, since your jaw is fine bring the body along..” Copperpaw said sadly. Clawfur quickly ran out of the bush pretending to be suprised and scared “Are you guys okay! I went to get a mouse and heard your yelling!” Clawfur said in a scared tone, he was upset that dumb dog only killed one of them. “Dustpaws dead!” Copperpaw said tearing up. “Oh no!” Clawfur said. “Let’s go back to camp” Clawfur said. He turned his head to hide his grin of happiness that atleast one of them died When they arrived back to camp cats surrounded them “What happend!?” Said an elder. “Are you okay?” Asked a warrior. “We’re fine just a dog attack, but Dustpaws dead..” Clawfur said. “Dead!?” Heatherpaw screeched in the crowd. “He can’t be.. he isn’t right..!? Your joking.. right!?” Heatherpaw said tearing up. “He is…” Blackpaw said after placing his body in front of her. “No! No! No! Dustpaw.. No… you can’t be.. please don’t leave me..” She said crying. All of the cats around the body stared sadly back at Copperpaw, Blackpaw, and Clawfur. Icestar came out of her den. “What’s all this about!?” She demanded. “Dustpaws dead!!” Heatherpaw screeched in pain. “What!?” Icestar yelled, she padded over. “Get digging..” She sighed. “Say your goodbyes Heatherpaw.. He’s in starclans hands now..” She padded away to help with digging, other cats left to go do their duty’s or help with digging. “Let’s get you two to the medicine den..” Clawfur sighed with a grin on his face. They padded over to the medicine den. (end of chapter 2)
