Warriors Dawn and Blue

Chapter Four

Pine trees swayed in the wind circling around a short wall which was made out of cobbled stone, the ground inside the wall was uneven but had soft grass swaying in the wind. A cave made out of different shaped rocks stood on a cliff with a narrow path leading down the path veered off to another den made of rocks except it had a small waterfall leading into it, on ground level was two dens structured by sticks and cover by moss and mud reeds hung over the entrances. A tunnel covered in reeds was barely masking out the tiny squeals of happiness.
Dawnpaw gasped in utter amazement at the Shadow clan's camp, it certainly didn't reflect their swampy and messy territory, Dawnpaw could smell cats but nothing was there that she could see. Scorchpool noticing her struggle meowed, "Look closer they're in the shadows". Dawnpaw flicked her tail in thanks and squinted into one of the ground level dens, she almost stumbled into Scorchpool when she saw five small faces peeking at her. She turned her head and did the same in the one across from it, yet in this one was many cats much older than the other cats in the first den. "The first den is the apprentices and that one is the warriors" Scorchpool nodded casually as if it was normal to lead a Thunder clan cat around any day, "any around there hidden by the tall grass is the nursery".
Dawnpaw had to jump to get a glimpse at the cats in there, two queens and five kits. "Wow your clan is thriving very well" she commented a bit envious, "Thunder clan hasn't had a single litter yet". "Really? Well we've been doing pretty well but Shadestar is worried we'll have to many mouths to feed by this leaf bare" Scorchpool looked concerned, "one of our queens died before she could have kits because of food poisoning and Greencough". Dawnpaw blinked sympathetically at the medicine cat that must have hit him hard if a queen died in his own control, she pushed him lightly.
A yowl rung through the air as a hunting patrol parted through the prickly bramble entrance, three warriors and a big, lithe smoke colored cat that was no mistakenly Shadestar. "Scorchpool why do I see a flea bitten Thunder clan standing next to you?" Shadestar hadn't left his camp for long and had just missed the storm, two of the warriors warily dropped there measly prey on the fresh kill pile but the third one stayed right next to his leader. "She got stuck in the storm and couldn't make it back to camp, she needs to rest and have some herbs" Scorchpool did not flinch under Shadestar's harsh gaze and gently pushed Dawnpaw behind him. "Sir, if it helps I need no fresh kill and can be treated after your whole clan has" Dawnpaw pushed out from behind Scorchpool, "I can help Scorchpool if you want". "You will not be treated at all and Scorchpool can deal with our cats" Shadestar narrowed his eyes and then coughed badly.
"Lizardscar and Marshoak take Shadestar I will deal with this" the cat still beside his leader ordered the two waiting warriors, "next give the queens and Shadestar some fresh kill". Dawnpaw knew this must be Thistletalon, well known for not coming to gatherings unless to take place for his leader, she shivered in fear at the broad muscled cat glaring down at her. "She may help but no herbs to treat her" Thistletalon voice was gruff and deep, "and if she can keep her jaws shut you may consult her about the Shade mission".
Dawnpaw was going to tell him that his leader had told her to not help but when Thistletalon had said 'Shade mission' curiosity sparked crazily inside of her, "Shade mission?". "Keep down" for once Scorchpool had an edge to his meow, "I'm sorry but we can't talk about it now". "Does Ivypaw know?" she tried not to sound nosy. "Ivypaw decided to become a warrior apprentice, so no" Scorchpool flashed with deep pain, "I hope I didn't fail her". "Fail her? Scorchpool I don't think in  million moons you could fail any cat" Dawnpaw reassured, "I think Ivypaw was always destined to become a warrior, you must not take another cat's decision personally. Usually they know what's best".
Scorchpool smiled his thanks and then started climbing up the narrow path that Lizardscar and Marshoak had led Shadestar, and a swift moment he veered off to an even narrower path. She stumbled back when she saw it and Scorchpool had to grab her scruff to stop her from falling off all together, "trust me it's easier to cross then it looks". Dawnpaw wanted to hold his tail and walk next to him but the path was too narrow for two cats, all she could do was trust him.
Dawnpaw settled into Ivypaw's old nest the moss still had her stale scent but the moss was fresh enough and Scorchpool had asked some Shadow clan apprentices grab feathers, she was comfortable but mentally she was uncomfortable. She didn't like the fact that she had traded her own treatment for her clan's treatment, Dawnpaw also wasn't sure what she could tell Stonewatcher.
Silently she got up and headed out the entrance of Scorchpool's den making no noise as she crossed over both the narrow paths, she was especially quiet across ground level so she wouldn't wake any cats. When Dawnpaw finally escaped from their camp she stopped and drew in one last breath before she headed home.