Dawn's New Path

Chapter 10, Memories

Dawn could see herself as a kit. It was her self from before living in two-leg place. She knew the tom in front of her was her uncle,and Dusk was her sister. It was deep into leaf-fall in the memory. Stars blazed overhead, and no moon shone. A small group of cats was around her. She saw her uncle, her sister, the healer, and the leader.

      "Dessert what should we do?" asked a dark grey tom.
   "Well River, the pride must split," replied a strange greyish, orange she-cat.
   "What about my sister's kits?" the tom, River, said.

   Dessert looked at the two mewling she-kits. A worried looked entered her eyes, seeing the tired, thin kits.

   "River you may choose what to do with them," said Dessert.
   River looked at the stars, then quietly replied, " I will stay with them until they are older."

   Dessert bowed her head, then turned to check then wounds of a ginger furred cat.

   Dawn couldn't hear what Dessert said to the other cat nor his response. Then the leader became still.

    "Dessert," hesitated River.
   "Yes River," Dessert asked without thinking.
   "Goodbye Dessert," said River finally.
   "You will leave then?"
   "Yes I think the kits will stand a better chance in the twoleg place."
   "If you so think, then I wish you luck."
   "Thank you Dessert, may the stars shine brightest on your path."

   Then River started to lead them away from the others. They kept going for some time Dawn knew, but she could only remember one thing. River had said, "Then when I leave you will forget me and the pride, I promise," and " You are Dawn, and your sister is Dusk."


   "I suppose I didn't tell you the full truth," River said, "Dawn and Dusk are your short names." "Your full names are Dawn's light and Dusky moon." "My full name is Rushing river."

   "So all this time you had lied!" exclaimed Dusk furiously.

   "Hang on, he said that we were going by short names," said Dawn. "So those are our names technically."

   "Well I at least want a reason why!" snarled Dusk.

   "The pride is dead in the heart of the ancients" said River. "So everyone left their proper pride names behind."


   Both she-cats were silent for some time.


   "Except the ancients say the spirit of the pride sleeps," said Dawn. "They still guide and protect us as before."

   "They haven't sent signs or dreams in a long time," replied River.

   Dawn didn't reply.

   "I wish I had Dove's power to read minds," River said hoarsely.

   Then River turned and walked away, toward the soon to be rising sun.