Dawn's New Path

Chapter 12, Pride Hierarchy

The next day Willow pestered Dawn about wanting to know about the ranks in the pride. Eventually Dawn complied only so Willow would stop bothering her.

   "Okay Willow listen up," Dawn said slightly impatiently. "The pride hierarchy involves ranks and sub-ranks based on skill, age, and reputation. The first rank is kit; no duties and first choice of food. Second rank is soft paw; training and third choice of food. Third rank is sharp claw; hunting, teaching, patrolling, and battling, fourth choice of food. Only she-cat sharp claws with kits have first choice of food. Fourth rank is healer; healing the sick or wounded and interpreting signs, second choice of food. Fifth rank is sub-leader; giving guidance, second choice of food."

   "Wow that's a lot to take in," said Willow.

   "Yes I understand," Dawn responded. "You could go ahead and tell me the ranks in order."

   "Well it goes kit, soft paw, sharp claw, healer, and sub-leader," Willow recalled slowly.

   "Yes exactly, I'll tell you what I know about sub-ranks," Dawn continued. "For soft paw the sub-ranks are omega, gamma, and delta. I think that's the right order. Then for sharp claw are omega, gamma, delta, and beta. Again I think it's the right order but not sure. I never heard of sub-ranks for others."

   "That sounds very complicated," Willow said after some thought.

   "It is a little," Dawn replied, "but it's not the duty for a kit to know it all. And I was only a kit when I lived in the pride."

   "Well what happened to your pride?" asked Willow.

   "Some sort of attack," Dawn said. "Most of the Pride was killed during the first few. Only a few of us escaped the last. Shaded rock, Dessert's rain, Rushing river, Dusk, and myself if I remember correctly."

   "And who were they to you."

   "Shaded rock was the last and oldest sub-leader. Dessert's rain was the oldest and wisest healer left. Rushing river was my uncle, and Dusk was... Dusk was my litter-mate."

   "Dawn you didn't even get to know your parents did you?"

   "I only know that my mother was Night's moon. My father was killed, and no ever mentioned his name."

   "Sounds like you had a hard past. Why didn't you say anything before."

   "Because I had been made to forget. Some of the pride has special powers to cause things like that."

   "Who would have done that, and how did you remember?"

   "River was the one who did that, and the one who reversed it."

   "Oh, maybe he had a reason for that."

   "Maybe he did. But for now I'll go hunting."