At Dawn's First Call

This page contains a fanfiction written by Nighty & Red. This page contains the opinions of the original author(s), and is not patrolled for factual accuracy. Remember that this story is non-canon. It may contain false characters, plots, or locations. Responses, comments & other feedback should be made on the comments section below.

Blurb

At dawn's first call, the rain shall fall, and dust will be charred black. Beware thunder's first crack.

Rainspeckle is your average, fiesty she-cat. She's an avid hunter and a clever fighter, but could care less about taking on a mate. Dustflight is the son of the Clan leader. He could have any she-cat he wants, but he's been crushing on Rainspeckle ever since the two were kits. 

But when the two get captured by Twolegs...everything they know, every opinion they have, is about to change. 

Note: Rainspeckle's point of view is written by Nighty, and Dustflight's is written by Red.

Prologue

A loud shriek came from the nursery, matched by a low moan. A cream-colored she-cat carrying assorted herbs hurried into the small, cramped den and dropped the leaves at the sight of the two queens. One, a black and white patched she-cat named Blossomflight, was breathing heavily. Next to her, in a nest of moss and bracken, a queen whose name was Icewing was was mumbling incoherently to the sandy-gold tom next to her, her ice-blue eyes glazed with pain.

Dawnpaw, the cream she-cat, bustled between the two, depositing a few herbs here and there and persuading the toms beside either she-cat to keep their mates calm. "It won't do her any good," Dawnpaw said reproachfully to Sunstar, Icewing's mate. She directed her attention to the small tabby tom crouched beside Blossomflight. "Snowpatch, make sure she eats that borage!"

"Yes, Dawnpaw," Sunstar replied hurriedly, running his tail along his mate's swollen flank and giving her a comforting lick on the ear. Snowpatch did the same, murmuring in quiet tones to Blossomflight, putting a bit of borage on his paw and bringing it closer to his mate's mouth.

Blossomflight let out a yowl. "Her kits are coming!" Snowpatch cried.

"You think I can't tell when my own mother is giving birth?" snapped Dawnpaw irritably, racing over to Blossomflight. She rested a small paw on the queen's flank, then nodded. "You're right, though, Snowpatch. They are coming, so just--oh, great StarClan, really?" 

The apprentice tore back across the den to Icewing. The white queen was panting heavily as well, and a screech had just torn itself from her throat. Both she-cats moaned simultaneously, in pain, while Dawnpaw stood at the center of the den, torn between her mother and the other kitting she-cat.

"Oh, great StarClan!" Dawnpaw muttered to herself. She raised her voice, still shuffling in the middle of the den. "On the next spasm--Blossomflight, Icewing, the both of you--push!"

There were soft coos from both of the she-cats' mates, Sunstar poking cautiously at his tiny newborn kit, while Snowpatch expertly nipped open the sac and released the minute little kit - a speckled gray she-cat, from the looks of her. Sunstar and Icewing's kit was a tom, with dusty brown tabby fur and a long tail fluffier than a squirrel's. Both pairs of mates purred at their new children. 

Blindly, the tom kit stumbled away from his mother, drawn by the stronger scent of Blossomflight's milk. As soon as the small kit got close to the queen, however, the female kit swatted him away with a powerful paw and a tiny hiss. 

The tom mewled.

Sunstar plucked his son up and dropped him by Icewing, where he proceeded to drink his fill of milk before falling asleep, eyes never opening, tail curled around his tiny pink muzzle. Likewise, the she-cat had fallen asleep in the soft belly fur of her mother. 

"What about Sandkit?" Icewing suggested tiredly, her eyes already drooping half-closed. Sunstar shrugged, and eyed Snowpatch and Blossomflight's kit. 

"You know...Snowpatch, Rainkit would be a nice name for her," he told them. 

Snowpatch perked up. "Thanks, Sunstar! Rainkit it is." He bent his muzzle to lick his small but strong daughter on the head, and purred. He refocused his gaze on Sunstar. "Yours looks like a perfect Dustkit."

"Dustkit it is then," Sunstar replied, jokingly copying his friend. He gave his snoozing mate a lick on the head, then padded out into the camp, stretching at the sudden release and ample room to move. Picking up a small piece of fresh-kill, he padded into the medicine den. Dawnpaw was sorting through herbs, her eyes already drooping, and he tossed the plump shrew to her. She looked up. 

"Thanks," Sunstar said brightly. He frowned after Dawnpaw refrained from replying, and let out a mew of shock when her body went rigid.

"At dawn's first call, the rain shall fall, and dust will be charred black. Beware thunder's first crack."

"I-I'm sorry?" Sunstar asked, eying his medicine cat with apprehension. She shook herself suddenly, body relaxing and eyes losing their strange glint.

"I don't...I don't know what happened," Dawnpaw replied, blinking. "I'm sorry, Sunstar, what were we saying?"

"Nothing," Sunstar mewed. "Nothing."

He turned to leave, her words - a prophecy, he was sure of it! - still ringing in his ears.

At dawn's first call, the rain shall fall, and dust will be charred black. Beware thunder's first crack.

Chapter One - Rain

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join at the TallReeds for a Clan meeting!"

My ears pricked at Sunstar's booming voice, and my tail flicked back and forth in excitement as I quickly exited the apprentices' den. Today was a very special day, obviously.

I sat down at the back of the crowd of cats, quickly giving myself a last-minute groom. My mentor, Autumnpelt, sat beside me, a proud gleam in his green eyes. 

"Today, two apprentices will become warriors," Sunstar meowed. I lifted my head, filled with pride. "They have learned the ways of the warrior code, how to hunt and fight, and are ready to move to the next level of Clan life. Rainpaw and Dustpaw, will you please step forward."

My grin disappeared when I heard Dustpaw's name. Dustpaw never took being an apprentice seriously--of course, no-one cared since he was Sunstar's son. The brown tabby tom preffered to sit quietly by himself and think or something. He never took action. He didn't even fight very well!

Remember, Rainpaw, you're becoming a warrior! Dustpaw won't mess up your day, I scolded myself. Smiling again, I padded towards the TallReeds and Sunstar. After flashing me a glance Dustpaw padded beside me. I ignored him and continued forward.

"You first, Dustpaw." Of course. Dustpaw first. "Dustpaw, do you promise to defend the Clan with your life in battle, bring back as much prey as to your ability, and be the best warrior you can be?"

"I do," Dustpaw replied solemnly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan invested in me, I name you Dustflight, warrior of ReedClan!" Sunstar exclaimed. 

"Dustflight! Dustflight! Dustflight!" the cats below chorused, ecstatic.

"Now you, Rainpaw." My attention snapped back to the leader of ReedClan as my blue eyes shone with excitement. "Rainpaw, do you promise to defend the Clan with your life in battle, bring back as much prey as to your ability, and be the best warrior you can be?"

"I do!" I replied, excitement rolling off me in waves.

Sunstar smiled gently at my excitement. "Then by the powers of StarClan invested in me, I name you Rainspeckle, warrior of ReedClan!"

"Rainspeckle! Rainspeckle! Rainspeckle!" the crowd was less ecstatic than when they had proclaimed Dustflight's new name, but I didn't care. Finally, I was a warrior. Finally!

"Clan dissmissed!" Sunstar meowed, and stepped away from the TallReeds. I bounded away from them as well, searching for Dawnfrost, my half-sister. Quietly, I slipped inside of the medicine den and saw her sorting herbs in a corner.

"Dawnfrost!" I meowed. She turned to see me standing at the den entrance and smiled.

"Ah, so you're a warrior now!" she meowed, still smiling as she moved towards me and rubbed my flank with her tail.

"Yeah! Stinks that my ceremony had to be with stupid Dustflight though," I mumbled. Dawnfrost blinked and stepped back, as if scared of something.

"What?" I replied.

"Stay away from him," she meowed, a hint of warning in her sweet voice. I blinked in surprise but quickly shook it off.

"That won't be a problem," I replied jokingly. But something in her voice...

I quickly said goodbye and exited the medicine den, going towards the camp entrance to sit my vigil.