Tales of Dawnbloom: chapter 5 - Blind

Instructions

TW: MAYBE a cat has a crush……….. oh, and not paying attention I curled closer to the small shape next to me. Dawnkit snuggled closer. I started purring softly, but stopped quickly, my face on fire. “Your purr is so soft and calm.” Dawnkit murmured. She faced me. “Trust me, some purrs do not sound soft and calm.” I purred in amusement. It had been 4 moons since Dawnkit had been blinded by lightning. About 2 moons ago, Clawedpelt told her that she could walk around outside, if she was with someone. Every morning I would walk her outside, and she would come along with me to my apprentice training. I never wanted to leave her side, she was still a kit! I knew it must feel terrible to still be a kit when her freinds are almost warriors. “Dawnkit!” Clawedpelt walked over to where I was curled up with Dawnkit. It was sun-high and we were in a soft patch of moss, basking in the sun. “You’re finally ready to target get out of the medicine den, but I expect you to see me 3 times every moon just in case.” Clawedpelt beamed at Dawnkit. “Oh. Oh! Thanks! Thanks a bunch!” She sat up happily. Dawnkit took the celadine off her eyes and handed it to Clawedpelt. She then started running, and promptly fell over. Getting up, Dawnkit staggered across the clearing. Nobody knew the path of the blind kit. “ALL CATS 6 MOONS OR OLDER JOIN ME BENEATH THE HIGHROCK!” Cinderstar, Sunclan leader, called from atop the highrock. I walked over to where Dawnkit was sitting. I remembered with a start that she was 7 moons old now. She leaned against me. I smiled happily. “4 moons ago we had a storm. A kit saw the reflection of lighting and was blinded, she has now recovered, and while she cannot see very well, she can see light and dark, and at least the vague outlines, her version is very very blurry, but intact.” Cinderstar told the clan. Dawnkit smiled, she already knew all of this, but hearing it was probably comforting. “Now this kit, Dawnkit, is 7 moons old. The warrior code states that at 6 moons a kit will become an apprentice, due to the blindness causing her to be in the medicine den when she kit 6 moons, she was still a kit. Today she becomes an apprentice.” Dawnkit gasped, happy tears started falling down her face. “My warrior ancestors look down on me and this decision. Until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Dawnpaw! Your mentor shall be Foxteeth!” Echos of ‘dawnpaw’ drifted around the camp but also whispers. Ever since Solclan and Sunclan merged into heatclan, kits were apprenticed by the other clan’s warriors. This was the first time Sunclan apprentice and Sunclan warrior were together. Dawnpaw looked overwhelming by the fact she was an apprentice. She stumbled over to foxteeth(who did most of the aiming) and touched noses with her mentor. “I heard Cinderstar and Ripplestar arguing, didn’t think you would make it. Should they exile or force you to become a med-cat. They decided that every warrior counts, and they gave yeh a chance.” Foxteeth said. She smiled at me. “Don’t worry. You’ll be a fine warrior, but you just have to play to your strengths. Do you like hunting or fighting?” Foxteeth looked intently at Dawnpaw who meowed “hunting.” In the smallest voice I’ve ever heard. “Sure! LETS HUNT!” Foxteeth grabbed Dawnpaw by the scruff, she yelped as her mentor dragged her across the clearing. I felt a surge of anger crawl up my spine. Just because Dawnpaw was blind didn’t mean she couldn’t walk. And that didn’t mean that Foxteeth had the right to drag her away. I pushed down my anger and looked around. Darkclaw was looking apprehensively towards Pineplace. “Hi. What’s up.” I asked, sitting down next to him. “Nothiiiiiiiiing.” He said, flicking his tail. He glanced around uneasily. I looked at him. He smiled akwardly. “Just your average warrior looking out at the wonderful forest!” He meowed. He sounded calm and happy, but his shoulders were tense. “Sooooooooooooooooooooooo….” I said. I half wanted him to answer, half wanted him to stay quiet so I could ask more questions. “Nice weather.” He said. I looked up at the clouds. A storm was obviously coming closer, judging my the dark puffy clouds floating lazily towards us. But it was pretty decent weather. “Yuh-huh. Weaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaather.” I said. Darkclaw nodded. “Weaaaaaaaaaaather. Very nice weaaaaaaaather.” He said. “Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Uh, hi.” “Helloooooooooooo.” “Uh, moo?” “Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.” “Time to go act like a squirrel.” “Squirrrrrrrrel.” I looked at him. “I just said moo, and time to act like a squirrel and you had no reaction. What’s up.” I looked at Darkclaw. “Yeah, I guess, uh. Hi.” Darkclaw continued looking at the trees. I sighed. Lifting my paw, I smacked his cheek. “OW! What was that for?!” He yowled. Then he paused. “Oh, yeah, I wasn’t listening. Sorry, uh, what did you say?” Darkclaw looked at me. I groaned.