Destiny Bound - Chapter 2 - Meanwhile, In StormClan

~Dawnstar~

"Wait for it, Cinderpaw," Dawnstar's cool voice breathed as she and her apprentice crouched silently in the long grass of their territory. Cinderpaw flicked her ears to show that she'd heard her mentor, and she kept her green-yellow eyes fixed on the plump rabbit in front of her.
As the rabbit started scrabbling on the ground, occupying itself, Dawnstar hissed a sharp "Now!".
As a result, Cinderpaw leaped forward impressively, and killed her prey before it even knew she was there.
"She's a fast one," Dawnstar thought with a purr, before congratulating her apprentice and retrieving the rest of the prey they had hunted that day; 2 rabbits and 1 mouse. StarClan had blessed them with good hunting.


When they had woven their way through the rock barrier and back into camp, Cinderpaw dropped their prey on the fresh kill pile before Dawnstar told her that they were done for the day. The young black apprentice dipped her head in thanks.
"I'll take some fresh kill to Silentwind," she offered, before picking up her 2 plump catches and heading towards the medicine cat den.
Dawnstar watched her apprentice leave with concern; she was always so helpful, but other cats weren't very accepting of her since she kept her origins a mystery and was thus classed as suspicious, therefore she tended to eat by herself or with Silentwind - if the medicine cat wasn't busy. It really was such a shame, she was a bright and well-mannered apprentice.
But Dawnstar didn't have time to shrug her worries off before she was attacked by a group of tiny yet vicious warriors.
"Take that you big old badger! You won't get past us into our camp!" Ashkit squeaked triumphantly.
"Yeah! We're the best warriors in the Clan! So you better run whilst you can!" Patchkit added, placing one of small paws on the Clan leader's head, causing her to role her eyes.
"Grr! Oh no, I've been caught! You warriors are far too strong for me, I'll never attack your camp ever again, I promise," She played along in a growly voice.

"Patchkit! Ashkit! Get off our leader at once!"
As suddenly as they had attacked, they scrambled away from the "badger" and went to face a more terrifying beast; their mother, Blacktip.
"I'm so sorry about that Dawnstar! Why, I have the right mind to keep them indoors until they're ready to become Warriors!" The black-and-white mother fumed.
"It's okay, they won't be kits for long now will they? One more moon and you'll be rid of them."
"Oh yes, I can't wait! These two cause so much trouble...why can't you be more like your sister?"

Dawnstar sat up quickly as Oakswift's patrol bounded into camp, the last border patrol for today. Oakswift headed her way, before he suddenly stopped and let out a mreow of laughter. Dawnstar blinked, but then realized in dismay that her fur was sticking up and terribly dusty from the kit-attack.
She gave her chest fur a few embarrassed licks whilst Oakswift calmed down.
"You look like you were attacked!" He exclaimed in amusement.
"I was!" She replied tartly, before picking up two leftover rabbits from the fresh kill pile and setting one of them in front of Oakswift.
"Them kits again?" He asked, stifling a purr.
"You bet, they're nearly ready to be apprentices...it's nice, seeing the Clan thrive after that horrible incident with the badgers."
Dawnstar shuddered, and Oakswift lay his tail on her shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"Don't worry, that won't happen again. You showed them badgers what for!"
She smiled at her friend's compliment, but she had to turn away as she thought "But what if it does happen again? What if they come back...?"

It was late that night when the whole Clan was asleep that Dawnstar felt a presence in the camp. She sat up alert, and pricked her ears.
After a few moments had passed, Dawnstar heaved herself to her feet, and warily peered out of her den, opening her mouth to taste the air.
The faint and sweet smell of lavender greeted her.
"Heatherstar! It's been too long!" Dawnstar greeted her old Clan leader, who had lost her eighth and ninth life to the badgers. The two touched noses in greeting.
"It has been too long, hasn't it? But you know, I'm so proud of how you're successfully leading the Clan. I honestly couldn't have chosen a better cat for the job," Heatherstar started, causing the younger Clan leader to dip her head in embarrassment. Then she realized how odd it was for Heatherstar to open the conversation with such a compliment, and she knew something was up. Heatherstar's compliments had to be earned - they weren't just given out lightly.
"Do you have a message for me?" The caramel cat hesitantly asked, to which the other nodded, and the surrounding area of the camp suddenly seemed very dark.

"I come with a prophecy. Two rivals cross and share paths. Discovery and disaster lurks in every corner. Extinction rests in two cats, four paws. Dawnstar, you are Destiny bound to go on an adventure, but you cannot do this alone. In two days, at sundown, you must meet in the gathering area for the other...alone..."


Dawnstar agitatedly awoke, shivering with unsheathed claws and with an impending feeling of dread deep in the pit of her stomach.


~~~~

Is wasn't too big of a trek to get to the meeting place. The previous day, the troubled leader of StormClan had informed her deputy and her medicine cat about her dream. They had all agreed that StarClan's warning was valid, and decided to trust in their guidance, though it's not like Dawnstar would've done otherwise.

So here she was, creeping up the final fox-lengths to a mysterious shadowed cat who had walked up to greet her.
"Well, hello Dawnstar..." Solarstar greeted with cautiousness.
"Greetings, Solarstar. I suppose you're not here because of a particular message from StarClan, are you?" Dawnstar treaded carefully. Whilst the Clans sometimes co-operated with each other, it was very rare, and Dawnstar wanted to be sure she could trust her.
Although when Solarstar didn't appear to be surprised at the question, she made sure the fur on her back had been flattened.
"Actually yes, I am. You're the cat accompanying me?" Her new ally replied, also seeming slightly more relaxed.
"Yep. So...now what happens?"
"We wait."

So wait they did.