Whispering dawn

The fourth book in the HawkClan series. Newtstep and Yellowstar are settling in well to their new positions, but with Dustleap still around and a threataning new prophercy around Yellowstar, the two cats must rely on each other. Meanwhile, Smokestorm may be betrayed again, though it may not be Hailwhisker. Hickoryheart struggles to keep his feelings for Blackbreeze under control and Stormtooth is haunted with something in his youth...

1. Prolouge
A dark brown she cat padded across the moonlit ground. A muscular brown tom and a silver she cat followed. "Mother, where are we meeting Briarberry?" the silver she cat asked.

"We're not too far away Rainstar" the brown she cat said.

"There she is!" the brown tom said. A white she cat with brown patches sat on the ledge of a cliff. The brown she cat hissed when she saw the cat next to her. "I said HawkClan cats only Briarberry!" she spat. Briarberry dipped her head. "Mousestar followed me Hawkstar" she said. Hawkstar softened her gaze, then nodded.

"Alright, so what are you going to talk about Hawk?" Mousestar asked her sister playfully. Hawkstar smiled and faked a swipe at her sisters ear, then both got serious. "It's about Hickoryheart and Blackbreeze" Haswkstar said. "I see" the brown tom said. "But why?"

"It's connected with Stormtooth Thrushstar" Hawkstar replied.

"But what do two young cats have to do with our brother?" Mousestar asked.

"I don't know yet" Hawkstar said.

"Is it with one of their future kits?" Briarberry asked.

"Do you know if they are having kits?" Rainstar asked. "They aren't mates yet."

"I have a strange feeling they will" Briarberry said.

"Then that means..." Mousestar said, but she was cut off by a sound. "Did you hear that?"

"Yes" Hawkstar said. Thrushstar, Rainstar and Briarberry watched as a yellow she cat and a golden brown tom, the colour of Hawkstar's paws moved out of the bushes. The yellow she cat pressed her head on Thrushstar's fur and the golden brown tom sat next to Mousestar. "Leopardclaw, Lionstar, how nice of you to join us" Hawkstar said warmly. Lionstar purred.

"I heard you were talking about two young cats" he said.

2. The first sorting
Newtstep attacked his brother, his claws stained with blood. "I will not let you harm my kits!" he yelled. Dustleap dug his claws into his chest. Newtstep yowled in pain. "Why was it you with the prophercy!?" he asked. "It should of been me! I should of been the stronger brother!"

"I thought we were the best of friends!" Newtstep yelled.

"We were" Dustleap said, pinning him down. "Goodbye Newtstar."

Newtstep woke up gasping. He breathed slower and slower until his breathing became normal again. Just a dream he thought. "Are you okay?" a voice very much like Dustleap asked. Newtstep startingly turned around and saw Smokestorm. "Oh, Smokestorm! Sorry, I'm fine" he said and shook his head.

"Is this about Dust..." Smokestorm started.

"Don't use that word around me!" Newtstep snapped. Smokestorm flinched. Newtstep sighed. "I'm sorry I yelled at you" he said. Immediately, another thought came into his mind. "How did you know?"

"Can I tell you later?" Smokestorm asked. Newtstep nodded.

"Can you lead the dawn patrol?" he asked. "Take Hickoryheart, Blackbreeze and Spiderclaw with you." Smokestorm nodded and led the two new warriors and Mallowflower's mate out of the den.Newtstep then headed out of the den himself, moving towards the nursery. As usual, Stormkit and Nightkit were play fighting outside, though they stopped when they saw their father. "Daddy!" Stormkit squealed.

"Do you want to play badger attack?" Nightkit asked.

"Badger attack?" Newtstep asked.

"There's a cat pretending to be a badger and the other one, two or more cats try to bring the badger down" Stormkit said. Newtstep smiled. "Did you make this game up yourself?" he asked.

"Yeah!" Nightkit replied.

"Well, I'll definantly play" Newtstep said.

"Yay!" the two kits yelled.

"I'll be the badger" Newtstep said, getting into a somewhat threataning position.

"HawkClan, attack!" Stormkit yelled. Nightkit ran next to him as they leapt onto their father's back. Newtstep tried to shake them off, but softly. Stormkit pretended to fall off, while Nightkit was trying to hold on. Newtstep playfully swatted at Stormkit, though he dodged his blow. Feathersplash smiled as she and Mallowflower poked their heads out of the nursery. Newtstep pretended to fall as Stormkit leapt towards his chest. "We win!" Stormkit yowled.

"Not yet!" Feathersplash said. "You have to beat that badger's three companions." The two kits turned around and saw Feathersplash, Mallowflower and Stormtooth in their badger like positions. Meanwhile, Newtstep got up and circled them before crouching down next to Feathersplash. "No fair!" Stormkit shouted. However, the four badgers attacked. Stormkit playfully hissed and swatted at Mallowflower and Newtstep, while Nightkit pawed at Feathersplash's face and faked a swat at Stormtooth. Mallowflower fell in defeat, followed by Stormtooth. "I haven't had that much fun since my time as deputy!" Stormtooth huffed.

"I need to tell Spiderclaw this" Mallowflower also huffed. Feathersplash fell after a long struggle, then finally,  Newtstep fell for the second time. "We win!" Stormkit yelled. "Again!"

"Alright, you win this time" Newtstep said.