Dawnwing's Silence (Warrior Cats)

Prologue

"Please, I'll do anything, Beetlestar."

Andy lowers his head, crouching in front of BreezeClan's leader. He heavily pants as he looked over at the nursery den where two of his surviving kits resided. His mate, Frostwind, showed immense worry in her blue eyes. Andy flicked his tail, ushering Frostwind to tend to their fragile newborns. The cream she-cat did not move. Beside her was Andy's best friend, Swiftbreeze, the she-cat who guided him up until this moment.

Andy continues, his fur rising. "I apologize for intruding on Clan's your territory and eating its prey for as long as I did, but I had nowhere else to go after a season of searching for other cats."

He rises to his paws and takes a deep breath. "Now I've finally found a family I can finally lose my life for, Beetlestar; I-I'll fight for BreezeClan, if you give me another chance."

Beetlestar was indifferent. His deputy, Buzzardsnout, was puzzled about the Clan leader's unmoved expression, awaiting an instant reply.

After moments of silence, Beetlestar lashed his tail irritatedly. "As much as I despise outsiders, I'll make an exception for you, Andy." He hisses in disgust of the intolerable kittypet name.

Andy flicked his ears, noticing Beetlestar's aggression. "I would like to change my name as well... so I may become a true member of this Clan, Beetlestar."

Beetlestar rolls his eyes but commences the naming ceremony anyway. "Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the rogue cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on, he will be known as Antpelt for his... dedication to the Clan."

The Clan, including Buzzlesnout, cheers out his name. "Antpelt, Antpelt!"

Antpelt proudly looks to his mate, the beautiful cream she-cat, Frostwind; she brushed against his muzzle, purring. Swiftbreeze did the same soon after, batting at his ear. Frostwind's tail lashed behind her as she bumps into the gray cat's side.

Frostwind curled her fluffy tail around Antpelt's scruff. "Come on, Antpelt, I have so much to show you now that you're a warrior!"

Antpelt couldn't shake off the feeling of being resented as only a few cats actually cheered for him; Beetlestar had disappeared into his den and most of his new Clanmates had soon dispersed after the announcement.

  This was his new life as a warrior of BreezeClan; Antpelt will not let his foxheart Clanmates drag him down as he will prove to them that he will not be underestimated.

*****

   That night beneath the mountains, the BreezeClan border patrols were on the move. Beetlestar had sent them out urgently on a matter he couldn't discuss as it was "too important" to share with his own Clanmates.
  Birchstripe rolls his eyes as he thought of the secretive leader. Buzzlenose seemingly had no clue what was going on with their leader's behavior either as the deputy assigned patrols like normal.
  Beetlestar had probably ordered him to keep the matter a secret; they were supposed to share whatever is happening with the Clan to their Clanmates, Birchstripe thought. Their were a lot more border patrols out than usual.

He overhears the younger warriors he was leading chatting and gazing in awe at the many sights of the landscape. Birchstripe lashes his tail. Those mousebrains... They have no idea how to act, do they?

With a sigh, he truggs along. Then he halts; the younger cats bumped into his flank. He snarls at them to pay attention and proceeds sniffing cautiously. He gets down on his haunches as he follows the close strange scent; he flicked his tail to signal the others to be alert and follow him.

The group of warriors come across a branch stuck up out of a mud puddle. On it was a patch of brown rough fur. It stunk of twoleg rubbish and another unfamiliar scent that he couldn't identify. Ears perked, claws unsheathed, he listens for the intruder. The intruder's scent was stale; all that remained was the tuft of fur.

Even if it was stale, the unknown animal still posed a threat. Birchstripe turns to Larkthrush and orders, "go tell Beetlestar about our finding."

The she-cat runs off as ordered. Birchstripe turns to the other warrior, Sparrowfern.

"Do you know what this is?"

Sparrowfern shook his head. "Not a clue, but earlier I overheard something from Buzzlenose and Beetlestar about these strange animals prowling in our territory... I think they-"

A howl followed by many more rang in the distance interrupting the two warriors. Soon enough, they found themselves alone and fearful of these strange animals that were now the Clans' new neighbours.