Dawnlight

"I... I don't know..."

Dawnlight sighed, her tail twitching in distress, and she meowed, "That's okay, I'm Dawnlight by the way."

"I'm Brokenkit," the small kit mewed in relief, her mismatched eyes glowing as lightning flashed above their heads.

"Now let's go and see Mudstar," Dawnlight meowed, climbing to her paws and hesitantly slipping past the other RiverClan cats.

"Where are you going, Dawnlight?" Hissed a voice close to her ear, turning Dawnlight came face-to-face with Raccoonpelt.

"To find the kits." The RiverClan deputy answered in a low, challenging growl. "Dare to stop me and I'll have your tail."

Raccoonpelt stayed silent at that, her eyes blazing in hatred. The gray and black RiverClan warrior slunked back to sit beside Risingleap and Waterpaw.

Dawnlight flattened her ears in disapproval of the younger she-cat but quickly moved on with Brokenkit by her side. The rain tearing down at them and the mud slowing them down.

"Brokenkit? What are you doing with a RiverClan warrior?"

Both cats turned to see Darktail stalking toward them, teeth bared and claws covered in mud.

"Well?" He demanded at once, making Brokenkit squeak in response.

"I think I know where the missing kits are!" She mewed, her tiny tail flicking proudly, making Dawnlight's heart squeeze which surprised her.

Why am I, a RiverClan warrior, AND the deputy, so moved by a little ThunderClan furball? Dawnlight wondered in confusion, her eyes glowing as lightning lit the sky up like silver flames.

"Brokenkit-" Darktail started but was cutoff by a loud, daring yowl.

"Darktail, don't you want these RiverClan mouse-brains out of our camp?" Meowed a loud voice, and a dark brown and black tom appeared, eyes glimmering as Dawnlight recognized him to be Thornstep, a formidable - yet wise - young warrior.

"Yes..." Darktail muttered darkly, lightning flashing across his handsome face.

"Then let them find their kits and leave." Thornstep meowed dismissively, his ears twitched in amusement as he padded away.

"Come on," growled Darktail, "I'll take you to Mudstar; he'll know what to do." Darktail began to move away, his dark pelt sinking into the darkness of the storm and making it hard for Dawnlight and Brokenkit to see him.

Dawnlight nudged the little kit forward gently, urging her to follow the dark warrior. Brokenkit obeyed silently, pushing onward bravely.

Dawnlight was, yet again, touched by the little kit, it grew so bad that she had to refrain from licking her ears.

When they arrived at a neat den, Darktail halted and called out in a low voice, "Mudstar? May we come in? I think you'll want to hear this..."

"Come in Darktail, and bring whoever is with you." The reply came instantly, as though the leader had been waiting for this.

Maybe he had. Dawnlight thought curiously.

Darktail muttered "Follow me" under his breath so that Dawnlight barely heard him and he padded in, Brokenkit and Dawnlight in toe.

Mudstar was seated in a mossy nest in the center of the den, his tail curled calmly over his paws.

"Dawnlight," Mudstar greeted the RiverClan she-cat with the respect a leader gives to a deputy of another Clan. "Brokenkit," the ThunderClan leader's voice betrayed his surprise at such a tiny kit in his den, "Greetings. What can I do for you? Surely you wouldn't rather trek back to RiverClan in this weather, Dawnlight?"

Dawnlight inclined her head respectfully before answering, "No, Mudstar. But I am here for a different reason," glancing at Brokenkit nervously, she continued, "My Clan has lost three kits - Silverkit, Lionkit, and Sparrowkit - to a rogue called Wolfcry. He used to be amidst our ranks until he murdered Bearflight, WindClan's medicine cat before Quailfur, who joined StarClan not too long ago and is now replaced by Runningleap. He also tried to place the blame on my brother, Duskstar, only the deputy at the time. But Silverstar didn't believe us so she let Wolfcry stay and he ended up wasting her last two lives. And when Duskstar received his nine lives and returned, he exiled Wolfcry. But the foxheart came back for revenge and took three of our kits - actually a father of the kits is here now."

"Are you asking for us to help you?" Mudstar asked in a measured mew, his green eyes clouding in an emotion Dawnlight couldn't name.

"No." Brokenkit meowed, "I think I know where they are."

"And how should we believe a RiverClan mouse-brain and a delusional kit? I say we chase them out of our territory!" Darktail growled, his eyes glaring hatred at Dawnlight, but she noticed that he did not share the expression with Brokenkit.

"What if Brokenkit had been stolen? Or Thornkit? Splashkit and Squirrelkit, then? Then what, Darktail? Would you forget about them?" Mudstar spat calmly, although Dawnlight noted how the brown tom's fur bristled in anger.

Darktail flinched, backing away with his tail lowered and his ears pinned to his head. "Sorry," he murmured sincerely.

"It's fine. I'm only trying to prepare you for leadership when I join StarClan." Mudstar relaxed and turned back to Dawnlight and Brokenkit. "I'll send Goldenwing, Falconblaze, Thornstep, Gingerpaw, and Frostleap right away."

"What about me, Mudstar?" Darktail mewed quietly, his eyes brimming in eagerness to redeem himself. "What shall I do?"

"Guard Brokenkit, I want no harm to come to her." Mudstar meowed, he flicked his tail in dismissal.

"But Brokenkit will be-" Darktail began but Mudstar cut the young deputy off.

"She will be with the patrol to lead them to the missing kits."