The chill in the air.. (open)

Dawnkit has been able to explore on her own for awhile now.

The only problem was, she was limited to exploring the nursery. The queen's were hesitant on letting such a young kitten exploring camp when it was so cold out. She couldn't blame the other queen's, after all, when she peaked her head out her entire body would suffer from the chills. She cursed herself for being born in the middle of leafbare. There was nothing to do.. or more importantly nothing to eat. Ever since she was born Dawnkit had quite the stomach.

Some of the queen's told her stories about how she would wrestle with her other siblings to get milk and how she would screech loudly if her mother didn't feed her enough. Though it all seemed like nonsense to her, since she didn't have any recollection of doing so. The kit believed the queen's did it to make her feel bad and limit her eating, or simply embarrass her.

Today was a special day.. Dawnkit decided enough was enough. She was done exploring the nursery and having to share food with the other annoying kittens. Today, she would be going straight towards the jackpot - the kill pile. Where exactly was this pile of prey that already had her drooling? Dawnkit hadn't figured that out yet. The first thing she needed to do was to leave unnoticed..

Green eyes carefully glanced around the dark nursery. She was relieved when all the queens seemed to be dozed off, and the kits napping. Without a second thought, Dawnkit dashed for it - right out of the nursery, with no intention of stopping.

When she got outside she was alarmed at how freezing it was again! her entire body began shaking, cowering from the cold. Her natural instinct was too curl up tight into a ball. She shivered and trembled, was this a mistake..? Dawnkit thought to herself as she attempted to get warm.

'Somebody help! its freezing!!!'

Wolfcall's ears flickered, a yell echoing in his mind as he lifted his head from his nest. His eyes narrowed, a yawn splitting his features. What had he heard? The deputy's head tilted as he strained his ears, but the sound didn't repeat itself. Hmm, weird. Probably the remnants of a dream. He didn't remember it, but then he rarely did, so that wasn't odd. With another yawn, Wolfcall stretched out his forelegs and then climbed to all fours, his belly growling with hunger. Deciding he'd grab whatever was leftover from yesterday from the pile, then head out to hunt, the dark warrior picked his way around his sleeping clanmates and into the camp.

In the gloom of dawn, he didn't see the little sandy kit curled up in the snow - but he didn't have to, because on his way to the pile, he tripped over her. Hissing in surprise, Wolfcall pitched forward to keep his balance, whipping around to identify what he'd stumbled over. A kit? He squinted. "Dawnkit! What are you-?" He dashed forward and snatched the frigid kit up by the scruff, hauling for the closest bit of shelter, which happened to be the warriors' den he'd just left. He dropped Dawnkit into his still-warm nest and curled nearly on top of her, his tongue rasping against her icy fur in short, rapid strokes in an attempt to warm her.

Dawnkit was really starting to regret her decision. ‘Oh starclan why am Iso impulsive!’ was the onl y thought she had going through her mind. She could feel her body becoming numb, and her consciousness slipping in and out. The small kit was beginning to believe that she would join starclan today. She felt angry and disappointed in herself, but she left her fate in the paws of her ancestors.

Her next memories were pretty hazy. She could feel herself being grabbed and rushed to the nearest den. She felt the soft fur of another cat and their frantic licks to try and warm her. Dawnkit was starting to feel warm again, and soon she soundly slept.

Before long Dawnkit was back to life. She awoke to Wolfcall still licking at her. She was shocked to meet her savior. She expected a queen stumbled upon her and not the deputy himself. She was really relieved that she was still alive. “Umm... wolfcall I’m fine now..” she said with a small laugh not realizing how dire her situation was.

Finally, the kit started to respond to his prodding, and soon she was warmed enough to speak. The first words out of her mouth were followed by laughter, and Wolfcall let his worried expression melt into a disapproving one, tail lashing once as he stared down at her with narrowed eyes. "Do you have any idea how reckless that was? How do you think your parents would feel if they woke up to find you frozen to death in the snow? Are you in such a hurry to meet StarClan?"

Dawnkit's ears flattened, she made a mistake the she-cat really didn't think it was a big deal, she was still alive after all. She did understand where the deputy was coming from, she didn't make the best decision - rushing out to freezing temperature's just to search for food. It was mainly hunger that drove her to do it, but it was over now. "I'm sorry" Dawnkit mewed boldly, she didn't seem nervous talking to the deputy. "You're right.. they would of been heartbroken." Her green eyes met his amber gaze, "I need too learn how to value this life after all skyclan needs more warriors."

Satisfied that the kit had been chastised enough, Wolfcall sighed gently, pinning his ears back against his head. She was unharmed, so thankfully nothing terrible had happened as a result of the young one's mistake. He didn't like being stern, not with any cat, especially one so young, but she had needed the seriousness of the situation to be imprinted upon her, and so he obliged. But he nodded at her words. "I'm glad you understand. What were you doing out there, anyway? Were you looking for something?"

Dawnkit felt relieved when Wolfcall stopped being so stern and asked her if she needed something. Her pale green eyes seemed to twinkle as she thought of what her goal was. "Well you see..." Dawnkit mewed, her tail swaying slowly from excitement. "I have a pretty big stomach even though I'm so small.." She purred lightly, her eyes pleaded for food from the deputy.

Even though she ate a little earlier, Dawnkit had no shame in asking for more. After all she would be a future warrior for skyclan! She needed to eat plenty to become a strong and reliable hunter. The fact of that it was leafbare didn't faze her either, the kit figured a cat like Wolfcall should have no problem catching a rabbit or something. Her head tilted as she stared at the deputy, Dawnkit didn't realize how big he looked from this close.. She felt relieved to have him protect the clan.

A second of silence, and then Wolfcall snorted in amusement, shaking his head. She was hungry? "You realize you could have just asked any cat to get you something from the pile, right?" The deputy hesitated, frowning a bit. That was assuming there was something there to grab, as he didn't think the latest patrol had returned yet, and frozen leftovers were no good for a kit. "But I can go get you something fresh, if you like. You'll need to return to the nursery, though, while I'm gone."

Dawnkit didn't want to return, the nursery was so boring! Everyone just slept all the time, or just lay around. The small she-kit preferred the company of the deputy, even though he had scolded her. It was better than laying around all day. The ginger tabby did her best to try and plead with Wolfcall. "Please let me stay.." She mewed softly, her trail swaying in submission. "I promise, i'll be good really!" Dawnkit also was interested in hearing the stories the deputy had to share. Whenever she visited Tinyleg's he always told her such interesting stories!