Disclaimer: Warriors by Erin Hunter

Thanks to reviewers: GinnyStar, Anidori-Isilee, Chat et Chocolate, and Quince-Wolfblaze-Adolpha

Yeah for them! They make me smile!

Well, I won't be writing as much as I hoped. The classes are tough and I have to study between them. Hopefully you can get this once a week though. On with the story.

Chapter 20

The four returned to GroveClan. Their wounds were mostly scabs now, but Frog still had his limp, his leg swollen. Duststripe's ear was a bit infected and he thought everything felt hot. The she-cats were mostly all right. After licking up their wounds, they healed fine, but the deeper ones were still open. Duststripe couldn't wait for Waterdrop to look over them. They stumbled through the small open area to the grove. There they found the camp.

A clearing surrounded by high gorse bushes and not too near water, it wasn't a logical place for cats to be. But the pool where StarClan had greeted them was in this grove and they felt no cat would want to cross the open space to reach the grove. They'd been safe for seasons now.

They stumbled into the clearing. Duststripe looked around, but couldn't see anyone.

"They must be hunting," Cloverleaf meowed. "Let's go to the leafcat's den."

The others nodded and walked to the Great Boulder. Inside were two chambers. One for Petal to sleep and the other for Waterdrop to store herbs. They approached the wider opening and lay down inside the cool shadows of the chamber. Duststripe must have fallen asleep because the next thing he felt was a cold something being wrapped on his ear.

He jerked away, eyes flying wide as he stared about.

"Hold still," Waterdrop growled.

Duststripe identified the silvery tom and relaxed. He kept his ear straight as the leafcat finished wrapping on the cobweb. When he was finished, the old tom shoved some crushed plant to the warrior.

"Eat this. It will sooth the infection."

Duststripe wasn't happy about that, but he licked up the mush. It tasted gross. Mouth watering, he looked around. The she-cats weren't there. But Frog was. The apprentice lay in a corner of the chamber on a mossy nest. Two sticks wrapped in cobwebs rested against his front paw. The swelling seemed down.

"Will he be all right?" Duststripe meowed.

"As long as he doesn t keep walking on it," Waterdrop replied. "Now get out, you aren't sick."

Duststripe lowered his ears and hurried from the chamber. He knew it wasn't best to argue with the leafcat. In fact Waterdrop had been a bit nicer than usual. His son was sleeping anyway and Duststripe didn't want to disturb him. His kit needed sleep.

Once out of the chamber, Duststripe looked around to see that a morning glow surrounded the small clearing. The gorse hedge had an orange color on the top, the leaves almost seemed see-through, even the grass had some dew left on it. Duststripe's paws slowly got wet as he walked through the ferns.

He spotted Cloverleaf speaking to Petalstar quietly in one edge of camp. Lightberry wasn't to be seen and he wondered if the she-cat was sleeping in the warriors' den. Mint was lying not far from Cloverleaf and Petalstar. The large, long haired light gray tom looked between them. He seemed to be adding some sort of comment. Cloverleaf glared at him and turned back to the leader.

Duststripe slowly approached. He didn't have need to hurry, even if he did wonder where everyone was. They had a day ahead of them. Of course he did wonder how long they'd let him sleep for. It seemed that half a day and a night had passed since they got to the camp. He didn't feel tired, but his legs were sore, his ear and back legs still stung.

"Good morning," Petalstar purred when she saw him.

Cloverleaf twitched and ear, only sparing him a glance. From Mint he got the same.

"We need to go before they get organized," Cloverleaf meowed. "They'll have time to change their defenses if we wait to long."

"They only have a few cats to guard all that territory," the red leader turned to her deputy. "And they can't have everyone do that if they need to hunt. Now, I'd like to hear what Duststripe has to say."

She turned to the brown warrior. He flicked an ear and sat down.

"Where is everyone else?" he meowed.

"Hunting," Petalstar answered. "Lightberry took them out on a patrol."

"She did?" He was almost surprised.

Petalstar nodded. "She felt well enough. How is Frog?"

"Waterdrop says he's fine. He just isn't supposed to walk on that leg."

"Good. What did Lilyfern have to say?"

Duststripe looked down. Grass blade poked up through his fur, poking into his paws. He could still feel a sudden ache in his chest. She had left him. He might have left her in the camp and run away that first day, but she'd cast him from her heart. He meant nothing to her. It was hard to remember or even bring up.

"I am sorry for your loss," Petalstar meowed quietly, brushing her tail down her side. "She was a good cat and she did love you enough to have Frog with you. Have the grace to let her go without anger or regret. There are always going to be she-cats Duststripe. Some who would love to stay by your side for life. Remember Lilyfern as the cat you knew and know that she has changed. You have changed too. You aren't the cat that left Tanglewood."

He looked up into her golden eyes. He wanted to believe her, but he just didn't think her words would help. What did she know? She'd never had a mate or had kits with someone. She hadn't left anyone she deeply cared for in the Clan. She didn't have a specific cat to return to. Yet she wanted him to accept what happened and move on. He didn't want to move on. He wanted Lilyfern.

"Did she tell you anything about Sullen?" Petal asked.

Duststripe slowly nodded. "He's changed the Clan. There really isn't a warrior code anymore. He has them mark the borders-"

"They moved them in," Cloverleaf meowed. "The territory isn't as large as before."

He looked to see if she'd say anything more. She dipped her head and he continued.

"And apparently he makes everyone hunt. If they don't bring back at least one piece of prey, they don't eat."

"Even the queens and elders?" Petalstar looked concerned.

"I don't think the queens hunt," he meowed, thinking. "But she was the only one inside at the moment. And there aren't any elders."

"None?" Petal looked confused.

"Clearecho and Desertfur are gone," he meowed. He glanced at Cloverleaf. He'd told her on the way back about the death of her parents. She'd grieved then but even now her head bowed. "I don't think Whitetoes is retiring yet. I don't know if he's allowed. Lilyfern didn't say much about that."

"So what does Sullen do?" Petalstar asked.

"He stays in camp according to her. He and Bark don't leave. But their deputies keep control for them. There's two: Night and Dove. They usually make sure the cats bring in the prey and watch the borders."

"What about the leafcat?"

"I didn't ask. But I assume Dancingeyes is still there. It would be foolish to stop that practice. Even the rogues have to know that. They need care after battles."

Petalstar nodded. "Is there anything else?"

Duststripe tried to remember what she'd said. Many things had been pushed to the back of his mind, overwhelmed by the fact that she'd betrayed him and then the race out of the camp afterward. He glanced at the tree leaves overhead and tried to think of other important things she'd told him. He'd had to be careful not to reveal too much back to her. She'd had her questions too after all.

"Not that I recall," he meowed. "We didn't have much time to talk."

Petalstar nodded and glanced at Mint and Cloverleaf.

"So we need to go back," Cloverleaf insisted.

"Not now," Petalstar sighed. "Don't be-"

She clamped down on whatever she had to say. Duststripe had a feeling it wouldn't have been very leader-like to offend her deputy. And it was likely Cloverleaf might. She was eager for this battle, to return and give Petalstar her rightful place. It was all she'd ever waited for this whole leafbare. The reasons she finally accepted letting in the barn cats. If Petalstar deigned her this, she would get angry. Of course Duststripe knew she wouldn't go back on her own to fight them all. She might walk off for a day or two to cool down. But she was eager and that might cause mistakes, a lack of planning.

"Why must we wait?" Cloverleaf demanded. The tortoiseshell's tail twitched, her pelt rippling.

"Waiteth long, leaves changeth and falleth to ground like feathers from dead bird," Mint spoke up.

"I am aware of how much time we have," Petalstar meowed. "Newleaf has almost ended and greenleaf comes. My cats may just refuse me if we wait too long. Perhaps they don't even want me now."
Duststripe blinked. Why wouldn't they want their leader back? She was a lot nicer than Sullen. The yellow tom hadn't done much for the Clan except create a tyranny. They lived in fear, listening to the rogues, doing what they felt was wrong. If they wanted their freedom back, they would be overjoyed to let Petalstar lead them again. Sullen hadn't even been blessed by StarClan.

"They will," Cloverleaf growled, her tail thrashing. "You are the rightful leader. Named by Glide and StarClan. We will rescue our Clan. If they don't want us, then they can leave."

"And if we lose?" Petalstar asked.

"Returneth to GroveClan, you mayeth," Mint meowed. He sat up right now. His wide face and bright blue eyes shining.

"You don't want us here long, Mint," Petalstar shook her head. "Tide and I made our agreement. You will help us and return and we will stay in Tanglewood."

"Assumeth you win. Now doubt shadoweth like dark cloud. We changeth for you, learneth fighting and code. Season change. Not be enemies no longer. You be no trespassers on you land. This be all our land, you, mine, Tide. Not win, cometh back and liveth code you recieveth from StarClan. Far from rogue us maketh new Clan."

Petalstar smiled at him. "I am happy you've accepted us. I don't know what Tide will think about you saying such things. But I am glad to know you think of yourself as our Clanmate. It means a lot to me. But you've lead me to realize we can't give up on our Clan back in Tanglewood. They need us so they can follow the code StarClan gave us. It is a better life and they need to choose. We will help them. If we don't win, then we will help StarClan live on elsewhere. But our old Clanmates need to live free as well and have the chance."

"So we need to go back now," Cloverleaf meowed.

"We are not ready," Petalstar shook her head. "When we go we all go. I won't leave anyone behind. Frog needs to heal. You need to heal from your wounds and everyone needs to prepare. We will leave in a moon. That is final."

Cloverleaf looked down. Duststripe had a feeling when Petalstar mentioned Frog's injury she might have suddenly realized why they needed to stay. He certainly wouldn't leave his son alone in the GroveClan camp. He knew that he and Cloverleaf could go back and fight, despite their injuries, but Frog wouldn t make it. He wouldn't be able to fight effectively and that could be the death of him if a rogue got a hold of him. They weren't honor bound not to kill. And they would kill. Duststripe wondered if his former Clanmates would too.

"All right. We won't leave just yet," the deputy consented.

"Good," Petalstar nodded. "Now you two mark the borders."

"Meaneth you not three?" Mint questioned, glancing at Duststripe.

"No," Petalstar smiled. "You and Cloverleaf should go. Duststripe can stay here with me."

He watched Mint's eyes glow and he looked at Cloverleaf with a slight smile. She narrowed her eyes at him as if angry, but her tail twitched playfully. Duststripe did want to get out of the camp, but he decided it would be best to leave them alone. So he sat with Petalstar as the two left.

"What do you think about a warrior ceremony?" the red she-cat asked.

Duststripe blinked and looked over at her. "For Frog? He's hardly ready."

She shook her head. "No. For the barn cats. They are our Clanmates now. We can't let them go into this battle without names. Without protection from StarClan."

He realized how much that phrase meant now that they'd spoken with the starry ancestors. StarClan really would be on their side. And perhaps giving the barn cats names would bring them all closer together, willing to die if need be.

"I think it would be appropriate," he nodded.

"Good," she purred. "Because the day before we leave, they will be warriors."

-Line-

The night felt thick with heat. It saturated the air around them. The warriors panted. The stars wavered overhead and Duststripe's tongue felt dry. He wanted to get a drink, but even the gully was mostly dry. There was only StarClan's pool, but Duststripe didn't want to dream of them again. It was safer just to take moss from the gully when they could and hope more would be there tomorrow.
But now tomorrow would never come. Because they were leaving GroveClan behind. They would leave the hot greenleaf day and nights for Tanglewood and the ever swampy bog. They were going home.

"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your lives?" Petalstar asked. "Doeth this," came the reply from three throats, and one "I do," from the fourth.
The ceremony was almost complete and Duststripe's eyes rested proudly on the apprentice he'd had for a short time. Lavender was to be a warrior. The night had come for them to receive their names. In the morning they would leave.

Petalstar sat near the Great Boulder, unable to climb up the tall stone. She sat proudly and for once as a true leader, she was saying the very words StarClan wanted her to. Waterdrop had received the ceremony from the dead ancestors and now Petalstar was pleased to use it.

"Then from this moment on you will be known as Mint-tail," she announced. She rested her head over the light gray tom's and he licked her shoulder. His blue eyes seemed happy. He wasn't bothered to submit to her. "My StarClan look over you."

She moved on to the next.

"From this moment on you will be known as Lavenderpelt." The process was repeated for the gray and ginger she-cat. "May StarClan look over you."

When Petalstar reached the third cat, Duzie shook her head before Petalstar could continue.

"I would like to keep my own name if you don't mind. My mother gave it to me and I plan to keep it until I die."

Tide gasped. "Choseth this, maketh not be warrior!"

"It is all right," Petalstar told him. "She can keep her name. There is no requirement she must take on a warrior's name to be a warrior. She has proven herself."

Tide tilted his head and looked to his mate. She smiled back at him. "I wish to keep it."

"Then from this moment on you will be known as Duzie," Petalstar told her. She placed her head on the tabby she-cat's Duzie licked her shoulder and Petalstar moved on.

"Do you wish to keep your name Tide?" the red she-cat asked. "You don't have to have it. I should have told you before."

Mint-tail and Lavenderpelt didn't seem to mind. Tide frown and looked thoughtful. The gray tom with dark stripe on his legs slowly nodded.

"Wisheth I for new calling. New calling for new Clan. My life hath changeth and must I so as well."

Petalstar nodded. "Then from this moment on you will be known as Risingtide."

She placed her head on top of his. He licked her shoulder, seeming grateful.

"We welcome you to . . ." for a moment she seemed confused. Duststripe wondered why. Then he realized. What Clan would they be by the end of greenleaf? GroveClan or SummerheatClan? Which one should they be named members of? A clan they had trained to join or the one to defend?

"I name you warriors of Summerheat," she finally meowed. She had a confident smile on her face.

"Mint-tail, Lavenderpelt, Duzie, Risingtide!" Cloverleaf started the cheer. Her eyes were only on one tom though. Duststripe and the others started their cheer, adding to the small Clan's voices. It soared upward to the stars.

Lightberry leaned into him and Duststripe licked her head. They were going home. This was the end and it was time to return and reclaim what was theirs.

"Normally the new warriors are to sit vigil, silently contemplating what they've achieved and what they will do for their Clan," Petal meowed when the cheering ended. Her voice was just a little hoarse.
"However, we all need to be well rested for the journey. I ask everyone to get a good night's sleep. For tomorrow we go home."

Once again there was a cheer and all of the cat's voices roared their agreement. It was hard to sleep that night. Duststripe couldn't imagine how it must have been for the new warriors. They just have been thinking over their decision to become Clan members what it really meant for them. He was anxious to go back to Summerheat. They would finally fight for their Clan. It had driven them this far and now it would come to an end.

Lightberry sighed. Her pelt rested against his side and he could feel her movements. He nuzzled her ear but she didn't waken. At least someone wasn't worried, he thought with amusement. He was happy here in the grove. This new life wasn't bad, but he longed to be home in the familiar forest. Even if he didn't have a mate or friends there anymore. It was his life and he would be suspended with longing and wondering if this was never resolved. He finally had to fight. This would decide if he was worthy enough to live in the forest. Before he'd run when Sullen entered. He hadn't stood up, but now he was going back to reclaim it. Prove to them and the sons he didn't know that the Clan was his.

Slowly his thoughts drifted until his head drooped and he slept.

The next morning Frog awakened first. He bounded from the den and into the morning sunlight. Duststripe watched his son disappear through the bush leaves and wondered if he should ask his son if he wanted to hunt. They did need to eat before beginning the journey. He slowly eased away from Lightberry but her eyes shot open at his movement. She glanced up at him and stretched.

"Morning," she meowed quietly.

"Morning," he replied. "Would you come hunting with us?"

She nodded.

When they left the den, Risingtide was just stirring. Frog wasn't anywhere in the clearing and Duststripe wondered if his son had gone ahead. He gestured to the entrance with his tail and Lightberry smiled at him, leading the way from camp. The air was already starting to blaze with heat.

When the two returned, they had at least two mice each. They found the others sitting in the clearing, as if just waiting. Petalstar nodded to them.

Duststripe left the mice in the pile. A bird waited there. Lightberry left her catch and then took a vole with her. The other cats quickly accepted the rest and for a few moments the camp was filled with the sounds of teeth against bones.

Duststripe found Frog sitting near Cloverleaf. He didn't approach, leaving his son to choose where he would eat. When they were finished. Petalstar flicked her tail, motioning them to approach.

"We leave now," she meowed. "May StarClan guide our path."

They nodded. The cats stood up and started walking single file for the entrance.

"Journey with you, I not be," a voice suddenly spoke up.

Duststripe turned to see who had spoken.