A/N: So, I know I missed by Update day for the whole week on Dustpelt. I'm sorry, but important things shoved themselves into my life, and I had to settle them down before updating. Luckily, everything is alright now, and I can get back to my regular schedule. Now, because I missed two days of updates, I had to decide how I'd make it up to my readers. I decided instead of two updates at once, I'd just give an extra long update instead. So, I hope you ENJOY this new installment of Dustpelt (my new chapter for Darkest Threat will come out tomorrow as scheduled). I'm hoping next week all stories will be on a regular schedule!

Dustpelt woke the next morning to his brother prodding him in the side. Outside of the den, Dustpaw could just make out the ginger fur of his mentor, and he scrambled to his paws quickly. Without pausing to shake his fur or stretch, he hurried out of the den to face Redtail, who was twitching his tail impatiently. The rest of the camp seemed to have woken up ages ago. The sun was midway through the sky, and there were few warriors left in camp. By the nursery, Graykit - who was getting very big now - was trying to convince Willowpelt to take him hunting, and she refused firmly each time. Sitting nearby in the sun was Frostfur, her belly swollen with kits. Goldenflower would be in the nursery, but if she had been there, her belly would have been just as large - Dustpaw knew.

"Sorry, Redtail," he meowed bashfully, dipping his head to his mentor.

"Yes, fine." Redtail growled lightly, standing and stretching his legs briefly. "We're going hunting today. I thought I'd give you your first assessment, see how you're turning out."

"That sounds great!" Dustpaw replied, hurrying after the reddish cat, eager to prove how well his skills had developed in the last moon and a half. Redtail didn't respond, leading the young tom out of the camp and towards the training hollow. When they had arrived, he turned abruptly and faced his apprentice, waiting as Dustpaw scrambled down into the hollow and waited patiently in front of him.

"Go towards fourtrees, then come back up Riverclan border. Be careful around Sunningrocks, and if you catch anything, make sure it's well into our territory. Do not set a claw over the border, or I'll shred your ears myself."

"Yes, Redtail!" Dustpaw nodded, then hurried out of the hollow to begin.

Dustpaw crept slowly through the trees at first, his ears alert for every sound, and making worse time than a turtle. Halfway to fourtrees, he remembered he was being watched, and his pelt burned with embarrassment at his immature tactics. There was no need to go so slowly, not when there was nothing around, and he'd scent them before they him. He stood sharply and looked around when a sound reached his ears. It was a soft scuffling in a nearby bush, and he thanked StarClan he was downwind of the noise. The soft breeze that had carried the mouse's scent to Dustpaw would take his own scent far away, so the unsuspecting prey would be an easy kill - if he could stay quiet. Dropping into the best crouch for catching a mouse, he stepped slowly forward, reaching each paw out carefully and placing them softly on the ground again. Before the mouse could even suspect it was being hunted, Dustpaw leaped and caught in between his paws, giving it a killing bite before it called out a warning to rest of the forest. Satisfied with the kill, he buried it under some dead leaves to fetch it later, and trotted on.

It wasn't long before he reached the ridge that led straight down to fourtrees, and he paused a moment to enjoy the wind buffeting his fur. Soon, the days of cool breezes and easy prey would be over, and the clan would suffer from cold and prey shortages. It was already getting colder, but in the leaf-fall season, temperatures were still bearable. It wouldn't be long before snow fell from the sky, and all the prey stayed in their dens all day, leaving the clan with little food. Remembering this, Dustpaw looked away from the swaying branches of the four great oaks and turned back to the forest, ready to continue his assessment. He was sure that Redtail had noticed his pause, especially if his mentor was keeping a close eye on him. Though he was sure the older tom would do some hunting of his own, there would be no doubt he'd stick very close on Dustpaw's trail.

The rest of the morning was very lucky for Dustpaw, and he ended up catching a few more mice and a fat rabbit that hadn't been as fast in its stuffed situation. He struggled to carry all of his catch back to camp, and had to make several trips, carrying the rabbit alone. By the time he reached camp it was past sunhigh, and the fresh-kill pile was already stocked pretty well. Instead of dropping the rabbit - which he brought back last - onto the pile, he slipped into the elders' den, offering it to them.

"We've been taken care of already, Dustpaw, you take that for yourself," Smallear insisted, waving his tail in dismissal. Dustpaw dipped his head respectfully to them and backed out, but he did not settle with the rabbit. Instead, he went to the medicine cat den.

Spottedleaf was sifting through some herbs, her back to him, and her head bent in concentration. Across the den, Fuzzypelt and Poppydawn were resting in their nests. It looked like Poppydawn had gotten worse, as her breathing was more ragged and she shifted restlessly in her nest. Fuzzypelt, though he was sleeping more peacefully, also seemed worse. His usually ragged pelt was even worse today, and Dustpaw noticed his stomach moving up and down quickly, like he couldn't quite catch his breath no matter how fast he breathed.

When Dustpaw made his way towards Spottedleaf, the sound of his pawsteps roused Poppydawn from her slumber, and she fell into a fit of coughing. Spottedleaf was up in an instant and across the den, her eyes falling briefly on Dustpaw before she made it to Poppydawn, coaxing some herbs into the she-cat's mouth and speaking gently to her until she had fallen back into a restless sleep. Afterwards, Spottedleaf turned to where Dustpaw had frozen in his tracks, ears flicking with guilt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake her." he murmured. "I just wanted to bring this rabbit I caught."

"That was very nice of you, Dustpaw, thank you. But, I don't think you should linger. Poppydawn has greencough now, and Fuzzypelt is well on his way." her voice was troubled, and the anxiety entered her eyes as well. "Oh, I wish we had some catmint.."

"Is there somewhere I can get it from?" Dustpaw asked quickly, eager to help out the best he can, glancing over to his father, lying asleep. He had only just lost Robinwing, he didn't want to lose Fuzzypelt too, so helping find catmint was the least he could do. At his suggestion, Spottedleaf's gaze softened, and she shook her head.

"No, Dustpaw. I don't know of anywhere, myself," she paused and looked thoughtful a moment. "Could you send Bluestar to me?"

"Sure, Spottedleaf." Dustpaw said, turning to go, then hesitated, glancing back at her over his shoulder. She was watching him go, but her gaze was not with him anymore, however when he looked back, she twisted her head slightly in a questioning manner. "Don't worry, Spottedleaf. You're the best medicine cat I know, and that won't change no matter what."

"Thank you, Dustpaw," Spottedleaf's voice was soft and her shoulders seemed to relax a little bit at his words, and Dustpaw left.

Outside in the clearing, he noticed Bluestar at once, speaking with Redtail outside of her den. When the two caught sight of him, they waved him over, and he obliged with no complaint. His stomach growled with hunger, and he realized he hadn't eaten all day, but there were other things on his mind right now. With his worry of Fuzzypelt and trying to help the medicine cat, he had completely forgotten about his first assessment today, and now he felt nerves clawing viciously at his empty belly, only making things worse. When he reached the two older cats, they both seemed pleased, and his tension lessened slightly, but he still wanted to know what was going to be said about his performance. Redtail spoke first:

"You did very well, Dustpaw," he purred. "Despite your delay atop the ridge to fourtrees, you caught a considerable amount of prey. I'm impressed."

"Thank you, Redtail!" the apprentice meowed, relief rushing through him. Now his eyes turned to Bluestar, wondering if she had anything to say, but she simply looked at him with an approving gaze, and Redtail told him to go and get something to eat. He almost ran straight for the pile, until he remembered Spottedleaf's request, and his head shot up.

"Bluestar, Spottedleaf wanted to speak with you…"

"You've been to see Spottedleaf?" Redtail wondered as Bluestar padded away, looking puzzled. "I've never known a healthy cat to visit the medicine cat den so often," his tone picked up a teasing note as he gazed at Dustpaw. "You know the law, Dustpaw!" and the brown tom's fur blazed with embarrassment, and he shook his head hurriedly.

"I just know she's been busy with the sick cats, and I like to thank her for caring for Fuzzypelt!" he defended himself, and was even more vexed at Redtail's amused gaze.

"I'm glad you are so thoughtful, Dustpaw. It shows great character." at that moment, Dustpaw's stomach growled again, loudly, and he shuffled his paws. Will I ever have peace? He thought grudgingly. "Go eat now, Dustpaw. You can see if the elder's need anything, then relax the rest of the evening. You deserve it," the reddish tom instructed, giving Dustpaw's ear an affectionate lick and then disappearing into the medicine cat den after his leader.

Dustpaw went to the fresh-kill pile and took one of the mice he caught, carrying it to the stump by the apprentices den. Sandpaw and Ravenpaw were both out, so he would be eating alone. Just as he began to eat, though, a small voice interrupted his peace and he looked up in annoyance. Graykit was charging across from the nursery, eyes wild with excitement, and he barreled into Dustpaw - who growled and shoved the kit off.

"I haven't spoken to you in ages Dustpaw!" the grey kit purred, paying no mind to the older tom's dismissive attitude.

"Yes, and I haven't eaten in ages, so let me be!" Dustpaw insisted, taking another bite of his mouse. Graykit was not discouraged, however, and started bouncing in circles around the apprentice.

"Let's play!" Graykit persisted. "Can you take me outside of camp? I want to go hunting!"

"No, you're not allowed outside of camp," Dustpaw snapped, finishing his mouse and pushing the remains to the side to groom himself.

"Don't be such a warrior! You and Sandpaw went out of camp all the time before I was kitted - Ravenpaw told me so!"

"He would," Dustpaw growled, remembering how annoying his brother was when they were kits. "But we stopped doing that. Now, go away, I've been training all day and I want to rest!"

"Come on! Please play with me?" and the kit repeated it over again, until finally Dustpaw gave a growl of consent and stood, crouching in a mock battle crouch, ready to spring. Graykit squealed in delight and squatted as well, his eyes bright with the game. Before either one could make a move, movement by the medicine cat den distracted Dustpaw, and he saw Bluestar exiting, her eyes holding a grim expression. In an instant, she had leaped onto the Great Rock and was calling the clan together. Just as she called the clan together, Tigerclaw entered, followed by Ravenpaw, who looked quizzically at Dustpaw, but said nothing as they gathered near the edge of the group where apprentices sat. When the clan had settled down, all as confused as Ravenpaw, Bluestar began - and Dustpaw knew what it would be about for she even spoke.

"Greencough is in camp already," she yowled, her voice and posture tense. Greencough was not rare in leaf-bare, but for it to come so quickly in leaf-fall meant an unusually harsh winter. No clan wanted that. "Spottedleaf thinks she can cure Poppydawn and Fuzzypelt, if she had catmint. Unfortunately, Thunderclan does not know where that can be found, but Spottedleaf seems to think that Shadowclan's medicine cat would."

"I have heard her speak of it before," Spottedleaf, who was seated directly beneath Bluestar, spoke up. All eyes glanced to her, then moved back to their leader, who nodded at the medicine cat briefly before continuing.

"I am going to send a patrol into Shadowclan territory to speak with their medicine cat, Yellowfang." at once, there were yowls from the gathered cats, all volunteering to go, but Bluestar settled them down with a sweep of her tail and a stern glare. "I have chosen cats to go. Redtail, Lionheart, Runningwind, and Dustpaw."

Dustpaw was shocked to hear his name called, and several cats looked at him with the same confusion. Sending such an inexperienced apprentice to another clan's territory uninvited? That wasn't the safest approach, however, no one dared speak up. Redtail was looking at Dustpaw, eyes calculating his reaction, and Dustpaw realized this might be another test. Immediately, he straightened and replaced his puzzlement with confidence, head held high. Some of the other cats took this as a good sign, but Dustpaw only had eyes for his mentor, who nodded approvingly and then looked away. After his initial shock, Dustpaw felt excitement tingling in his paws. This was his first real mission from Bluestar! His eyes flashed to Spottedleaf, who nodded at him knowingly, and he had a feeling his attendance was her idea. He gave her a grateful nod.

"You're so lucky!" Ravenpaw muttered from his side, and he turned to his brother, who looked quite resentful.

"Lucky? To go into Shadowclan territory? I won't get that stench off my fur for moons!" Dustpaw joked, nudging the black cat playfully. A sparkle entered Ravenpaw's eye at the joke, and he nodded very seriously.

"That's true. I think you'll have to move your nest across the den, I won't be able to sleep!"

"Alright, you two," Lionheart scolded as he approached them, hitting each one over the ears good naturedly. "Dustpaw, you must be respectful. Whatever Shadowclan patrol finds us will be hostile, but you must remember we will be intruders. Do not show aggression, or it could lead to an unnecessary fight."

"Okay, Lionheart, I'll remember!" Dustpaw promised. He bid his brother farewell and hurried over to the patrol of warriors going. Redtail was talking to Runningwind, looking quite stern, and as he got closer, it was clear that the younger warrior was getting the same speech he had gotten by Lionheart. That made sense. Runningwind was by no means an inexperienced warrior, but he was still very quick to action and wasn't patient in the least. It was a wonder Bluestar even chose him for such an important mission as entering another clan's territory - but the clan leader knew more about her warriors than some apprentice did, so Dustpaw didn't address his thoughts aloud. Instead, he fell into line behind the warriors and headed out of the camp. On the way out, they passed Whitestorm leading Sandpaw back from training. After Redtail exchanged a few words explaining their objective, Sandpaw cast Dustpaw an envious look, but wished him luck all the same.

The sunlight was fading as they approached the Thunderpath, and it was busy with monsters swooshing by from all sides. Redtail instructed the patrol to stay put until he gave the signal to cross, and stepped closer to the Thunderpath than Dustpaw thought safe. He stood for a moment, teetering on the edge, his fur buffeted by the filthy air the monster threw up, until all was silent. There was a moment of hesitation, then the deputy raised his tail, and all four cats darted across, the hard stone scratching Dustpaw's pads, but he didn't stop until he was safe in the bushes on the other side, sides heaving. Just as Runningwind joined them, a Monster rushed by, missing the brown warrior by a tail-length.

Now, sitting on the other side of the dangerous stretch, Redtail signaled and they headed out of hiding and a little ways into the territory, though not far. Settling down near a faint scent marker by Shadowclan, the patrol took time to groom their fur. The sun was slowly setting, leaving only the faintest trace of light in the dank forest. Dustpaw didn't like it much here. In Thunderclan, the woods were thick but airy, a fresh breeze always rushing through his fur, making him feel like he was running across the moor under the safety of his trees. The undergrowth was crunchy and dry, and sunlight shone easily through the branches. Here, though, in Shadowclan territory, it was very different. The trees were thick and suffocating, blocking any breeze that could have come through, and shielding them of much daylight. Instead of dry, dead leaves - there was soggy, wet undergrowth that stuck between his claws when he walked. The air was stiff, and it was dreary. How any cat could live in such conditions, Dustpaw would never understand.

The sun had set by the time a patrol found them. Shoving out of the bushes, fur already bristled from scenting their enemies, the Shadowclan patrol looked ready to fight. It took much persuasion to get them to sheathe their claws and actually listen to the request of the Thunderclan cats. Finally, the patrol gave consent for Redtail to state their purpose. However, at the request to enter their camp and speak with Yellowfang, they became hostile again, demanding to know why immediately. This time, Lionheart answered them.

"That is not the business of any cat but Yellowfang. We seek her knowledge, not yours." it was spoken respectably, yet there was a hidden threat behind it. If the warriors wouldn't let them see Yellowfang in confidentiality, there would likely be consequences. His tone seemed to convince the patrol, as their fur lie flat again, though their claws still dug into the muddy ground. Dustpaw scrunched his nose in disgust, wondering how they could possibly be comfortably like that. The Shadowclan patrol stood and flanked the Thunderclan one, leading them through the territory. It was lucky that they proved resourceful escorts, as Dustpaw was sure they would never have been able to make the way to the camp in this dark forest. Now the sun had settled, it was hard to see anything, but their escorts seemed at complete ease in this suffocating darkness.

"What is this?" Raggedstar demanded once they had entered the camp. He had been resting nearby with his deputy - Brokentail - but as soon as the Thunderclan cats had entered, he was on his paws, claws unsheathing at once. Several other Shadowclan cats were still outside of their dens, and they disappeared only to reappear soon after with more of the clan behind them.

"They say they want to speak with Yellowfang," one of their warrior escorts growled, flicking his tail and sending an apprentice scurrying into what must have been the medicine cat den.

"And what does this concern?" the leader insisted.

"You may hear as well, but this is not information for your clan." Redtail meowed, dipping his head respectfully at the leader, who seemed to respond well to the gesture, most of his hostility leaving now.

"Yellowfang says she'll speak to the deputy," the apprentice spoke, appearing again from the medicine cat den. Raggedstar nodded and motioned for Redtail to follow him through the brambles and into the den, leaving the rest of the patrol huddled together in the center of the clearing. The warriors drew back to mutter amongst themselves in groups, though their hostility had faded when their leader's had. The only ones who still seemed offended was the deputy and a small group of warriors that surrounded him, and they kept casting contemptuous looks to the Thunderclan cats, but said nothing. Dustpaw was sitting at the back of the group, and the apprentice that had went to fetch Yellowfang came up to him cautiously.

"So, why are you here?" he questioned, looking eager for information.

"That's not the business of a Shadowclan apprentice," Runningwind hissed before Dustpaw could rebuke the other tom himself. The apprentice sent Runningwind a look of mingled fear and resentment, then faded back into a group of other apprentices, all whispering.

"I wasn't going to tell him anything!" Dustpaw grumbled to the warrior, who just flicked his ears with his tail.

"I know."

They stayed there quietly for a long while, shifting uncomfortably under the glares of the Shadowclan cats, until Redtail finally reappeared from the medicine cat den, followed by Raggedstar. The two cats exchanged quiet words, then the deputy motioned for his clan members to join him. At once, they were flanked by two warriors to escort them back to the border, ordered by Raggedstar, but with orders to remain friendly. The walk back through the forest was silent and just as dreary as the walk to camp, and by the time Dustpaw was back on Thunderclan soil, his paws itched from the lingering dampness. Two pairs of eyes glittered at them across the thunderpath, then disappeared from sight and there was a slight rustle before complete silence.

Dustpaw followed the warriors back to camp, wishing that he had stayed back home after all. All he'd gotten from that visit was wet paws and a prickling sensation that wouldn't leave due to all the stares he'd gotten. No, that visit had not done him any good at all.

A/N: So, I want to know what you guys think of Dustpaw and Spottedleaf? (obviously there will be no romance, don't be upset, because I am DEFINITELY not having them gain romantic feelings for one another) Why do you think Spottedleaf looked more relaxed when Dustpaw told her how respected she is? There IS a right answer, let's see who can guess it right!