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The border patrol had just got through the thorn barrier when the two new apprentices, Seedpaw and Lilypaw, came to greet them. "We just finished exploring the territory. It's HUGE." Lilypaw meowed cheerfully.
"Thornclaw taught me a battle move along the way," added Seedpaw, swiping at her sister and then going for her legs, "If the other Clans gave you trouble, we can handle them!"
Brackenfur snorted with amusement. "It takes more than one battle move to win a fight, but that move is coming along well. We need to speak with Bramblestar."
Bramblestar appeared behind the two apprentices. "What is wrong?" He asked. Then he sighed. "Please don't tell me it was the Dark Forest."
"Yes. No. Sort of. Not the entire thing." Ivypool stuttered.
Bramblestar swept his eyes around the border patrol. "You'd better come into my den, then.
"- and then we just went back to camp to give you a full report." Finished Brackenfur.
Bramblestar gave him a approving nod. "You did the right thing. It is very bad that a Dark Forest warrior is at war against us." He meowed, addressing the whole patrol.
Ivypool raised her tail. "Not at war, exactly. From what he said, we think he's going to try to pick us off one by one."
Bramblestar sighed. "It sounds as if you're right. I will report this at the next Gathering. But for now, I will call a Clan meeting. I was going to call it anyway, but because of this unexpected event, I will call it right now. Thank you for telling me immediately."
The cats of the border patrol dipped their heads and left to go eat and rest.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge." Bramblestar called. He waited until all the cats had congregated in the clearing. The cats were listening attentively, excited to hear what the border patrol had come back so urgently about.
"I have important news to share with you. But first, something a little better. Sandstorm and Dustpelt, come here." The two cats came forward in unison.
"These two cats came to me earlier and they wish to give up warrior duties and join the elders." He meowed to all of the cats in the clearing. Then he turned back to the two cats.
"Sandstorm, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"
Sandstorm replied confidently, "It is."
Bramblestar meowed in return,"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."
Sandstorm nodded to Bramblestar, and the leader nodded in return. Then Bramblestar performed the same ceremony on Dustpelt. "Sandstorm! Dustpelt! Sandstorm! Dustpelt!" The Clan called.
Sandstorm sighed and turned to Ivypool, who was sitting next to her. "I guess since Mousefur's gone, I'll become the crankiest elder you've ever seen!" Ivypool gave a mrrow of laughter.
Just then Amberkit, Dewkit and Snowkit came hurtling out of the nursery. "Will you still play with us?" Asked Amberkit.
Sandstorm's eyes showed amusement. "Of course," she meowed, "I'll come every day if you want me to."
"Not every day," Brightheart corrected, sliding out of the nursery behind her kits, "They still need to rest."
Immediately the kits yelled in protest. "We're not tired!" Snowkit complained.
Sandstorm stopped the kits by meowing, "I'll come when your mother allows me to. I can't play with you unless your mother says it's okay." That stopped the kit's protests and the cats turned to Bramblestar to hear what he had to say.
"Today," the leader started,"the dawn patrol reported a Dark Forest warrior that survived the battle and did not go into hiding. He tried to attack Ivypool while she was separated from the rest of the patrol."
"Now," he meowed, raising his voice over the gasps of shock, "luckily, she only got a couple of scratches that will soon heal. What he says suggests that he will try to corner cats alone and pick ThunderClan off one by one. We can not allow any of our cats to die to that killer.
"No apprentice, warrior, or especially kits or elders is allowed to go out alone. If you are on a hunting or border patrol, do not split up. In the forest, each cat must have at least two other cats with them for backup if needed. Squirrelflight will be assigning a pair of warriors to guard Jayfeather if he goes out to collect herbs.
"As for training sessions, each mentor and appentice must take at least one more warrior with them. If the apprentice is not close to becoming a warrior, then take two warriors. So far we know that there is only one cat on this aim, but we are not sure. The guard on the camp is to be tripled. Everyone is to follow these rules. Squirrelflight and I will abide by them as well. I will tell the other clans at the next Gathering."
He jumped off the Highledge and called to his senior warriors to come with him to his den. The warriors followed him up the rocks, some of them muttering darkly.