AN: Sorry for the delay in updates. I've been... busy. Anyways, here is chapter seven, a slightly longer and hopefully more informative chapter on Foxear's past.

Obssessive Bookworm (Mind if I spell your username like that?) - Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it :)

Kitten With A Tie - lol That chapter took forever to write, and so did this. I have the ideas for the story written down, it's just difficult to get them typed up into chapters. And as for Amber joining, you'll just have to wait and see ;)

Chapter Seven

A day had passed since a Clan name was decided. Dustyhead was pleased with the progress the group had made. Amber had begun to show herself early in the morning after the apprentices went hunting. She had asked what the warrior code was like. Her curiosity had both surprised and pleased Dustyhead. Maybe Amber really could join the Clan if she gave it a chance. Dustyhead had high hopes for the young rogue. If she decided to join the Clan than they would have a valuable warrior to help defend it.

"We should leave soon, before leafbare comes," Foxear meowed after grooming her unkempt fur. They had been sleeping in messy nests for what felt like moons. Now her fur was covered in burrs from foraging the forest.

Dustyhead had to agree with Foxear. The longer they stayed the harder it would be to leave. And with leafbare coming he didn't want to risk losing Sageleaf or the future of their newly named Clan.

Frustration swelled within Dustyhead as he thought of how perfect this forest was. Amber had made it difficult for them all to stay in such a perfect place. Dustyhead knew that she wanted them to leave more than ever since they were taking valuable prey. She was worried that they would scare away any prey that was left in the forest, and he couldn't blame her for her fear. The Clans would have done the same thing if there were strangers on their territory.

His ears pricked forward in alarm when the ferns in front of him began to rustle. Sageleaf, who had been sleeping for most of that morning, raised her head at the noise. Brownleaf's hackles began to rise while Foxear jumped to her paws defensively. Dustyhead's shoulders relaxed slightly when he realized that the intruder was Amber.

"Look, normally I would never agree to let strangers live on my territory," she hissed when Dustyhead tilted his head in confusion. Foxear stepped in beside him while Brownleaf dropped to a crouch. Ripplepaw and Stripepaw had only just returned from a hunting trip - they were carrying three mice and a vole that were dropped behind Brownleaf. "But this warrior code thing sounds... interesting," she finally rasped after a moment of silence followed her words. "I suppose I could let you stay until the end of leafbare, when the kits are strong enough to travel."

Her words caught Dustyhead by surprise. He eyed her suspiciously, sure that this was a trap. But she seemed unnerved by his curious gaze - if anything she was defiant enough to stand her ground.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked in a calm voice. "If we stay any longer we may not want to leave."

Amber seemed to contemplate over his words. Her tail twitched before she bared her teeth in the beginnings of a snarl. Dustyhead stared at her in shock before she relaxed slightly. It was as if she was fighting the urge to make some kind of retort.

"I'm sure about this," she finally meowed. "I'd like to learn more about the warrior code."

Surprise flared within Dustyhead before he shook his head. He wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or being honest. But if Amber was willing to learn about the warrior code than maybe she would join the Clan. It was worth a try, especially with the few warriors that they had.

Foxear dropped to a crouch as Ripplepaw and Stripepaw began to whisper to one another. Sageleaf rested her head on her paws while Brownleaf began sorting through the herbs she had collected. It was like living in a normal Clan, except that the dens they had were smaller. Dustyhead wondered if this place would ever feel like a real camp. All they needed to do was build proper dens.

"Alright, but it will take time to explain the warrior code," he told Amber as she began to relax. Almost at once he began to explain the warrior code, describing how it was created and how the four Clans came to be. Amber's eyes grew wide as he tried to tell her that they were creating a Clan because of the warrior code. This time any cat who had a forbidden love was more than welcomed to DustClan. Eventually Dustyhead began to tell her why they had left the Clans in the first place. Amber simply remained silent throughout the story as he began to grow wary of her look of concentration. "So you can see why we had to leave," he finished.

"But isn't it against the warrior code?" Amber asked with a tilt of her head.

"What they did to my kits was wrong!" Foxear suddenly snarled. "Smokestar thought it would be a good idea to use my kits as an example. He killed them in front of the Clan!" Her fur was bristling with anger and fear - something of which Dustyhead had never seen before.

Amber was taken aback by Foxear's sudden reaction. Her ears flattened and she shook her head as if to clear it.

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

"So you should be," Foxear snapped.

She spun around and headed into the undergrowth, receiving shocked looks from Sageleaf and Brownleaf. Dustyhead simply watched her leave, wishing there was more he could do for her.

"If what you say is true about the leaders, than why do you think it's wise to start a new Clan?" Amber's eyes narrowed into tiny slits when she asked that question.

Dustyhead's tail lashed in frustration. He knew she was wary of joining any Clan, and rightfully so. What Foxear had stated must have scared her. But he would never do that to an innocent kit or in front of the Clan.

"We've grown up in the Clans," he replied with a shrug. "I suppose it's different when you don't have that option."

"Yeah, it is different," Amber meowed. Her voice remained as she looked off into the distance. "Maybe that's why I need to give the Clans a chance." She had whispered those words, but Dustyhead heard them loud and clear.

Hope filled his heart when he realized that Amber was right. Maybe the other rogues would give the Clan a chance if he explained their situation. Amber was sympathetic towards Foxear, and maybe she was willing to join now that she understood what they were doing.

Maybe there is a future for DustClan after all, he thought happily.