Chapter 5
"Duststar's home!" Dawnpaw yowled, running toward Ravenfur, Shadeflower, and Duststar. It was dusk when Duststar walked into camp. Beechpaw and Thornpaw were sharing a vole by the apprentice den. Jayfang was sharing a vole with Mistythorn and Grayheart. Silverheart was bringing a fish to Cedarleaf.
"Duststar! So good to see you," Silverheart meowed, dropping the fish in front of Cedarleaf.
"How was the ceremony?" Cedarleaf asked.
"Great! I saw Sunstar, Lilacsight, and Spotkit."
"You saw my mentor?" Cedarleaf whispered.
"Yes," Duststar padded away to the leader den after a few moments of silence. Honeyfall stopped him on the way.
"Duststar?" She asked, shuffling her paws. "I need to tell you something. I've been hiding it all of this season, but I think I am ready to tell you." She took a deep breath and paused.
"Go on," He mewed.
"I like you. I really do. I think maybe, we could become mates?"
Duststar was shocked. He had spent lots of time with Honeyfall in the past before he had become so worried about FrostClan and Sunstar, but he had never realized she had feelings for him. Did he? "I—I think I need to think about it. I like being your friend, but I don't think I like you that way."
"You'll at least think about it?" Honeyfall asked.
"Of course."
Honeyfall gave an awkward nod, and padded off to Silverheart sharing prey with Grayheart and Mistythorn.
…
It was the next day, almost sunrise. The day of the FrostClan battle. Duststar shook himself out of his nest as he thought about the last battle. Stormstar yowling victory as he stood on Sunstar, the golden tom's wounds gushing blood. Duststar shivered. This battle was going to be the best yet.
"Duststar? May I come in?" Jayfang meowed from outside the den. Duststar had chosen Jayfang as his deputy the other night.
"Yes, come in."
"The battle is soon. We need to wake everyone up."
"I'll call a meeting in a second."
"Okay."
Duststar padded out of his den and leaped up onto the bramble rock and called out, "Let all cats of AcornClan gather beneath the Bramble rock for a Clan meeting!"
The whole Clan came outside their dens, yawning and stretching.
"As you know, the battle with FrostClan will be at sunrise. Before that, I would like to appoint a few warriors."
Dawnpaw, Beechpaw, Tulippaw, Thornpaw, and Duskpaw looked up, excitement sparkling their eyes.
"Yes," Duststar purred. "Dawnpaw, step forward please."
Dawnpaw almost ran forward. She held her head high.
"Your name is now Dawnblossom. StarClan honors your intelligence and care, and we welcome you as a new warrior. Beechpaw. Come here,"
Beechpaw came forward.
"Your name is now Beechwhisper. StarClan honors your kindness and strength. And we welcome you as a full warrior of AcornClan. Tulippaw. Please come,"
Tulippaw came forward.
"Your name is now Tulipflower. StarClan honors your intelligence and wit and we welcome you as a full warrior of AcornClan. Now Thornpaw. Your name is now Thornfur. StarClan honors your strength and kindness, and welcome you as a new warrior of AcornClan."
Thornfur and Tulipflower held their heads high.
"Now finally, Duskpaw. Come here. Your name is now Duskfoot. StarClan honors your wit and speed, and welcomes you as a full warrior of AcornClan!"
"Dawnblossom! Beechwhisper! Tulipflower! Thornfur! Duskfoot!" The Clan called.
"Congratulations!" Duststar meowed, leaping down from the bramble rock. "Full warriors."
"Duststar, it's time for the battle," Ravenfur said. "We need all our Clan, FrostClan said. We must go."
Duststar yowled. "It's time for our battle with FrostClan! StarClan will be on our side. I just know it! Now let us go. The sun has risen."
…
Duststar stood face to face with Stormstar at the edge of the border. The rest of AcornClan were standing right in front of the other warriors. "Good luck," Duststar whispered.
"He thinks we need luck." Thrushfeather growled.
Stormstar yowled and leaped on Duststar, wrestling him to the ground.
Thrushfeather backed him up, leaping over Stormstar and onto the ground in front of Duststar, fleeing away. She swiped at his muzzle, getting barely a scratch in play.
Duststar turned and saw Dawnblossom and Beechwhisper running over to help Duststar. Duststar faked limp in Thrushfeather and Stormstar's grasp, and shot into the air when Beechwhisper leaped on Thrushfeather, Dawnblossom taking on Stormstar.
"Help!" A shriek pierced the air.
Honeyfall!
Duststar ran and leaped on Addertail, the warrior pinning Honeyfall down. "Get off of her!" Duststar shrieked.
Addertail still held his grip on the beautiful warrior. She gazed up at Duststar with pleading eyes.
Suddenly, a gray figure jumped over Duststar, and then a silver one following. It was Grayheart and Silverheart. Grayheart barreled into Addertail, making him tumble all the way over to where Silverheart blocked his escape. Addertail laid back his ears and ran straight to Stormstar.
"You are so weak!" Stormstar meowed to Addertail, swiping at his muzzle in punishment. "The battle is off. No one has won. We shall both live with the Clans. I am sorry, Duststar. But not sorry enough."