Chapter 5

"Duststar?" Jayfang asked once the patrol entered the camp.

"Yes, Jayfang?" Duststar answered, padding toward the patrol. "Who is this?" He asked, turning his head to the loners.

"Silverheart found them on patrol. They want to join AcornClan."

"Really?" Duststar said, his eyes widening. "What are your names?"

"I'm Mist,"

"White."

"Starling! Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Echo!"

"Well hello, Echo!" Duststar purred. Then he bent his head down and asked, "would you like to be a warrior?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" She meowed, bouncing up and down.

Duststar laughed. "I don't see why not." He leaped up onto the bramble rock, and called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the bramble rock for a clan meeting!"

The Clan took their seats, and focused their attention on the leader.

"While on patrol, Silverheart found a group of loners with their kit. They asked to join, and I have said yes. We will give them a proper naming ceremony, and the loners will officially be warriors of this Clan. White, Echo, Starling, and Mist, please step forward. White, your warrior name will now be Whitefur, because of your pale fur. Starling, your warrior name will now be Starlingflight, because of your bouncy energy. Mist, your warrior name will now be Mistsight, because of your misty blue eyes."

"Whitefur! Starlingflight! Mistsight!" The Clan cheered.

"We're not done, yet. Echo, how old are you?"

"I dunno." Echo meowed.

Duststar looked at Mistsight, Whitefur, and Starlingflight.

"Three moons." Mistsight answered for his daughter.

"Then in three more moons, you get to be an apprentice." Duststar confirmed. "So from this day until you become an apprentice, you will be known as Echokit. You will stay in the nursery with your mother, who will also stay in the nursery as a queen until you are apprenticed."

"I have an announcement myself." Thornfur called.

"Go ahead." Duststar said.

"I am expecting Duskfoot's kits, and have decided to move in the nursery as a permanent queen. I want to help Mistythorn and care for newborn kittens and their mothers."

"Echokit! Thornfur!" The Clan yowled.

"I am also expecting." Silverheart piped up. "Ravenfur's kittens. I don't want to be a permanent queen though, because I just love serving the Clan the way I do."

"Silverheart!" The clan called.

"Congratulations! So many kits this upcoming leaf fall. Is that all?" Duststar asked.

The Clan murmured, and then fell silent.

"Good. Meeting over!" Duststar called and leaped off the rock.

"Congratulations, Thornfur." Silverheart meowed.

"You too! Our kits will be apprentices together. It's great." Thornfur smiled.

And Silverheart believed it would be.

…

Thanks for reading! Can't wait for the next chapter. LMK what you guys thought

—wolfsong