Emberstar's Journey

Chapter 9

"Amberheart! Pikesky! Elmstripe!" The chanting echoed to the sky to StarClan as DeltaClan greeted their new warriors. 

Emberpaw watched from beside Lilypaw, who was leaning on him slightly as she called out the warriors new names. 

Emberpaw stood and rushed forward as Lynxstar nodded to them, "Tradition states that you will guard camp for the night. I am proud of all of you." 

"It's so great your warriors now!" Emberpaw exploded as he smiled at his friends. He frowned when all of them exchanged forlorn looks. "What?"

"We won't share a den anymore." Pikesky murmured sadly, tail drooping in sadness. 

Emberpaws whiskered twitched, "I'll be fine, I'll be a warrior in four moons!" He pressed his muzzle against the three cats shoulders. 

Amberheart nodded, "I can't wait to chase some StormClan ruffians out of the territory with you." She told the tom before bounding over to Brightnose who licked her face affectionately. 

Elmstripe laughed a bit before she gazed at Emberpaw with a smile, "I see you and Lilypaw are close now." She purred before blushing, "You know I kinda had a crush on you but Lilypaw is a much better fit." Emberpaw blinked in shocked, Elmstripe liked him? He opened his jaws to speak when the brown she-cat went on. "It's fine though, there is someone else on my mind nowadays." She smiled as she cast a look at Antbranch who caught her eye and smiled. 

Emberpaw gave a nod, "I wish you two the best." Elmstripe thanked him and padded over to the brown tom, his black ears twitched as he heard her coming and he greeted her as she sat down and began to chatter. 

Pikesky had left, talking to Swiftwhisper and Appleblaze. 

"The Clan is strong." He jumped when Heatherspirits voice sounded next to him. 

He looked up at her and nodded, "The Clan is growing, Hailwhisker joined the Nursery today." Heatherspirit nodded slowly.

"I just hope they aren't born in a time of war." She whispered before standing, "I notice you and Lilypaw are closer than ever, what happened?" Emberpaw blushed slightly and looked over at the she-cat who was chatting idly with Amberheart. 

"I faced my fear and talked to her." He mewed, looking back at the Medicine cat who grinned. 

"Good, though I don't think a certain pair of twins will like that." Her ears swiveled and pointed to Lionpaw and Tigerpaw who were casting confused looks at Lilypaw and flicking their eyes back and forth between her and Emberpaw before whispering angrily to each other. 

The red tom gave a shrug, "It doesn't matter what they think, I'm happy with how things are going." He said firmly, "They won't ruin it this time." 

The DeltaClan cat looked thrilled to hear such coming from the once stuttering mess that was Emberpaw. She licked between his ears before she padded away.

Emberpaw looked around before he saw the thin form of Darkpoppy laying by the entrance of camp. Her short fur was glossy in the sunlight and her paws with crossed with her head resting on hit was her tail twitched next to her hind legs.

The tom debated for a bit before a brown tabby tom with tired amber eyes flashed in his mind, causing him to sigh and brace himself. 

He padded over to her and prodded her gently with a paw, making her open her eyes and look up. Instantly her amber eyes narrowed and her lips peeled back in a snarl, "What do you want." she spat, glaring at the tom.

Emberpaw was silent for a few moments, mind racing as he tried to word what he wanted to say properly before he sighed. "I met a StormClan tom a few days ago." He finally told her. Darkpoppy's eyes narrowed more and her ear twitched.