When the cats got back to camp, Harefrost leapt up onto the Dusk Rock and called a Clan Meeting. Whispers spread throughout the Clan as surprised Queens, kits, and apprentices learned the story of what had happened.

"As you all probably know by now, Creekstar has been exiled for plots against the Clans." Harefrost lifted his chin. "That makes me the new leader of DuskClan. It will be moon-high soon, so my first duty as Clan Leader is to appoint the deputy."

Nightsky sat down, Nettlepaw sitting beside him. The black tom flicked his tail and listened intently.

"StarClan, please hear and approve my words; Flowertail will be DuskClan's new deputy!" Harefrost declared. Nightsky purred and sat up straighter. Flowertail was quite popular among the Clan for being one of the kindest cats, and she had been Petalfur's mentor. The pale brown she stepped forwards and dipped her head. "Thank you so much for this offer, Harefrost. It's an honor to serve my Clan."

"Flowertail! Flowertail! Flowertail!" Excited cries rang throughout the Clearing, and Nightsky let out a purr.

"I will make my journey to the moonstone soon." Harefrost dipped his head and leapt down from the rock. The Clan continued to chatter.

"Is it true?" Harefrost jumped as Kestreltail bounded up to him. "Did you really fight Creekstar?"

"I did." Nightsky licked a few of his wounds. "And I have enough scars to prove it. Excuse me, I should go visit Darkpelt in his den."

Nightsky padded through the crowd of cats and squeezed into the medicine den, where Snowsight and Blizzardleg lay; both of them had gotten some nasty wounds during the battle.

"I've been waiting for you to pass by." Darkpelt licked a paw. "Pick a nest, I'll be out with some herbs for you soon."

"Thanks." Nightsky flopped onto one of the nests. Darkpelt came back not long after with a bundle of herbs. Nightsky winced as Darkpelt licked an herb mixture into his wounds, but he didn't say anything. Eventually, the sting faded and Darkpelt shook some dark seeds out of a red flower.

"Poppy seeds." Darkpelt meowed. "Chew on two-and only two-and then get some rest."

Nightsky nodded and watched Darkpelt disappear back into the depths of his den. The tom had been fairly grumpy ever since Sunpelt had died, and Nightsky sighed, chewing on the poppy seeds and then settling down to get some sleep.

++++

"Harestar's back!" 

Nightsky pricked his ears and sat up, getting to his paws and padding out of the den. The camp was alight with excitement as Harefrost-Harestar, now-padded into the camp, dipping his head. Darkpelt was with him, and Nightsky blinked in surprise; he hadn't realized that his brother had left the den.

"Welcome back." Nightsky padded over to the new leader and dipped his head.

"Thank you." Harestar purred and leapt onto the Dusk Rock. "DuskClan! I'm glad to tell you that everything went smoothly." He dipped his head. "Flowertail, please assign patrols." The leader paused for a second and Nightsky saw his tail flick in uncertainty before he meowed, "Clan Dismissed."

Nightsky sat beside Flowertail with Nettlepaw beside him.

"Alright, Nightsky, you and Nettlepaw can go out with Cedartail and..." Flowertail looked around. "Mottlepelt, are you free? Yes? Thank you. Alright, you four check along the MoonClan border. Keep an eye out for rogues. Sedgestripe! Come over here! Yes, you. Go out with..."

Nightsky tuned the deputy out as he followed Cedartail and Mottlepelt out of camp. The two toms held themselves highly and Nightsky looked up as he heard a hawk screech. Next to him, Nettlepaw flinched. "Was that a hawk? Will it take me away?"

Nightsky purred at the young apprentice. "No, Nettlepaw, the hawk won't take you away. It'll leave you alone if I have anything to say about it."

"Did you hear how Nightsky became a warrior?" Cedartail slowed to match pace with them and Nightsky lowered his ears slightly and looked away, licking his chest in embarrassment. "Father..."

"Tell me!" Nettlepaw pricked his ears and turned to look at Cedartail with excited green eyes. The black and white tom was barely larger than a kit, meanwhile Nightsky was beginning to grow taller than even Cedartail.

"Well, Nightsky used to be terrified of hawks." Cedartail purred good-naturedly. "He would flinch at even the slightest caw! But one day, when a patrol was out hunting, Brightstream-she was only eight moons at the time-got caught by a hawk!"

Nettlepaw jumped and Nightsky glanced over at him, resting his tail gently on his shoulders and using it to flatten the ruffled fur along his spine.

"Then Nightsky ran up a hill right at the hawk and leapt through the air! He was soaring almost as high as the hawk was!" Cedartail pounced forwards, leaping up a fair bit before landing on the ground gracefully. "He took the hawk down and saved Brightstream!"

"Wow!" Nettlepaw's eyes widened and he turned to Nightsky. "You must've been so brave."

"It was super scary." Nightsky said, and then he let his voice become stern. "Don't let me catch you jumping at hawks, alright?"

"I would never!" Nettlepaw blinked innocently at Nightsky, but he knew his apprentice, and once the young tom had an idea in his head, he was determined to try it. Nightsky sighed and continued padding forwards, flicking his tail from side to side.

"Let's hurry forwards." Mottlepelt meowed, his voice deep and rough. Nightsky nodded and the four cats broke into a sprint down the hill.