following the loner

Five sunrises had passed since that fateful day when the badger's claws had torn into Rosepaw. During that time, her once-bleeding wounds had healed, and now barely visible pink scars remained in their place. After making sure the wounds had closed, the medicine cat finally released the apprentice for training. And now, Rosepaw sat on her mossy nest, grooming herself with quick, practiced strokes of her tongue. Into the den bounded—no, flew—a clearly excited Dustpaw. Rosepaw raised her head questioningly, but the playful tom gave his Clanmate a friendly nudge, sending her tumbling to the ground in a cloud of dust. "What are you doing?!" Rosepaw yowled indignantly. "You won't believe it — at sunset today, we're being made warriors!" Dustpaw's fluffy reddish-gray tail swayed happily from side to side. Sparks lit up in Rosepaw's eyes. "Then I need to get my fur ready!" she said, and gave the apprentice a friendly cuff in return. "And you could use some tidying up too." "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather at the rock for a Clan meeting!" As if jolted, Rosepaw and Dustpaw raced to the rock, while his brother, Fallenpaw, limped slowly behind. Rosepaw stretched herself almost to attention, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dustpaw puffing out his chest proudly. The mighty gray leader began his solemn speech. "I, Flintstar, leader of WillowClan, ask my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices, for they have diligently learned your warrior code!" The leader took a breath and turned his gaze to Fallenpaw. "Fallenpaw! Do you promise to honor the warrior code and protect your Clan and your Clanmates?!" Rosepaw had to strain her ears to catch the apprentice's words. "I do!" "Then by the authority given to me by StarClan, I grant you your warrior name: Sunfall!" The young warrior licked his leader's shoulder and stepped aside. "Rosepaw! Do you promise to honor the warrior code and defend your Clan at the cost of your life?!" "I do!" "Then by the authority given to me by StarClan, I grant you your new name: Rose!" Rose licked the leader's shoulder and stepped aside. Her heart beat faster at the sight of Dustpaw. No! My heart is open only to that loner... I think... "Then by the authority given to me by StarClan, I grant you your new name: Dustmane!" Dustmane licked his leader's shoulder. And then the cats surrounded the newly made warriors in a tight ring, chanting their names in a rising chorus. "And remember — you still have the night vigil to keep!" Flintstar boomed. From now on, I'm part of the Clan... I'm no longer Rosepaw! I'm Rose! And now I have the right to claim a place in that loner's heart...