The patrol of four ran towards the sound and Redtail halted when he saw the dark tabby snarling at the Riverclan patrol who advanced on him slowly, tails lashing, teeth bared. "Darkstripe!" Redtail hissed.
The Riverclan warriors leaped on Darkstripe, forcing Redtail to come to help. The tabby warrior seemed to always get into unwanted fights, picking with Shadowclan and Riverclan patrols every time they passed. He jumped between Darkstripe and the Riverclan warriors. "What happened?" he snapped.
"This Fish brain went on our territory!" snapped a she-cat named Sunfish, baring her teeth.
"I was chasing a Thunderclan mouse. It just happened to cross your pathetic stream, that's all."
"So why did you chase it when it was on our territory?" Sunfish snarled again.
"I just did. It wasn't a Riverclan mouse. I just hopped after it across the stepping stones."
"And how did this Thunderclan mouse cross the river in the first place?" Redtail asked questioningly.
"It just hopped across the stones."
"Oh yes a mouse crossed those slippery stones," Sunfish mocked sarcastically.
"I'm terribly sorry about this apprentic-"
"I'm not an apprentice you Fox-dung."
Redtail flinched. A warrior should not insult his deputy, especially in front of an enemy clan. "I'm sure he will be checking the elders for ticks. Now Darkpaw. You give that Riverclan mouse back and then you'll be checking the elders for ticks while Longpaw takes over your warrior duties."
"Sorry Sunfish," Redtail sighed again as Darkstripe dropped the mouse and stalked off.
To Redtail's surprise she was sympathetic. "Trust me, it's not the first time. Just- Just be careful with that one. I don't like him." Her and the patrol went away back into their territory.
Trust me, you're not the only one.
"Redtail!" Bluestar called him to her den with a sharp tone, flicking her tail to gesture him forward.
"Yes, Bluestar?" Redtail trotted over to the lichen covered den and into the dark cave, shivering at the cold, damp air.
"I heard about Darkstripe-"
"Yes!" Redtail lashed his bushy tail. "I punished him! He has to do apprentice duties for a moon because of what he did!"
"You didn't let me finish1" Bluestar smacked him with her tail. "I was about to say- I don't think we should punish him. I'm sure he was telling the truth by the sound of what he told me and-"
"What did he tell you?" Redtail was getting annoyed. What Fox-Dung has he told you?
"Let me finish!" snapped Bluestar. "He will continue to warrior duties as normal and I think you should be punished! Humiliating our warriors infront of another clan and clawing our apprentices for 'not catching enough!' And now you have constantly rebelled against your leader!"
"He said I did what to Longpaw?" Redtail couldn't believe it. What other lies had he told her?
"I said nothing about Longpaw which proves my point! Apprentice duties for a moon! Maybe I should rethink my choice about a deputy…"
Redtail snarled at her and burst out the den. I done nothing wrong!