AN. I'm running out of things to say for these.... Oh, I just want to say before other people decide they want to use them that Shadowsoul, Echowind, Emberpath, Phoenixwing, Nightcave and her kits, Shadestar, Sightpaw, Stormpaw, Maskeye, Dawnrise, Dusk/Dawnglow, Mud, Screech and Leer are my cats.

Chapter Nine

A cool breeze rushed through the furs of many cats as they scrambled around cat in the dawn's sun beginning to just barley show over the mountain peak as they were preparing for their journey to Cloudtrees. Dawnstar called out, "Everyone be sure to get traveling herbs from Whispersong if we run out of freshkill! I want all cats by the entrance before the sun reaches halfway over the mountain!"

Warriors ate quickly while queens rushed their kits to safety with the elders trailing behind.

"Cliffshadow!" Called Shadestar.

Shadowpaw watched Cliffshadow pad over to his brother. Shadestar said, "You must go now Cliffshadow to seek out the cats. Go towards the mountainside of Cloudtrees, they'll be most likely there."

Cliffshadow nodded as Dawnstar approached, "I would like Emberpath, Bloodstripe and Nettlesting to accompany you. When you find out where they are, Nettlesting will run back to tell us, it that clear?"

Cliffshadow nodded again, "Very clear Dawnstar."

Emberpath, Bloodstripe, and Nettlesting joined Cliffshadow as they hurried out of camp.

Sunpaw came and sat beside Shadowpaw. "Looks like Dawnstar and Shadestar are almost ready to leave, did you eat?"

Shadowpaw nodded, "Yes, I had part of a mouse,"

Sunpaw frowned, "Part of a mouse? Are you sure that'll do it for you?"

Shadowpaw shrugged, "There wasn't enough to go around and I wasn't to hungry anyway,"

"Nervous?"

"Yes,"

They sat in silence for a moment, Shadowpaw got to her paws and said, "Well soon Dawnstar and Shadestar will be leaving so we better be ready,"

Sunpaw nodded and the two joined Sightpaw, Dovepaw, Stormpaw, Firepaw and Swanpaw by the entrance.

"Swanpaw, why are you coming?" Questioned Shadowpaw.

"Whispersong and I need to come, we need to heal the wounded," Swanpaw replied softly.

"Well I'm ready to meet these rouges!" Announced Firepaw.

"Well I'm not," replied Shadowpaw.

Dawnstar climbed up Tallmound, "Cats of WhisperClan and HiddenClan! We leave now for Cloudtrees! There will be three parties! Phoenixwing, Echowind, Dovepaw, Stormpaw, Nightcave and Ivyclaw come with me. Dawnfire, Moonsong, Sightpaw, Silverstripe, Moonclaw, Firepaw and Windstorm go with Shadestar. Sunpaw, Shadowpaw, Dawnglow, Cloverwing, and Snowfrost go with Shadowsoul. Whispersong and Swanpaw stay back and go to where you are needed. Let's go!"

The cats assembled into their parties. Shadowpaw and Sunpaw padded over to Dawnglow, Cloverwing and Snowfrost. Dawnglow met up with his apprentice, "Remember what you've been taught Sunpaw," then to Shadowpaw, "And remember what Greyheart taught you," the apprentices nodded.

Then WhisperClan's white chest black deputy approached them, "Looks like I'm stuck with all HiddenClan cats!" Shadowsoul said with a snort. Then he grinned, "Let's see how good you guys are,"

Dawnglow glared at Shadowsoul, "We are all in this together Shadowsoul, now is no time for rivalry!"

Shadowsoul shrugged, "Just do what I say, now, Shadestar and Dawnstar are already leaving so let's go."

Somewhat reluctantly did the cats follow Shadowsoul through the entrance with the other two parties. Dawnstar called out, "My party towards the river, Shadestar's towards the center and Shadowsoul's towards the mountainside."

"Why are we going to the mountainside? Shouldn't one of the leaders go towards the mountainside?" Asked Shadowpaw.

"Don't argue! Just follow!" Snapped Shadowsoul.

The parties spread out towards their areas. Shadowsoul kept his pace fast. The HiddenClan cats followed Shadowsoul. Somewhere deep inside, Shadowpaw had a terrible feeling about this

Cliffshadow lead the spying patrol towards the mountainside. They were climbing in the trees. Bloodstripe scowled, "How long must we be lead by a former HiddenClan warrior?"

"Until our job is done," Cliffshadow responded coldly.

Bloodstripe grunted but didn't say anything more.

"The rouge scent is becoming stronger," Emberpath realized.

Cliffshadow grinned, "Of course it is Emberpath, that's the point isn't it? We must be close to the enemy."

"Not too close I hope," said Nettlesting.

"Oh, just close enough, close enough," responded Cliffshadow.

They stopped on a high thick tree branch. "Ah, that wasn't too hard was it?"

The party looked to see what Cliffshadow was talking about. There, by the mountain were Clan cats, guarded by rouges, laughing and snarling at them. Nettlesting, Bloodstripe, and Emberpath tensed with unsheathed claws gazing angrily at the scene. Nettlesting then said with a snarl, "I'm going to report this back to Dawnstar now!" He turned to leave, Cliffshadow grinned, "Is that so?" he said, flicking his tail.

Before Nettlesting could react, a large dark brown tom leaped on top of him from a nearby tree, swiftly pinning the surprised warrior down. It was Mud.

Mud lifted his head, "You two better join us if you want your friend to live,"

Emberpath twitched her ears, "Two of us?"

She was then suddenly struck down by Cliffshadow, "Yes," he whispered in her ear, "Two of you."

Bloodstripe scowled and was ready to leap on Cliffshadow when a ginger she-cat with darker brown stripes and tail leaped onto him. Eve grinned, "Leer has shared to me so much about you Redmouth. It's so nice to meet you,"

Bloodstripe scowled, "I swear I'll kill that cat for that stupid name!"

Eve pressed her paw against Bloodstripe's throat, "I'd be careful what you say Redmouth, it could get you into trouble,"

Cliffshadow grunted from above Emberpath, "My, my, you sure aren't the strongest cat are you? You're not even making an attempt to break free,"

Emberpath was breathing heavily under Cliffshadow, it wasn't that she couldn't break fee of his grasp, which she could easily, but it was that if she did, it would endanger her clanmates.

A few more rouges joined them, one of them being Leer, "Good to see you again Redmouth, maybe this time you'll stay, no?"

Mud snarled, "They're going to stay either way Leer! Unlike how you allowed him and that other one get away!"

Leer's eyes narrowed at Mud, "Ah, but who was it that at least came back with some cats? Without a fight?"

Mud scowled, "Let's just go!"

The rouges began to drag the Clan cats towards the mountain, however as Mud tried to drag off Nettlesting, the golden warrior quickly broke free of Mud's grasp and made a began to leap from tree to tree to tell the leaders. Mud screeched, "Get him!" Eve tossed Bloodstripe to another rouge and raced after Nettlesting, leaping on him swiftly and not even hesitating to sink her teeth deep into his neck. Nettlesting yowled in pain and fell of the tree. Eve leaped back on the branch. She looked down satisfied to see the warrior motionless at the base of the tree surrounded by a pool of blood.

Emberpath stared at Eve with a mix of fear, hate and grief for her clanmate. Bloodstripe tried to break free from the rouges' grasp to sink his own teeth into Eve. But he had little success. Bloodstrip scowled, "You piece of FOX DUNG! When I'm free I'll-"

"Shut up Redmouth. Or I'll be glad to do the same for you other clanmate, very glad." Eve snapped. Bloodstripe was then quiet, but the look of hatred in his eyes remained in place.

Mud turned to them, "That is what happens when you don't do what you're told. Now, let's keep moving."

The rouges continued towards the mountains leaving Nettlesting's lifeless body for the crows.

AN. So....Tell me what you think. REVIEW!