Chapter 9

"What?!" Otterhope shrieked, outraged.

"She's my mate, and expecting my kits." Hedgedapple meowed. "Jees, are you deaf or something?"

Otterhope sighed loudly, obviously trying to control her temper. "I am not deaf, but you must not know the Warrior Code of our Clans. Rule number 10: A warrior must not take a mate outside of his or her Clan. If you want to be her mate, she should come to OtterClan."

Hedgedapple sighed. "All right. I'll ask her if she'll join."

"Good. Let's go back to the camp."

The two cats walked in between the spiky brambles and giant redwood trees of HedgehogClan territory. When they got back, the female hedgehog, Tree, was on guard. "Otterhope. Hedgedapple." She nodded.

"Tree." The cats nodded back.

It was about midnight, the busiest time of day for the HedgehogClanners. Otterhope gathered herself, Hedgedapple, and Thornbristle and requested a meeting with Spikestar. His deputy, Bristleclaw, let them in.

"What is it this time, Otterhope?" Spikehope asked.

"Well, there's been a… pairing between my deputy and your warrior, Spikehope." Otterhope meowed.

"Really? Now, that's interesting." Spikehope's eyes flashed. "So, Thornbristle, what're you going to do? Stay here, or go to OtterClan?"

Thornbristle gulped, looking at her paws. "I- I wish to go to OtterClan."

Spikehope nodded. "Of course. If you want to, it's your choice. I'll be sorry to see you go."

Thornbristle smiled. "And I thank you for that, my father. I just request one thing: please don't make a huge announcement to the Clan."

Spikehope sighed. "Of course not. I hope you and Hedgedapple well, daughter."

Thornbristle blinked. Obviously the two didn't usually call each other 'father' and 'daughter'. "Okay. Otterhope, we should be going. It's about sunrise."

"Fare thee well, Spikehope." Otterhope used the traditional saying for a parting between leaders.

"Fare thee well, Otterhope." The (much) older tom meowed.

The four cats- Otterhope, Hedgedapple, Thornbristle, and Sunhope- left HedgehogClan, and bumped into the Dawn Patrol of FoxClan at the border. Bushytail- the deputy of FoxClan and the one leading the patrol- looked curious. "Do thy hath need to speak to Redhope?"

"We do," Otterhope meowed. "Urgently,"

"Thou willth come with thy." Bushytail meowed, in the strange manner of speaking FoxClan had.

The little band of cats journeyed to the camp of FoxClan, which was in the middle of the misty territory. There was a large cave that had many tunnels, through which the dens were. The five met with Redhope almost as soon as they got to the camp.

Otterhope explained, once again, what had happened. "… and so, we need the joined efforts of all four Clans to beat Lightotter and the rouges. Will you join us with your Clan, Redhope?"

Redhope thought for a second. "Thy Clan willth make a pack with thee. Brackentail willth be a messenger for thy Clan."

Otterhope sighed in relief. "Thank you. I hadn't thought of messengers, but I think… Sunflash will be our messenger, and Sunhope will choose his and tell HedgehogClan the idea. Thank you, once again. My group will be going now."

Redhope nodded. "No problem with helping thy. Good day, and fare thee well, Otterhope."

"Fare thee well, Redhope. Fare thee well."