"Hurricanesong," Runningshadow mewed slowly. "What exactly is your business here in ThunderClan territory?"

Hurricanesong laughed harshly. "Why don't you ask that little friend of yours, Skycloud, what we are doing in your territory?"

Runningshadow narrowed his eyes. "Skycloud was just here for a little visit," He growled. "Nothing is against the warrior code here except for your trespassing!"

The ShadowClan deputy looked taken aback. "Well Runningshadow, a warrior shouldn't be so rude around other Clans!" He sneered.

Runningshadow growled in annoyance. "Listen, just get your patrol out of here and there won't be a problem. That's all you have to do. And," Runningshadow added, holding Hurricanesong's gaze, "any second now, I can call the rest of my Clan to come this way."

"Ah, very frightening," Hurricanesong rumbled, "But it won't daunt me this time. You used that the last time, remember, when you bribed your best friend for your Clan's kits?"

"I didn't bribe him!" Snapped Runningshadow. "You were the one that demanded him when you took our kits hostage!"

"Shut up!" Yowled Hurricanesong. He whipped out his claws and lashed out at the facing warrior.

Runningshadow howled. He put a paw softly up to his face and felt blood coming from a couple cuts on his cheek.

"Now listen carefully," Hurricanesong whispered in a snarl. "You should at least give us a square bit of this territory. Otherwise, we won't go away and we'll kill every warrior you fling at us."

"No way," Hissed Runningshadow coldly. "I remember last time that happened. It didn't turn out for the best- you made us give you one of our warriors. We could have fought you!"

"Yes, you could have," Hurricanesong purred sinisterly, "But you didn't even call on one warrior. You just let me take Skycloud away like tha-"

"Shut your snout!" Yowled a voice. Runningshadow and the deputy looked up and around to see where the voice had come from.

They soon found out. It was a familiar light gray shape, moving nervously out of the bushes. "Runningshadow did not let you just take me. We are best friends. He would…he would never let me go that easily.

"You," Skycloud coldly hissed. "You, Hurricanesong, are the one that forced me into the Clan. You are satisfied with me, right?" He sneered back.

Hurricanesong snorted. "Well, in my opinion ShadowClan needs the most warriors it needs. But I'll tell you this, you aren't the best warrior."

Skycloud rolled his eyes. "Listen Runningshadow, get Summerheart out of here, and it would be wise for you to follow."

"You're just going to let them take our territory?" Runningshadow hissed. "I thought you always were ThunderClan deep down inside!"

"I am, all for ThunderClan, right?" Skycloud murmured. "Anyway, get out of here, fast. I'll convince Hurricanesong somehow. And whatever you do, don't get yourself or Summerheart hurt one bit."

Runningshadow nodded. "I promise I'll keep her safe. You can count on me, Skycloud."

The blue and white tom nodded nervously, his tail whipping nervously.

"You really love her, don't you?" Asked Runningshadow.

"Perhaps I do," Skycloud mumbled. "I'll see you later, Runningshadow. I miss you guys."

Runningshadow shrugged. "It's okay, we'll see each other at Gatherings. Besides, I'm sure that you can live long enough without me around!"

Skycloud purred with amusement. "Now get going! Hurry!" He hissed softly. "You'll see Summerheart's tail flick from behind those bramble bushes. That's where you'll find her."

Runningshadow nodded, scanning the brush for a certain gingery yellow tail. He saw a flick of it and quickly but lightly padded away.

He couldn't help but keep casting glances over his shoulder. He was satisfied to see Hurricanesong reluctantly follow Skycloud out of their territory. Skycloud must have really had a way with words.

Runningshadow gestured to Summerheart to leave with him. To his dismay, she shook her head.

"No, I don't want to leave him!" She wailed. "I can't…I love him too much. I want him to come back, Runningshadow!"

"I know, I don't either, but-"

"You don't even know, do you?" She snapped. "You have no idea!"

Of course, like every cat that was very sad and angry at the same time for losing their true love, Summerheart had raised her voice to the dangerous voice level of a scream. Runningshadow whipped around and prayed to StarClan that Hurricanesong wouldn't hear them trying to escape.

Fortunately, there were no traces of their detection on Hurricanesong's face as he turned around to follow Skycloud as the light gray tom led the rest of the patrol back to territory.

Gratefully, Runningshadow sighed with relief and turned to leave. Unfortunately, Summerheart wouldn't come.

"Summerheart, please come with me, we have to get back to camp."

"I'm not coming with you," Pouted the pretty she-cat. But surprisingly, she didn't look so pretty anymore. Her eyes and face were red with tears, and she looked too shocked to follow.

"Please, Summerheart," Pleaded Runningshadow. "We have to get you back to camp, that way Mossflower can take care of you-"

"I don't want Mossflower," Sobbed Summerheart. "I want…Skycloud back."

Runningshadow sighed. He didn't want to tell her that he was never coming back- but it was only the truth. He decided to just leave Summerheart there. There was no way to cure a broken heart.

And Summerheart, the once beautiful she-cat, was left in the dust, sobbing with her head on her paws. She didn't even react when Runningshadow left. All she did was keep sobbing, only stronger and stronger.

Runningshadow's heart twisted as he heard Summerheart's calls of, "Come back! Please, please come back! I miss you…more than anything…"