Chapter 4

"Hey Runningwind! Want to go hunting today?" a young she-cat asked.

Runningwind turned his head, it was her, h elooked away. "No."

"Oh come on. Why not?" she asked.

"I'm not in the mood to hunt." He responded.

"But Runningwind, You're always in the mood to hunt. What's wrong?" she asked.

Runningwind couldn't bare to look at her. Her blue eyes, her pale gray fur, it was all to much. "I'm sorry Willowpelt, I just don't fell like it. I think I'll patrol the Riverclan border." He said. He got up and dashed off before Willowpelt could say anyting.

He was at the Riverclan border. Suddenly he saw another cat standing there. He sniffed the air, it wasn't a Riverclan cat though, it was Windclan!

"Hey! What're you doing on Riverclan territory?" Runningwind yelled out.

The young cat looked at him, startled. "Oh no!" she began to scrambled around. Confused and clumsy, she stumbled into the river.

"Hey!" Runningwind didn't know what to do. The young cat was sinking, she could keep her head above the surface. "Don't worry, I'm coming!"

Runningwind dove in and grabbed her scruff. He tried to swim up stream, but with is skinny, lengthy legs it was hard for him. Finally he gave up and let the river take him down with the young cat.

They were being washed away.

"Don't give up!" the young cat yelled.

"I can't swim that well!" Runningwind attempted to say with a mouthful full of fur.

The young cat began to paddle. Runningwind envied her courage and strength. He began to help. They both were paddling hard but that still wasn't enough to beat the strong current.

"I have an idea! Stop paddling!" Runningwind yelled out.

"Are you mouse-brained? Well be taken far down stream and we'll die." The young cat refused to stop paddling.

"Exactly, down stream." Runningwind forced the young cat to stop paddle by pulling her scruff.

The two cats let the current take them. Suddenly Runningwind grabbed onto a rock. He pulled himself closer to the rock and set the young cat on the rock.

"We're on stepping stone." He panted. "See? Instead of swimming aimlessly, we found rocks to hang onto."

"You're not my mentor!" she retorted.

Runningwind ignored her. He jumped up on a stone and made his way to Thunderclan territory. The young cat followed him. The brown tom shook the water off. He laid there panting, too tired to move.

"Hey, you alright?" the young asked. Her damp gray fur made her look like a rock, but as her fur dry it got brighter.

"I'm fine." He quietly responded. "Why were you in Riverclan territory anyways?"

"I was trying to catch fish." She responded.

Runningwind purred with amusement. "Why? It's against the warrior code to hunt in another clan!" he pointed out.

"Well. I was mad at my mentor, Tornear. He's always bossing me around and he doesn't think I'm a good hunter. So I wanted to catch some fish to make him happy." She sighed.

"I see, but that still doesn't give you the right to steal." Runningwind meowed.

"I'm foolish, I know. I'm very sorry. This won't happen again." She mewed. She was clearly ashamed of what she did.

"What's you name?" he asked.

The young cat looked up, "It's Runningpaw." she responded.

"Good-bye Runningpaw, and good luck!" he yelled out.

The young apprentice took off. He watched as she chased after a butterfly as she made her way back to Windclan.

Runningiwnd turned back, he slowly made his way back to camp.

Once he reached the ravine he saw Willowpelt. She looked sad and unhappy. That made Runningwind. He took a deep breathe and approached her cautiously.

"What's wrong?" he whispered.

"Now you care? What about before when I needed you?" she rasped.

"I'm sorry. I got made because…" he paused.

"Well, spit it out!" she spat.

"I overheard your conversation with Whitestorm, behind the nursery." He confessed.

"Oh that." Willowpelt's voice suddenly became more calm. She turned away. "I'm sorry, Runningwind. I just thought it was best for the two of us, me and Whitestorm. It would crush his heart if I didn't--" suddenly she was interrupted

"No. Stop right there." Runningwind interrupted. "You hurt me. You broke my heart." He wailed. "You did the same with Darkstripe. But at least you told him. You knew I loved you but you didn't tell me." He hissed.

"But Runningwind! Let me finish my sentence." She cried out. But Runningwind just gave her a cold stare and walked away.

"Just let me finish! Why won't you let me finish! It's not what you think. It's not!" she yelled and yelled but Runningwind wouldn't listen.

Runningwind was approached by Tigerclaw. "Today you're going to the Gathering." He meowed. Then he walked away.

"I might see Runningpaw." He said quietly. He was quite excited.

He wanted to see if she was alright.