"Where have you been all night?"
Blackfoot set a skinny mouse onto the fresh-kill pile and Tigerstar's sodden pelt and big paws squashed behind him in the muddy soil.
"What are you doing awake?"
"I couldn't sleep, what do you think?"
Tigerstar shrugged, "I stayed in the old camp. Had to fight off some Carrionplace loners who decided it was fine to stay there."
Blackfoot could tell by the sound of his he was lying, but didn't comment.
"It'll be sunrise soon," Tigerstar went on, grooming himself, "Take your apprentice and Leopardstar out for a training session."
"Anyone else?"
"Hm… Hailpaw and Pikepaw."
Blackfoot nodded, standing to stretch each leg in turn. "Ideas for a Dawn Patrol?"
"Ask Russetfur if she'd like to come along, but you and the apprentices and their mentors will do a fine job." He said before retreating to Leopardstar's den. Blackfoot figured he could catch one last bird before he needed to be out, and promptly did so.
He sat in front of the Bonehill, his patrol standing beside him, organizing the day's hunting patrols. He decided today was a fish day, which got him a look from Leopardstar.
"The river's nice, Pikepaw," Grasstail was saying to her apprentice, "You'll learn to like it one of these days."
"I've already nearly drowned once!" he protested.
"Today will be a swimming day then!"
"Hey, Pikepaw," Leopardstar added, "I was a drypaw when I was your age, too. Now look at me, Riverclan's leader!"
Pikepaw's eyes lit up. Hailpaw just scoffed.
"Crookedstar was basically your dad," he retorted, "It's no wonder you got to be deputy."
"And Pikepaw's mother is the deputy's sister. And I like him."
Pikepaw hopped around in excitement, his tail straight up. Tawnypaw just stared longingly at Sunningrocks, though not in a want to reclaim Riverclanner look. Suddenly she paused, nose twitching. Blackfoot waved his tail to stop the patrol. Tawnypaw closed her eyes, scrunching her nose up. Russetfur took a few steps in front of her, retching at the scent. She looked back at Blackfoot.
Blackfoot nodded, turning to ask Leopardstar to lead the rest of the patrol, but she had already gone on.
"What is that?"
"Wet cat," Russetfur said simply, "Disgusting."
Blackfoot knew who it was immediately. Mangy leader lied to him. The scent crossed the stepping stones to Sunningrocks, yet Russetfur and Tawnypaw looked nervous to cross.
"It's not very far," Blackfoot reassured. Russetfur looked a bit consoled, but Tawnypaw didn't.
"It's not the stepping stones, Blackfoot, it's Thunderclan. Sunningrocks is theirs and if they scent us on their territory, it'll just be another war."
"I'm sure Thunderclan would think it completely justified knowing we're on Tigerstar's path," he said, jumping over. Russetfur and Tawnypaw followed nervously.
"You sure it's Tigerstar?" Russetfur asked.
Blackfoot nodded. "He came into camp just before sunrise, and his pelt obviously had a few extra layers of mud and water to hide his scent. Too much, so he just smells disgusting." They rounded Treecut place nervously, and whenever they encountered Twolegplace, Russetfur and Blackfoot just groaned.
"Oh sweet Twolegplace," Russetfur said sarcastically, "How I missed your putrid monster-dirt scent."
"What business would Tigerstar have here," Blackfoot said, not necessarily a question.
Russetfur's neck fur stood up, "You don't think…" she gave a horrored glance at Blackfoot, "He's speaking with Bloodclan, do you?"
"I don't know what that is."
"They're a group of murderous cats that live in the alleys here! Whenever I was a kittypet they used to have their meetings right next door."
Blackfoot shuddered. "If I don't know who Bloodclan is, I doubt Tigerstar would either." But given his murderous record according to Firestar, he didn't rule it out completely. Russetfur and Boulder, two past Twolegplace cats, were in his clan.
Tawnypaw took a deep breath, shaking her head. "I think he went along to one of the gardens. But not a very near one."
Blackfoot shrugged, "Lead the way, my apprentice." Tawnypaw's eyes shone a moment, and she confidently led the way, nose low to the ground. She stopped one or two tree-lengths away, butting her nose into wooden barrier. She looked up.
"Hm?" The sound came faintly from the other side, and in just a moment, a beautiful creamy she-cat with dark legs sat on the fence Russetfur froze to stare.
"Hi, excuse us, we're wondering if you've see a broad-shouldered tabby tom come around here maybe, say, last night?"
The she-cat nodded. "He stayed under my awning all night and we talked." She noticed Russetfur and gave a little mew. Russetfur laughed a moment before returning to staring and stupidly smiling. Blackfoot elbowed her to snap her out of it.
"Well, thanks. If he comes back again tonight, there's some cats up there in the forest who would like to keep eyes on him."
"Is he a bad cat?"
Blackfoot was hesitant to answer. On one paw he'd led Shadowclan back to health and strength, but on the other, if what Firestar said was true.
"He's fine," he finally answered, "We forest cats just don't fancy our strongest clanmates being with kittypets."
The she-cat nodded sympathetically, and Blackfoot nodded as his patrol to lead them along.
"I don't believe I ever caught your name," Russet fur said, standing so that one paw was against the wood.
"It's Sasha," she said sweetly.
"Sasha…" Russetfur repeated, purring, "I'm Russetfur. If you ever need good protection I'm just across the river."
Sasha let out a mrrow of laughter. "I'll keep you in mind." She said before jumping down. Russetfur rejoined the patrol purring. She looked at Blackfoot.
"Pretty cat like that doesn't need to be talking to Tigerstar, he's already had one mate…"
"Sweet Starclan, take me now," was all Blackfoot could muster up in response.
a/n:
sasha: hi im sasha
russetfur: hhrhrhrhhhhimlesbianfur