Remembering Trailkit and Weavekit, Runningshadow trotted across the clearing to the nettle patch.
The fresh-kill pile lay there, freshly stocked. Unfortunately, it was pitifully small. It was very evident that leaf-bare was coming.
Deciding to save some for the elders, Runningshadow called out to his apprentice. "Cloverpaw!" He called to the tabby she-cat who was talking with Owlpaw.
The pretty tabby she-cat perked up and mewed a quick farewell to Owlpaw, who was going out on patrol. She trotted briskly to her mentor. "Yes, Runningshadow?" She asked.
"See to the elders' bedding please," He ordered his apprentice. "And try to bring them some of the fresh-kill."
"Yes, Runningshadow," Cloverpaw said obediently. She picked up a vole and a robin to take to the elders and went toward the corner of camp to fetch some new bedding.
Cloverpaw is turning into a great apprentice, Runningshadow thought proudly. Perhaps she should be made a warrior soon…
He shook the thoughts out of his head. If he were to suggest any apprentice becoming a warrior, it would be the oldest apprentices, Deerpaw and Longpaw. They were the ones that deserved it, since they had fought so well in the fight against the rogues.
Ignoring his empty stomach's protesting growl, Runningshadow didn't dare take any prey for himself. He wanted to save some for the queens and elders, maybe the senior warriors.
He remembered the whole reason he was here and padded to Ashstar's den. He poked his head through the curtain of lichen, calling out softly to his leader.
Ashstar seemed to be asleep, but as if on cue woke up instantly at the sound of Runningshadow's voice. "Ashstar, may I speak to you please?"
The smoky gray she-cat nodded. "Come in," She called.
Runningshadow went on ahead into the small cave that had been carved by the river that once flowed through ThunderClan camp many seasons ago, before even Goldpuddle, the oldest elder, had been born.
"Ashstar, if you don't mind, I would like to talk to you about the older kits," Runningshadow started.
Ashstar hesitated, as if she couldn't remember, then mewed, "Mangoheart's kits?"
"Yes," Runningshadow answered. "I think that they should be made into apprentices."
Ashstar purred. "You already have Cloverpaw, Runningshadow," She chuckled.
"No, I don't want an apprentice," Runningshadow said quickly, "But Weavekit and Trailkit are six moons old, and should be having a mentor soon."
Ashstar dipped her head. "Yes, thank you for telling me," She meowed gratefully. "I will think about their apprenticeship and who should be their mentors."
Runningshadow dipped his head in turn and exited the den. "Thank you, Ashstar," He said. He backed out of the den and straight into another cat.
It was Cloverpaw. "Hi," She greeted brightly. "Can we go out for training yet?"
"Did you check the elders for ticks?" Asked Runningshadow.
Cloverpaw nodded quickly, her green eyes shining with excitement. Runningshadow must have spent a long time in Ashstar's den, even though it didn't feel like it.
"And you gave prey to Mossflower?" He asked. He felt guilty about giving so many orders to his own apprentice, but she had to have done all of her duties before they went out for training and fighting practice.
Cloverpaw drooped. "Oh, sorry," She murmured, "I forgot. I'll be right back!" She called, heading for the fresh-kill pile.
Runningshadow sighed. He wished he could be the one to give Mossflower prey, so he could check up on her. She had been hidden in the seclusion of her den for a long time now and must have needed comfort. She only came out to see her kits anymore.
Poor Runningshadow realized that Mossflower wasn't back from collecting herbs yet. His stomach tightened.
Suddenly, he remembered that Weavekit had told him the medicine cat was out collecting herbs. He sighed, hoping that she was back by now for Cloverpaw to give her prey.
Summerheart was coming into the clearing from the gorse tunnel, followed by a couple other warriors and apprentices. They must have been the sunhigh patrol.
At first, the deputy was headed for Ashstar's den to give her a report, but she caught sight of Runningshadow and smiled. The yellow tabby told Longpaw to tell the leader what had happened on the patrol.
Summerheart trotted toward Runningshadow, her plumper belly slowing her down. "Runningshadow!" She called out. "I need to talk to you really quick!"
Runningshadow was surprised. He thought that if Summerheart needed to talk to someone alone, she would consult Ashstar. "What about?"
"You'll see," Summerheart said impatiently. "I need to tell you and only you."
Stunned, the light brown tom numbly followed after the deputy. What did she possibly want to talk to him about? Perhaps she wanted to tell him something about his apprentice! Runningshadow could guess a couple of things about his apprentice she'd want to tell him…
She was headed toward the nursery. Runningshadow looked around her shoulder and started to feel suspicious. "Um, Summerheart?" He asked uneasily. "Where exactly are we going?"
"We're going out to the glade by all those apple trees," She hissed over her shoulder. "There's something that I need to tell you that no other cat can hear."
Runningshadow's anxiety was growing. What if Summerheart attacked him? She was taking him to a secluded area… But why would Summerheart ever do something like that?
They were reaching the clearing. Runningshadow pushed through the bushes that bordered camp, wincing as his nose got prickled by a thorn.
But he had to keep up with Summerheart. On the journey to take Owlpaw to the forest when she was still a kittypet, Runningshadow couldn't go fast enough to match his leader's pace, and had fallen behind. He had nearly gotten found by a ShadowClan patrol…wait a second!
Why were ShadowClan even in there in the first place?
Runningshadow knew that it was moons ago now, but he couldn't help but ponder it. ShadowClan's territory started at the edge of the Thunderpath on ThunderClan side. Why were they in RiverClan territory?
Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Runningshadow could smell once-bloomed apple blossoms. Many apple stems lay at his feet, from where the squirrels had eaten many of them.
It was the perfect place to hunt, but chances were that if Summerheart had already been trampling into the clearing ahead of him, then the prey had been scared away by the noise, if they haven't all been hiding away in their tiny dens and avoiding the cold.
The yellow tabby sat down in front of him and curled her ginger tail around her paws. Usually, the Greenleaf sunlight would dapple her fur to make her look very attractive, but now that it was leaf-bare the dull, frosty air hardly had any effect.
"Runningshadow," She started. But the deputy paused. She must have been trying to search for the right words. "Runningshadow, I would like to talk to you about deputyship."
"I already told you, I am not jealous that you were made deputy instead of me," Runningshadow instantly answered.
Actually, Runningshadow wasn't lying. He was relieved that Ashstar hadn't flung the large responsibility of being a deputy onto his paws. The young warrior didn't believe he was ready, and
Summerheart was a bit older and wiser than he.
He remembered that warm evening, two days after the former deputy and Runningshadow's old mentor, Cinderhope, had drowned in the river.
"I'm not talking about that," Summerheart replied calmly. "I'm talking about my deputyship. But I don't know if I can trust you." She stared him full in the face, her amber eyes meeting his blue ones for what seemed like three hundred heartbeats. "Can I?"
Runningshadow was flustered, but nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm sure that you can trust me," He murmured.
Summerheart's concerned frown turned into a relieved smile. "Oh, thank you," She mewed, "Because I have to tell you something. You promise you won't tell?"
Runningshadow nodded rapidly. "I promise," He echoed.
Summerheart took a deep breath. "Well, I've been thinking, and…um…" She started kneading her golden paws anxiously. "Well, I've decided that I can't be deputy anymore."
Oh noes! what will happen to poor summerheart? find out next chapter!