Runningshadow's head whipped around and saw that Skycloud was there, looking down into the hollow. "Hey there, Runningshadow. Hope I didn't scare you at all…" His voice trailed off as he saw Cloverpaw.

"Skycloud!" Runningshadow exclaimed. "I knew that was a funny smell. How could I have not recognized it?"

"Who's that?" Murmured Skycloud suspiciously. "I've never seen her before."

"Don't you recognize her?" Runningshadow asked. "It's my apprentice, Cloverpaw! One of the kits that you rescued?"

"That I rescued?" Skycloud growled. "You mean one that I left ThunderClan for?"

Runningshadow nodded.

"Well, she's…" Skycloud trailed off again. "She's grown big!"

For some reason, Runningshadow thought he was going to say something else about his apprentice.

"What brings you here?" Growled Cloverpaw. "What is ShadowClan doing on ThunderClan territory?"

"I was just going to check on…" Skycloud cut himself off immediately. "I was coming to see how you guys were after I left."

"Oh, well we're fine," Runningshadow said. "Why do you want to know now? You can just ask at a Gathering!"

"How's Summerheart?" Asked Skycloud.

"She's pregnant!" Piped up Cloverpaw. "She's going to move into the nursery soon, in a moon or two."

Skycloud's eyes were clouded over. "How do you know?" He snapped suddenly. "How many other cats know?"

"Um, the entire Clan?" Growled Cloverpaw. "And why are you so worried anyway?"

"Who is the…um…lucky, father?" Asked Skycloud nervously.

"Thornclaw," Broke in Runningshadow angrily. "And would you stop worrying so much? She's fine." He looked to his apprentice. "Cloverpaw, would you mind going out to hunt a little? I'll join you later, and maybe I can teach you how to catch squirrels."

"Okay," Cloverpaw mewed glumly. She tumbled through the bushes and out to the forest, opening her mouth to sniff.

Skycloud made sure that Cloverpaw had left all the way before he turned back to Runningshadow. "So how has it been…here in ThunderClan?" He asked.

Runningshadow shrugged. "Fine as usual."

"Did Ratfur have her kits?" Asked Skycloud, his eyes glittering with curiousity.

"Yes, she did," Runningshadow mewed joyfully. "And wow, are they beautiful! There are four of them. The first one's name is Featherkit, and she looks just like her mother, only more beautiful. And then there's Nightkit, and he's the most handsome tomkit you've ever seen! And there's Rain-"

"How's Summerheart?" Interjected Skycloud restlessly.

"She's fine," Runningshadow growled. "But she's…she's really pregnant. Cloverpaw was telling the truth."

Skycloud's eyes flew open. "What? Whose kits? How long has she been like this? Why did she tell you and not me? Are they another tom's kits? Cloverpaw told me they were Thornclaw's!"

Runningshadow shrugged. "You tell me," He said suspiciously. "Have you been meeting Summerheart in secret?"

Skycloud fell silent. He heaved his white spotted flanks in a huge sigh. "Well…I…yes, we have."

"Where?" Runningshadow hissed. "And why? Summerheart doesn't have enough time for that! She's Clan deputy, for StarClan's sake! Plus, both of you are going against the warrior code."

Skycloud lowered himself to the ground. "Clan deputy?" He snapped. "She hasn't been telling me anything lately!"

"Well, she would have the opportunity, wouldn't she?" Grumbled Runningshadow. "Listen, Skycloud, both of you have to stop this! You're going against the warrior code!"

"It's not fair!" Wailed the gray warrior. "I love her, Runningshadow. Why can't we be in the same Clan again so that she can be all mine? I'd have my own kits, my own mate…"

"Life is never perfect," Huffed Runningshadow. "I'm sorry, Skycloud, but this is how it'll always be, unless you can convince two Clan leaders to let you come back to ThunderClan."

"But you know Sharpstar!" Wailed Skycloud. "He'd never let me go back, especially with that black-heart Hurricanesong as his deputy!"

Runningshadow nodded. "Exactly," He pointed out. "I'm sorry, Skycloud, but it's utterly impossible for you to come back."

"What about this…Thornclaw thing?" Spat Skycloud. He put more emphasis on Thornclaw's name.

"Don't worry," Runningshadow replied. "They are your kits. Thornclaw is a gray tom, so we used him to be Summerheart's father, just in case anybody saw her with you."

"Thank you, Runningshadow," Skycloud purred gratefully. "I'm sure that Thornclaw will go along with it, since he was one of Summerheart's good friends."

Runningshadow nodded. "Now get out of here before you spread the stench around!" He hissed. "Cloverpaw and I still have to hunt!"

Skycloud nodded and whipped around to leave for his own territory. He shot one last grateful look over his shoulder and headed back to the Thunderpath where ShadowClan territory started.

Runningshadow leaped back into the clearing.

Cloverpaw was still sitting there, as patient as can be. "Did you chase him away?" She asked.

Runningshadow nodded. "Yes," He replied simply. "Let's get back to camp. I need to talk to Ashstar about something."

Cloverpaw nodded obediently and followed after her mentor, even though she felt crestfallen that she couldn't train anymore today.

"What are we talking to Ashstar about again?" Asked Cloverpaw.

Runningshadow stopped short. He remembered that Cloverpaw still wanted to hunt.

He put his light brown tail across her shoulders. "Why don't you go out and hunt a little?" He suggested. "I know you were excited."

"Yes! Thank you, Runningshadow!" Squealed Cloverpaw with glee. "Can I take it to the queens?"

"Take it to the elders," Ordered Runningshadow. "Then you can visit the kits." Besides, the elders hadn't gotten much attention since those six kits were born.

Runningshadow wondered why the kits got so much attention. Probably because they had come from such an unattractive she-cat, yet were so beautiful.

Or perhaps the kits' eyes, thought Runningshadow nervously.

He shook the thought away and faced his apprentice. "Go off and hunt," He told her. "And meet me at the Owl Tree near sunset. Okay?"

"Okay!" Cloverpaw replied, already running away with her tail whipping behind her.

Runningshadow sighed with relief. Cloverpaw had been taken care of. Now he just had to convince Ashstar to let Summerheart retire to the nursery.

Runningshadow sent up a silent prayer to StarClan. He prayed that Ashstar would understand and finally let her deputy retire for her kits.

R.U.N.N.I.N.G

Runningshadow felt a bit more settled once he was in front of Ashstar's den. Although speaking to her about this would be nerve wracking, Runningshadow felt that she would be fair about this.

But why wasn't she fair about it last night? He asked himself. Was she really so reluctant to give up her deputy for another cat?

Taking a deep breath, Runningshadow slowly pushed his way through the hanging lichen.

Fortunately, the smoky gray she-cat was sitting there, sharing tongues with Mudpelt.

Just after sunhigh, just when it was hottest out, it was time to share tongues. Sharing tongues was when the Clan cats got together with a friend, mate, or just another Clan mate, and talked about their day while grooming each other.

Runningshadow didn't have to announce that he was there. Ashstar had already gotten up, stretching her muscular limbs.

Mudpelt got up too, and left the den grumpily. He probably didn't appreciate Runningshadow coming in to disturb the two.

"You may come in, Runningshadow," Called Ashstar from the depths of her den.

The light brown tom gulped as he stepped deeper into the den. He felt the strong sunshine filtering through the hole in the top of the den, and could almost swear that StarClan themselves were watching him from above.

"Ashstar, I would like to talk to you for a bit," Runningshadow said as confident as he could.

Ashstar gave him a swift nod. "Talk," She simply stated.

"Ashstar, I came to talk about Summerheart. I believe that she is pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Echoed Ashstar. She stared blankly off. "Ah yes, she told me last night."

Runningshadow felt a nervous tingle in his fur. "Um, I believe she did. She sent me to tell you that…"

"Who is the father?" Ashstar asked after Runningshadow's long time lapse. "If she doesn't mind me asking?"

"Her mate is Thornclaw," Replied Runningshadow. "Anyway, Summerheart would like to resign her post as deputy to become a queen. Please don't think that she's doing anything to shirk her responsibilities, Ashstar, she just wants the best for her kits," Begged Runningshadow.

Ashstar closed her eyes for a few moments. She must have been thinking about her own kits, Stormfeather and Featherstream, who had been killed by an unknown force.

"I see what you two are doing," Ashstar replied. "Summerheart asked me last night. I told her no, and I would only let her when she knew she was pregnant. And then she got you to tell me so that she didn't have to go kneeling at my paws again. Do you know for sure whether she is having kits?"

"Mossflower has confirmed it, Ashstar," Runningshadow told her.

Ashstar closed her eyes again. "All right." She mewed.

"Is she excused?" Runningshadow asked anxiously. He didn't want to pressure the she-cat, but he was pressured as well, and it wasn't enough for her to hint it.

"Yes Runningshadow," Ashstar replied in a groan.

Runningshadow smiled. "Thank you so much, Ashstar!" He exclaimed. "So can she retire to the nursery?"

"Yes, she can," Ashstar mewed. "But I'll have to choose another deputy fast."

Runningshadow squirmed uncomfortably. He didn't wish to make Ashstar so anxious, just wanted Summerheart to be able to raise her kits in peace.

Runningshadow backed out of the den and left the smoky gray she-cat to think about deputy. He didn't want to interfere with her thoughts.

Right as he got out of the den, the sun was starting to go down. Remembering Cloverpaw, the light brown tom hurried out of the gorse tunnel, headed for the Owl Tree. With any luck, his apprentice had done well.